Criminal Defense
Under California’s Felony Murder Rule, an Unarmed, First-Time Offender Served 29 Years in Prison for Waiting in a Getaway Car During a Robbery
Connie Keel was charged with first-degree murder for participating as an aider and abettor in the robbery of a liquor store that resulted in the death of the store clerk. Keel was convicted of murder in California at her 1981 trial, even though she was never accused of killing anyone with her own hands. To this day, Keel claims that she had no idea that her husband and cousin intended…
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More on WIT Court – Once Accepted into WIT Court, What Are the Benefits?
The last two days, we have been blogging on WIT Court. But I am sure most readers are wondering; what is the benefit of being in this program anyway? A participant is accepted into WIT Court program after pleading guilty to a non-violent criminal offense. The defendant is then sentenced to WIT court. This means that rather initially serving a sentencing in county jail or state prison, the defendant is…
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Simi Valley DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys
As Ventura County's third biggest city, Simi Valley had an estimated population of 126,300 in August 2009. Located in Southern California, Simi Valley is considered to be quite hidden by hills and mountains, but that doesn't stop new inhabitants from joining the community. In its span of about 42 square miles, transportation to and from Simi Valley is available through Highways 118, 23, 101 and Interstates 5, 405, and 210.…
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More on WIT Court – How You or Your Loved One Can Get Accepted into this Program
"WIT" Court or "Whatever it Takes Court" is a collaborative court program that seeks to aid those who are mentally ill and on the verge of homelessness to stabilize their life through treating the mental illness. As mentioned in yesterday's post, to be eligible for the program the defendant must have (1 )a "serious and persistent" mental health disorders, (2) must be homeless or on the verge of homelessness and…
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Van Nuys DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys
The city of Van Nuys occupies the center of the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. Its main street, Van Nuys Boulevard, is known for its vast array of car dealerships. The TV show Beverly Hills 90210 was filmed on a set in Van Nuys. The city had an estimated population in 2000 of 136,443 people. Given its close proximity to Los Angeles, Van Nuys is susceptible to its…
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“Whatever it Takes” Court or “WIT” Court Helps Those Who Committed a Crime Because of a Mental Illness
An Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer is Knowledgeable About All Rehabilitative Court Programs Whatever it Takes or WIT Court is a collaborative court program similar to DUI or Drug Court in Orange County. However, unlike DUI or Drug Court, WIT is a judicial construct, not a legislative one. This means that the requirements to enter the program, make it through the program and graduate are created by the judge, not the…
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Bail Explained
How an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Can Save You Thousands of Dollars After a person is arrested and taken into custody, at the first appearance before a judge they have a right to a "bail hearing" where the amount of bail is set. When a defendant makes "bail" this means they are giving a specified amount of money to the court in exchange for being let out of jail with…
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Encounters With Police – Know Your Rights to Avoid Arrest and Conviction
Street encounters with police occur with varying degrees of coercion. An encounter with police is best understood by breaking it down into three categories: Where a citizen feels "free to leave" and terminate the encounter at will. Here, there has been no "detention" under the law. This falls outside the scope of Fourth Amendment protections prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures of a person, their home, papers, and effects; Brief "seizures",…
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Community is a Haven for Sex Offenders
An Experienced Criminal Defense Firm Will Do Everything Possible in Order to Prevent their Client from Having to Register as a Sex Offender Antioch, a small community outside of San Francisco, has recently been making national headlines for being the home of over 100 sex offenders. Most specifically, it was the home of sex offender Phillip Garrido, who is accused of holding Jaycee Lee Dugard against her will for the…
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O.C. Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Making Threats to Wife and Family Law Judge
A 45-year-old Orange County man was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for possessing homemade explosive devices with the intent to kill his former wife, her divorce attorney, the family court judge and Huntington Beach Police Department officers. The Costa Mesa resident was ultimately charged with a laundry list of offenses, 15 felony counts in all, including stalking, possession of a destructive device with intent to injure, possession of a homemade…
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