Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Drug trafficking and Los Angeles drug smuggling is a serious crime that comes with some serious consequences. According to ABC 7, two men are accused of snuggling ropes and cords packed with cocaine through LAX security checkpoints.

Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers urge you to contact a lawyer immediately if you're being accused of any drug offense. Remember not to speak with authorities until you've spoken with a lawyer. Do not try to talk to your way out of the offense. Most importantly, don't listen to official's jargon. If you're involved in an incident with someone else, other than yourself, remember that authorities will use their tactics to form persuasive scenarios for confession, pinning one victim against the other.

The accused smugglers were held by immigration and customs enforcement agents at Los Angeles International Airport after they landed from Panama. One reportedly had seven ropes, and the other reportedly had 40 canvas backpacks. The ropes and the cords of the backpacks were said to have been stiff and were giving off a chemical odor, which triggered inspectors to test them, reports Mercury News.

The two young men, ages 20 and 21, claimed they bought the ropes and backpacks from a swap meet in Panama. The men told immigration and customs enforcement agents that they were intending on using the ropes on an upcoming fishing trip. They two were arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, reports the Los Angeles Times. The ropes ended up containing nearly 21 pounds of cocaine.

Continue reading "Two Men Charged with Alleged Cocaine Soaked Ropes Now Charged With Drug Smuggling in Los Angeles " »

Michael Lohan, father of pop star Lindsay Lohan, was arrested March 21st when he was involved in an altercation with his live-in girlfriend. Lohan is accused of physically assulting her and is charged with one misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a cohabitant, according to CNN Entertainment.

If you've been involved in a physical domestic dispute, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney should be contacted immediately to protect your rights, your access to your home, family and your livelihood. Domestic violence convictions can have many consequences, including the inability to hold certain jobs, occupational licenses or to legally obtain a firearm.

Local authorities were called to the incident at roughly 9 p.m. to the 8500 block of Holloway Avenue. Lohan was later arrested a short distance from the West Hollywood sheriff's station. Deputies say they found him walking down the 8800 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Lohan is currently facing a maximum sentence of one year in county jail if convicted, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Domestic violence claims are often executed on a he-said, she-said basis. There is almost no way to know for sure who did what to whom. False claims are often created during a divorce, during breakups and other relationship problems.

Falsified restraining orders can also have have detrimental consequences, causing an innocent parent to be prevented from returning home or visiting children. Domestic violence charges will also complicate divorces and child custody proceedings.

According to The National Father's Resource Center, falsified domestic violence claims are filed every day for a number of reasons:

-Teenagers have falsified abuse claims to try and retaliate against parents.

-Some children may make false allegations for attention.

-Parents may make false claims to get the upper hand in a custody battle.

- Young children may make false allegations in attempt to mimic the situations of friends or classmates may be in.

It is important to contact a domestic violence attorney immediately if you've been falsely accused of harassment in a domestic dispute.

Continue reading "Michael Lohan Facing Misdemeanor Charges of Domestic Violence in Los Angeles " »

A confused burglar was arrested earlier this month when he broke into the wrong house, according to Sugar Scape. The suspicious man tried breaking into the house of Miley Cirus, but was caught in the neighbor's garden, or what he believed to be Miley Cirus' garden.

X17Online reports the confused stalker claimed that "he had a date with Miley." When police weren't convinced; they took him into custody with a $5,000 bail.

Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers know there are many issues in such cases. Proving this man intended to break into Cyrus' house, or that he was stalking her, is a far cry from proving he was standing in a garden on private property somewhere in Southern California.

Yet, as a defendant, you have to take such charges seriously. Our defense lawyers represent clients facing stalking charges in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, including Wildomar and Riverside County. Stalking charges are becoming more and more common, whether involving celebrities or a relationship gone bad. We reported on our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog earlier this year about a stalker incident involving hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

Ivanka Trump's was also a victim of stalking. After facing stalking charges and a court-order to stay away from Donald Trump and other residents, the 28-year-old continued to contact Mrs. Trump. He is currently held without bail.

"I should stop bothering her, but I like her," said the young stalker to a detective on a plane ride to New York, according to a court document released Tuesday. The 28-year-old recently legally changed his name to Cloud Starchaser and stated his home address as "a volcano in Hawaii," when he was originally arrested last year on previous stalking charges.

