LA Man Found Guilty of Second Degree Murder instead of First Degree Murder for the Killing of a USC Film Student
LA Man Found Guilty of Second Degree Murder instead of First Degree Murder for the Killing of a USC Film Student
A Skilled Defense Attorney Can Prevent a Defendant from Facing the Death Penalty or Life without Parole The man who invoked fear and uneasiness throughout the USC campus and surrounding community has been found guilty of second degree murder by a Los Angeles court, according to the website. The convicted man is 25 years old, and lived down the street from the USC campus, sometimes working as an usher during…
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Statute of limitations for Filing Grand Theft Charge Commences when Government Entity with Duty to Investigate and Report Crime Discovers Offense
Penal Code section 801.5 provides that prosecution of certain offenses, including grand theft, fraud and perjury, "shall be commenced within four years after discovery of the commission of the offenses . . . ." (emphasis added). Section 803, subdivision (c), provides that the four-year statute of limitations "does not commence to run until the discovery of [the] offense . . . ." (emphasis added). The Penal Code does not specifically…
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Lancaster DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney
Lancaster is located in Southern California's Antelope Valley and is the ninth fastest growing city in the United States. With an estimated 145,243 residents living in the city in 2008, Lancaster is the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County. The city draws national and local companies in from many different types of businesses and industries. Many inhabitants are drawn to Lancaster to pursue the American Dream of establishing a…
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Severe Penalties Associated with Driving Under the Influence Emphasizes the Necessity of Hiring an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
Arrests for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) continue to rise in California. Along with the increasing number of arrests, the penalties associated with a conviction continue to escalate. California Vehicle Section 23152 states that it is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle. It is unlawful for…
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From Misdemeanor Drunk in Public to Felony Escape of Police Custody
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney is the Only Place to Turn to Avoid a Lengthy Prison Stay Unfortunately for many people, criminal charges tend to follow after a night of drinking. Such was the case for a 24 year old man arrested on August 3, 2009. After a long night of drinking, the defendant was arrested for public intoxication; a misdemeanor charge that in California, under California Penal Code Section…
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A Drinking and Driving Complaint May Give Rise to a Warrantless Search of Your Home
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Will Protect Your Right from a Warrantless Search of Your Home Any person can call law enforcement and complain to tell them that a person is drinking and driving. If a complaint names the suspected drunk driver, law enforcement may be able to go the house of the named suspect and lawfully search the home without a warrant. Some courts have held that these searches…
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Pasadena DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys
Located within the vast spread of Los Angeles County, Pasadena is a diverse city mostly known for putting on the nationally viewed Tournament of Roses parade and the annual Rose Bowl Football game. With an approximate population of 146,518 reported in 2007, Pasadena is the sixth largest city in LA County and has attracted many new residents and returning visitors as a cultural hot spot in the San Gabriel Valley.…
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Officer’s Have Heightened Duty to Confirm an Anonymous Tipster’s Information
An Experienced Criminal Defense Firm will Expose a Lack of Reliability from an Anonymous Informant An anonymous tip, standing alone, seldom will exhibit sufficient indicia of reliability to support reasonable suspicion for an investigatory or traffic stop. An informant who provides information face-to-face to law enforcement is not considered the same as an anonymous tipster. See United States v. Romain, 393 F.3d, 63 (2004). Officers do not have the same…
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Courts Give a Presumption of “Reasonable Suspicion” Established from a Citizen Informant’s Statements
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Knows How to Effectively Rebut this Presumption As discussed in the blog yesterday, a person who tips officers to suspected criminal conduct is called an "informant." A citizen informant generally gains knowledge of an alleged criminal offense by being either a witness or a victim. A citizen informant is deemed to be reliable, unless this presumption of reliability is rebutted. Courts have held that a…
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A Traffic Stop Based on an Anonymous Informant’s Tip Must Be Reliable to be a Legal Stop
Why You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney Who Knows Search and Seizure Laws In order to conduct a legal traffic stop, an officer must have what is called "reasonable suspicion" to stop the car. Often, officers will rely on a tip they received from someone who may know the suspect, one who may have seen the suspect engage in an illegal activity, or a person with a hunch to create…
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