California Criminal Lawyer Blog

Police in Pasadena arrested a 48-year-old on suspicion of drunk driving after he allegedly ran a red light and struck two vehicles, the Pasadena Star News reports in an account. Andre Rushing, 48, of Fontana was driving on Sierra Madre Boulevard when he struck a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer traveling on Sierra Madre Villa Avenue, which caused the vehicle to roll over. Rushing's vehicle then struck a 2002 Honda Accord. Six passengers in the Blazer and two in the Honda were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life threatening, Rushing was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in Los Angeles. Officials are not aware of his blood alcohol content pending blood test results.

A conviction or DUI arrest in California could have serious consequences. You could lose your driving privilege, your job and career could be in jeopardy, and if your DUI involved a serious injury or fatal auto accident, you could be facing vehicular manslaughter or even murder charges. If convicted, you could be looking at a lengthy prison sentence.

The most common yet serious consequence of a DUI arrest is the possibility of having your driver's license revoked or suspended. Following a drunk driving arrest, an Administrative Per Se (APS hearing) is needed to save your driving privilege. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) must be contacted within 10 days of the DUI arrest to request an administrative hearing to stop your automatic driver's license suspension.

The DMV could also impose restrictions on your license or completely revoke it. If you have been arrested on suspicion of DUI, please contact an experienced DUI defense attorney in Los Angeles at Takakjian & Sitkoff. We can contact the DMV for you, defend your DUI charge and stop the driver's license suspension/revocation process. Call us today for your free consultation.

Singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to two charges of felony assault in a domestic violence case against him, according to this CNN report. The 19-year-old Brown is facing charges of assaulting singer Rihanna, his former girlfriend. If convicted of these charges, the sentence could range from probation to four years and eight months in prison. The alleged attack occurred in February that began when 21-year-old Rihanna, who had been dating Brown, found a text message from another woman on his cell phone. Brown issued a public apology for the incident in February.

In this case, Chris Brown has also been charged with making criminal threats. What is a criminal threat? California Penal Code section 422 states that you can be charged with a crime if you threaten to kill or inflict great bodily injury, even if you don't intend to carry out the act. The threat can be verbal, in writing through e-mail or texting via cell phone. The only requirement for this charge is that a person is reasonably fearful for his or her personal safety. A criminal threat charge is a "wobbler," which means that it could be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

You don't have to be married in order to face a California domestic violence charge. You could be living with your girlfriend or even go out on a first date and an incident stemming from such relationships could be viewed as "domestic violence." If you are facing an assault or domestic violence charge, please get in touch with an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer, who has the experience and the resources to build your defense and obtain the best possible result in your case. Call Takakjian & Sitkoff for a free and confidential consultation.

Police arrested a man on suspicion of drunk driving in Rialto after he allegedly struck a vehicle, killing one woman and injuring three others during a police pursuit. According to this news report in the San Bernardino Sun, police arrested 19-year-old Johnny Morales on CA vehicular manslaughter charges because, officials say, he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Police officers attempted to stop Morales at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Rancho Avenue after they reportedly saw him make a traffic violation. He did not stop and police pursued him.

The chase ended when Morales rear-ended a 1991 Honda Accord that was making a left turn onto Foothill from Riverside Avenue. Margarita Rodriguez-Dominguez, a 40-year old Rialto resident who was one of the Accord's passengers, died. The driver and two other passengers were injured.

Drunk driving in California may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. In this case, where it involved fatal and serious injuries, the defendant was charged with a serious felony – murder. The situation was worsened because Morales allegedly tried to flee from the police when they attempted to stop him.

If you have been charged with drunk driving, vehicular manslaughter or murder in California, please call a knowledgeable and experienced California DUI defense attorney at Takakjian & Sitkoff to find out how we can help you defend your DUI charge. Our goal is to keep you out of jail, get your charges dismissed or reduced and get you the help you need. Please call us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.

A sex offender who recently moved to Joshua Tree was arrested after he ignored police officials' warnings that he should not move next to an elementary school. Rowland Chorn, 29, was arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with California sex offender registration guidelines, according to this news report. Chorn apparently came into the San Bernardino County Sheriff's station to register his new address, but deputies objected because his home was too close to the Joshua Tree Elementary School and Sunburst Park. Jessica's Law bans sex offenders from living within 2,640 feet of a school and within 2,000 feet from a park.

The tag "sex offender" doesn't come of after your conviction, incarceration or even after you serve time. You may think you have turned a corner or may have even served time for a sex crime you did not commit. But society is unforgiving and your sex offender label stays forever. It is becoming increasingly difficult for those who have been convicted of sex crimes in California to find housing. Many live on the streets as transients. This is probably the most devastating consequence of being convicted of a sex crime.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is critical that you immediately consult with an aggressive and skilled Southern California sex crime defense attorney. It would be even better if you contact an attorney while you are still being investigated. A skilled criminal defense lawyer may be able to nip the case in the bud even before charges are filed or before the story gets to the media and your reputation is dragged in the mud. At Takakjian & Sitkoff. our attorneys are former prosecutors who know exactly how to find loopholes and discrepancies in the prosecution's case. Call us today at 888-579-4844 to discuss your case. We will help build a strong defense and get your charges dismissed.

