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Two Ventura County men, ages 36 and 39, were arrested on drug charges involving methamphetamine. According to a news report in The Ventura County Star, the drug bust occurred on Johnson Drive in Ventura. Officials raided the home and allegedly found one pound of meth and other evidence, which they say indicated that the 36-year-old man intended to sell the drugs. Officers also arrested a 39-year-old man who was allegedly trying to flush heroin down the toilet. Between them, the two men face a number of charges including maintaining a drug house, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of a handgun, possession of marijuana for sale, heroin possession, and destruction of evidence.

Individuals who are suspected of running a drug house and selling drugs are likely to face serious charges and potential penalties. Under the United States Controlled Substances Act, Section 856 (a): “It shall be unlawful to (1) knowingly open, lease, rent, use, or maintain any place, whether permanently or temporarily, for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance.” Penalties for maintaining a drug house include imprisonment for up to 20 years or a fine of up to $500,000 or both.
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Convicted sex offenders are not truly free to live their lives even after they are released from prison after serving time. Depending on the crime, a sex offense can result in restrictions on where someone can live or work. In some cases, sex offenders will also have to wear a GPS monitor that tracks their every move.

According to a CBS 47 news report, a 48-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly removed his ankle monitor and assaulted a student at Fresno State. The report states that a number of sex offenders are violating the terms of their probation. It is unclear how many parole violators have been able to avoid jail time. It is clear, however, that sex crime convictions can have a long lasting impact on personal freedoms.

There are a number of ways in which a sex crime can affect your rights. Many sex crime convictions in California have an impact on where an individual can live. If your home is near a school, for example, you will likely have to move if you are convicted of a sex crime. A conviction can also affect what type of job you have and will likely affect your ability to pursue a new job as well.
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A man faces DUI charges in Los Angeles after crashing into a parked police car. According to a news report in The Sacramento Bee, the alleged DUI crash occurred in the San Fernando Valley community of Reseda. Officials say they were arresting one DUI suspect when the driver of another vehicle rear-ended their parked squad car. The driver of the second vehicle was also arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

First-time DUI offenders in Los Angeles are likely to face a number of serious consequences. Drivers are typically placed on informal probation for three to five years. During this time, he or she shall not drive with any amount of alcohol in their blood. Drivers will also have to pay fines that add up to approximately $1,400. Offenders even have to attend DUI school for three, six, or nine months. A first-time DUI conviction can even result in a jail sentence and a restricted driver’s license.
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For the second time this year, singer Bobby Brown has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. According to a news report in The Huffington Post, the alleged DUI (driving under the influence) incident occurred in the San Fernando Valley. Officials stopped Brown’s car in the Topanga area of Los Angeles and booked him on suspicion of driving under the influence. The 43-year-old singer previously pleaded no contest to a DUI charge in March of this year and checked himself into a rehabilitation center in August.

Drivers who are involved in multiple DUI cases could face harsher penalties compared to first-time offenders. A first-time DUI conviction in California could result in fines between $390 and $1,000, a jail sentence of 48 hours, a license suspension of four months, enrollment in DUI school, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and community service. All of these penalties can increase with additional convictions.

A second DUI in Los Angeles within 10 years can result in a jail sentence between 96 hours and one year. License suspensions can increase in length to two years and drivers may also face 19 months of DUI school and between three and five years of probation.
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marijuana-smoking_3644048.jpgUnder California law, it is possible to face drug charges without actually possessing any drugs. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a criminal offense that carries harsh penalties. Under California Health & Safety Code 11364: “It is unlawful to possess an opium pipe or any device, contrivance, instrument or paraphernalia used for unlawfully injecting or smoking (1) a controlled substance.” Examples of illegal devices used for consuming drugs include hypodermic needles, syringes, pipes, or cocaine spoons.

In order to obtain a conviction in these cases, prosecutors must prove that the defendant knowingly possessed the paraphernalia and that the person used or intended to use the paraphernalia for an unlawful purpose.

There are a number of ways in which a skilled criminal defense attorney can fight against these types of charges.
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A 21-year-old Santa Monica woman faces DUI (driving under the influence) charges after being involved in a fatal Los Angeles car accident. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the alleged DUI accident occurred on the 10 Freeway near Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles. Officials say the Audi the woman was driving was traveling at a high rate of speed when it rear-ended a freight truck. A Scion then struck the Audi and the two women in the Audi were trapped. The 20-year-old passenger in the Audi was killed and the 21-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence.

Under California law, driving under the influence is typically a misdemeanor offense. There are cases, however, in which a DUI incident can result in felony charges. Drivers who are responsible for causing serious injury or death to another will likely face felony charges. Drivers who have previously been arrested for three or more misdemeanor DUIs or who have a prior felony DUI conviction will face felony charges as well.
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A Los Angeles County drug bust resulted in the seizure of $6 million worth of marijuana plants and two arrests. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the arrests occurred in Diamond Bar and Hacienda Heights. Officials served three search warrants and located more than 2,000 marijuana plants and 20 pounds of marijuana. Additionally, officers determined that electricity was being stolen from California Edison to grow the plants. A 43-year Rosemead man and a 45-year-old San Jose were booked for the marijuana-growing operation.

Cultivating marijuana in California, in any amount, is a felony. According to California Health and Safety Code 11358: “Every person who plants, cultivates, harvests, dries, or processes any marijuana or any part thereof, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison.” In some cases, however, individuals can face lesser penalties if they can prove that they were cultivating the plants for personal or medical use only. In California, it is legal for cooperatives to grow marijuana for medical purposes; however, marijuana is still a banned or controlled substance under federal law.
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The 30-year-old son of Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson was arrested for drunk driving after being stopped at a DUI checkpoint. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the DUI arrest occurred at 9th and Figueroa streets in Los Angeles. Officials say the legislative deputy was not driving a city vehicle when he was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He was taken into custody and released the following day. The results of the blood alcohol test are pending.

There are harsh penalties for driving under the influence in California. Even first-time offenders who are not involved in an accident could face serious charges for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A first-time DUI conviction can result in jail time from four days to six months, fines and penalties up to $2,600, court fees, car insurance rate hikes, a license suspension of up to 10 months, and the installation of an ignition interlock device.
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A 44-year-old male nursing assistant has been arrested and charged on suspicion of sexual battery on a patient in Los Angeles County. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the incident allegedly occurred at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills. Officials say the man assaulted the female patient in her hospital bed. Investigators are conducting several interviews to determine if there are other potential victims as well. He faces two counts of sexual battery for the incident and could face more charges if additional patients step forward.

Under California Penal Code 243.4 (b): “Any person who touches an intimate part of another person who is institutionalized for medical treatment and who is seriously disabled or medically incapacitated, if the touching is against the will of the person touched, and if the touching is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery.”
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A 43-year-old gynecologist has been charged with sexually assaulting a patient on two occasions. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the Tarzana doctor is scheduled in court on September 18, 2012. He was arrested on two counts of assaulting a female patient and investigators are searching for other potential victims. The alleged victim says the doctor inappropriately touched her at a Northridge hospital on two occasions. During the second occasion he allegedly “ejaculated on her bed sheets.” The alleged victim took the bed sheet and turned it into the authorities. Prosecutors are going to request that the court order the doctor to suspend his practice until the criminal case is resolved.

Sexual battery in California can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending upon the criminal history of the defendant and the circumstances of the case. Misdemeanor sexual battery typically involves touching an intimate part of the body such as the breast, buttocks, groin, or sexual organ. The touch must be against the will of the victim and the touching must be for sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse. If these types of acts involved an unlawfully restrained or incapacitated victim, the charges may increase to a felony.
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