Under both state and federal law, some offenses are considered “crimes of moral turpitude,” meaning they involve serious dishonesty, fraud, or something morally reprehensible. While the term may sound old-fashioned and outdated, it is still very relevant when it comes to the law, as it can result in additional post-conviction consequences. Unfortunately, what crimes fall […]
The Felony Murder Rule of California: 189 (PC)
Under California law, violent offenders can be charged with murder if they kill someone while committing a felony. This section of the law is known as the felony murder rule and is detailed under California Penal Code 189 (PC). At one point, even accidental deaths that occurred during the commission of a felony could result […]
Attempted Murder Charges Can be Difficult to Prosecute in Vista, California
Attempted murder charges are very serious, but you can defend yourself as long as there is not enough proof that you were actually attempting to kill the victim.
What is the Sentence for Vehicular Manslaughter in California?
Vehicular homicide, detailed under California Penal Code section 192(c) (PC), is one of the most serious driving offenses a person can be charged with. It occurs when someone dies because another person was driving in negligently or unlawfully. You can even face vehicular manslaughter charges if you caused a fatal car accident while speeding. If […]
The Story of Alec Baldwin’s Rust Trial
It was a true tragedy when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Alec Baldwin’s Western film Rust. Whether or not it was a crime was not as immediately apparent. To determine if it was a crime, the incident was investigated by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico’s First Judicial District […]
What’s the Point of Multiple Life Sentences?
People can only live once. So what’s the point of judges sentencing people to multiple life sentences? There are actually valid reasons for this strange-sounding criminal penalty, including the real meaning of “life” imprisonment and how the judicial system works. Here’s why courts in California give multiple life sentences and why it makes sense from […]
Can You be Charged With Attempted Murder if the “Victim” was Already Dead?
Murder is the taking of another person’s life, so naturally, attempted murder is the attempt to take someone’s life. So would it be murder if someone attempts to take the life of someone who it turns out has already died? It’s an interesting legal question that has appeared not only in law schools and detective […]
Can You be Charged for a Crime While Sleepwalking?
It seems like something out of a bad detective story, but as more and more people have begun taking prescription drugs with sleepwalking as a side effect, the number of crimes committed by sleepwalkers have dramatically increased over the last few decades and most commonly include offenses such as murder, sex crimes (a specific condition […]
All About Manslaughter Under California Penal Code Section 192 (PC)
In most people’s minds, the distinction between manslaughter and murder charges is whether or not the killing was intentional or not. But in the legal system, things aren’t so simple as that. In fact, while involuntary manslaughter is usually a result of an accidental death that was caused by recklessness or criminally negligent behavior, voluntary […]
Is Hiding a Body a Crime in Vista, California?
Everyone knows it’s illegal to hide the body of a murder victim, whether the person hiding the corpse is the murderer or someone aiding and abetting the murderer. But it’s also illegal to conceal a body even if the victim died due to an accident. In Vista, these charges are filed under California Penal Code 152 (PC). Contact […]
