Marijuana Possession Conviction Occurring Before Current Offense Does Not Negate Eligibility for Deferred Entry of Judgment
Marijuana Possession Conviction Occurring Before Current Offense Does Not Negate Eligibility for Deferred Entry of Judgment
Why Hiring an Experienced Criminal Defense Firm Can Assure You Are Given Access to All Available Court Programs Defendant, Oscar Armando Ochoa pled guilty to possessing cocaine after the trial court denied his motion to defer entry of judgment under penal code §1000. On appeal in California, Mr. Ochoa argued that the court erred in finding that his January 2006 conviction for possession of marijuana occurring more than two years…
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Clearing Arrest Record After a False Arrest
Lessons From a Criminal Defense Lawyer It is possible for an officer to unintentionally or unlawfully arrest a person? If an officer arrests a person without sufficient probable cause, this is often referred to as a "false arrest." The consequences of an improper arrest can include suppression of any testimonial statements by the suspect, suppression of physical evidence, and personal liability for the officer. In addition, a factual innocence motion…
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Long Beach DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney
Long Beach, California is situated about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The second largest city in Los Angeles County, Long Beach boasts an estimated population of about 493,000 throughout its 65.9 square miles. Long Beach is home to the Port of Long Beach, one of the world's largest shipping ports. Aside from shipping, the city's economy is stimulated through the manufacturing of goods, such as aircraft (Boeing) and…
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Know Your Rights: Students Are Protected from Strip Searches by School Officials
The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided a strip search was illegal where a minor student was suspected of carrying Ibuprofen on campus. During an incident in 2003 at Safford Middle School, a student told school officials that Savana Redding was carrying the painkillers. Two female staffers proceeded to conduct the strip search of Redding, but found no pills. The Supreme Court affirmed the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals ruling in…
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The Fourth Amendment and Consent to Search a Vehicle
Whether Consent Given by Driver to Search Vehicle Was Given Voluntarily Requires Analysis by an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Who Understands the Fourth Amendment Voluntariness of consent to search must be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment and Article 1, section 5 of The United States Constitution "by examining the totality of the circumstances." Ohio v. Robinette, 519 U.S. at 39; State v. Sherburne, 571 A.2d 1181, 1185 (Me. 1990). Consent…
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An Arrest Occurs When an Officer Deprives a Person of Liberty in a Significant Way
Lessons From a Criminal Defense Attorney The traditional definition of arrest by an officer includes the following elements: (1) intent to arrest communicated by words or actions of the officer; (2) show of the officer's authority; (3) submission to custody or sufficient force to achieve custody by the officer; and (4) the person's understanding that he or she is under arrest. California statutorily defines an arrest as "taking a person…
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9th District Federal Court of Appeals Reverses Murder Conviction After all State Courts Reject Appeal
Why You Need a Highly Skilled Criminal Appeals Law Firm to Help You In a case decided on July 7, 2009, the 9th District Federal Court of Appeals reversed the murder conviction of Mohammend Ali due to the courts finding that the prosecutor had committed prejudicial error when he excused the only two black prospective jurors from the jury pool. At the trial, the defendant's attorney had objected to the…
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Court of Appeals Holds that Defendant is not Entitled to County Paid Experts at Sentencing Hearing
In People vs. Stuckey, decided by the 3rd District Court of Appeals on July 9, 2009 the court held that a defendant who is facing sentencing does not have the right to court appointed experts. The court held that the right to court appointed experts exists only up to the time of jury trial. Once a defendant has been found guilty, then the court held there has no further right…
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San Diego DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys
San Diego is the eighth largest city in population in the United States. Located along the Pacific Ocean in the Southwest portion of California, San Diego is 372.1 square miles in size. San Diego's economy is fueled by defense (home to the largest naval fleet in the world), manufacturing (home to companies such as Qualcomm Incorporated), and tourism (home to numerous points of interest that include the San Diego Zoo…
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Pot Dispensary Owner Sentenced to Prison in Los Angeles
Thoughts by a Wallin & Klarich Criminal Defense Attorney A Morro Bay pot dispensary owner was sentenced to one year and one day in prison by a federal judge in Los Angeles, according to a published report on . Charles Lynch, 47, was prosecuted for illegally distributing marijuana from his Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers facility, despite having the blessing of Morro Bay's mayor, city attorney and other civic leaders. His…
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