In all seriousness, victims are often falsely accused of stalking. It is important to contact an attorney immediately if you find yourself to be a victim of false accusations.

Continue reading "Miley Cyrus 'Stalker' Arrested on Criminal Charges in Los Angeles" »

Many California residents make a living raising healthy, happy, puppies. Local law enforcement may be stepping on the wrong toes and shutting down these responsible and caring homes for man's best friend by creating a new ordinance that could lead to questionable animal cruelty charges in Los Angeles.

Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers understand that raising dogs in California is a living for some, supplemental income for others, and a hobby for many. When the government gets carried away with ordinances and regulations that infringe upon your privacy, unwarranted criminal charges may result.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance to regulate the actions of animal breeders, according to The Beverly Hills Courier. While the ordinance is intended to target those who irresponsibly and inhumanely run puppy mills, over-restrictive law enforcement may prove to do more harm than good considering the popularity of dog breeders in our area.

"There are definitely some meaningful, impactful components to the ordinance that will improve the lives of dogs and make it less likely that they will suffer in large-scale breeding operations," said Elizabeth Oreck, national manager for Best Friends Animal Society,

Under the rules of the new ordinance, breeders will now be required to:

-Keep the puppies at the breeding facility until they are at least 8 weeks old.

-Keep the pregnant mothers separate from the other at least three days before they give birth.

-Provide new mothers and their puppies with proper nesting boxes.

-Wait until the dogs are at least 1 year old before breeding.

"In a county like L.A., where there is a very high shelter euthanasia rate, it is just as important to limit the production of animals as it is to ensure that dogs in breeding facilities are well cared for," said Oreck.

According to PR Web, Oreck understands that it may be impossible to put a complete ban on breeding dogs, but she hopes that eventually the regulations can be stiffened. She hopes to one day reduce euthanasia for the abundance of dogs that no longer hold their power as prestigious show dogs.

While the enforcement of this new ordinance is important in keeping irresponsible breeders under careful watch for the safety and regulation of these dogs, it may prove as a hassle for the many responsible breeders in the Los Angeles area.

Continue reading "New Ordinance Regulating Puppy Breeders may lead to Animal Cruelty Charges in Los Angeles" »

Detectives say DNA has linked a federal bank fraud defendant in Los Angeles to a violent home invasion inside a gated Southern California community, according to the Mercury News.

Los Angeles federal criminal defense attorneys know the popularity of shows like CSI give many the impression that DNA cases are open and shut. In fact, criminal defense lawyers and prosecutors alike must often re-educate the public at the beginning of jury trials about what to expect. Authorities do not use super computer to determine the year and make of a motorcycle based upon the sound of exhaust pipes captured on surveillance video.

There are no magic bullets. For the most part, DNA is reserved for very serious crimes like rape and murder. And the wait list for lab work is long. However, state and federal laws that require convicted felons to submit DNA samples to databases continue to lead to arrests in cold cases. As we reported last summer on our L.A. Criminal Defense Blog, the arrest of the Grim Sleeper is the latest high-profile example.

Detectives with the Asian Gang Team report the 45-year-old defendant was arrested for bank fraud back in October. DNA linked him to the August 2009 Diamond Bar home invasion in which a family was attacked, according to authorities. The mother reported waking to find her 7-year-old son bound and gagged with duct tape. Her 17-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son were also overpowered by the intruder. He fled after she stabbed him with a pair of scissors and pushed him down a flight of stairs.

The Los Angeles Times reports authorities obtained a DNA sample that matched the defendant, who lived in the same gated community at the time. He was arrested by the United States Postal Inspection Service in October 2010 on suspicion of bank fraud. He is currently in federal prison in Los Angeles where he awaits sentencing.

