Vandalism and graffiti are crimes nearly everyone has committed at one point or another —whether it involves scratching your initials into a desk in high school, doodling on a bus poster, or something more drastic like spray painting your name across a wall. But just because these acts are common doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take […]
California Extortion and Blackmail Law: 518 (PC)
California’s extortion laws prohibit the obtaining of money, property, sexual favors, political actions, or anything else of value through the use of force, fear, or coercion, which could include someone threatening to reveal a secret, expose nude pictures, or provide evidence that someone committed a crime. While the state’s main extortion law is defined under […]
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 […]
California Bigamy Law: 281 (PC)
California recognizes marriages between a man and a woman and two partners of the same sex. It does not, however, acknowledge marriages involving more than one person or those where one party is already married to someone else. Polygamy and bigamy are crimes in California, and if either person getting married knows that one of […]
The 10-20-Life Law of California
California Penal Code 12022.53 (PC), also known as the “10-20-Life” statute or “Use a Gun and You’re Done” law, adds additional penalties when you use a gun during the commission of certain crimes. When the law was originally enacted in 1998, it was very strict, and the penalty enhancements were mandatory. It has since been […]
San Diego Unlawful Sodomy Attorney
Sodomy is essentially a fancy name for anal sex. While consensual sodomy is legal, when one party does not consent, it is a crime under California Penal Code 286 (PC). The consequences for forceful sodomy or the sodomy of a child are similar to those for forceful oral copulation, rape with a foreign object, and […]
1203.2 (PC): Probation Violation Lawyer in San Diego
California is increasingly turning to probation to save money over incarcerating non-violent offenders. If you have been charged with a crime in San Diego, you could be sentenced to probation in place of part or all of a potential jail or prison term, even if you are found guilty of a felony. While probation is […]
When is a Crime an Infraction, Misdemeanor, or Felony?
California law defines three categories of crimes to distinguish which type of offenses are the most serious. While criminal charges may be filed as an infraction, a misdemeanor, or a felony, few people know which is worse. In terms of both the severity of the charges and the potential penalties, a felony is more serious […]
What’s The Difference Between Assault and Battery In California?
Assault and battery are often mentioned together, especially in police procedurals, and some states even charge the two offenses together. In California, however, they are separate offenses—the key distinction is the use of force. Assault is the threat or attempt to use force, whereas battery involves the actual use of force. The Definition of Assault […]
Defenses and Sentences for Hate Crimes In California
People commit crimes for many reasons, but jurors are usually more sympathetic when an offense was performed out of desperation or a result of a personal conflict rather than due to biased, hateful beliefs. To help protect the civil rights of individuals and punish those who victimize others based on prejudice, California has enacted many […]
