Criminal Defense

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 …

If you are convicted for manufacturing drugs near an Alameda County school, be prepared to serve an even longer prison sentence than you would if the crime was committed anywhere else. In August 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 212 into law. New Health and Safety Code Section 11379.6 permits judges to tack on up …

Terrorism is in the news almost every week. When someone who commits or attempts to commit an act of violence or tries to join ISIS is charged with “terrorism” though, what exactly does that mean? “Terrorism” is a distinct federal criminal offense. Unsurprisingly, the federal government is particularly aggressive in finding and prosecuting those suspected …

If you get into a bar fight in Ventura County, you could find yourself hitting the floor, visiting the ER, and, potentially, going to jail. There are a number of separate California criminal offenses you can be charged with as a result of a bar fight. Four criminal charges you may face are: Disturbing the …

When you’ve been pulled over, detained by police, or arrested in San Diego, it can be a bad situation. The last thing you want to do is make it worse. If your emotions get the better of you, or forget your constitutional rights, however, that’s exactly what can happen. Here are three things you definitely …

The public thinks of police lineups as a reliable way to catch criminals. TV shows and movies help give them that impression. But that impression is just wrong. Mistaken eyewitness identification is the number one cause of wrongful convictions in America. Many pretrial lineups are structured in a way that may prod the witness to …