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California Penal Code 503 PC embezzlement really has to do with somebody who sits in a position of trust in a business or a company or even a little mom-and-pop store and they use that position of trust to be able to take some merchandise, cash, or whatever is of value related to that business, store...

When it comes to a California Penal Code 187 PC murder charge, obviously this is a serious offense and people are looking at a significant amount in custody, and therefore, it's important that if there is a defense available, we obviously utilize it.  There are various defenses that are not available...

This is an interesting question when it comes to California Penal Code 187 PC murder cases in Los Angeles and throughout the San Fernando Valley.  I've tried a lot of them over the last twenty-five years and I find this issue coming up more and more when it comes to a murder charge, and that is...

This is a big problem that comes up a lot in California domestic violence cases throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, at least the ones that I've handled.  I have clients calling me saying that their significant other is not going to cooperate.  They're not going to testify, and therefore...

When somebody breaks into another person's house, law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges put this type of crime among the highest priority crimes for punishing, deterring, and making sure that the offender who gets convicted of this California burglary-type charge does not do it again.  So...

There are many risks when it comes to criminal defense, some of which most people know about which relate to having a criminal record and having to move on with your life with a criminal record is obviously difficult, because when you apply for a job your criminal record will be read and people w...

California Domestic violence charges are more and more politically charged as it relates to certain rights that we all have.  We certainly have the right to bear arms, but if you are convicted of a domestic violence-related charge, you will lose your right to bear arms for at least ten years. This seems unfair...

This is a question that I've talked about and fought for over the past twenty-five years of defending cases in the Van Nuys courthouse, which pretty much controls most of the San Fernando Valley as far as the jurisdiction for California criminal cases that are arrested and filed in the Valley.  As far as...

When it comes to criminal defense, there are a lot of City Attorney hearings throughout the San Fernando Valley, which is basically controlled by the City Attorney's office as far as misdemeanor cases go, domestic violence cases, and the like. It means there's a good chance you can get a non-filing...

Vice detectives basically investigate crimes that occur in a particular community. They do sting operations. They do undercover operations, surveillance. They use informants. They do all sorts of things in order to catch people who are committing certain crimes. Examples are, a community is plagu...

The West Valley Police Station which is on Vanowen Street in the San Fernando Valley pretty much has jurisdiction over most of the west end of the Valley and the middle of the San Fernando Valley. West Valley Community Police Station is located at 19020 Vanowen Street, Reseda, CA 91335. They...

The Lost Hills Sheriff Station patrols the west end of the San Fernando Valley. It also covers Agoura Hills and all of the surrounding areas. It's the Sheriff; not the LAPD. The Sheriff Station itself is actually in kind of a remote area — dark, not much lighting. It's also surrounded by a lot of bars, a few clubs...

It's an interesting question because I probably count about seven courthouses, although some of the courthouses are outlying the San Fernando Valley but cover some of the ground in the Valley. For example, Malibu used to be one of the courthouses that covered some of the ground in the Valley...

This is a good question because there's not a real perfect exact answer. Typically, what you should do if you're a family member or even the person who is in custody and you're trying to figure out when you're going to get into court, you have to get an attorney and give them all the information ...

When it comes to criminal defense in Los Angeles, these terms are thrown around all the time. Basically, a California expungement has to do with once a person's probation is over or at least a year has gone by and you can get the probation terminated early, and the person hasn't gone to prison ...

I've handled a lot of cases involving the detectives in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley who are involved with narcotics arrests. There's a special unit that handles narcotics and they make a lot of arrests. What these guys are doing is arresting people and then they try to get those people to give...

When it comes to a felony DUI, under California Vehicle Code 23153(a), there are certain things that the prosecutors must prove in order to sustain a charge against somebody in one of the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley Courts. The reason these elements are so important is two-fold.  No. 1...

This article is to give you an understanding of California Criminal Jury Instructions 840 – inflicting injury on a spouse resulting in a traumatic condition. This crime is defined under Penal Code 273.5 PC known as corporal injury to a spouse. When it comes to domestic violence cases in Los Angeles and...

What is an accessory after the fact? Someone can be charged as an accessory after a crime if they aid or assist the individual who committed a crime under California Penal Code 32. In order to get somebody for an accessory after the fact, the prosecutors are going to have to able to prove that the...

Filing a Petition for Factual Innocence in a Criminal Case – California Penal Code Section 851.8. When somebody has been arrested and then they're sent to court and no complaint is filed against them – in other words, no charges are filed against them – then the question becomes do they have any w...

Understanding Extradition Laws in California – Penal Code Section 1548. All the time in criminal defense, there are situations where people are arrested in one county or one state and it's determined that they have a warrant in another county or state, or someone's arrested in a state and they...

Health and Safety Code Section 11370.1 – Possession of a Firearm Related to a Controlled Substance of Narcotics Case. If someone has narcotics and they're selling them or for some other purpose, and they also have a firearm, this is an added enhancement that the prosecutors can file against the...

More and more, I'm seeing people being charged with the crime of theft by pretenses under California Penal Code 532 PC. This has to do with one person tricking another person into giving them money or property and that person not performing their end of the bargain. For example, if someone...

California has strict firearm laws that regulate how guns may be possessed, transported, and carried. One of the most common firearm-related offenses is carrying a concealed weapon, which is prohibited under California Penal Code 25400. Under this law, it is illegal to carry a concealed firearm on...

In California criminal cases, judges have the authority to impose a variety of penalties depending on the facts of the case, the defendant’s criminal history, and the seriousness of the offense. In many situations, the prosecution and defense negotiate a resolution before sentencing occurs, and the judge...