As a child, everyone learns that borrowing without asking and borrowing without returning an item are both considered stealing the item from the owner. But from a legal perspective, things aren’t so clear cut. That’s because California’s theft laws require someone to intend to either permanently take an item or at least take it long […]
Determining the Value of Items in a Theft or Vandalism Case
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 […]
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. […]
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 While this term may seem a bit outdated, it is still very relevant when it comes to the law as it can result in additional consequences after you are convicted.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 […]
Understanding California Robbery Laws and How to Fight The Charges
While many people confuse the crimes of robbery and burglary, they are two very separate crimes under the law. In fact, California robbery laws cover thefts that involve the threat or use of force, while the state’s burglary laws don’t necessarily even need to involve theft, but must involve trespassing on someone else’s property with […]
Breaking and Entering Under California Law
If you watch a lot of TV, you’ve almost certainly seen police arresting people for “breaking and entering,” but the thing is, that’s not actually a crime in California. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can just go around breaking into people’s homes and businesses. Here are the charges you might face instead courtesy of […]
Literally Reliving Your High School Years Means Breaking Numerous Laws
There are plenty of people who wish they could redo their high school years, whether because they wish they did things differently or because they had so much fun the first time. But despite what movies like Never Been Kissed say, pretending to be a teen and re-enrolling in high school is actually a crime -as one […]
