Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

A man was recently arrested for allegedly violating a restraining order that bars him from being within 200 yards of Paris Hilton or her home; stalking cases often lead to restraining orders in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys work with domestic violence victims and people who seek protection from stalkers all the time and are able to help secure a restraining order that can help protect them. Our experience has also led to our being hired by defendants wrongly accused of stalking. Celebrities court attention. When they get too much, sometimes they cry foul. Paris Hilton is only one of a number of Hollywood celebrities who have been dogged by stalkers recently.

• Lindsay Lohan: A judge recently signed a restraining order against a man who has been stalking and harassing her.
• Halle Berry: A man was caught after he was spotted lurking around her house.
• Mark Zuckerberg: The Facebook founder recently got a restraining order against a man who he claims threatened his family.

This can be a scary situation for the victims in these types of cases. In Hilton's case, she alleges that someone called authorities after a man was standing on a beach looking into Hilton's Malibu home. It was the same man accused of attacking Hilton's ex-boyfriend.

But you don't have to be a celebrity to be put in this type of position. Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog recently reported about a man who was arrested for setting up hidden cameras in the female bathroom of a Starbucks in Glendora.

And a Fullerton computer technician allegedly upped the ante when police say he set up spyware on female college students' laptops that produced an error message that told them to put their computer near steam to fix. Many brought their cameras into the shower with them, which allowed him to turn on their web cameras and record them naked, ABC News reported.

A restraining order in Los Angeles can be obtained quickly and hassle-free with an experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney. You may be able to get an emergency protective order for five days if the situation is an emergency. A temporary order can be made permanent for 1 to 3 years. A no-contact order is issued in domestic violence cases and a civil harassment restraining order is used to stop neighbors or other harassment.

After an order has been signed, it affords protection immediately to the victim. They now have the law and the court on their side to fight the perpetrator in their life. If the defendant violates the order, they can be subjected to criminal charges that could require jail time. Defense is equally critical -- being subjected to such an order can prevent you from seeing your kids or even returning home.

Continue reading "Peeper Arrested at Paris Hilton's Malibu Home; Another Los Angeles Stalking Case" »

A 25-year-old man was recently arrested and charged with hiding a camera in the women's restroom of a Glendora Starbucks, The Los Angeles Times reports.

What this case ventures into voyeurism and areas of the law dealing with sex crimes, many times there is a need for protection from civil harassment in Los Angeles, which can sometimes be accomplished through restraining orders.

Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers understand how frightening it can be to have someone constantly hounding you, which is why we are able to help you by using the law to your advantage. If you find yourself in a similar situation, call today. We have represented people on both sides of stalking cases; domestic violence is another area where civil protection orders often come into play.

In the Starbucks case, the man is accused of stalking a 21-year-old student for several days, breaking into her apartment and stealing her underwear. He is charged with placing a camera disguised as a plastic coat hook affixed to a wall directly across from a toilet. After confiscating the man's laptop, police believe there to be at least 45 female victims.

In a recent case of celebrity stalking, Lindsay Lohan won a two-year restraining order against a man who has allegedly peppered her with unwanted attention since 2009, The Los Angeles Times reports. According to the story, the man visited her house, leaving chocolates and articles about her with his name written on them. He has also shown up to her public appearances.

Sometimes, people accused of stalking have mental illnesses and aren't taking medication that can properly balance their psychological makeup. Sometimes, still, stalkers are exes who can't cope with the sting of rejection.

But neither of these excuse scary and potentially illegal activity. California Penal Code 646.9(a) says that stalking is willfully, maliciously and repeatedly follows or harasses another person or making a credible threat.

But with the advent of the Internet and its availability to most Americans, cyberstalking in Los Angeles is also a problem. This means using electronic means to harass and threaten people. This could mean constant instant messages, posts on social media web sites such as Facebook and Twitter or constant calls and e-mails.

Stalking in California is usually charged as a misdemeanor for a first-time offender, but that can be pushed to a felony punishable by three years in prison, depending on the circumstances.

In stalking cases or cases of domestic violence and harassment, restraining orders can be helpful to settling down a potentially explosive situation. In California, there are four types of restraining orders that a judge can sign into effect:

• Emergency Protective Order: Issued by law enforcement and effective for five days
• Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order: It's temporary for three weeks and can be made permanent for 1 to 3 years
• Criminal Protective Order: This restraining order is ordered through the District Attorney's Office and is issued in active domestic violence cases. It is also called a no-contact order
• Civil Harassment Restraining Order: This is used to stop harassment by neighbors, co-workers, roommates and others who may be bothering you as referenced above

Continue reading "Starbucks Hidden Camera Case Shows Need For Los Angeles Restraining Orders" »