California Criminal Lawyer Blog

A 32-year-old Downey man has been convicted of performing lewd acts on a teenage girl in an Orange County water park, according to a news report in The Orange County Register. The man was convicted of rubbing up against a girl and attempting to do the same with another girl. Prosecutors said during the trial that the parents of the two girls pulled their daughters from the wave pool in the park after they saw the man close to the girls. He faces up to three years and four months in prison. The defense attorney argued that the touching was inadvertent and was caused by the wave action in the pool. His sentencing has been scheduled for June 17.

This story is an example of how even an inadvertent act in a public place like a water park could have serious consequences. According to California Penal Code Section 288 (a): “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act…with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”

Sex crimes against children carry severe consequences including a lengthy state prison sentence, hefty fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Since the stakes are extremely high, it is critical that anyone who has been accused of a sex crime against a child immediately contact an experienced Orange County sex crime defense lawyer to learn more about the legal options available to them.

The reputed attorneys of Takakjian & Sitkoff have successfully represented many who have been accused of serious sex crimes in California. We use our decades of experience as prosecutors and trial attorneys to work toward the best possible outcome for our clients – be it acquittal or getting the charges reduced. If you or a loved one has been accused of a sex crime in Los Angeles, Orange, or Ventura County, please call 866-430-8383 for a free and comprehensive consultation.

A 52-year-old man from Azusa, CA, has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol after backing his SUV into a police car. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the arrest occurred on West Sierra Madre Boulevard in Azusa. Officials say that after being pulled over, the man put his Chevrolet Trailblazer in reverse and crashed into the police car. No one was hurt in the accident but the man was charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. It is unclear from the report as to why his license was previously suspended or if the officers administered a breath test at the scene.

Under California Vehicle Code 23152, “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” It is also illegal in the state of California to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. California Vehicle Code Section 14601 states that makes it illegal to drive on a suspended license.

The Los Angeles County DUI defense attorneys at Takakjian & Sitkoff protect the rights of motorists throughout LA County. We have extensive experience and a successful track record of helping those charged with driving under the influence. Our reputed lawyers carefully examine the circumstances surrounding an arrest to build a strong case on your behalf so we can fight for the charges made against you to be reduced or completely dismissed. If you have been charged with driving under the influence in California, please contact our law offices at 866-430-8383 today. We always offer free consultations.

A 29-year-old male caregiver has been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly molesting a child. According to a news report by The Los Angeles Times, officials say the incidents that involved lewd acts occurred between March of 2008 and March of 2011. The worker has been charged with 11 counts of committing a lewd act upon a child as well as three counts of oral copulation of a person under the age of 14. The alleged offender apparently has a history of working with developmentally disabled children at a YMCA and at a high school. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently held on a $1.4 million bail.

Sex crime charges in California that involve children under the age of 14 can result in serious penalties. Under California Penal Code Section 288, a person is guilty of a lewd act with a child if an act is done “with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child.” This serious crime is a felony and it can result in a lengthy prison sentence and mandatory registration as a sex offender. A person does not have to be convicted of a lewd act to suffer social and professional penalties. In many cases, the accusation of a sex crime is enough for someone such as a caregiver or teacher to lose their job.

If you have been charged of a sex crime in California, contact the Los Angeles sex crimes defense lawyers of Takakjian & Sitkoff. We aggressively fight to protect the rights and future of our clients because we know what’s at stake. If you or a loved one is facing serious sex crime charges, please call 866-430-8383 to discuss your case at absolutely no-cost.

Five motorists were arrested at a Los Angeles area DUI checkpoint for driving under the influence, The Beverly Hills Courier reports. Police say the DUI checkpoint was conducted from 6 p.m. on April 14, 2011, to 2 a.m. the following day at the intersection of Newhall Ranch Road and Grandview Drive. A total of 802 cars passed through the checkpoint. Officials arrested five drivers for driving under the influence and issued 17 citations for motorists driving without a valid license or driving with a suspended license.

The use of DUI checkpoints in Los Angeles have become increasingly common, as well as throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. These checkpoints can be commonly seen in the late night to early morning hours and occur mostly over weekends. Law enforcement agencies not only get funds from the Department of Transportation for these checkpoints, but also get money into their own coffers from DUI fines and penalties assessed in court.

Although it is commonly assumed that these checkpoints are legal, there may be circumstances where the checkpoint itself or the officers’ actions may violate certain laws. There are several questions to be asked. How did the agency choose the specific location for the checkpoint? Was advance notice given to the general public? How were breath tests administered? Were field sobriety tests administered? What was the length of time each driver was stopped? There are some things officers cannot do at a DUI checkpoint. For example, an officer cannot stop you if you turn off to avoid a roadblock. Such an action in itself does not provide a basis for officers to stop and detain a driver.

If you or a loved one was wrongfully stopped, detained, or arrested at a DUI checkpoint in California, please contact an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer to examine your legal rights and options. Call Takakjian & Sitkoff today at 866-430-8383 to find out how we can help you.

Those convicted of sex crimes in California face harsh penalties including incarceration, fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender in California. Under a new law, which is part of Chelsea’s Law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a lifetime of parole will be required for habitual sex offenders, those convicted of kidnapping a child under 14 years of age with the intent of committing a specific sexual offense, and persons convicted of other specific sex crimes, including aggravated sexual assault of a child. In addition, the new law will also impose a 20-year parole period on those convicted and required to register as sex offenders for rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child and other sex crimes in which the victim is a child under 14 years of age.

This is a big change from the previous law, under which a prisoner was released on parole for a period not exceeding three years and inmates sentenced on violent felony sex crimes were released on parole for a period not exceeding five years. The maximum parole period of 10 years was reserved for those who received a life sentence for certain specified violent sex crimes.

