Criminal Defense
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs New Bill to Require First-Time DUI Offenders in Los Angeles County to Install Interlock Devices
Recently, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 91, otherwise know as AB 91, creating a pilot program in Los Angeles County as well as in three other California counties that will effect first time Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenders in Los Angeles County. The pilot project would begin on July 1, 2010 and would extend to January 1, 2016. By July 1, 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles…
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California Supreme Court to Hear Riverside Dismissal Cases
In a follow-up to a blog previously posted on this site, the California Supreme Court has decided to review to Riverside County criminal cases that had been dismissed for lack of a judge to hear them. The case that was previously posted on and that is currently under review by the California Supreme Court is People v. Wagner. This is the case where the defendant allegedly shot the victim in…
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Violation of a Restraining Order
If you have been accused of violating a restraining order, you may be considered to be in contempt of court. A violation of a restraining order can lead to a misdemeanor or felony charge. Generally, if it is a first offense it will be charged as a misdemeanor. You might be facing hefty fines as well as potential jail time. The amount of the fine and the length of jail…
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Restraining Orders in California
Restraining orders are court orders that prohibit one person from contacting another person. In the state of California, there are various types of restraining orders. Emergency Protective Order (EPO) – This type of restraining order goes into effect immediately but is not long-lasting. It is generally used in domestic violence instances and gives a person time to apply for a permanent restraining order. Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) – This type…
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Shoplifting in California
Shoplifting is a term often used to describe when a person intends to steal or steals an item from a store. However, shoplifting can also involve switching labels or tags on an item to get the item for less money or illegally taking items from your place of work that were entrusted to you. Another common term for shoplifting is petty theft. Petty theft is considered a misdemeanor for the…
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Appealing a Confession: What Counts as Voluntary?
A recent California Supreme Court opinion held half of a defendant's statement to be inadmissible because it was coerced by the police. However, the first part of the statement was still enough for the jury to convict the defendant of a double murder. The California Supreme Court was not happy with the police tactics used to illicit the confession and wrote extensively about the improper procedure. The court ruled, in…
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Why You Need a Riverside Drug Defense Attorney
In late September, Border Patrol Agents seized more than 15 pounds of crystal meth during a traffic stop on I-15 in Temecula, CA. It was reported by a U.S. Customs and Border protection news release that agents "spotted" a 23-year-old woman driving north in a Ford Focus near Winchester Road about 10:15 a.m. and pulled her over. A drug-sniffing dog was called out after the woman "provided inconsistent answers" to…
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Palmdale Reckless Driving and DUI Lawyers
Located within the northeast region of Los Angeles County, the city of Palmdale has witnessed a tremendous increase in population over the recent years. Mostly full of family communities, Palmdale's popularity and growth has made it the largest desert city in California with an approximate population of 151,346. Palmdale is close to the beautiful San Gabriel Mountain range and is considered a safe place to live. However, like any major…
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Court Rules that Defendant Was Not Denied Right to Cross Examine a Witness that Was Deaf, Could Not Speak, and Never Learned Sign Language
The United States Constitution gives defendants the right to cross-examine witnesses against them in criminal proceedings. A defendant in California appealed his conviction of murder on the grounds that he was unable effectively to cross-examine the prosecution's key witness. The mother of the victim in this case was the prosecution's key witness. The victim's mother, is deaf, cannot speak, and has never learned a standard sign language. Rather, she communicates…
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Grocery Store Owner in Los Angles County to Get a New Trial in Light of New Evidence
The founder of Numero Uno markets, a chain of grocery stores throughout Southern California, was granted a new trial last week. This came after a Federal Judge in Los Angels threw out guilty verdicts that had previously been imposed against him. In throwing out 50 guilty verdicts against the grocery store founder, the Judge ruled that new evidence came to light that may have exonerated him. Prosecutors allege that the…
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