There are several ways the police can end up with your property. Several of the most common methods of seizure include the following: 1. During an arrest your personal property is taken into custody for safe keeping and booked into property; 2. Property has been found at a crime scene…
When you sign a citation after a traffic violation you are promising to appear in court on the date the officer places on the citation. Many people don’t read the bottom portion of the citation when they officer tells them to sign and they’ll be on their way. In fact,…
An individual may be suffering with a mental condition such that everyone “knows” he’s mentally ill. In fact, people often unkindly say he’s “crazy”. However, he is out in society and usually functioning quite well. He may be on Social Security Disability or he may just be impaired yet still…
A Three (3) Strike Case is one where the Defendant has at least two (2) prior felony convictions which qualify as serious or violent felonies under Penal Code Sections 1192.7, 1192.8, and/or 677.5. Serious felonies refer to the conduct involved in the prior felony and are listed in Penal Code…
The California legislature has provided some relief for our combat veterans. In Orange County there is a Community Courts Program that provides, in part, for an alternative sentencing program for veterans of our Armed Forces who have served in combat. The goal of the Combat Veteran’s Court is not to…
How can you represent “those” people? If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that at a party or in a conversation I’d be a rich man. The fact is, “those” people are just like you and me. Everyone hates lawyers until they need one. I had to…
When you don’t like the judge you are in front of you are in trouble. There is a provision for changing your judicial officer but it must be used with caution. When a defendant doesn’t want a particular judge, commissioner, or referee to hear any matter that involves a contested…
As soon as the red lights come on behind you, the officer is looking for signs you are Driving Under the Influence. He is trained to document the reason for the stop. He is also looking to document anything unusual that happens from the time the officer activates his red…
The cops just arrested you in Orange County, CA,and never read you your rights. How can that be? We’ve all seen how on television the Right to Remain Silent is rushed through and said by the cops through clenched teeth just as they are slapping the cuffs on the suspect.…
If a client gives his California lawyer stolen property, does the attorney client privilege shield him from getting prosecuted? This straight forward question, of course, has many answers, depending on the circumstances. In general, a lawyer cannot knowingly take possession of the “fruits” of a crime. In other words, a…