If you're facing DUI charges, you know that it could lead to jail time and the loss of your driver's license. You also know that you may have to pay some serious financial fines. These are all potential ramifications of a conviction. But it's important to also...
Criminal Defense
Is tag switching still shoplifting?
You know that shoplifting is a form of theft and that it's illegal to take an item out of a store without paying for it. But you have a friend who tells you that all you really need to do is switch the price tag, and then you can get the item for less money. They...
What can real estate agents do when they find suspected drugs?
As a real estate agent, you thought you’d seen just about everything. Then you saw what appeared to be illegal drugs and related paraphernalia in a property you’re going to be showing to buyers. This isn’t a particularly uncommon discovery in homes that have been...
Why mistakes in the chain of custody matter
Evidence is a key part of any trial. When determining your guilt or innocence, the court relies heavily on the evidence provided by the prosecution. Such evidence must be relevant and admissible for it to be used in arriving at a verdict. It means that if there are...
Is it illegal to access someone else’s social media?
You have likely seen people post on social media that they have hacked a friend's account. It's usually done in a joking manner, and it doesn't actually mean that they hacked into anything in the way that you would imagine. They just found out that their friend had...
How you can protect your child’s future after criminal charges
You and your family may be relaxing, waiting for one of your children to get back home. That may not be what happens. Instead, a police officer rings your doorbell. When you answer, you learn that your child has been picked up and accused of a crime. Children may not...
Can the police arrest you in the wrong manner?
If the police arrest you and the police charge you with a criminal offense, it is crucial you look at all defense options available to choose the most appropriate one. Sometimes that will be showing you did not do it. Other times it will be simpler to rely on...
Marijuana breath tests may be coming to California roadways
It's standard procedure any time a California state trooper, sheriff's deputy or local police officer pulls someone over on suspicion of drinking and driving: the officer asks the driver to blow into a device that measures the level of alcohol in their system. Police...
What is embezzlement under California law?
Ever since ambitious gold prospectors flooded the West Coast and con artists followed to siphon their spoils, embezzlement has been a part of California's legal landscape. What exactly is it, and are there ways to prevent it? What is embezzlement, legally speaking?...
Is it a good idea for defendants to take the stand?
People who fight criminal charges at jury trials in California have the right to choose whether or not to testify. If they do not, the juries will be instructed that they cannot use their silence as evidence against them to infer their guilt. While defendants have the...