Criminal Defense
Kidnapped Girl Found 18 Years after Being Abducted
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Will Take All Steps Necessary to Neutralize Any Prejudice a Criminal Defendant Faces in the Press While Diligently Defending Against Serious Charges A report filed by Elizabeth Espinosa for details the incredible story of a 29-year-old girl who was recently found after being kidnapped and held captive for 18 years. The girl was abducted nearly two decades earlier from a school bus stop in South…
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Legislature Passes Reducing Offense to Infraction for Office Sports Betting Pools
You no longer can be thrown in jail for taking part in that office betting pool when March Madness or Super Bowl comes around. In early August Governor Schwarzenegger signed a law that changes the penalty for participation in a non-commerical or an office "sports betting pool" from a misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $1,000, to an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. This change in…
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A Court May Consider a Dismissed Charge When Imposing Probation Conditions
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Knows How to Argue Against Facts Underlying a Dismissed Charge A California appellate court has recently held that trial courts have broad discretion in granting or denying probation and imposing probation conditions. Further, the appellate court ruled that a trial court even may consider a charge that the defendant was not convicted of or pled guilty to. See People v. Martin, C.A. 4th/2, DAR p.10639.…
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Vehicle Searches Incident to Arrest
Evidence from Warrantless Vehicle Search Incident to Passenger's Arrest is Suppressed where Defendant was Inside Patrol Vehicle when Searched Defendant, Gonzalez, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. This conviction resulted when a firearm was found during a June 19, 2006 traffic stop of a car in which Gonzalez was riding. The police, following the arrest of another passenger with outstanding warrants, searched the passenger compartment and found…
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LA Man Found Guilty of Second Degree Murder instead of First Degree Murder for the Killing of a USC Film Student
A Skilled Defense Attorney Can Prevent a Defendant from Facing the Death Penalty or Life without Parole The man who invoked fear and uneasiness throughout the USC campus and surrounding community has been found guilty of second degree murder by a Los Angeles court, according to the website. The convicted man is 25 years old, and lived down the street from the USC campus, sometimes working as an usher during…
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Statute of limitations for Filing Grand Theft Charge Commences when Government Entity with Duty to Investigate and Report Crime Discovers Offense
Penal Code section 801.5 provides that prosecution of certain offenses, including grand theft, fraud and perjury, "shall be commenced within four years after discovery of the commission of the offenses . . . ." (emphasis added). Section 803, subdivision (c), provides that the four-year statute of limitations "does not commence to run until the discovery of [the] offense . . . ." (emphasis added). The Penal Code does not specifically…
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Severe Penalties Associated with Driving Under the Influence Emphasizes the Necessity of Hiring an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
Arrests for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) continue to rise in California. Along with the increasing number of arrests, the penalties associated with a conviction continue to escalate. California Vehicle Section 23152 states that it is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle. It is unlawful for…
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From Misdemeanor Drunk in Public to Felony Escape of Police Custody
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney is the Only Place to Turn to Avoid a Lengthy Prison Stay Unfortunately for many people, criminal charges tend to follow after a night of drinking. Such was the case for a 24 year old man arrested on August 3, 2009. After a long night of drinking, the defendant was arrested for public intoxication; a misdemeanor charge that in California, under California Penal Code Section…
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A Drinking and Driving Complaint May Give Rise to a Warrantless Search of Your Home
An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Will Protect Your Right from a Warrantless Search of Your Home Any person can call law enforcement and complain to tell them that a person is drinking and driving. If a complaint names the suspected drunk driver, law enforcement may be able to go the house of the named suspect and lawfully search the home without a warrant. Some courts have held that these searches…
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Pasadena DUI and Criminal Defense Attorneys
Located within the vast spread of Los Angeles County, Pasadena is a diverse city mostly known for putting on the nationally viewed Tournament of Roses parade and the annual Rose Bowl Football game. With an approximate population of 146,518 reported in 2007, Pasadena is the sixth largest city in LA County and has attracted many new residents and returning visitors as a cultural hot spot in the San Gabriel Valley.…
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