In California, the severity of some crimes, particularly charges for theft and vandalism, are based on the value of property affected by the criminal act. In fact, if a theft involves property valued at over $950 it may be filed as a felony or misdemeanor, or if the property damage in a vandalism case is determined […]
Special Murder Circumstances that Can Result in the Death Penalty in CA
Have you ever wondered why some people get the death penalty for murder while others do not? The answer comes down to the specifics of the crime. That’s because in California, while capital punishment is still fully legal, it is only applicable in a handful of murder cases involving specific special circumstances detailed in California […]
Have You Been Accused of Armed Robbery in San Diego County?
In California, Robbery is defined as taking the property of another person through the use of force or threat. In many cases, this can involves the use of a firearm, and armed robbery can carry far more serious criminal penalties than a robbery committed without the use of a gun. Anyone accused of this very serious […]
Tampering With a Vehicle is a Crime in California
In California, it is illegal to tamper with another person’s vehicle, whether you mess with the car as a whole or just a part of the vehicle or the contents. The good news is that in many cases, this is a reduced charge used in some vehicle burglary cases and carries a much lighter sentence. […]
Healthcare Fraud Defense in Vista and Carmel Valley
Healthcare fraud is a serious problem in America, which has been estimated to cost taxpayers at least $60 billion a year. All participants in the medical industry can be charged with fraud, including individual patients, doctors, pharmacists and nurses or entire hospitals, physician’s offices, pharmacies and urgent care clinics. Unfortunately, some of these cases come […]
Know Your Rights at the San Diego Black Lives Matter Protests
California has officially entered its second week of Black Lives Matter protests related to the death of George Floyd. Unfortunately, a lot of protesters have been arrested -including many who did not break the law and were just in the wrong place when laws did start to get broken. If you’re planning to attend some […]
What is a Crime of Moral Turpitude? What’s the Point of These Laws?
There are some crimes in California that are considered “crimes of moral turpitude.” While this term may seem a bit outdated, it is still very relevant when it comes to the law as it can result in additional consequences after you are convicted. Unfortunately, what is considered moral turpitude is a bit of a vague […]
Exposing Someone to Coronavirus, Breaking Quarantine and Looting
The potentially deadly coronavirus is causing panic around the globe and, unfortunately, when people panic, it’s common for them to do things that are not just unwise, but also illegal. In the wake of the coronavirus, it’s a good idea to review some of the many laws that people have broken during the pandemic, including breaking […]
Accused of Shoplifting In California? Theft Defense in Vista
Shoplifting is not limited to the mere act of taking something from a store without paying for it. If you change the price tag on an item to avoid paying the full cost, or if you eat food in a grocery store without paying for it, you are shoplifting. When you find yourself accused of […]
The Difference Between Burglary and Robbery In California
While burglary and robbery are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, they are actually two completely distinct crimes from a legal perspective. In fact, burglary isn’t always even a form of theft crime whereas robbery always involves theft, but also the use of fear or force. Here’s what defense attorney Peter M. Liss believes you […]