Andrew Gallo, 22, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a orange County DUI hit-and-run car crash, which killed Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others and left one man in critical condition. According to a Fox News report, Fullerton police officials say Gallo was speeding when he ran a red light and struck the Mitsubishi sports car in which Adenhart and the others were in. Gallo is facing murder charges, vehicular manslaughter, felony hit and run, felony DUI and other serious charges.

He was also said to be driving with a suspended license. His driving privilege was suspended following a prior DUI conviction, the news report states. Police also say Gallo's blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. In California, it is illegal to driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher.

The charges that this driver is facing are extremely serious. The situation has clearly been worsened because of the number of violations and the seriousness of the violations Gallo has been accused of. In any DUI or traffic violation case, it is very important to seek the counsel of an experienced Orange County DUI defense attorney, who can help establish the facts and keep you from going to jail. If an incident involves serious injuries or death, as in this case, you may be charged with a felony.

Whether you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony DUI in Orange County, please contact an aggressive and skilled California criminal defense lawyer at Takakjian & Sitkoff for a free consultation and case evaluation. We will do our best to get your charges dismissed or reduced and strive to get the best possible result in your case.

Chase Guy Reynolds, a 40-year-old Malibu man, has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a Santa Monica college student on campus, the Los Angeles Daily News reports in an article. Reynolds has been charged with two counts of sexual battery by restraint, one count of attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count of second-degree robbery. Prosecutors say Reynolds approached the female student in the college's library, sexually assaulted her and then stole her house key. If convicted, Reynolds faces up to 13 years in prison for his Los Angeles sex crime.

California Penal Code section 243.4 (a) defines the act of sexual battery as when a person "touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification or sexual abuse." Given the allegedly violent nature of this particular Santa Monica incident, the defendant is facing more severe charges.

In any sex crime case, there is a strong possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. This is exactly what raises the stakes in a sex crime case. If you have been charged with any sex crime such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, lewd conduct or sexual abuse, you would be well-advised to immediately contact an experienced Southern California criminal defense lawyer who will not only fight to protect your legal rights, but also make sure that your side of the story is heard and understood.

The skilled California sex crime lawyers at Takakjian & Sitkoff will strive to craft a winning defense that will yield the best possible result in your case. Call us today at 888-579-4844 for a free and confidential consultation.

Redmond O'Neal, son of actors Ryan O'Neal and Farah Fawcett, has been charged with a felony count of bringing drugs to a Los Angeles area jail, KTLA News reports in a story. O'Neal was reportedly taken into custody after police say they found him to be in possession of heroin at a security checkpoint in the parking lot of the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic. The 24-year-old O'Neal was apparently at the jail to visit a friend who was incarcerated. When stopped by officials, O'Neal admitted to possessing drugs and is now facing California drug crime charges.

In January, O'Neal pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. At the time, he was already serving three years probation after pleading guilty to possession of heroin and methamphetamine and driving under the influence.

Both heroin and methamphetamine are illegal or controlled substances. Possessing these substances in any amount is a crime. The penalties of a conviction for sales or drug possession in California are severe. The consequences can be dire if you violate your terms of probation stemming from prior drug crime convictions. However, very often, we find that an accusation of drug possession is based on illegal search and seizure by the police. If your arresting officer did not follow proper police procedures or if your Constitutional rights were violated, the evidence against you could be thrown out and your case can be dismissed.

Please do not plead guilty in a drug crime case without first talking to an experienced California criminal defense law firm. Call an aggressive and skilled California drug crimes attorney at Takakjian & Sitkoff today for a free consultation. We've successfully handled misdemeanor and felony drug crime cases. Call us today.

The Los Angeles Clippers' Zach Randolph has been suspended for two games after he was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles hours after a game he played against the Los Angeles Lakers. According to this news report, two California Highway Patrol officers saw a white Rolls-Royce weaving on the 405 Freeway in the Culver City area of West Los Angeles. When officers pulled over the car, they identified Randolph as the driver. Officers said they smelled alcohol in the car and arrested Randolph after he failed a field sobriety test. There is no information on whether Randolph took a breath test.

Drivers, when pulled over for a routine DUI stop, are often asked to submit to field sobriety tests and breath tests to determine if a Los Angeles DUI offense has been committed. With field sobriety tests, drivers are asked to perform physical or cognitive tests, which are meant to help the arresting officer determine the driver's sobriety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines are known as the "standardized field sobriety tests" and they usually include the following tests:

• The one-leg stand
• Walk and turn
• Hortizontal gaze nystagmus test

In our opinion, these tests do not provide an accurate assessment of whether or not a person is intoxicated. The margin for error is significantly large. A person may fail one of these tests or all of these tests simply because they are dazed, upset, confused or exhausted. If you have been charged with drunk driving because you failed a field sobriety test, please contact an experienced California DUI defense attorney at Takakjian & Sitkoff for a free consultation and case evaluation. Please do not make any important decisions without talking to a truly experienced criminal defense lawyer first. Call 888-579-4844 today.

