Recent Posts in Sex Crimes Category
| September 07, 2011 |
| Trial Opens for Hawthorne Pimp Who Faces Life If Convicted |
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Trial opens for Leroy Bragg, 35, a Hawthorne pimp, who is being charged with human trafficking of a minor, soliciting and pandering of a minor, burglary, kidnapping and vulgar acts on a child.
Bragg who calls himself "Snipe King" had his street name tattooed across the chest of a teenage runaway he allegedly forced to work for him. (King Snipe's Bitch).
The defense opposed stating that no evidence supports kidnapping and other charges.
He is accused of forcing two runaway teenage girls to work for him as prostitutes in the streets and motels of Los Angeles and Orange County.
One of the girls, a then-14-year-old from Upland, was snatched off the streets of South Los Angeles by Bragg and taken to his apartment and after smoking and drinking, she ended up having sex with Bragg and started prostituting.
Bragg was arrested Sept. 28, 2010, after a foot chase through backyards near his Hawthorne apartment.
He was being held on $1.3 million bail.
As trial opens, the defense claims that there is no piece of evidence to support the girls' allegations.
As a "third-striker," he faces up to life in prison if convicted,
When you are facing criminal charges, the prosecution has the burden of proof to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All the evidence and allegations have to line up beyond a reasonable doubt.
As criminal defense attorneys, we are here to contest all the evidence and oppose the allegations that lack evidentiary support.
We have the experience; we have the credentials; and we have the knowledge.
Our Lawyers in L.A. have unmatched credentials and we have handled thousands of criminal cases and have seen great results.
Our Los Angeles crime attorneys will help you get your criminal matter under control and we will strive to get you the best results possible.
Contact our attorneys in L.A. and set up a free face to face consultation. |
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| April 15, 2011 |
| Woman Sexually Assaulted by Man She Met on Match.com |
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The Los Angeles woman who is suing Match.com, spoke out this week about the sexual assault she experienced by a man she met on the dating site. The woman's attorney, Mark L. Webb, said he will ask a Los Angeles county superior court judge for a temporary injunction prohibiting the site from signing up more members until his client's demands are met. He said his client asks that the site screen members to determine if they are sexual predators. "They are a very powerful and successful online dating service, and they have the means to do this," Webb said.
In an interview with KABC-TV Channel 7, the victim said it all started out normal, "He sent me an email and said he was into golf and tennis and he had a house in the Palisades over Malibu and be liked art and culture, travel and food." But after the second date, the women claims the assault occurred. "He went straight into the bathroom when he came in my place and I sat down on the couch and waited for him," she told the TV station. "Then he came out of the bathroom and jumped me and forced me to have oral sex and then he left."
"This horrific ordeal completely blind sided me because I had considered myself savvy about online dating safety," the woman said in a statement released through her attorney last week. "Things quickly turned into a nightmare, beyond my control."
Webb said his client wants Match.com to check members' names against public sex offender registries. "It's not a guarantee," he said. "But don't you think something is better than nothing?"
Match.com said in a statement to KABC-TV that "while incidents like this one between individuals who meet on Match.com are extremely rare, it doesn't make them any less horrifying."
If you or someone you know is facing a sex crime charge, you are probably feeling very stressed, nervous, and scared. At the Hedding law firm we understand that this could be a very scary time and we are here to help. The criminal defense attorneys at our office have a combined 75 years of experience with these types of cases and have been successful in dozens of sex crime related cases.
Contact our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation |
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| March 07, 2011 |
| Registered Sex Offender Tries to Lure in Young Children with Pet Parrot |
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Police are searching for any additional victims of a registered sex offender, who was arrested after being accused of using his parrot to lure young children. A photo was released of both Michael Joseph DeSilva and his parrot. DeSilva was arrested and booked into the Huntington Beach Jail on Saturdy, after authorities received a call at about 4:15 p.m. of a suspicious man who was talking to children and trying to get them to play with the parrot. When the police arrived on scene, there were no children present, but after questioning the man they determined he was a registered sex offender. Police contacted his probation officer, and concluded that he had violated his probation.
A conviction of a sex crime can bear very harsh penalties, and for this reason it is important that you have the proper legal representation. If you or someone you know is being accused of a sex crime or
probation violation,
contact the
Hedding law firm today at (818) 986-2092. Our criminal defense attorneys have an extensive amount of experience with these types of cases and will work hard to get the best possible outcome for your unique case.
