In California, being under the legal drinking age doesn’t just prohibit you from consuming alcohol; it also prevents you from possessing it in any public place. Minors convicted of this crime face misdemeanor charges, but the offense is only punishable with a fine or community service, so teens convicted for this crime cannot be sentenced to […]
Fighting Prescription Drug Crimes in Vista and San Diego
Many people mistakenly believe that prescription drug abuse is safer and less legally risky than using illegal street drugs, but using prescriptions is just as dangerous and illegal as abusing street drugs. Some of the most commonly abused prescription medications, including Morphine, Adderall, Vicodin, Fentanyl, and Oxycontin, have effects similar to street drugs like methamphetamine […]
What Alternative Custody Options are Available in Vista?
In recent years, courts around the country have offered an increasing number of alternatives to incarceration, including home arrest and electronic surveillance options. For a long time, San Diego County courts hesitated to take advantage of alternative sentencing options in all the most unusual cases. However, judges and prosecutors are now more open to these […]
What is 484 (PC): Petty Theft In California
In California, the severity of a theft offense 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, defined under California Penal Code 484 (PC). Anyone charged with this crime in San Diego should call a criminal defense […]
Need a San Diego Marijuana Attorney?
With different rules for those using pot for medicinal or recreational purposes, California marijuana laws can be very confusing. Meanwhile, possession, cultivation, sale, or transportation of marijuana for any reason is still illegal under federal law. To clarify things, San Diego criminal attorney Peter Liss has put together this guide on recreational and medical marijuana […]
Deferred Prosecution Options Through California Diversion Programs in Vista
Prison and jail overcrowding has resulted in California being open to many alternatives to traditional forms of criminal punishment. One increasingly common alternative is “diversion,” a program that allows those accused of crimes to avoid criminal conviction if they meet the terms outlined in their agreement with the court. What is a Pre-Trial Diversion Program? […]
