Assault and battery may be two crimes commonly confused with one another, but even those who learn the distinctions under California state law often have a hard time understanding what makes an assault become aggravated. After all, if battery is the use of force, it makes sense that aggravated battery is the use of force […]
Meth-Using Mother Charged with Murdering Her Stillborn Baby
California has some very liberal laws when it comes to abortion, but when a woman decides to have a child, the state also attempts to protect the life of the unborn fetus. That’s why killing a fetus is still considered murder and in a recent news story, a woman is even being charged with murdering […]
Can Secret Recordings be Used in Court in California?
In California, it’s illegal to film someone without their consent, so it’s only logical that many people wonder “can secret recordings be used in court?” Oceanside criminal lawyer Peter M. Liss says the answer is generally no, but there are some exceptions that are important to be aware of. Eavesdropping and Wiretapping Laws in CA […]
Falsifying Signatures or Documents: Oceanside Forgery Lawyer
Forgery is most closely associated with signing someone else’s signature, but it can also involve a number of other crimes including falsifying a document in order to obtain money or property. These crimes are all performed for the purposes of committing fraud, so if you are accused of forgery, Oceanside forgery lawyer Peter M. Liss […]
When a Victim Dies 20 Years Later, You Could Still Face Murder Charges
When you imagine someone murdering another person, you probably picture the death happening fairly soon. Even in cases where the victim doesn’t die immediately and is taken to the hospital, they usually die soon afterwards. But even if a victim dies 20 years down the line, if the cause of death was attributed to something […]
Understanding Mistrials and Hung Juries: Oceanside Criminal Attorney
Everyone has heard of hung juries and mistrials and while most people understand that a hung jury occurs when the jurors cannot come to a unanimous decision, fewer know that hung juries result in mistrials (other things can cause mistrials too, more on that later). Even fewer still understand what happens when a mistrial is […]
California’s 10-20-Life Rule: Oceanside Violent Crimes Lawyers
California’s 10-20-Life law, also known as the “use a gun and you’re done” law, adds additional penalties when you use a gun during the commission of certain crimes. The law was originally enacted in 1998 to deter people from using guns to commit violent crimes and it recently went through some changes allowing judges more […]
Is Being a Bad Date a Crime? If it Involves Fraud, Maybe
We’ve all been on bad dates at one point or another and many of us have even walked out on the date without saying goodbye. Is that illegal? Not normally, but if you set up dates specifically to get someone to buy you expensive meals and then leave before the check comes every time, Oceanside […]
More Criminal Justice Myths Debunked -Oceanside Criminal Lawyer
Oceanside criminal lawyer Peter Liss believes you should know all you can about the law in order to best protect your rights. That’s why we have previously debunked legal, forensic and DUI myths and are now ready to bust another set of criminal justice myths. Criminal Justice Myth: Someone Must Press Charges It sounds good […]
Selling Illegal Items to Minors -Oceanside Criminal Defense Lawyers
It’s common knowledge that it is illegal to sell alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana or fireworks to minors, but did you know these crimes (while all slightly different) could land you behind bars? Oceanside criminal defense lawyers warn that violators of these crimes need an attorney to help them fight the charges. Selling Alcohol to Minors We already […]
