Criminal Defense

3 ways to beat solicitation charges in CaliforniaWatch this video on YouTube There are 3 common strategies for how to beat a solicitation charge in California. These include: asserting that the police engaged in illegal entrapment, showing the evidence to be insufficient to support a conviction, and attacking the arresting officers’ credibility. Each of these strategies …

The term “aiding” and the term “abetting” are similar legal concepts, but each has a slightly different meaning. Aiding a crime means helping someone else commit a crime. Abetting means to encourage or incite a criminal act. Although to abet does not necessarily mean that you help or facilitate its execution. Both aiding and abetting …

Penal Code 647i PC – The Crime of "Peeking While Loitering"Watch this video on YouTube Yes, “prowling” is a crime in California. Penal Code 647i PC defines a prowler as one “who, while loitering, prowling, or wandering upon the private property of another, at any time, peeks in the door or window of any inhabited building …

The statute of limitations for statutory rape in California is either 1 year or 3 years. California statutory rape charge Statute of limitations to prosecute misdemeanor within 1 year of the incident felony within 3 years of the incident If charges are not filed within this timeframe, the charge can be dismissed. These limitations only …

The corpus delicti rule is the legal principle that no one can be convicted of a crime without proof that the crime actually occurred. In California, this proof must be independent of the defendant’s out-of-court statements, even if they amounted to a confession. The name of the rule is Latin for “body of the crime.” …

In California, a hit-and-run is the crime of crashing into someone or something and then fleeing the scene without providing your personal and contact information. Five things to know about this offense in California are: there are 2 different statutes that could apply, the criminal penalties for a conviction can be significant, points will be assessed …

Petty theft with a prior is a criminal charge for a minor theft against someone who has been convicted of theft in the past. Because of the prior convictions, the penalties that the new charge carries are higher. Different state laws have different sentencing enhancements for this situation. What is petty theft? Petty theft is …

Brandishing a weapon is the crime of exhibiting something that could be used as a weapon in a threatening manner. How exactly the offense is defined, and the penalties for a conviction, vary by state. However, brandishing a weapon in an act of lawful self-defense is generally a legal defense to the charge. What does …

Certain criminal convictions in California can lead to deportation if you are not a United States citizen. It often does not matter how long you have been in the country. Known as “deportable offenses,” these are: crimes of moral turpitude, aggravated felonies, drug offenses, firearms offenses, and crimes of domestic violence. 1. Crimes of moral …

In California, law enforcement agents can get a wiretap for your phone if they can obtain a court order. This court order can initially last up to 10 days, although it can be extended. It will only be issued if there is probable cause to believe it would gather evidence of a serious felony. The …