At the moment, politically, gun crimes are aggressively prosecuted crimes in Los Angeles county. Those who control the police departments and the other political entities are anti-guns. There is a strict policy at the District Attorney's office, which prosecutes felony cases, and at the City Att...
The California constitution gives defendants in a criminal case the right to have their case heard by a jury trial, which is a group of twelve people from the public who are responsible for reviewing the facts of the case and then deciding whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crimes...
Many crimes are generated where someone is in custody, either at Los Angeles Men's County Jail, Wayside, Twin Towers, or one of the surrounding prisons. They commit some offense in jail or prison, then they're sent to court. Whether it be stabbing somebody with a shank, attacking somebody physi...
Drug trafficking crimes refer to helping others to move drugs. For example, if you're selling meth, you've got to transport it to others to sell, known as trafficking and often called drug distribution. Trafficking is an illegal act of making, manufacturing, transporting, or selling a controlled ...
California Penal Code 503 PC describes embezzlement as unlawfully taking money or property that was entrusted to you with the intent to deprive the owner of using it. Embezzlement is a form of theft but unique because it usually involves an employee of a company who is trusted and has access to t...
California Penal Code 664/187 defines the crime of attempted murder in either the first or second degree. As the name suggests, nobody has to be killed for the defendant to be charged and convicted of attempted murder. This article will discuss some unique aspects of attempted murder under Calif...
Suppose you or a loved one is charged with the crime of kidnapping? In that case, you will want to find the best attorney because kidnapping cases are treated very seriously in Los Angeles County and surrounding counties. I've handled many of these cases over the past 30 years of defending people...
California Penal Code 211 PC defines the serious felony crime of robbery as the felonious taking of personal property in possession of someone, from their person or immediate presence, against their will, using force or fear. Robbery charges are filed as either first-degree or second-degree, and...
A minor role comes into play when a defendant in a federal criminal case is not a significant player in that crime. It's challenging to get a minor role if you're the only participant in the crime. But if you are involved with other individuals, and it can be argued that you're one of the least ...
People arrested for federal crimes have never been arrested before the vast majority of the time. Even those who have been arrested before don't understand the significance of a mandatory minimum sentence. It means that there are certain crimes that, if you get convicted of, you face a mandatory...
If you're being charged with a sex crime in the San Fernando courthouse and you have an appearance date – if it's a felony, you'll start in Dept. S, which is on the first floor, first courtroom on the left as you go through the metal detectors. You will typically enter a not-guilty plea at your ...
I have a lot of clients that come to me prefiling before they've been arrested. They know the police are investigating them for various reasons. Maybe the accuser told them. Perhaps the police came and told them. Perhaps they got a letter. Whatever the case may be, it is possible to convince t...
Anybody who gets a DUI in Los Angeles County realizes they have a problem because the police will send them to court. Depending on their case circumstances, they're potentially facing losing their driver's license and even jail time. So, I thought it might be good to talk about some of the potent...
Murder cases are some of the most severe cases prosecuted in the criminal justice system. Believe it or not, deciding the defense has to do with the type of case you are charged with. In other words, you've got to look at whatever evidence the prosecutors are claiming they have against you and ...
In severe cases of driving under the influence causing the death of another person in a car accident, we are often asked what triggers the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office to charge someone with murder? DUIs are very commonplace in Los Angeles, California, especially with all of the bars an...
Today, especially in Los Angeles county, gun use is taboo when it comes to criminal cases because so many people are being injured and killed related to guns. There is a strict policy both at the District Attorney's office, which prosecutes felonies and at the City Attorney's office, which prose...
Under California Penal Code 192(c) PC, vehicular manslaughter charges can be filed against someone if they drive their vehicle negligently or unlawfully and then causes the death of another person. Simply put, if somebody dies in a car accident in California, you might face vehicular manslaughter...
A common question we encounter in consultations with new clients is whether there is a way to avoid prison after they are charged with residential burglary under California Penal Code 459 PC. The crime of burglary is described as entering a residential or commercial structure with the intent to c...
In California, a DUI causing death could be charged as a Penal Code 187 PC “Watson” murder, Penal Code 192(c) vehicular manslaughter, or Penal Code 192(b) involuntary manslaughter. For the past 30 years, I've been defending people who have been involved in accidents that have caused the death of ...
I've done thousands of DUI cases over the last 30 years, and probably one of the worst things that can happen is that you are involved in an accident. Of course, there's a sliding scale on that. There are minor accidents involving nobody – just crashing to the curb or a light pole or some bushes...
DMV hearings go hand in hand if you're arrested for a DUI under California Vehicle Code 23152 VC in Los Angeles. The DMV, the Department of Motor Vehicles, basically controls the person's driver's license, so they're going to be the enforcement arm of the courts as it relates to the person's lic...
Since they started, I've handled these California Penal Code 236.1 PC sex trafficking cases. One of the biggest reasons they're being prosecuted at such a vast rate is because (1) there are so many of these crimes going on and (2) because of the internet and social media. Prosecutors, police, and...
Many people who have federal cases and are charged with a crime and will end up having to plead guilty are interested in what exactly happens at the plea. First and foremost, you will sign a plea agreement typically with the government. You can certainly do an open plea with the court, but you us...
More and more, people are being charged with California Penal Code 664/187 attempted murder in Los Angeles County and surrounding counties. If you or a loved one is charged with attempted murder, you want to get the best attorney you can find. Because, if it's attempted premeditated murder, you ...
Murder is the most serious crime known to man, and if you or a loved one is charged with murder, you want to get the best attorney possible. So, I thought I'd give some information regarding what I perceive as the best murder defense attorney since I've been handling murder cases now for 30 years...