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| February 09, 2011 |
| Volunteer Youth Counselor Arrested for Having a Sexual Relationship with a Minor |
| Posted By Admin |
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A volunteer youth church counselor is facing multiple counts of sex crimes against a minor. Marcellino Tinajero, 33, was arrested late last month, after the parents of a 16 year old girl filed a crime report against him. According to investigators, Tinajero met the girl while he was a volunteer youth counselor with Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch. "At this point that's the only child that has come forward," said Det. Michael Brox from the LAPD. "The purpose of this conference is to reach out, and the photographs we have for the purposes of people to look back and draw on their memories to see if they had any contact with this individual in the past."
According to investigators, Tinajero was a member of the church for almost a year and a half, and had engaged in an alleged sexual relationship with the minor for about six months. "That volunteer was dismissed immediately once the church was made aware of the allegations," said Pastor Winters. "The church has also conducted an investigation and believes there is no continuing risk to anyone who attends our church." He said the church did the necessary criminal background check before allowing Tinajero to serve as a youth counselor and everything came back fine.
A conviction of a sex crime can bear very harsh penalties, and for this reason it is important that you have the proper legal representation. If you or someone you know is being accused of a sex crime,
contact the
Hedding law firm today at (818) 986-2092. Our criminal defense attorneys have an extensive amount of experience with these types of cases and will work hard to get the best possible outcome for your unique case. |
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| February 04, 2011 |
| Registered Sex Offender Reads to Children at a Elementary School |
| Posted By Admin |
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John W. Davis, 56, was arrested after reading to children at a "Heroes day" event in honor of Veterans Day on Nov.11. The Los Altos elementary school officials were apparently unaware that Davis is a registered sex offender. Officials are trying to figure out how he was allowed in the school and if there was an attempt to look up his record.
Davis was convicted in San Diego County in 2000 for a felony violation of attempted lewd acts with a child under the age of 14. Deputies found out about Davis' visit to the school last week and began a investigation. According to authorities, Davis was arrested Wednesday.
If you or a loved one is facing sexual assault charges or any other sex crime charges, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney
who specializes in sex crime cases is essential.
Contact the
Hedding law firm today at (818) 986-2092, we will gather all the facts of your case, understand the facts, and prepare the best defense possible for your unique case.
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| December 21, 2010 |
| A Day-Care Center Operator Arrested on Suspicion of Lewd Acts |
| Posted By Admin |
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The operator of a South Los Angeles day-care center has been arrested on suspicion of lewd acts with her godson. Chelsea Nichole McClelland, 34, was arrested on suspicion of multiple instances of lewd acts with a child. She is being held in lieu of $400,000 bail at the Van Nuys jail. On Friday police responded to reports of a white van repeatedly parked in the neighborhood. Police found the boy in the vehicle, he told them he was 18, but after being interviewed by LAPD he admitted to being 13.
McClelland has three biological children and is the legal guardian of a fourth. At the time of her arrest, she was taking care of eight children at her day-care center. Det. Kim Porter said "Working cases like these involving young children is always disturbing, especially when you are a parent."
California Penal Code 288:
(a) Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or
lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes
provided for in Part 1, upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.
(b) (1) Any person who commits an act described in subdivision (a) by use of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.
(2) Any person who is a caretaker and commits an act described in subdivision (a) upon a dependent person by use of force, violence,duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person, with the intent described in subdivision (a), is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.
The charge of committing lewd acts can bear very harsh penalties, and for this reason it is important that you have the proper legal representation. If you or someone you know is being accused of a sex crime, contact the Hedding law office today at (818) 986-2092. Our criminal defense attorneys have an extensive amount of experience with these types of cases and will work hard to get the best possible outcome for your unique case.
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| November 30, 2010 |
| Transient Arrested for Animal Cruelty and Lewd Conduct |
| Posted By Admin |
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A transient was arrested by the LAPD Animal Cruelty Task Force on February 2nd after he was seen sexually violating a female German Shepard mix beneath a freeway underpass. Wade Strickland, 62, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and lewd conduct. He was sentenced to 3 years probation, ordered not to own or possess any animals, submit to searches by LAPD for animals at any time and attend two dozen animal care counseling sessions. According to city prosecutors, at the time of his arrest, Strickland was "found with two dogs, including the victim, and pornographic material in his possession."
