Assault & Battery
Los Angeles Murder Conviction Overturned
Judge Throws Out A Nearly 30-year-Old Murder Conviction After Finding Prosecutorial Misconduct. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge tossed out a nearly 30-year-old murder conviction. Judge David S. Wesley found that the prosecutors had violated the defendant's rights and withheld evidence from defense attorneys. In his ruling, Judge Wesley said that attorneys for Adam Miranda should have been told that witness Joe Saucedo had confessed to the killing. Adam…
Read MoreCalifornia Appellate Attorney Proves Self Defense in Homicide Appeals Case
Accidentally firing a weapon is a defense to murder - why hiring an experienced criminal defense firm can save you from prison A recent California appeals case, People v. Villanueva, held that the trial court was mistaken when the trial court failed to instruct the jury that they could find the defendant not guilty based on self-defense. 2008 D.A.R. 18235 (2nd Dist. 2008) Dec. 12 2008 (B202418). Defendant testified that…
Read MoreGang Members Charged in Canoga Park Murder
Why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney. Three Canoga Park men believed to be members of a Latin street gang have been hit with various California murder charges stemming from a December 22, 2008 shooting outside Canoga Park Bowl, a neighborhood bowling alley. Richard Bordelon, 21, Martin Sotelo, 23, and a third 15-year-old suspect are being prosecuted for the shooting and killing of James Shamp, a 48-year-old worker at…
Read MoreOJ Simpson Sentenced for Kidnapping and Assult with a Deadly Weapon
OJ Sentenced to prison in Nevada Last Friday, OJ Simpson was sentenced to a maximum of 33 years in a Nevada State prison for his role in a September 2007 kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon in Las Vegas. In sentencing Simpson, Judge Jackie Glass indicated that the evidence against Simpson was overwhelming. Such evidence included audiotapes that captured Simpson planning and executing the kidnapping and assault. It is…
Read MoreCalifornia Drug and Weapons Charges Prompts Pat Down Legality Dispute
When you are facing drug charges you need the legal representation of highly qualified criminal defense lawyers to help you win your case. Tyree Christopher Collier was denied his motion to suppress evidence on Thursday, September 18, 2008 and plead guilty to concealed firearm charges in California. Collier was the passenger in a car that was pulled over in a routine traffic stop in Los Angeles County. The Deputy Sheriff,…
Read MoreDomestic Violence Conviction and Firearm Possession Likely Impacted by Recent Supreme Court Decision
We have been discussing the impact on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in D.C. v. Heller and how that ruling might negatively impact on various gun regulations. In this installment, we discuss how this ruling might impact on the Lautenberg Act. (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).) The Lautenberg Act provides that no person who has ever been convicted of a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" may ever possess a firearm. (18…
Read MoreConvicted Felons in Possession of Firearms Impacted by US Supreme Court Decision and how Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help
In the previous installment, we saw how the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in D.C. v. Heller left many important questions about the scope of the Second Amendment unanswered. These questions included important issues as, how should a court go about balancing the individual's constitutional right to "keep and bear arms" against a government's attempt to regulate the possession of firearms, and, whatever test the Court later decides to implement, how…
Read MoreFirearm Cases and Laws to be Impacted by Supreme Court Ruling
On June 26, 2008, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) 128 S. Ct. 645. The issue in the case was whether Washington, D.C.'s gun law ran afoul of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. That Amendment provides, in its entirety, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of…
Read MoreUS SUPREME COURT HEARS SECOND AMENDMENT CASE
The United States Supreme Court heard arguments recently in a case involving a challenge to Washington, DC's ban on the possession of handguns. The law had been challenged by a resident of Washington, DC on the ground that the law runs contrary to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Second Amendment provides, in its entirety, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free…
Read MoreI Want to Own a Handgun
Does the Second Amendment to the United States (US) Constitution allow American citizens to keep handguns at home? This is the question now before the US Supreme Court, at it decided at the end of last year to rule on the issue. The US Supreme Court will hear arguments on the issue shortly and render its decision by summer 2008. Its decision could affect thousands and thousands who want to…
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