Crime Conviction
What You Need To Know If You Or A Loved One Is Facing A Murder Charge
What You Need To Know If You Or A Loved One Is Facing A Murder Charge Murder, defined as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought, is one of the most severe crimes under California law. If you or a loved one are convicted of a murder charge there will be very serious punishment. Murder cases have many complex legal issues and you will need the guidance…
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When Does Petty Theft Become A Felony?
When Does Petty Theft Become A Felony? Petty theft generally applies to shoplifting instances. Petty theft is the taking of property valued at less than $950, and it is considered a misdemeanor in California. However, if the accused has two prior convictions for petty theft or grand theft, then it could be charged as a felony. There are other circumstances that can make petty theft a felony, such as the…
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Is Embezzlement A Felony? Everything You Need To Know About Embezzlement
Is Embezzlement A Felony? Everything You Need In California, embezzlement is a serious criminal offense and can lead to heavy fines or prison time. Embezzlement is defined as the act of wrongfully appropriating funds that have been entrusted to you, but belong to someone else. It is a form of white-collar crime that is often committed by individuals in positions of trust, such as employees or financial advisors. Choosing Wallin…
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First District of California Rules DNA Sample Law Unconstitutional
In a recent California state court ruling, the First District Court of Appeal determined a the law that permitted police to gather a DNA sample from any individual arrested on suspicion of a felony was unconstitutional. On the other side of the country however, in Maryland, a very similar law was upheld by the high court, giving the police the right to collect DNA samples from anyone arrested in connection with…
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NFL Player Aldon Smith Accused of Making False Bomb Threat (California Penal Code Section 148.1)
On April 13, 2014, a routine airport trip for a San Francisco 49ers linebacker took a drastic turn. According to ABC News, Aldon Smith was arrested after allegedly making a bomb threat at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). 1 According to LAX police, Smith was randomly chosen for secondary screening by TSA agents while going through Terminal 1. At that moment he became belligerent, arguing with security and refusing to…
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Can I avoid going to prison if I have been convicted of a felony?
Many people think that they will automatically be sentenced to jail time if they are convicted of a felony. That is simply not true. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys may be able to help you get formal felony probation instead of serving time in prison for a felony conviction. Our criminal lawyers have the experience it takes to mitigate the punishment, sentence and consequences of your felony conviction. If you have no…
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Can the prosecutors have deported an illegal alien who is a key defense witness in a pending criminal case?
In a recent case, federal prosecutors had deported a critical witness for the defense in a pending felony prosecution. There was no question that the defense witness was an undocumented alien and could legally be deported. However, the witness had been living in the United States for a substantial period of time. This key witness was only deported after it became known to the prosecution that she was illegal. The…
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DO COPS LIE? THEY SURE DO AND HERE IS PROOF THAT THEY LIE
DA OFFICE FILES PERJURY CHARGES AGAINST TWO LAPD OFFICERS FOR LYING IN POLICE REPORTS AND SWORN TESTIMONY It was reported in the Los Angeles Daily Journal that prosecutors have filed felony perjury charges against two LAPD cops for filing a false police report. This criminal case stems from the two officers becoming involved in a DUI "checkpoint." The two officers allegedly lied in their police report by claiming that a…
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CALIFORNIA’S NEW FELONY SENTENCING LAW SHRUNK STATE PRISON POPULATION AS IT GREATLY INCREASED COUNTY JAIL TOTALS
On October 1, 2011 in response to a federal court order that the State of California reduce its horribly overcrowded prison population, the legislature changed the California felony sentencing law and made many lower level felonies in California punishable by time in county jail and not in state prison. What has been the impact of this important law change? In an 8 month period, since the changes to California's felony…
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Two Orange County Lawyers Prosecuted for Causing the Wrongful Arrest of a Parent Volunteer in Irvine
In a bizarre turn of events, two Orange County attorneys are being prosecuted for a felony charge of conspiracy after being accused of unlawfully planting drugs in a parent volunteer's automobile with the intention to have her arrested and prosecuted for a drug offense. It is alleged that these two attorneys were unhappy with the manner in which the parent volunteer supervised their son in 2010. The "drugs" found in…
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