There is no question that this new law raises the stakes for those facing sex crime charges. Under this law, certain sex offenders can face a lifetime of parole. Parole refers to the early release of prisoners for reasons such as good behavior. Parolees are placed under the supervision of a parole officer and face many restrictions. Being on parole for an extended period of time can have serious consequences on a person’s ability to reintegrate with society or even find gainful employment.

The consequences of a sex crime conviction in California are getting serious with every new law that is passed. If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is important that you seek the counsel of an experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense lawyer who can vigorously fight the charges made against you while protecting your rights.

The experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys of Takakjian & Sitkoff have a successful track record getting our clients’ charges reduced or dismissed. If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex crime in California, please call us at 866-430-8383 to discuss your case at no-cost.

Experience is probably one of the most important attributes, if not the most important attribute, one should look for in a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. Before you retain the services of a criminal defense lawyer – regardless of whether you are facing a misdemeanor of felony charge – it is important that you establish the attorney's credibility and track record in handling similar cases. Failure to do so might prove costly, as a man defending murder charges in Washington D.C. recently found out.

According to a news report in The Washington Post, a Washington D.C. Superior Court judge recently declared a mistrial in a 2008 murder case and allowed the defendant to fire his attorney. The judge was apparently angered by the defense attorney's lack of knowledge of proper trial procedure. The judge specifically pointed out the fact that the defense attorney told jurors during opening statements that he had never tried a case before. Among other acts of misconduct, the defense lawyer reportedly told an investigator in an e-mail to "trick" a government witness into testifying in court that she did not see his client at the murder scene.

The attorney's acts were obviously shocking to the judge, not to mention his own client, who placed his life in the hands of this man. In felony cases, including those that involve sex crimes, drug charges or violent crime charges, the stakes are extremely high. Defendants, if convicted, are looking at lengthy prison sentences, fines and a potentially damaged reputation.

If you have been charged with a crime and are looking to hire a defense lawyer, it is critical that you ensure that you are going to the right person. California residents can start by checking the California Bar Association web site at www.calbar.org, to verify the attorney's license to practice in the state and if there have been any disciplinary actions against him or her. The web site also has information about when the attorney started practicing.

If you have are facing criminal charges in Los Angeles, Orange or Ventura counties, please contact the experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers of Takakjian & Sitkoff. We have over 60 years of criminal prosecution, investigation, judicial and defense trial experience. If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with a crime, call us at 866-430-8383 for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation.

A 23-year-old male volunteer at a high school in Azusa has been charged with oral copulation with a 16-year-old female student. According to a CBS news report, the man works and volunteers at four different schools in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Authorities were approached by the girl's parents who said she was possibly involved in an inappropriate relationship with the volunteer. Police are looking into whether there were other victims. The man was arrested for felony sex charges.

Sex crimes are criminal offenses that are of a sexual nature. The charges that are filed in connection with a sex crime or the punishment for a sex crime really depend on the type or severity of the crime. A misdemeanor sex crime conviction can result in up to one year in county jail. A felony sex crime conviction could result in a jail sentence to life in prison. Some sex crimes can also be considered a "strike" under California's Three Strikes Law.

In addition, conviction for some sex crimes could also result in mandatory registration as a sex offender. A defendant's prior criminal record can also have an impact on the severity of charges filed. If you are facing a sex crime charge, it would be in your best interest not to talk to police without having a Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney present. Remember, anything you say could be misconstrued or misinterpreted and used against you during the trial.

The Los Angeles criminal defense law firm of Takakjian & Sitkoff has more than 60 years of experience handling high-profile felony cases and misdemeanor cases. We have obtained acquittals or have been able to significantly reduce charges in sex crime cases. Your reputation, career and future are at stake here. Please do not take a chance. Call us today at 866-430-8383 to discuss your case at no cost.

On Monday, March 28, a judge ruled that Tohme Tohme, the former business manager of Michael Jackson, is required to testify in Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial, CNN reports. Murray has been accused of Jackson’s death.

While a process server testified that she had given Tohme the subpoena at his home on March 3, his attorneys have argued that he was not properly served. A used car dealer testified that he was with Tohme at the alleged time at a car auction. The judge stated he was satisfied there was service in the case and was more concerned about the argument that testimony from Tohme would be irrelevant to Murray’s case.

Paul Takakjian from the Los Angeles criminal defense law firm of Takakjian & Sitkoff is Tohme’s attorney and stated that Murray’s defense was “tossing out a fishing line” without any knowledge that Tohme knows something that would help their case. However, attorneys for Murray allege that Tohme is a key witness to show that Jackson gave himself the fatal dose of anesthesia which caused his death in 2009. They have stated they believe Tohme has “intimate knowledge” of Jackson’s finances, as well as his habits and drug usage during the months prior to his death. The defense believes that Jackson’s serious financial difficulties at this time are relevant to their argument that Jackson self-administered the fatal dose.

The judge ruled he would allow the subpoena of Tohme to stand since he was Jackson’s business manager at the time of the singer’s death, although he indicated he may consider whether to restrict the subject matter of which Tohme can be questioned. The defense says they want to question Tohme regarding the pressure on Jackson as he prepared for the shows he was to perform in London.

Now, the court continues its jury selection. Opening statements for the case are scheduled for May 9.

The Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at Takakjian & Sitkoff have successfully represented those accused of crimes as well as advised those who have testified in cases involving domestic violence, drug crimes, drunk driving, juvenile crimes, and more. To learn how we can assist you, call 866-430-8383.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/03/28/conrad.murray.trial/index.html?iref=allsearch