No California law specifically prohibits people from having sex in a car. However, having sex in a vehicle in public view could potentially result in criminal charges, such as lewd conduct in public or indecent exposure. Suppose you have sex in your car with someone in the middle of nowhere, and there are no other people...
Suppose you were accused of committing a crime in California. Getting criminal charges dismissed before trial is typically the best outcome you could obtain. Understanding the role of the district attorney (prosecutor) in the process of dropping charges is crucial. While there are several strategies for getting criminal...
An employer will often conduct criminal history checks to identify people whose criminal history might affect their ability to perform responsibly and trustworthy. Sometimes, a criminal conviction may be a huge red flag that shifts a hiring manager's perception of a potential employee. For example, suppose someone has...
Suppose you have a valid driver's license from a foreign country. In that case, you can legally drive in California without obtaining a California driver's license or international driving permit (IDP). However, your license must be lawfully issued in the country where you live, cover the vehicle you are driving, and...
All states recognize a person's right to self-defense, including the weapons you can legally possess. In California, Various self-defense weapons, such as tasers, stun guns, certain knives, specific firearms, and personal alarms are legal. These devices are typically attached to keychains and designed to release loud, deafening...
Understanding PC 1275 holds is crucial, yet many find it challenging. The process of lifting them is equally complex. I'm here to shed some light on it, but it's essential to grasp the gravity of the situation. If you or a loved one is facing a criminal case, seeking legal assistance is imperative. Together, we can navigate...
For those people who have been arrested and bail is set, their loved ones are usually looking to bail them out, or the person themselves is anticipating a bail being set and trying to figure out the best way to handle the bail situation. Typically, when the police arrest someone and no judges are available, they are responsible for...
Many people are excited about Humphrey's case because they think they can get out on bail or at least get their bail reduced. In some circumstances, judges can use Humphrey's case to lower somebody's bail or release them on their recognizance. But don't be fooled. The judges are lawyers. Most of them are aligned with the...
The common question is, why are prosecutors in Los Angeles County filing California Penal Code 187 PC charges related to deaths on the road? For those people who have been arrested and charged with murder about a driving-related death on the road, either they or their families are searching for answers. This is...
I tried a California Vehicle Code 192(c) VC vehicular manslaughter case in the Burbank courthouse against a very unreasonable prosecutor. He didn't see his case's weaknesses and ended up losing the case for the People of the State of California. My client was found not guilty. Let me tell you something, it was a war...
You must be prepared as a defense attorney when defending kidnapping cases because all the marbles are typically on the line. If your client gets convicted according to California Penal Code 209 PC aggravated kidnapping, they could face life in prison. That's not something you want as a defendant, and it's certainly not...
In the first jury I did in the early 1990s, my client was charged with California Health and Safety Code 11351 HS possession and sale of drugs, and she was facing jail time. Her most significant problem was working out a deal with the prosecutors. Even though they did have some evidence against her that she had kids, she could...
Several years ago, I had a client who was charged with California Penal Code 664/261 PC attempted rape, and he was facing 20+ years in prison because he had a prior strike on his record. He swore up and down that he was innocent and not taking any deals, even though if he lost, he was probably looking at triple the time...
Recently, I was defending my client in a jury trial with multiple defendants, and he and the other defendants were all charged with California Penal Code 187 PC murder. I’m not going to get into all of the details and facts of the case so I can protect my client’s identity, but suffice it to say, there was one shooter in the case...
I tell these stories because I've been doing domestic violence cases now for over 30 years, defending my clients. Many of my clients have been improperly charged because of facts and details that are either not true or exaggerated or in a situation where the police have not gotten all the information. They've only taken...
Recently I had a client who was charged with California Penal Code 261 PC rape and facing many years in prison. He had met somebody on the road and got together with them at their apartment. They had drunk alcohol, and within days after they had sex, he was being accused of PC 261 rape. I took the case to trial in Pomona...
For those people whose relatives or family members are charged with California Penal Code 207 PC kidnapping, you're looking for answers and are trying to find an attorney who can help. A lot of the abduction charges these days carry life. So, if you're convicted of Penal Code 209, aggravated kidnapping, you face a life sentence...
Many people are being charged with Penal Code 187 PC second-degree murder related to Fentanyl deaths across California. When you figure out what precisely the angle is that the prosecutors are using to charge the murder, you will realize what they are doing. They are looking at the fact that somebody died, and...
For those people who have been arrested for domestic violence spousal abuse during the holiday season, they want to get an attorney right away to start working on it because of the volatility that sometimes involves the holidays. People drinking too much, getting in fights, and the police are going to be called out in probably...
Many people either have a warrant out for their arrest or are charged with a California Vehicle Code 20001 VC felony hit and run that resulted in death. Typically, we see that a lot of people were intoxicated at the time that they got in the accident. In other words, Vehicle Code 20001 VC is the statute defining felony...
For those people who are charged with a Watson murder, they are facing a 15 to life sentence, and obviously, figuring out a good defense makes sense under the circumstances. “Watson murder,” also known as “DUI murder,” is a type of Penal Code 187 PC second-degree murder in California. It can be charged when...
Thousands of people are arrested every month for DUIs in Los Angeles County. There are so many people on the road. It’s such a congested area. Most arrests are made on the weekends because the police are out in force. A lot of times, they will set up checkpoints. Other times, they will just wait outside of bars...
Let’s review what the DMV must prove to take your driver’s license away for a California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI. For those people who have been arrested for a DUI and their driver’s license taken away by police, it will be sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles, also known as the DMV. They will ultimately...
Those charged with California Vehicle Code 23152 VC DUI are looking for a way to avoid a criminal conviction and the loss of their license. A small percentage of cases can be defended – whether at a jury trial or by way of some motion to say that the police acted illegally or improperly and, therefore, get the case...
For those charged with California Penal Code 261 PC rape, several different defenses can be utilized to help you. I have you come into my office, and we talk about everything. We see whether or not a defense squarely fits your circumstances and whether you could be successful if you took the case to trial or...
