Los Angeles County Criminal Lawyer Blog

The California Senate has approved a controversial bill that would permit prosecutors to file misdemeanor charges in cases of simple possession of heroin, cocaine, and other hard drugs. Currently, possession of heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances is considered a felony in the state of California.

State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) cited 13 other states that allow simple hard drug possession to be charged as a misdemeanor as his model for introducing the measure. "In these 13 other states we can document that there is higher participation in drug treatment. As a result there is lower drug use ... and less violent and property crime in these 13 other states."

Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood), who supported the measure, pointed out that current drug law disproportionally affects minority youths in his community.

Not surprisingly, several senators and the California Police Chiefs Assn. opposed the bill. Sen. Ted Gaines (R-Rocklin) said that Proposition 36 already allows those convicted of drug offenses to opt into treatment programs rather than serve jail time. According to The Los Angeles Times, Gaines suggested that instead of passing this bill, the answer is to build more jail and prison cells.

Continue reading "California Senate Supports Misdemeanor Charges for 'Hard Drug' Possession" »

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that in most circumstances, police may not draw blood from a DUI (driving under the influence) suspect unless a search warrant for probable cause is obtained. The Justices, concerned that giving authorities blanket discretion to draw blood without a warrant in DUI cases, is a violation of the 4th Amendment, voted 8-1 in favor of rejecting a request that the court establish a rule that would completely abolish the search warrant requirement in DUI cases.

In 1996, the court ruled that it was okay to get blood evidence without a warrant in cases where waiting for one might result in the dissipation of blood evidence before the warrant could be obtained.

In this case, the state of Missouri had asked the court to throw out all warrant requirements, arguing that there is always a danger that blood evidence will degrade.

While the court did not reverse the 1996 ruling, it disagreed with Missouri's contention and stated that police should be encouraged to seek a warrant when trying to obtain blood evidence in DUI cases. Justice Sonia Sotomayer, who wrote the leading opinion, stated that a majority of states already allow police officers to quickly obtain warrants electronically or by telephone or radio.

Continue reading "U.S. Supreme Court Weighs in on Warrantless DUI Blood Tests" »

An 18-year-old North Hills Valley High School student has been arrested after he was accused of dragging a 17-year-old girl into a school bathroom and attempting to rape her.

According to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman, the accused "had come on to her during lunch, and she rebuffed him." The spokesman went on to say that the girl told the suspect that she had a boyfriend and she was not interested in him.

Allegedly, the boy later grabbed the girl by the arm as she was walking down a hallway and dragged her into a boy's bathroom, where he began kissing her and attempted to remove her clothes. Reportedly, the incident was cut short when another student knocked on the bathroom door. A teacher then confronted the boy and asked him why the two were in the boy's bathroom.

When the girl told the teacher what had happened, the police were called and the youth was arrested. LAPD reports that the girl was unharmed, but was lucky the incident was interrupted in time.

Continue reading "North Hills Valley High School Student Accused of Kidnapping & Attempted Rape" »

A 27-year-old man, currently in a Pasadena jail, is accused of attempting to carjack three vehicles near Holliston Avenue and Elizabeth Street in Pasadena.

A Pasadena Police spokesman told the Pasadena Star-News that the alleged carjacking attempts took place at about 5:30pm when the suspect flagged down three different vehicles and tried to steal the cars from the drivers.

"The suspect was yelling at victims to open the doors and give him their cars. The victims had their car doors locked, and when they became aware that they were being the victims of a crime, they sped away," the police spokesman stated.

After two unsuccessful attempts at carjacking vehicles from a 73-year-old woman and a 58-year-old woman, the suspect allegedly flagged down a third vehicle, which was being driven by a 48-year-old man. When the driver realized what was happening, he started to drive away, but the suspect jumped on to the car hood before rolling off into the street.

Continue reading "Man Arrested in Pasadena, Accused of Carjacking Three Vehicles" »

The criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann have learned that prosecutors have charged a La Crescenta man with assault, battery, and attempted kidnapping after he allegedly tried to abduct two women in the San Fernando Valley.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the suspect attempted to abduct two women: one in North Hollywood and another in Valley Village. The LAPD said both the women fought the man and managed to escape. They also indicated that they were looking for a third victim the suspect may have intended to abduct.

The 37 year-old-suspect was arrested in the La Crescenta-Montrose area while he was allegedly following another woman who was jogging on a side-street. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that investigators believe the man may have been involved in an attempted abduction in the past from a school in the Glendale/Burbank area.

He is currently being held on a $2.2 million bail.

