Blog: Criminal Defense - Page 3

With so many social media and review websites on the internet, many people in California are concerned about protecting their digital reputation. Unfortunately, there is little California residents can do to make people take down the offending posts. The good news, however, is that California defamation law allows people to sue for damages for harm …

California law classifies prescription medications as “controlled substances” that are subject to the same laws as illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs in California California Health and Safety Code Section 11350 makes it a crime to possess a prescription drug with no valid prescription, to possess more of the drug …

“Revenge porn” is a crime in California. If you are charged and convicted for posting and distributing intimate photos or videos of another person without their knowledge or consent, you could be facing severe penalties. “Revenge porn” refers to naked or sexual videos or pictures of an individual that someone, usually an ex-lover, puts online …

The prosecution has made its case. You and your defense attorney have put on the strongest possible defense. Now your Los Angeles criminal trial is in the hands of the jury. But what happens if there is a “hung jury” in your case? In order for a jury to reach a verdict – whether guilty …

In Riverside County, California, you can go to jail and have to pay hefty fines if you make false statements in an advertisement for the sale or real estate, goods, or services. This is in addition to civil penalties that may be imposed by the state of California. California Business and Professions Code Section 17500 …

In April 2016, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed against the “Lunada Bay Boys,” a group of surfers in Palos Verdes Estates, California who are known for intimidating and keeping visitors from surfing at their favorite beach. The suit alleges that they are a “criminal street gang” which should be banned from gathering together under …

During this tumultuous election year, people have been alarmed at the violence which has occurred at some political rallies. Some have blamed the candidate involved for implicitly or explicitly encouraging that violence. In Los Angeles, can it be a crime to urge or encourage someone to commit an act of violence? The answer is yes. …

When you go to a San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park, not all of the action may be on the field. A combination of sunshine, alcohol, and passion for the team can lead fans to engage in conduct that can get them arrested and charged with a criminal offense. Here are five things you …

Trying to get rich through a “pyramid scheme” in Palm Springs, California may earn you a few bucks for a while, but it could also earn you a prison sentence for a much longer while. What is a Pyramid Scheme? “Pyramid schemes” are business scams in which participants attempt to make money solely by recruiting …

A law effective January 1, 2016, makes it a crime to carry a concealed firearm on a school or college campus in Los Angeles. Even if you have a valid California permit to carry a concealed firearm, you could still be arrested and charged with a crime if you bring your weapon to a school …

The mistakes made when we’re young can have lasting consequences long after we’ve grown up. Many juvenile convictions in Alameda County, California can in fact be counted later in life as one of the “three strikes” that can lead to some of the most severe penalties available under California’s Penal Code. Under California Penal Code …

If the owner or an employee of a Palm Springs, California bar or restaurant asks you to leave the premises because of your conduct and you refuse to leave, you could be charged with criminal trespass. Presuming that you are not being asked to leave for legally prohibited reasons such as your race, sex, religion, …

Wrongful convictions based on coerced confessions, unreliable eyewitness testimony, prosecutorial misconduct or other reasons are a widespread tragedy in California. Such injustices cost innocent Californians years of their freedom. They also cost California taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars according to a new report. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, a recent study of …

As a parent in San Bernardino County, California, it’s bad enough if your child gets in trouble with the law and is facing California criminal charges. It can get even worse, however, as parents themselves can be convicted of crimes for their kids’ misdeeds. California has a “parental responsibility law” that can impose criminal penalties …

If you feel the need for speed and go drag racing in Santa Clara County, California you could wind up driving straight to jail. “Speed Contests” and “Exhibitions of Speed” California Vehicle Code Section 23109 makes drag racing, or what it refers to as a “speed contest,” on a public California street or highway a …

If you are charged with a crime in Alameda County, California, you should hire your own Alameda County criminal defense lawyer. Relying on an Alameda County Public Defender instead of your own private attorney is a risky proposition. “You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed …

The terrorist organization known as ISIS uses social media and other means to actively recruit individuals around the globe, including Americans, to join them in the Middle East. If you attempt to travel abroad with the intent of joining ISIS or any other terrorist group, you will be charged with a serious federal offense and …

You want to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” for the 20th time but don’t want to pay. But if you sneak into a movie you haven’t paid for in San Jose, you are technically committing a crime and could face criminal charges. Trespassing When you buy a ticket at a movie theater box office, …

We all have a constitutional right to a fair trial. When events happen during the course of a California criminal trial which put that right at risk, or if a jury is unable to reach a verdict, the judge may declare a mistrial. What is a “Mistrial”? Just like a “misfire” of a gun is …

Whether it is a fake Rolex watch, a pirated CD or DVD, or any other imitation or unauthorized product, selling counterfeit goods in San Francisco is a violation of California law and can get you arrested and charged with a crime. California Penal Code Section 350 prohibits the manufacturing, sale, or possession for sale of …