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When you talk about the best in an area like DUIs, you want an attorney with a lot of experience in DUI defense and someone who has experience in the court where your case is pending. I’ve been doing this for 30 years.  I worked for the district attorney’s office, and I worked for a superior court judge...

Right now, politically, gun crimes are one of the most heavily prosecuted crimes in Los Angeles County.  The bottom line is that those individuals who control the police departments and the other political entities – the Mayor’s office, City Attorney’s office, and DA’s office, are anti-guns. So, any...

One thing people don’t realize is that the jury is instructed on the law related to any charge that a criminal defendant has in California. In Los Angeles County, they use the California Criminal Jury Instructions, commonly called “CALCRIM.” I’ve done over 200 jury trials, so I know how vital those jury... 

We are often asked how can prosecutors still prove me guilty of a California domestic violence case if my significant other refuses to cooperate? Domestic violence, called “DV,” is a crime committed against someone you share a close relationship. It is the most commonly charged crime in California...

We are often asked what will happen to me if I get arrested for domestic violence in Los Angeles? I’ve been defending people now for 30 years who are charged with domestic violence cases. Those domestic violence charges can take all different shapes and sizes.  You could be charged with corporal... 

This is a big question for many people because they don’t want to get a conviction.  They don’t want to go to jail or prison.  They don’t want to suffer the consequences of a criminal conviction in California. So, they start to try to decide exactly what they should do.  Obviously, in my opinion, that’s...

We are often asked if a defendant’s bail can be raised after a preliminary hearing in a criminal case in Los Angeles County? Many people are concerned about going into custody, and they don’t realize that someone’s bail can be raised after a preliminary hearing in a California criminal case...

I have a lot of clients asking me to file Humphrey’s motion and argue to the judge because they’ve heard about it, especially clients who are in custody and are trying to figure out how to get out.  I will give you the best explanation I can here, having argued these motions and read the case and giving...

Many people get arrested for DUIs, and when they meet with potential attorneys trying to decide who to hire to represent them, they’re telling the attorney they were not read their Miranda rights.  They somehow think that can be used to help them avoid getting a conviction for a DUI. I will tell...

An arraignment is essential in a California DUI case because that’s the initial appearance in court related to your case.  If you’ve been arrested, you’re going to be given a ticket, or you’re going to post bail, and you’ll be given something from the bail agency telling you to appear in court, the date, the...

This is a good question because many people feel like they were pulled over for no reason and feel that is wrong.  In other words, can the police pull people over for no reason, or do they have to have some legitimate reason to pull people over? The answer to that question is, of course, no, they...

I’ve been defending people for sex crime cases in Los Angeles and surrounding counties and across the national federally for almost 30 years, so I have a pretty good idea that it can take a long time to file a sex crime case universally. The reasons for this are multiple, in the sense that it depends on...

Why is having the best criminal defense lawyer crucial if you’re charged with a sex crime in California? I’ve been handling sex crimes now in Los Angeles County for the past 30 years, and I can tell you that they’re one of the most challenging cases to defend, and that’s one of the biggest reasons you have...

What do prosecutors have to prove to convict someone of California Penal Code 266h and 266i PC pimping and pandering? First, while these are technically two separate crimes, pimping and pandering go hand in hand.  What you’re talking about is an individual charged with a crime where they are...

If you’re in a situation where you have been charged with consensual sex with a minor, known as statutory rape, do you still have to register as a sex offender? This is a common question we are frequently asked. California Penal Code Section 261.5 PC is the statute that covers having sex with...

These cases are severe because California Penal Code 245(a)(1) assault with a deadly weapon is a strike.  You will serve a higher percentage of jail or prison time.  If you’re convicted of an assault with a deadly weapon, it’s a violent felony, so you don’t want to have it on your record if you can avoid it...

A protective order is a routine part of the criminal case when someone gets charged with domestic violence in Los Angeles County.  This protective order is not to be confused with a restraining order. A restraining order is a civil remedy.  If someone is harassing you or bothering you or if you’re...

When you’re talking about an attempted rape in California, you’re talking about a strike. You’re talking about a sex offense that will cause you to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. So, the bottom line is, if you can get a not guilty verdict, that means everything.  How you get it, in short...

California Penal Code 459 PC burglary cases are charged all the time in Los Angeles, and especially now as I make this post, burglaries are happening all over the city.  The police are on the lookout.  They’ve got teams of officers, who all they do is deal with burglary cases. So, if you or a loved one has...

I’ve been defending California Penal Code 664/187 attempted murder cases for nearly 30 years in Los Angeles. The way you get a not guilty verdict is to take the case to a jury, and you can show that your client is innocent. It is interesting that I put that because technically, the prosecutors have to prove a...

Over the last 30 years as a criminal defense attorney, I’ve tried many California Penal Code 187 PC murder cases at the jury level.  I’ve negotiated many cases, as well, so I think I have a pretty good feel for getting that not guilty verdict. I’ll give you some examples, but I think the simplest way to get a not guilty...

I’ve tried many cases over the years, and I’ve had several California Penal Code 207 PC kidnapping cases go to a jury trial.  So, I think I have a pretty good idea of getting that not-guilty verdict. I’ll talk a bit about how I got a not-guilty verdict on a kidnapping case in Los Angeles, specifically in the court of...

I’ve been filing domestic violence cases now for approximately 30 years, and I think the short and simple answer as to how you could be found not guilty is if your attorney can convince a jury of your peers that you did not commit the crime. That takes a lot of things.  Even though that answer is quick...

A Pitchess motion involves getting information regarding police officers’ records related to bad behavior, which could occur in many different forms. It can be filing a false police report.  It can be roughing up a defendant in a criminal case.  It can be lying.  It can be an internal investigation related to...

Can Los Angeles police officers get themselves on what is known as the “Brady list?” These lists contain information about law enforcement members who are not strictly credible. It was initially created due to the Brady v. Maryland Supreme Court case results. This list has to do with those officers who...