According to Section 647(a) of the California Penal Code, lewd conduct is defined as any conduct that involves touching another's genitals, buttocks or female breasts with the intent to arouse himself sexually or annoy the victim. The offender must also be in a public place and in the presence of a third party who may be offended. Finally, the offender must be aware of the presence of the third party. Penalties for lewd conduct vary widely. Lewd conduct with an adult is always a misdemeanor, and carries penalties ranging from probation to a fine or jail time.
If you or someone you know has been charged with lewd conduct contact our office today. The criminal defense attorneys at theHedding law firm have a combined 75 years of experience in these types of cases. They will do their best to get you the best possible outcome for your unique case. |
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| November 02, 2010 |
| Man Arrested for Indecent Exposure to Underage Girls |
| Posted By Admin |
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A grocery store clerk has been arrested for allegedly exposing himself over the last two months to numerous underage girls. 21-year-old Ruben Rodriguez was arrested and could be charged on 16 misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and child annoyance.
Rodriguez allegedly exposed himself to two girls walking to Sunny Hills High school. After police investigation, Rodriguez was linked to several other cases. According to Fullerton Police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich, Rodriguez allegedly would park on streets where girls were walking, then turn as they came closer and exposed himself and try to make conversation.
Indecent exposure is prohibited by California Penal Code 314 PC and its penalties include fines and incarceration, and you could be subjected to a lifetime duty to register as a California sex offender. As criminal defense attorneys we understand the fact that many of these cases come from false accusations, our job as your representation would be to go over all the facts surrounding your case and get you the best possible outcome. If you have been accused of indecent exposure contact our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation. The criminal defense attorneys at the Hedding law firm have a combined 75 years of experience. We will give your unique case the attention and care necessary to achieve a successful outcome. |
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| October 06, 2010 |
| 25 Year Old Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Two Teenage Girls He Met Online |
| Posted By Admin |
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Richard Alan Chaney was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in state prison for sexually assaulting two teenage girls he met online. Chaney, 25, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of oral copulation of a minor under 16, contacting a child with the intent to distribute pornography to a minor, sexual penetration by foreign object of an unconscious victim and oral copulation of an unconscious person.
According to prosecutors, Chaney communicated with a 14-year-old Texas girl via a webcam based website between May 1, 2008 and July 31, 2008, and engaged in sexually explicit conversations and mutual exhibitionism and masturbation with the girl. He met with the girl while she was on a family vacation in California and had sex with her in June of 2008. The girl's mother filed a report with police. Chaney also reportedly videotaped himself sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl he had met online. The girl was unconscious at the time of the assault.
Someone convicted of a sex crime can bear very harsh penalties, and for this reason it is important that you have the proper legal representation. If you or someone you know is being accused of a sex crime, call the Hedding Law Firm today at (818) 986-2092. Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys have an extensive amount of experience with these types of cases and will work hard to get the best possible outcome for your unique case. |
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| September 29, 2010 |
| A 20 Year Old Man Arrested for Having Sex With a 15 Year Old Girl |
| Posted By Admin |
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On Friday a girl told the San Diego county sheriff’s department that she was abducted and sexually assaulted by three men. Over the weekend composite drawings of the alleged attackers were released. But on Monday, the girl admitted to police that she had fabricated the story because she was ashamed that she had sex with a man she met over the internet.
On Tuesday night, police arrested Jose Adrian Cano. Cano has been jailed on suspicion of contacting a minor over the internet with the intent of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and committing a sex crime. Detectives searched Cano’s home and believe that there may be more underage victims.
Under Penal Code 261.5, statutory rape takes place when an adult (18+ years of age) engages in sexual intercourse with a person under 18 years of age. Statutory rape is commonly referred to as unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Depending on the circumstances, this offense may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Having a Los Angeles criminal attorney who specializes in defending against California sex crimes is critical to safeguarding your rights and protecting your freedom.
