In most cases, it is illegal to use force against others, but one of the strongest criminal defenses to these charges is arguing that you were acting in self-defense. California is known as a “stand your ground” state, which means you have the right to use force to defend yourself or another person without first […]
About California’s Justice System
Grand Theft Charges in San Diego, California
If you are accused of stealing in California, the charges will be filed as either grand theft or petty theft, depending on the value of the goods stolen. Grand theft, also known as grand larceny, occurs when stolen property is valued at $950 or more, whereas petty theft is charged when the value is lower. If you […]
Criminal Record Expungement Lawyer in San Diego
A criminal conviction will remain on your record unless it is expunged under the law. However, thanks to a law (SB 731) that took effect in 2023, many people will now be eligible for the automatic expungement of their criminal records. The new law even allows those convicted of a felony and sent to state […]
Hazing Under California Penal Code 245.6 (PC)
One of the first things many people associate with fraternities is the centuries-old tradition of hazing new pledges. Still, after multiple student deaths related to hazing activities occurred throughout the country, many states, including California, started banning dangerous initiation rituals. Hazing has a lot of different meanings, but for most people, it brings to mind […]
CSI in Real Life Vs TV Myths
Crime shows like CSI, NCIS, Dexter, Law & Order, and Criminal Minds have allowed the public to explore the work of forensic science labs. The only problem? What makes for good television doesn’t really reflect the realities of crime scene investigation units. Many investigation techniques seen on screen are exaggerated or outright fabricated, but many […]
Online Stalking Laws in California: San Diego Cyberstalking Attorney
California’s stalking law, Penal Code 646.9 (PC), prohibits the intentional, malicious, and repetitive following or harassing of another person paired with a credible threat. A subset of the overall stalking law covers cyberstalking performed on an electronic device like a computer or cell phone. If you have been accused of online harassment or stalking in […]
Jaywalking is Legal in California As of January 1, 2023
Police tend to use jaywalking tickets as a pretext to stop African American pedestrians. By decriminalizing jaywalking, this problem could be erased without making the streets any more dangerous for pedestrians.
What Interrogation Techniques do Police Use?
When you are accused of a crime, the police will often work on coaxing you to confess —even if you didn’t actually do it. To do this, police officers rely on several tried and true interview techniques, such as the well-known good cop/bad cop technique. While a skilled criminal defense attorney may be able to […]
Petty Theft In California: 484 (PC)
In California, the severity of a theft crime is based on the value of the stolen money, goods, or services. If the property is valued at less than $950, the offense is considered petty theft, a misdemeanor crime. Anyone charged with petty theft should call a skilled criminal defense attorney in San Diego to discuss […]
High BAC DUI Enhancements in California
It’s common for people to still feel sober after only one or two drinks, even though their BAC is over 0.08%. But when your BAC is nearly twice that, pretty much anyone should be able to recognize that they are too intoxicated to drive. Additionally, drunk driving becomes dramatically more dangerous as a person’s BAC […]