Articles Posted in Criminal Defense

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A California State Senator wants boaters convicted of operating their boat under the influence to lose their driver’s license as well, Havasu News reports. Senator John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, has introduced SB 154, which would basically cause the suspension of California driver’s license for individuals convicted of boating under the influence.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles used to suspend driver’s licenses for those convicted of boating under the influence (BUI) in the mid 90s. But that procedure was ordered stopped by the California Court of Appeals in 2008, citing lack of statutory authority.

This bill basically calls for the DMV to suspend the driving privilege of anyone convicted with a prior California DUI or BUI conviction. It would also mandate that anyone convicted of boating under the influence attend and complete an alcohol education program. The California Department of Boating and Waterways estimates that nearly half of all deaths on California’s waterways are caused by impaired vessel operators. The bill has been passed by the Senate and also got the support of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety. It is awaiting action by the full Assembly.
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A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to one year in jail for allegedly groping a 15-year-old girl whose father was in the hospital. According to this news report, the 45-year-old courtroom bailiff from Long Beach pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of committing lewd acts with a minor.

The deputy was sentenced to three years probation and will be required to register as a sex offender. Officials say the victim was a daughter of the man’s friend, who was in the hospital. The deputy was relieved from duty at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

If you are being accused of a sex crime it is critical that you talk to experienced criminal defense attorneys. A sex crime conviction could mean long-term incarceration in a county jail or state prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender for the rest of your life. A skilled Los Angeles County sex offense lawyer will confidentially yet aggressively defend you and ensure that your constitutional rights are protected.
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An 11-year-old boy died in a Ventura County car accident after his aunt, who police say may have been under the influence of prescription drugs at the time, crashed their car. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the boy sustained severe head, lung and spine injuries. His aunt was reportedly driving her SUV with the boy in the rear passenger seat when she failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into a pickup truck at a Ventura County intersection. She was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

Under California law, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs – whether the drugs are recreational or prescription drugs. If an incident results in fatal injuries to a person other than the intoxicated driver, the defendant could be looking at felony DUI as well as CA vehicular manslaughter charges, which have serious consequences including jail time and hefty fines.
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A Los Angeles man has been convicted of Medicare fraud. According to this CBS News report, prosecutors say a Los Angeles man who prescribed unnecessary motorized wheelchairs using a doctor’s stolen identity has been convicted for defrauding Medicare for $7.7 million. The 59-year-old man was found guilty of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to federal officials, the man prescribed hundreds of these wheelchairs to Medicare beneficiaries between 2005 and 2008. Some of the victims told officials that they were “recruited” into the scam with the promise of free exams and free medical equipment.

A federal offense in California is any offense that violates the laws contained in the United States Criminal Code. These offenses are mostly “white collar crimes” dealing with different types of fraud, including health care fraud. All federal laws passed by the United States Congress come under the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the federal government. The executive branch has the responsibility of enforcing these laws and the judicial branch adjudicates the articles contained in the U.S. criminal code.

Federal courts can impose severe penalties on those convicted of a federal offense. If you have been charged with a federal crime, you need the skill and experience of a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles at Sitkoff & Hanrahan Please call for a free consultation. Our criminal defense team collectively has more than 60 years of criminal defense, criminal trial, prosecution and investigation experience. We have the knowledge and dedication to provide a strong defense in your federal case. Call us today for a free case discussion.

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A recent investigation and subsequent analysis by the Sacramento Bee newspaper shows that individuals convicted of homicide in California are more likely to receive the death sentence in conservative counties, particularly in the southern part of the state. According to this news report; between 1998 and 2007, prosecutors got approximately one death penalty conviction for every 100 murders statewide. In Orange County, the rate was twice as high. And in Riverside County the death penalty rate was three times as high, the report stated.

Any violent crime conviction in California can have devastating consequences. But with a murder conviction, you are looking at the ultimate penalty. California is a death penalty state. So if someone is found guilty of a special circumstance first-degree murder, they are looking at the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The stakes are extremely high in any murder case or any other violent crime. If you or someone close to you has been arrested murder or manslaughter or any violent crime such as homicide, robbery, rape or sexual assault; please contact an experienced Southern California criminal defense attorney who has the skill and expertise to defend your rights and fight to get your charges dismissed. At Sitkoff & Hanrahan, our attorneys are former prosecutors who have experience and a successful track record defending these serious charges. Call us today for a free consultation.

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West Los Angeles is a well-known district in Los Angeles within the large Westside region. With its most traversed routes as Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, Wilshire Blvd, Sawtelle Blvd, Pico Blvd, Barrington Dr and Bundy Dr, West Los Angeles residents and visitors have quick access to the San Diego and Santa Monica Freeways. As an affluent neighborhood, West Los Angeles has the city’s lowest crime statistics; however, as part of the second largest city in the nation, West Los Angeles is prone its share of incidents that go against the law.

