I am Accused of Possession of a Controlled Substance – What Should I Do? – California Health & Safety Code Section 11350
I am Accused of Possession of a Controlled Substance – What Should I Do? – California Health & Safety Code Section 11350
California Health & Safety Code Section 11350 is a law that makes it illegal to possess various types of drugs as defined within the health and safety code. In order to be convicted of possession of a controlled substance, the prosecution must prove that you unlawfully possessed a controlled substance, that you knew of its presence, that you knew of the substance's nature or character as a controlled substance, what…
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“Money Man” Spared Jail Time and Felony Conviction in Exchange for Turning Informant and Providing Witness Testimony
It was recently reported that Donald Haidl, the alleged "money man" for disgraced Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, will not serve jail time because Haidl provided "extraordinary" cooperation with prosecutors in convicting Carona for corruption. Haidl will instead pay a $40,000 fine and perform community service on a guilty plea for filing a false tax return. The crime carries a statutory minimum of three years in prison and a $100,000…
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Don’t Get Ticketed for Passing a Parked Emergency Vehicle – California Vehicle Code Section 21809
Under California Vehicle Code Section 21809, the law now gives greater protection to emergency vehicles that are parked on the shoulder of a freeway. This means that if you are driving in either the very far right or very far left lanes, the law requires you to change lanes if you see that you are coming up behind an emergency vehicle that is parked on the freeway shoulder and has…
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An Arizona Self-Help Guru Has Been Charged With Manslaughter
Self-help guru, James Arthur Ray, has been charged with three counts of manslaughter after dozens of his followers collapsed in a sweat lodge at his retreat center in Arizona. Allegedly, over twenty people were hospitalized, and three of them never regained consciousness and died at a hospital. If he is convicted, Mr. Ray could be sentenced to more than 35 years in prison. Since prosecutors charged Mr. Ray with manslaughter,…
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Doctor Convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon – California Penal Code Section 245
NPR reported that a former emergency room doctor was convicted of six felony counts in an incident involving a car which was allegedly used as a weapon. The news story said that the incident started when the doctor, while driving his car, got a little too close for comfort with a couple of cyclists who were apparently hogging the road. The doctor and the cyclists exchanged words, and the doctor…
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Anaheim Assault and Battery Defense Attorneys
The number ten most populated city in California, Anaheim, stretches 50.5 miles to cover most of Orange County. Its estimated 348,467 residents share their city with a steady file of professionals and vacationers who come to conference, share business and see Anaheim's well-known theme parks Disney California Adventure and Disneyland. The Anaheim Convention Center is another Anaheim staple, hosting leisure and sports events that draw families and friends seeking entertainment.…
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How an Experienced Southern California Criminal Defense Attorney Can Find Errors and Flaws in Prosecutors Case
Recently, a federal case against an Orange County politician was dealt a blow when a portion of the prosecutors' audio evidence was found to be missing. The case arose out of the 2006 general election for California's 47th House of Representatives district to represent Santa Ana between incumbent Loretta Sanchez and challenger Tan Duc Nguyen. During the campaign, a letter apparently from Nguyen went out to 14,000 residents in the…
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The Benefits of Veteran’s Court
Orange County Collaborative Courts are specialized courts that cater to specific underlying issues that may be present in individuals who come before the court. These courts offer judicial monitoring and a team approach to decision making, including the participation of different agencies. One of these Collaborative Court programs is known as Veteran's Court. The mission of the Veteran's Court is to provide a treatment program for combat veterans in the…
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Santa Ana Assault and Battery Defense Attorneys
The Southern California city of Santa Ana is a largely populated metropolitan area located in Orange County. Its corresponding river of the same name, the Santa Ana River, is one of the many natural occurrences in the Los Angeles landscape that claims the Santa Ana title, including Santa Ana Mountains, Santa Winds, Santa Ana Watershed, and Santa Ana Freeway-an interstate used by many of Santa Ana's estimated population of over…
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Sex Offender Laws Require “Actual Knowledge” of Registration Requirement – California Penal Code Section 290
If you have been previously convicted of a "registerable" offense (an offense listed in Penal Code section 290) in California, then you must register as a sex offender. Additionally, even if the offense you committed is not listed in Penal Code section 290, the judge can still require you to register as a sex offender if the judge determines that the offense you committed was sexually motivated. Once you are…
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