Continue reading "Man Accused of Two Attempted Kidnappings in San Fernando Valley" »

The criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann have learned that a Pasadena man is facing two misdemeanor charges after he allegedly lied to emergency dispatchers when he called 911 after his backpack was stolen. Authorities claim that he reported the backpack had been taken from him at gunpoint, when it had not, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Normally, this case would not be garnering much in the way of news coverage, but the Pasadena Police Department is contending that the false report led to the shooting death of an unarmed 19-year-old last year by Pasadena police officers who thought he was carrying a gun.

An internal review has determined that the officers acted "within department policy" in the shooting. Investigations by the FBI and Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review are ongoing.

The attorney for the 911 caller claims that the Pasadena Police Department is trying to deflect blame for the incident on to his client. The city attorney filed the charges after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office refused to press manslaughter charges against the caller at the bequest of Pasadena Police.

Continue reading "Pasadena Man Called 911 and Could Face 18 Months in Prison" »

The L.A. grand theft defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann have learned that Torrance Police have claimed they cracked a nationwide "gypsy" theft ring accused of stealing millions of dollars of merchandise from Apple and other retail electronic goods stores.

Four suspects, two men and two women who are residents of Chicago, were arrested in Hawthorne after detectives identified the alleged suspects on surveillance video committing theft at a Mac Mall store in a South Bay shopping center. The ring has been accused of taking goods from Apple stores in Pasadena, Manhattan Beach, San Fernando Valley, and Orange County. They have also been accused of taking merchandise from southern California Best Buy, Costco, Microsoft, and Wal-Mart stores.

Investigators allege they also hit stores in Florida, Washington, and Florida.

Continue reading "Torrance Police Arrest Four Accused in Nationwide Theft Ring" »

Los Angeles County Sheriff investigators say they are going to seek a felony manslaughter charge against the son of the president of Pepperdine University stemming from the drug overdose death of a 25-year-old woman in April 2012.

According to The Los Angeles Times, the accused has had several previous felony convictions. He was recently sentenced to two years in prison for making criminal threats against his parents at their Malibu home on the Pepperdine campus.

The spokesman for the Sheriff's department told the Times that the man will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in Los Angeles in an incident in which a young woman apparently overdosed on heroin and was found dead on the garage floor of her parents home. Investigators say they have video surveillance of the accused and the woman leaving in a car together hours before her body was discovered at the family home.

The man allegedly left the woman incapacitated on the garage floor, didn't call for help, and took her car, which was discovered in Woodland Hills two weeks later. A detective investigating the case allegedly told the family that he felt that the accused was responsible, "if not directly for her incapacitation, then certainly for leaving her in an incapacitated condition when help could have easily been sought."

Continue reading "Son of Pepperdine University President Accused of Felony Involuntary Manslaughter" »

The criminal defense attorneys at The Law Office of Daniel E. Kann have discovered that a man suspected of two home invasion robberies was recently arrested at his East Los Angeles home.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reports that the man was wearing a mask and gloves when he allegedly broke into a home and held a woman at gunpoint while ransacking her residence. He reportedly stole money and jewelry, as well as the woman's purse and cellphone.

The 27-year-old man is also being accused of a second home invasion robbery in which he rang a residence's doorbell and forced his way into the home when a woman answered the door. He also held her at gunpoint and left with the victim's purse, cellphone, and some cash.

Continue reading "Home Invasion Robbery Suspect Arrested in East Los Angeles" »

Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged two additional people in connection with the fatal shooting of a church deacon outside of a Westlake church.

The two, a 24-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, are scheduled to be arraigned on charges of attempted murder, vandalism, and murder.

Prosecutors allege that a 22-year-old woman was spray-painting the walls of the Principe de Paz church at about 6:30 p.m. on November 4, 2012, when the church deacon and several other parishioners confronted her. According to The Los Angeles Times, a 24-year-old man then got out of a waiting car and began shooting. The deacon was fatally shot during the melee and one other person was injured.

The alleged shooter then got back into the car and a 31-year-old woman who was behind the wheel helped him to escape.

The 22-year-old woman has already pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against her. The three also face charges for allegedly being gang members.

Continue reading "Prosecutors Charge Two More in Killing of Westlake Church Deacon" »

A man who allegedly was driving his pickup truck the wrong way on a one-way street at "super fast" speeds, attempted to evade police trying to pull him over. The pursuit eventually ended with the truck hitting a cyclist and then crashing into the front of a Venice restaurant.

