California Criminal Lawyer Blog

Law enforcement officials recently released the name of an 11-month-old girl killed by a suspected drunken driver in a hit-and-run incident in the Westlake area, according to this article in the Los Angeles Wave. Witnesses reported that 11-month-old Yudith Ausencio, her 5-year-old sister, and their mother were struck while walking across the street near the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Bonnie Brae Street just after 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2009.

Witnesses said that the mother and two small children were crossing the street in a marked crosswalk when they were struck by a hit-and-run driver who fled from the scene. Hours later, working on a license plate number and other information provided by witnesses, Police took 30-year-old Henry Yovanni Moreno, of Southgate into custody. Moreno faces a variety of charges, including felony hit-and-run, felony DUI, drunken vehicular manslaughter in California.

Moreno, originally from Honduras, is being held without bail in jail and local law enforcement officials are waiting to hear from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding Moreno’s immigration status. The mother of the slain baby is being treated for serious injuries, and her 5-year-old daughter was critically injured in the accident.

Continue reading " Westlake 11-Month-Old Baby Killed By DUI Driver Identified " »

According to this article in the Orange County Register, a Fullerton woman died early Sunday, February 1, 2009, from injuries she suffered when a suspected DUI driver ran a red light and struck her car in La Habra. Officials with the La Habra Police Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the traffic accident around 1:30 a.m. and pronounced April Junhee Whang, 26, of Fullerton dead at the scene.

The crash is still under investigation but authorities say that Whang was southbound on Beach Boulevard in a 2004 Acura Integra and turned left onto eastbound Imperial Highway when it was struck by a 2003 Mazda 6. According to eyewitness accounts, the Mazda, driven by Brittany Deanne Schuetz, 20, of Irvine, failed to stop for a red light and struck Whang’s car at a high rate of speed. Schuetz was taken to UCI Medical Center for treatment and is being held by authorities on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter in California.

Continue reading " Fullerton Drunk Driver Kills Woman After Running Red Light " »

In an atypical case of driving under the influence in California, a helicopter pilot for a popular rock and roll musician has been detained by Los Angeles police officers on suspicion of operating his aircraft while intoxicated. This Mercury News report about an unusual Los Angeles DUI incident claims that the suspect is a helicopter pilot for Tommy Lee, drummer for the popular rock band Motley Crue.

The pilot, who has not yet been named by police, was spotted by Los Angeles police operating his aircraft in an erratic manner. Police spokeswoman Karen Smith said that the pilot violated safety procedures by flying too close to a police helicopter near Van Nuys and ignoring directions from the Van Nuys flight tower. Police say that the pilot was released without being arrested after submitting to a field sobriety test. Lee, who was a passenger in the helicopter, was questioned briefly and released. The Federal Aviation Administration has begun an investigation of the incident and is waiting for toxicology test results.

Continue reading " Los Angeles DUI Charges Against Helicopter Pilot " »

According to this report in the Los Angeles Times, federal agents have raided several Westside medical marijuana dispensaries recently, which has outraged supporters who claim that the raids violate California state law. Proposition 215, which legalized medical marijuana for people with serious illnesses and reduced criminal penalties for marijuana possession, was passed by California voters in 1996. However, under federal law, marijuana possession, cultivation, and delivery are still illegal activities and enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at least three groups of DEA agents served search warrants on medical marijuana dispensaries around noon, according to DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen. "I can't get into details as to the probable cause behind the warrants except for the fact that they're dealing with marijuana, which is illegal under federal law," she said.

Charlie Beck, Chief of Detectives at the Los Angeles Police Department said, “DEA has a legal right to do what they're doing. Is it controversial? Yes."

Continue reading " LA Drug Crime Raids Upset Medical Marijuana Supporters " »

A fugitive who fled the country after allegedly driving under the influence in California and killing a motorcyclist in 2005 has been extradited to Orange County and will face felony charges, according to this recent Los Angeles Times article. According to law enforcement officials, former Hyundai executive, Youn Bum Lee, 41, of South Korea, had been drinking with colleagues at a Korean barbecue restaurant in Garden Grove in October 2005 and consumed more alcohol at a nearby karaoke bar.