If you or someone you know is facing statutory rape charges,call our office today at (818) 986-2092. At the Hedding Law Firm we provide exceptional legal advice and representation to individuals facing a sex crime charge in California. |
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| September 29, 2010 |
| DNA Testing Clears a Man Convicted of Rape |
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258 people have been exonerated by DNA testing, pressuring criminologists to find out what exactly went wrong in those cases. A big focus is being put on faulty eyewitness testimony. Over 75% of these men were convicted in part because someone pointed to the wrong person. An even more interesting fact is that in all cases where the eyewitness was wrong, the real perpetrator wasn't in the initial line-up. This raises a huge question; can eyewitness testimony be trusted? A CBS 60 Minutes report highlights a very sad and unfortunate case, where a man's freedom is taken away because of his resemblance to a perpetrator. On the night of July 28, 1984, 22-year-old Jennifer Thompson's home was invaded and she was raped. As the rapist was violating her, Thompson studied his face and tried to remember anything she could about him so that, if she lived, she could later identify him. Thompson somehow convinced the rapist to allow her to make him a drink, and that is when she escaped.
Jennifer Thompson assisted Detective Gauldin in developing the sketch of the supposed perpetrator. The sketch went out into the public, and people began to submit tips. Amidst all the tips that came in, one of those was about Ronald Cotton. Detective Gauldin later called Thompson in to do a photo lineup, where after studying each photo carefully, Thompson picked up Ronald Cotton's photo and claimed that he was the man that raped her. Thompson later picked cotton out again in a physical line-up. During this time Cotton had given his alibi to the detective, and his alibi turned out to be faulty. During a week long trial, the court heard about Cotton's false alibi, and other evidence was presented as well. Cotton seemed to own the same clothes the perpetrator wore and a piece of foam found in Thompson's home seemed to come from Cotton's shoe. All the signs seemed to be pointing to Ronald Cotton, and to the detriment of his defense, when Jennifer Thompson was asked in court if she recognized her rapist, she pointed to Cotton and said his name. 22-year-old Ronald Cotton was handcuffed and sent to prison.
One day a new inmate came in who looked very familiar. This man was Bobby Poole and he was in for rape. Cotton questioned him, asked him who he was, where he was from, and when Cotton realized the man was from the same town as he was from, Cotton asked him if he was the man that raped Jennifer Thompson. Poole denied being Thompson's rapist, but Cotton later heard from another inmate that Poole had admitted to being her rapist. Cotton was able to win a new trial and his criminal defense attorney brought Poole to the stand. But Thompson held her claim that Cotton was her rapist, and Cotton was then convicted of two life sentences. Seven years later, Cotton hears about the OJ Simpson trial and learns about DNA. Cotton wrote to his criminal defense attorney and told him he wanted another trial and wanted to be tested for DNA. The DNA testing was done and after 11 years, Cotton found himself back in court but this time he left the court a free man. The DNA tests showed that Cotton was not Thompson's rapist, but that in fact Bobby Poole was.
If you are being wrongfully accused of committing a sex crime, we understand that you are probably very worried, confused, and scared, but we are here for you. At The Hedding Law Firm, Our skilled Los Angeles sex crime criminial defense attorneys will investigate the facts surrounding your case, contest evidence presented against you, and place every effort into your defense. Don't hesitate to call us today at (818) 986-2092.
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| September 08, 2010 |
| Former Police Officer Faces Trial On Charges Of Rape, Sodomy, Vandalism |
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On February 26, James Roberts III, a former Huntington Beach police officer, plead not guilty to vandalism, criminal threats, rape, domestic battery, false imprisonment by violence or deceit, aggravated assault, dissuading a witness, and forcible sodomy. Roberts was charged with alleged acts against his wife, an alleged mistress and another man while serving as an officer with the police department. Superior Court Judge Richard J. Beacom decided to move forward with the case once he had heard testimony from Roberts' ex-wife and Orange County investigators, upholding 19 of the 20 felony charges filed by prosecutors. If Roberts is convicted on all of these charges, he could face up to 23 years in prison.
Being accused of or investigated for any type of sex crime or assault & battery can be devastating. Many people often find themselves wrongly accused and do not know where to turn in order to protect their reputation and their future. At the Hedding Law Firm we provide exceptional legal advice and representation to individuals facing these crimes in California. We are board certified criminal defense attorneys and can aggressively defend your rights in both state and federal court. At the Hedding Law Firm, we thoroughly understand the serious nature of these crimes and the severe penalties they may carry and have only your best interests in mind.
At the Hedding Law Firm we represent all types of complex crimes cases. We understand that being accused of committing a crime is an extremely serious legal issue and that your case will need the care and attention of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. At the Hedding Law Firm our Los Angeles lawyers will properly defend your rights and your freedom.
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