A pedestrian who was struck and killed on the evening of February 3, 2009, by a suspected drunk driver has been identified by law enforcement officials as 75-year-old Ronald Sieler. The report from KFMB 760 AM states that Seiler was crossing the street at the intersection of Main Street and Third Avenue in Chula Vista when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Peter DiCesare, 45, address unknown. After the accident Seiler was transported to the University of California San Diego Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from his DUI causing injuries in California.

According to law enforcement officials investigating the accident, Seiler was struck in the 3100 block of Main Street. DiCesare was taken into custody and is facing charges of California drug possession and driving under the influence. DeCesare’s bail has been set at $150,000.

Continue reading " Chula Vista Drunk Driver Kills Pedestrian " »

Former Los Angeles Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich is back in jail after authorities say the 39-year-old was arrested after missing a drug rehabilitation progress review in a Newport Beach court. According to this news report, Marinovich's alleged probation stems from his guilty plea on California drug charges two years ago. Marinovich pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, syringe and resisting arrest. The judge at the time placed Marinovich on five years of probation and ordered him to spend one year at a drug rehabilitation center. Marinovich reportedly has nine prior cases in Orange County courts.

A Drug Court in California is a special court that is given the responsibility of select felony and misdemeanor cases involving non-violent drug-using offenders. The program consists of frequent random drug testing, probation, drug treatment counseling and use of sanctions and incentives. The Drug Court Judge is actively involved in supervising offenders who participate in this program. After an individual successfully completes the criminal drug court program, the drug charge against him or her is dismissed. However, when individuals in this program relapse, go back to using drugs, fail to attend or return to their old ways, the court imposes sanctions. In some cases, the defendants may not get a second chance and the judge may impose a jail sentence.

If you or a loved one has been accused of a drug crime or a probation violation in Southern California, please contact California's skilled criminal defense attorneys at Takakjian & Sitkoff to discuss your case. We will analyze your case, your history and your current situation to help you decide the best possible course of action. Our goal is to keep you out of jail and get you the help you need. Please call us at 888-579-4844 to find out more about your options.

According to this recent Inland Valley Daily Bulletin article, Pomona city leaders have authorized their police department to join other law enforcement agencies in the area in a three-year regional effort to crack down on drunken drivers. Pomona’s city council voted 6-1 in favor of joining a wide range of state, county, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the area in the “Avoid the 100 DUI Campaign” that began over this past holiday season.

This campaign targets people driving under the influence in California and includes checkpoints, saturation patrols, media campaigns, and other operations designed to catch motorists with a history of driving under the influence. Since the campaign began, law enforcement officials throughout Southern California have stepped up efforts to remove drivers operating their vehicles while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Their checkpoints, which are set up at strategic locations with little or no advance warning, have resulted in dozens of DUI arrests and scores of other charges from weapons violations to possession of controlled substances and other violations.

Continue reading " Pomona DUI Crackdown Joins Police Department Regional Effort " »

Continuing their heightened DUI enforcement that began over the holidays, law enforcement officials implemented sobriety checkpoints on Super Bowl Sunday to discourage drivers from driving under the influence in California. Law enforcement officials all over the state deployed extra patrols and added additional DUI checkpoints throughout Southern California to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, according to a Pasadena Star-News report.

According to a written statement from the California Highway Patrol, 403 Californians were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on last year’s Super Bowl Sunday. "We're not discouraging the celebration,” CHP Baldwin Park Commander Bill Siegl said. “We’re asking the fans to make the right call, so they won't find themselves benched in a jail cell."

Continue reading " LA DUI Checkpoints Targeted Super Bowl Revelers " »

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Santa Monica man, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years on child rape charges, can sue the city of Long Beach and a police officer who he says fabricated the evidence in that case. According to this news report in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Leonard McSherry was exonerated thanks to DNA evidence of the 1988 kidnapping and sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl taken from a Navy housing complex in Long Beach. The DNA was matched to another man, George Valdespino, who was serving time in a different kidnapping and molestation case. The appellate court reversed the trial court's judgment dismissing the case.

We read about these kinds of stories all the time. Wrongful convictions occur more often than we hear or know about. This especially happens in sex crime cases where victims or witnesses identify the wrong person. In the absence of an aggressive and experienced sex crime defense attorney in California, it becomes impossible for a defendant to prove his or her innocence. People such as Leonard McSherry show us the importance of "innocent until proven guilty." However, too often the media and the public are eager to convict a defendant even before they have been proven guilty.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a serious felony such a rape, assault or murder in California, please understand that you have legal rights. Call 888-579-4844 to speak with one of our knowledgeable and experienced California criminal defense attorneys at Takakjian & Sitkoff. We have the tools and skills it takes to get you an acquittal or even get your charges reduced. Contact us to schedule a free and comprehensive consultation.