Continue reading "Defendant's DNA Linked to Home Invasion while Awaiting Sentencing on Federal Bank Fraud Charges" »

Don't count on the luck of the Irish to keep you out of trouble through the Saint Patrick Day weekend; authorities from Glendora to Redondo Beach will be out in force, looking to make drunk driving arrests in Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

Please contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer if you are charged with DUI this weekend. Stepped up enforcement, roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints all increase the risk that you will be unfairly charged. When an attorney can challenge probable cause for the traffic stop, or for requesting that you take field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer examination, the charges against you may be reduced or dismissed.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles reports that about 25,000 motorists are arrested and charged with drunk driving each year -- more than 6,000 of those face felony charges. About 1 in 4 avoid being convicted of drunk driving. Others are able to plead to lesser charges, including reckless operation,

The Glendora Patch reports the Los Angeles County DUI Task Force is increasing patrols through the weekend.

"We want drunk drivers to know we're out there," said spokeswoman Wendy Brewer.

The government reports 103 fatal crashes occurred on St. Patrick's Day in 2009 -- more than one-third of those involved alcohol. Such cases can be quite serious and may lead to charges of vehicular manslaughter in Los Angeles.

The staff at Rodriguez, Lewis & Kahn wishes each of you a safe and enjoyable holiday week. Authorities are providing the following safety tips:

-Have a safe ride home before heading out for the evening.

-Designate a sober driver and leave your keys at home.

-Help friends find a sober ride home.

-If hosting a party, serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks.

-Keep phone numbers for local taxi companies handy.

Continue reading "St. Patrick's Day Weekend Increases Risk of Drunk Driving Charges in Los Angeles" »

To pimp or not to pimp seems to be the question.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the California Supreme Court has been asked to decide the case of a man convicted of pandering in Los Angeles after he allegedly tried to recruit an undercover police officer to prostitute for him.

A sex crimes defense lawyer in Los Angeles can best help a defendant determine the best course of action when facing charges of prostitution, pandering or solicitation of prostitution in Los Angeles. Too often, embarrassed defendants simply plead to the charges. We think that is a mistake. Having a conviction for a sex crime on your record can impact your life for years to come and may even require you to register as a sex offender.

In a novel legal argument, his Los Angeles defense attorney managed to get the high court's attention by arguing that a defendant could not be guilty of pandering by attempting to get a prostitute (or someone posing as a prostitute) to engage in prostitution. Only by attempting to recruit an innocent party, could a defendant face a pandering charge.

The defendant was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to four years in prison. He has since been released. His attorney argues a pandering charge shouldn't stick if a pimp simply tries to get a working prostitute to chance management. The California Attorney General's Office argues the law was meant to imprison pimps regardless of the alleged target.

The court appeared divided on the issue, with several Justices at least giving the argument a fair hearing.

A ruling is expected within the next 90 days.

Continue reading "Pimp argues pandering charges in Los Angeles don't apply to cases involving prostitutes" »

The L.A. Times is reporting a number of defendants are facing criminal charges involving dog fighting in Los Angeles after authorities seized 17 pit bulls in the Antelope Valley.

A Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer should always be called to handle charges of cruelty to animals in L.A. or criminal allegations involving dog fighting. The case of NFL Quarterback Michael Vick showed the criminal penalties for being convicted of animal abuse may be more severe than assaulting another human being.

In some instances, the laws have gotten so tough that pet owners are unfairly charged in cases where a dog has gotten sick or a family cannot afford proper vet care. In other cases, defendants are facing charges for taking in an attempting to care for too many strays. In still other instances, animal care may not rise to the level of someone's ideal standards but is not substandard enough to warrant criminal charges.

And, of course, there is no shortage of instances in which government authorities have inserted their noses and become involved in situations that are simply none of their business. They call it private property for a reason.

In this case, authorities raided an Antelope Valley property and seized more than a dozen dogs along with treadmill machines, medicines and surgical equipment used in the treatment of injured animals. Presumably they had a search warrant. A defense attorney will likely challenge the legality of the search. In cases where a search warrant is improperly obtained, or where authorities overreach their bounds, charges are frequently reduced or dismissed.

Authorities also allegedly recovered an ounce of cocaine at the house on 178th Street East in Lake Los Angeles. Training manuals and records allegedly related to dog fighting and breeding were also recovered.

A 43-year-old man and his wife were arrested on suspicion of felony dog fighting and possession of a controlled substance.

Continue reading "Felony dog fighting charges filed in Los Angeles after raid on Antelope Valley residence" »