A lot of people who are accused of crimes, such as driving under the influence, never thought that it would happen to them and are typically shocked and confused during their arrest and investigation. It is up to a West Los Angeles DUI defense attorney to educate those facing serious penalties associated with driving under the influence when it comes to his or her rights and what can be done to build a strong defense. At Sitkoff & Hanrahan, our lawyers will help prove your innocence and represent you at your DMV administrative hearing so that you can do everything possible to appeal your driver’s license suspension. It is very important that you do not procrastinate in taking action after your DUI arrest, especially since you only have ten days to make an appeal.

With over sixty years collectively in California felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, prosecution, criminal law investigation, judicial, criminal trial and criminal case settlement experience, the skilled West Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan have what it takes to assist you during one of the most challenging times of your life. Contact our office for a free consultation today:

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Police in Irvine have arrested a senior Orange County Sheriff’s official for driving under the influence after he reportedly caused a car accident, based on a Los Angeles Times report. Irvine Police arrested the official after the vehicle she was driving crashed into the back of another car stopped at a red light on Jamboree Road.

She was driving an unmarked Orange County Sheriff’s Department vehicle at the time of the Orange County DUI crash, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. The officer was charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. Officials say the woman had slurred speech, bloodshot and watery eyes and had trouble keeping her balance during a field sobriety test. She apparently had a blood alcohol level of 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit. Fortunately, the driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher in California. Not only does a DUI charge impose fines and sometimes jail time on a person, it can have drastic effects on an individual’s reputation, personal life and professional career. In this DUI accident, Guidice was transferred from her post as head of Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol to a position at the county’s Theo Lacy Jail. If convicted of the DUI charges in Orange County, she faces a maximum of six months in jail.
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A Riverside woman was arrested for the CA embezzlement of more than $1 million from a Mercedes Benz car dealership in Anaheim Hills where she worked. According to a news report in the Whittier Daily News, the Orange County District Attorney is charging Sheryl Lynne Law with grand theft by embezzlement, fraud and other counts. Prosecutors say Law wrote 144 fraudulent checks to her sister-in-law, Jessica Newark, of Whittier. Law apparently noted the checks as trade-in payments from the dealership when in fact Newark never traded in a vehicle with the dealership. Newark has also been charged with embezzlement. If convicted of the fraud, both could be sentenced to 63 years in state prison.

If you are convicted of embezzlement, theft, or fraud in California it could have a significant impact on your personal life, your job, career and future. A theft or fraud conviction could not only mean a lengthy jail or prison sentence and hefty fines, but it also tarnishes your reputation. When trust is lost, it is extremely hard to regain – as an employee or as a business. It could do long-term damage and jeopardize your chances of getting a good job.
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Police in Ventura County have arrested a Granada Hills man for the California drug offense of cultivating marijuana after finding more than 1,000 plants on his property in Frazier Park. According to this news report in the Ventura County Star, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials went to the man’s property after being told of power outages in the area because of a malfunctioning electrical transformer and noticing a strong smell of marijuana.

Detectives conducted a search of the property and found a marijuana cultivation operation that included the use of hydroponics, officials said. The marijuana plants were found inside the house, garage and an outside building. The rooms were reportedly equipped with grow lights as well. No one was living in the property, but the home’s owner was arrested.

California drug offenses refer to the cultivation, possession, sale, use, or furnishing of any drug or controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, which is prohibited by law. Most drug offenses in the state of California are now felonies. The penalties for drug crimes in Ventura County can be very severe. The type or severity of charges usually depends on the quantity, intent to sell or distribute, and other factors such as weapons possession or use, evidence of sales activity, having large amounts of cash, and so on. The seriousness and punishment for drug crimes usually depends on the quantity of drugs confiscated.
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Recent news reports indicate that participants may be arrested for participating in the annual “Mooning Amtrak” event that has been held for over thirty years in Laguna Niguel, California. This unsponsored event has drawn thousands of people as they stand next to the rail lines “mooning” passing trains. It is unknown just how many people will show up this time on Camino Capistrano Road on Saturday, July 18th and “moon” passing trains. A smaller crowd is likely because some have said that this year city officials will allegedly “crack down” on the “flashing” conduct and arrests are possible.

Technically a violation of law, exposing one’s buttocks, genitals or private parts is defined as indecent exposure by the California Penal Code. A first offense conviction for indecent exposure in Orange County could involve jail time and repeat offenders can receive up to a year in the county jail or be charged with a felony. Although the law is aimed primarily at those who flash or expose themselves on city streets, a subsection of the law also punishes those who arrange events for others to expose themselves in public. These events supposedly incite lewd or lascivious acts.
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