Criminal Defense
Los Angeles Reckless Driving and DUI Defense Lawyers
As the largest city in California and the second largest in the U.S., Los Angeles has much to offer its residents and the hundreds of tourists who visit throughout the entire year. Also known as the "City of Angels", Los Angeles had an estimated population in July 2008 of 3,833,995 occupying its 498.3 square miles. It's no wonder then that the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area amounts to almost 12.9…
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Getting a Governor’s Pardon, Getting Your Life Back!
Have you ever been convicted of a Felony, or of a Misdemeanor Sex offense in California? Are you embarrassed by your record and constantly reminded of your mistakes? Do you wish to have your rights restored? Such as being able to serve on a jury, or being employed as a state parole officer or as a county probation officer? Do you want to be able to own or possess a…
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Defendant Convicted of First Degree Murder Has Sentence Overturned Based on Insufficient Evidence
Why You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer on Your Side The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently overturned a first degree murder conviction in US v. Begay (2009 DJDAR 7955). Begay was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. The District Court imposed mandatory concurrent life sentences for each murder conviction as well as 35 years…
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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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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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“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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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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