Solicitation of Murder in California
A lot of people don't realize that they don't have to murder to be charged with murder. I've seen a lot of scenarios where people are accused of solicitation of murder, and they end up with the same punishment as the person who committed the murder.
Soliciting someone to commit a crime is defined under California Penal Code 653f, and solicitation of murder is a California felony offense.
That's because of the way the law looks at things. Number one, when people get together and plan horrible crimes like murder, it makes them much more effective and much more dangerous.
Number two, the person who conceives the idea of murdering somebody, plans it out, and gets somebody to commit the murder is just as bad from the government's standpoint as the person who commits the murder. Sometimes, there's even an argument that they're worse.
Retain a Criminal Lawyer Immediately
That's a perspective that you're dealing with. So, if you or a loved one is charged or being investigated for solicitation of murder, you should get an attorney right away, especially in Los Angeles.
They have special units in the LAPD and the Sheriffs, and sometimes, they get the feds involved to investigate these crimes to try to figure out and prosecute those individuals who are involved with the planning and commission of a murder in Los Angeles County.
Solicitation of murder can take different forms. I've seen it come up in a gang setting where the head of a gang is telling people to murder other people. Sometimes, a specific person is targeted.
Other times, it's just a general order, and if there's enough information and a murder occurs, I've seen the person being charged either with the murder or solicitation of murder. Again, it depends on the scenario and the evidence we're discussing.
Substantial Step Towards Planning a Murder
Another area I see is when somebody gets angry with another person. Maybe it's their spouse who is in the midst of a divorce. Perhaps it's somebody who wronged them. Maybe it's someone who stole money from them.
Whatever the case may be, if you're involved with soliciting another person, asking another person, or agreeing with another person to murder another individual, the actual murder itself cannot take place — nobody gets killed, and nobody gets harmed.
They don't even try to murder the person. If there's enough of a substantial step towards planning a murder and you're a part of soliciting that murder — even if the murder doesn't take place — you can be charged with solicitation of murder.
I've seen these cases in Los Angeles County, which are severe, dire situations. If you or a loved one is charged with solicitation of murder in Los Angeles, pick up the phone. Make the call. I've been doing this for 26 years. I stand ready to help you.
Defenses for Solicitation of Murder Charges
Sometimes, you may have a defense to solicitation of murder, especially if you're not the actual person who commits the murder. Maybe someone is trying to frame you or blame it on you because they committed the murder or were more involved with murdering, so they're going to blame it on you to try to get themselves off the hook.
There are all sorts of different defenses that can be employed in a solicitation of a murder case. You have to ensure you do the right thing; the best person to guide you through is somebody who's been doing it for a long time. I have a lot of experience.
I worked for the District Attorney's office, so I've seen how they investigate these cases. I've also worked for a Superior Court judge, so I've seen how the judges look at these cases and deal with them. Finally, I've been a criminal defense attorney since 1994, defending people who are charged with exactly what you or your loved one is.
