Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: child abuse

A 'defense' attorney doesn't prosecute anything. He defends criminals. A district attorney [DA] prosecutes criminals, and, yes, they can prosecute over the objection of the victim. You're probably talking about an abuse victim that has been scared into retracting their complaint. That is typical, and that is why DA's force them to testify. Abusers are frequently jailed and convicted over the protest of their victims; for the sake of society and the victims safety.

Re: child abuse

Defense attorneys don't pursue criminal cases; prosecutors do. And yes, a prosecutor can pursue a case even after the victim drops all charges. This is especially true in domestic violence and child abuse cases, where the victim (or the other parent of younger victims) is often intimidated into silence by the abuser.