A Los Angeles Police watch commander told The Los Angeles Times that there was a pursuit because the driver didn't yield when police attempted to stop him. The cyclist who was hit during the wild ride and the driver of the pickup truck were taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. One patron of the restaurant was slightly injured in the crash.

The driver will reportedly be arrested on suspicion of felony evading, according to the L.A. Times. He most likely will face other charges stemming from the chase.

Continue reading "Driver Hits Cyclist, Crashes into Venice Restaurant while Fleeing Police" »

The Los Angeles marijuana crime defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann have learned that Los Angeles Police recently discovered a massive marijuana-growing operation in a downtown Los Angeles loft and shut it down. Four suspects have been arrested and police seized hundreds of pounds of pot.

The police told KABC-TV News that the operation had sophisticated heating lamps and irrigation systems and may have produced some $7 million worth of marijuana every 60 days. According to KABC, police also seized 1,500 pounds of marijuana plants, two shotguns, and two assault rifles.

Authorities say they tracked down the growing operation because of the unusually high rate of electrical usage that was coming from the building -- electrical use was running up to $17,000 per month, according to a spokesman with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.

Continue reading "Massive Marijuana Operation Shut Down at Downtown L.A. Loft" »

A man from Newhall recently pleaded no contest for charges involving sexual assaults allegedly committed in the Santa Clarita Valley. As reported by HomeTownStation.com, the man recently received a sentence of 15 years and four months in state prison, although the maximum time possible for the charges was 267 years to life in prison.

The suspect was originally arrested when he was 19 years old for 34 sex-related charges involving 15 victims, with victims as young as 12 years old. All but one of the charges were felony crimes. The charges included unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, oral copulation with a person under 16, sexual battery, sending harmful matter, and sexual penetration with a foreign object.

Continue reading "Charges for Sexual Assaults Result in 15 Year Prison Sentence for Santa Clarita Man" »

Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station revealed that 2012 saw the amount of driving under the influence (DUI) arrests decrease for the second straight year. As reported by Hometownstation.com, the area has seen hundreds fewer DUI arrests over the span of the past two years.

Sheriff's deputies revealed that Santa Clarita Valley saw 660 DUI arrests in 2010, 639 arrests in 2011, and 431 arrests in 2012. Deputies are pleased with the continued decrease in drunk driving and the added safety it brings to the roads, but are continuing to pursue fewer instances and greater enforcement of the law. Police are scheduled to have special DUI operations in effect in the near future during Super Bowl Sunday and St. Patrick's Day, which are known for greater amounts of drunk driving.

While Santa Clarita Valley has seen a major decrease in DUIs, it was not the case for all of Los Angeles County. Holiday drunk driving enforcement throughout the county at the end of 2012 resulted in 2,168 DUI arrests over the span of 17 days, as compared to the 2,433 arrests made during the course of 19 days in 2011.

Under California DUI law, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than 0.08 percent. Those found guilty of such actions can have their license suspended, spend time in jail, and be ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines.

At The Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann, a Santa Clarita DUI defense lawyer can provide you with the skilled representation needed to uphold your rights and preserve your future. Attorney Kann has dedicated his career to protecting defendants and preventing harsh punishments from harming your personal and professional life. To learn more about how we can aid you, contact us today at (888) 744-7730.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department have arrested a juvenile from Los Angeles in connection with a string of recent pranks aimed at sending police to the homes of celebrities. As reported by The Huffington Post, these prank calls, known as "swatting," involved someone calling 9-1-1 and reporting violence at the home of a celebrity in order to have emergency responders report to the home.

Police have stated that they have arrested a juvenile from the Los Angeles area in connection with the calls, but have not stated further details concerning the identity of the suspect or what charges may be filed.

Swatting incidents allegedly caused by the suspect include a call targeting Ashton Kutcher, which involved the police being told that multiple people had been shot at the TV star's home. One week later, a call was made reporting that shots had been fired at Justin Bieber's home. In both cases, the celebrities were not home and no one was injured.

Currently, local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating other incidents of celebrity swatting, including calls made involving the homes of Charlie Sheen, Simon Cowell, and Miley Cyrus. Additionally, calls have been made involving non-celebrity targets, including a bank. Police have stated that the incidents are considered to be very serious, as they could both result in injuries when sending in police to deal with an alleged emergency and prevents officers from responding to real incidents.

At The Law Offices of Daniel E. Kann, our Los Angeles juvenile crime lawyers understand that young defendants charged with crimes face not only strict penalties, but consequences that could follow them into adulthood. To learn more about how we may be able to represent you in your case, call us today at (888) 744-7730.