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During a preliminary hearing, a prosecutor and defense attorney present evidence, to a judge, that is related to the charges in a criminal case. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is for the judge to determine if there is enough evidence to force the defendant to stand trial. The hearing is a type of mini-trial …
The average workers’ compensation settlement for a herniated disc in California can range between $40,000 to $80,000. There are cases, though, where the settlement award can be much greater. Note that no two herniated disc cases are exactly alike. This means workers’ comp settlements for these injuries will vary depending on such factors as: the …
Lewd and lascivious conduct is defined as a sexual act that is offensive to community standards of decency. It often involves a child. Physical penetration is not necessary. It is a type of sex crime. It is often charged as a felony sex offense. One example of this kind of conduct is intentionally groping a minor. …
Most states require physicians to inform the DMV when they diagnose a patient with any medical or mental condition that may affect the person’s ability to drive safely. Some common conditions that may impact a person’s ability to drive safely include: lapse of consciousness Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, dementia, diabetes, and macular degeneration. These conditions are …
Most state laws prohibit uninsured motorist insurance (“UM”) from covering punitive damages. Some states, however, do allow for it. Punitive damages are awarded to penalize the at-fault party in an auto accident and to deter similar blameworthy conduct. These damages are sometimes referred to as “exemplary damages.” Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is different than UM …
Under California law, a “grand jury” refers to a group of citizens who are brought together to determine whether or not charges should be brought against a potential defendant in certain criminal cases. A preliminary hearing is a proceeding held before a judge in which he/she determines whether there is enough evidence in a criminal …
Many felonies cannot be expunged. Each state has its own rules. Some states will not expunge any felonies. Others will expunge most of the offenses. Some felonies are almost never eligible for expungement. These generally include murder, serious violent crimes, and sex crimes involving children. In many cases, there is a waiting period to expunge …
“CLETS” is an acronym for the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. This is a computer network that gives police departments access to national databases maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the State of Oregon, and others. The system also provides law enforcement agencies with the capability to …
Generally, the crime of murder is prosecuted in state courts as a state crime. But murder becomes a federal crime when it occurs in the violation of federal law or on federal land or territory. Examples of when this occurs include when a murder is of a federal judge or a federal law enforcement official …
A Franks hearing is a legal proceeding in a criminal case where the defense tries to traverse a search warrant. “Traversing” a warrant means that the defendant challenges the truth of the information that is used to support it. A “Franks motion” is the legal document given to the judge that sets forth the defendant’s …
In most cases, merely owning a counterfeit law enforcement badge – or other counterfeit law enforcement identification, such as certificates and insignias – is not a crime. But be careful. Using a fake police badge in certain ways could lead to charges of impersonating a police officer under California Penal Code 538d. This misdemeanor crime …
Restraining orders are issued when someone petitions a California court to restrain the behavior of another for safety and security reasons. Restraining orders can be issued on an emergency, temporary or permanent basis. Permanent restraining orders can be issued for up to one to five years, so it is wise for defendants to consult with …
In California, you can be convicted of aiding and abetting anytime you encourage, facilitate or aid another person in the commission of a crime regardless of how insignificant your role. But aiding and abetting is not a crime unto itself. When the prosecutor believes that you are guilty of aiding and abetting a crime, he/she …
If you are charged with and convicted of rape in Sacramento County, you could be looking at a lifetime of serious consequences that go far beyond just prison time. Rape, as one would expect, is treated as one of the most serious crimes under California law and crimes involving rape and sexual assault are vigorously …
The basic definition of burglary is the same in California and Nevada: entering a structure or vehicle intending to commit certain crimes once inside. In Penal Code 459 PC, California burglary law draws a distinction between first-degree residential burglary, and second-degree commercial burglary. Burglarizing a home can land someone in California Prison for six years, …
Knowing what to expect after an arrest in San Bernardino County can help make the criminal legal process a little easier. Here is what happens after you have been arrested. Once you have been arrested, you will be taken to the police station to be fingerprinted and photographed. You have a right to remain silent, …
You have the right to a speedy trial in your criminal case under both the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 15, of the California Constitution. If this right is violated, you and your attorney can file a Serna motion (aka a speedy trial motion) asking the judge to dismiss the charges. …
Most cases of driving under the influence in California are prosecuted as misdemeanors. However, if you suffer your fourth or subsequent DUI within a ten-year period or injure another person as the result of driving under the influence, then the prosecutor has the discretion to charge the offense as either a misdemeanor or a felony. …
Getting a DUI is an unpleasant experience, to say the least. Most people think that if they have been cited for a DUI, they are basically doomed. This is not always the case. There are many factors that can affect a DUI charge. With the help of qualified legal counsel, it is possible to sometimes …
Many fights can lead to California battery charges. However, if you face such charges after getting into a fight with an off-duty cop who was acting as a security guard, or with many other kinds of public workers or employees, the consequences of a conviction can be more severe. Most battery charges filed under California Penal …
Under California Penal Code 24310, the following acts are illegal in California when it comes to camouflaging firearm containers: Manufacture, Import into the State of California, Keep for sale, Offer for sale, Give, Lend, and/or Possess A camouflaging firearm container is an object that holds a gun, but nonetheless, does not look like it contains …
Child pornography in California law is, understandably, treated harshly by prosecutors. The sexual abuse and exploitation of children in pornographic pictures or videos is tragic and those who make or distribute such materials will be subject to severe punishment. But what about videos and materials such as drawings, cartoons, or animation (such as manga or …
Jails and prisons are supposed to release prisoners promptly once their sentence is completed. But sometimes they fail to do so. This is commonly referred to as “overdetention”. The principal remedy for over-detention is a civil lawsuit for monetary damages. If the person is still in jail, a judge can also order the jail or …
Some medical and physiological conditions can cause DUI breath tests to produce falsely high results. Such conditions include: diabetes (a common DUI defense) ketosis hypoglycemia, fasting, and high-protein / low-carbohydrate diets (such as the Atkins and Paleo diets). These conditions involve insufficient carbohydrate intake for energy, or – in the case of diabetes – insufficient insulin to keep blood …
When people plead guilty to a California DUI charge, they usually get placed on probation. The court imposes certain “terms and conditions of probation.” Violating these terms and conditions may result in a bench warrant for one’s arrest, a probation violation, and possible jail time. The terms of probation consist of affirmative duties and prohibitions. …