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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...

Trespassing is covered under California Penal Code 602 and aggravated trespassing is covered under California Penal Code 601. The crime of trespassing is usually filed against a person when the authorities tell them not to go onto a location or onto a property and then the same person is found on that...

Identity theft is a serious criminal offense in California. Under Penal Code 530.5 PC, it is illegal to use another person's personal identifying information without permission for an unlawful purpose. Identity theft crimes can involve stolen credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, bank account....

California Penal Code 666 PC addresses the crime commonly known as “petty theft with a prior.” This statute applies when a person who has previously been convicted of certain theft-related offenses commits another theft offense. Historically, repeat theft offenses often resulted in felony charges...

When someone is arrested in Los Angeles County, they may be eligible for release from jail by posting bail. Bail is a financial guarantee that the defendant will return to court for all scheduled hearings while their criminal case is pending. California law allows most people accused of crimes to...

An arraignment is the first formal court appearance in a California criminal case. During this hearing, the defendant appears before a judge, is informed of the criminal charges, and enters a plea. In Los Angeles and throughout California, arraignments typically occur shortly after an arrest or after a criminal...

Hundreds of pages of investigative documents related to the unsolved slaying of rapper Notorious B.I.G were recently released by the FBI. Although the FBI has closed their investigation of the 1997 case, the LAPD continues their efforts to find the rapper's killer and to determine if there was an...

Rapper T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle were arrested this month in Los Angeles for alleged possession of a controlled substance. According to the arrest report from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department, during the course of a traffic stop in West Hollywood, involving Tip, 29, and Co...