Assault & Battery
California Sentencing Laws for Multiple Convictions Can Be Complicated
Why You Need the Assistance of a Criminal Defense Law Firm Often, a defendant is charged with multiple crimes stemming out of the same incident. For example, a person involved in a bar fight may be charged with both disturbing the peace and assault in California. While both charges are based on the same course of conduct, it is still possible to be found guilty of violating both laws. In…
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Chula Vista Theft and Burglary Defense Attorneys
Chula Vista, California is located in southern San Diego County. The city is the second largest in San Diego County according to population, and the 14th largest statewide in California (also in terms of population numbers). Chula Vista is 51.2 square miles in size, and houses a population of about 217,478 residents. Since the year 2000, Chula Vista's population has grown by over 20%. Chula Vista's economy is very much…
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United States Supreme Court Rules that Police May Not Automatically Search the Car of Anyone They Pull Over for a Traffic Infraction
Recently in Arizona v. Gant, United States Supreme Court ruled that it was not proper for officers to have the authority to automatically search the car of a person who is stopped over a traffic infraction. The court held that in order to justify a search, the police must either reasonably fear that the arrestee might have access to a weapon in the car or have a reasonable prospect of…
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Child Abuse Central Index – Self Inquiry
The Office of the Attorney General has a page on its website that allows those individuals who may be listed on the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) to check their 'list status.' The page was added to the site to adhere to California Penal Code section 11170, which in pertinent part, explains that: (f) (1) Any person may determine if he or she is listed in the Child Abuse Central…
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Crime Down In Los Angeles and Other Parts of California
An article in the Los Angeles Times discusses recent L.A. Sheriff's statistics that show crime in Los Angeles and across Southern California has reduced in recent months. The reduction comes despite an economic downturn which has resulted in an unemployment rate in double digits, an imploded housing market, and the closing of countless businesses. The decline flies in the face of predictions made by many crime experts that the region…
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San Fernando Valley Doctor Convicted Of Selling Painkillers
Masoud Bamdad, 55, was convicted of 13 counts of illegal drug distribution and faces a maximum sentence of more than 300 years in prison for improperly prescribing powerful painkillers to his drug-addicted patients and undercover DEA agents. Prosecutors portrayed Bamdad as little more than a common drug dealer. Customers in his offices would pay him $140 or more for prescriptions to drugs like oxycodone. Authorities said he admitted receiving about…
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Law Students Help Free Three-Strike Offenders
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times discusses a clinic at Stanford Law School that focuses entirely on convicts who are serving extended sentences because of California's Three Strikes Law. The students at this law clinic are devoting their time and effort to reversing what they view as miscarriages of justice under the California Law. Since September, the Stanford Criminal Defense Clinic, has persuaded judges to lessen the sentences…
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Riverside Theft and Burglary Defense Attorneys
With an estimated population of 311,575 in 2008, Riverside, California is the largest city in the Inland Empire region of California, and the 12th largest city statewide. The United States Census Bureau reports that Riverside has a total area of 98.4 square miles, with a population density of 3,267.2 people per square mile. The University of California at Riverside and the Riverside Unified School District employ the largest number of…
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19 Years to Life for “Wall of Sound” Producer: He Will Need an Experienced Criminal Defense and Appellate Attorney
The website reported in a story on May 29, 2009 that Phil Spector, 69, has been sentenced to 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, 40, nearly six years after he shot her. Clarkson was found shot through the mouth in the famous music producer's mansion in Alhambra. Spector displayed no emotion as Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler laid out his sentence of 15 years…
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Chris Brown to Face Rihanna In Court: He’ll Be Sure to Have an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
The website reported in an article on May 28, 2009 that prosecutors will be calling Rihanna, 21, as one of the witnesses at a preliminary hearing against R & B singer Chris Brown, 19, who faces assault charges. Rihanna's lawyer, Daonald Etra, told new reporters that prosecutors have informed him that Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, will be receiving a subpoena to testify in June. The preliminary…
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