Later that night, officials claim that Lee got into a company-owned Hyundai SUV and crashed the vehicle into a concrete barrier on Freeway 55 in Santa Ana. After the crash, Lee left the SUV at the site of the crash with its lights off. Sometime later, Ryan Dallas Cook was riding his motorcycle when he failed to see the crashed SUV, slammed into it, and was killed after being struck by other motorists. Around 24 hours after the accident, Lee boarded a plane to South Korea. Weeks later, Cook’s parents filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America claiming that company officials helped Lee leave the country before he could be questioned by the police.

Continue reading " Santa Ana DUI Case Of Former Hyundai Executive " »

Gary Collins, TV host and 70-year-old actor, was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on the evening of February 1, 2009, on suspicion of driving under the influence according to this Post Chronicle article. Law enforcement officials with the California Highway Patrol claim that Collins faces charges after being pulled over in Santa Barbara when officers spotted him driving a motor home in an erratic manner.

According to officers on the scene, Collins refused a field sobriety test although a blood-alcohol test was submitted later in the evening.

The current California DUI charges are in addition to other DUI charges filed against Collins 13 months ago. Officials claim that Collins served a four-day jail sentence in Los Angeles, and was placed on two years of probation after he pleaded no contest to a previous DUI charge stemming from a December 2007 accident.

Continue reading " Gary Collins Arrested for DUI " »

According to this recent article in the Santa Maria Times, law enforcement officials have filed vehicular manslaughter and California DUI charges against Jesus Martinez, 20, of Los Angeles. The charges stem from an automobile accident early in February in which a passenger in Martinez’ car suffered severe injuries that caused his death. According to law enforcement officials, Martinez was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol when the car he was driving collided with a tractor trailer sometime during the evening of February 5, 2009.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges against Martinez, which include vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing injury (a special allegation that great bodily injury was caused), and a misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid license.

Continue reading " Los Angeles DUI Collision " »

A woman who faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence of narcotics, was named by law enforcement authorities recently, according to this article in the Los Angeles Times. Law enforcement officials named Alisha Nichole Mankin as the person responsible for a televised chase which caused three different traffic accidents and involved pursuit from numerous law enforcement agencies. According to authorities, Mankin, of the Antelope Valley of Littlerock, and a friend left a storage facility in a rented U-Haul truck around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

Sometime later, Mankin and her passenger were spotted by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy engaging in suspicious activity after they stopped their rented truck by a car on the side of the road. The deputy approached the two and discovered the passenger had narcotics in his possession, so they were arrested for California drug possession. But according to California Highway Patrol Officer Matt Winter, Mankin attempted to flee the scene rather than be arrested. Winter said, “The guy is in possession of narcotics, and he’s arrested. As the deputy is putting him into his cruiser, she decides to take off running. She gets into the U-Haul because the keys are in it and takes off."

Continue reading " Los Angeles U-Haul Chase Suspect Faces Multiple Charges " »

According to this CBS Channel 2 DUI report, a man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol caused a crash early on the morning of February 2, 2009, which killed the alleged drunken driver and resulted in six people suffering injuries. Law enforcement officials claim that Rojelio Sanchez, 25, was heading westbound on Manchester Avenue around 1:30 in the morning with three passengers in a 1997 Ford Explorer.

Police officers responding to the scene say that Sanchez’ Explorer ran a red light at Manchester Avenue and Main Street in South Los Angeles and collided with a 1994 Ford Thunderbird carrying four people. Firefighters responding to the scene of the crash say that two passengers were trapped in the wreckage of the Thunderbird for 15 minutes before being freed.

Continue reading " Los Angeles DUI Suspect Dies in Crash, Injures 6 " »