California Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

An Anaheim teen faces a charge of murder in the stabbing death of a 12-year-old that police believe was related to a rivalry among graffiti crews, The Orange County Register reports.

Murder charges in Anaheim are the most serious that any person can face and therefore they require the most diligent defense possible. This is especially true for children charged with serious crimes. They often don't understand the possible punishments and the consequences of their actions. Orange County Defense Lawyers are prepared to defend any criminal charge.

The stabbing took place recently near Sycamore Junior High School. The 12-year-old was stabbed in the chest and later died at a nearby hospital. The stabbing occurred as the 12-year-old was walking home from school.

What this tragic story illustrates is that juveniles, especially boys, aren't fully developed until well into their 20s. Research has shown that the juvenile male brain hasn't developed the crucial areas of reasoning and consequences. That fact can help explain why it is that young boys commit crimes.

Orange County juvenile crime is serious because picking up a charge as a teenager can have serious implications. Not only can a criminal charge keep a teen from graduating high school, it can keep them from earning scholarships, gaining entry into college and the U.S. military.

But criminal charges also carry psychological problems for a teenager. Being thrust into the criminal justice system, which seeks to punish rather than rehabilitate, can scar them for life. And having to spend time in a county jail, alongside hardened criminals, can create bad influences they may not be able to overcome.

That's why hiring an experienced criminal defense team as soon as possible is crucial. Being able to study the facts, speak with the teen and their family to develop a defense strategy and attack the charges quickly may be the best way to help the juvenile get out of a bad situation. The juvenile justice system is designed to prevent teens from committing crimes in the future and there are steps to keep a teen from being tried as an adult that must be taken early on in the case.

But the story also points out an interesting issue. They said the arrest was made several hours after an interview with detectives at the Anaheim police station.

In a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in J.D.B. V. North Carolina, justices were sharply divided, but ruled that the age of a person must be weighed when police decide to interrogate them. In the case, a 13-year-old was taken out of class to be questioned by police about two home break-ins. Justices ruled that teens may not feel they are free to leave a room or respond to officers' questions. The ruling doesn't say police can't interrogate juveniles, but it does leave some room for interpretation about Miranda rights, teenagers and hours-long interrogation sessions in a tiny room with police.

All of these matters of law are important in defending a juvenile, especially one charged with a heinous crime such as murder. They shouldn't make a statement to police because it can be used against them. But most juveniles do talk with police when they are suspected of a crime because they want to try to explain their way out of things. But this only hurts their chances in the future.

Continue reading " Anaheim Teen Faces Murder Charges After Fatal Stabbing of 12-Year-Old " »

The Los Angeles Times recently reported of a Fullerton man who is accused of taking photographs of naked women after installing software that allowed him access to their laptops.

This comes on the heels of an arrest in Glendora after a man allegedly hid a camera inside the women's bathroom of a Starbucks coffee shop, the newspaper reported.

As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our society, it can also be exploited to create false evidence against innocent people. This is especially true in Orange County cyber crimes. Many people who use file-sharing websites can have their computers hacked and others can put child pornography or other incriminating evidence on their hard drives without their knowledge. That is why hiring an experienced Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer is critical to ensuring you can diligently fend off criminal charges.

According to the news reports, authorities found hundreds of thousands of images of women in various states of undress and already six victims have been identified, leading to a dozen charges of computer access and fraud. Police obtained a search warrant and viewed his computers, which included incriminating evidence, the article states.

The computer repairman allegedly installed spyware onto the laptops of fellow students of Biola University and other friends, which brought up an error message telling them their computer's internal sensor was damaged and needed steam to clean it. So, the women would bring their laptops into their bathrooms, allowing him to allegedly film them getting undressed.

According to the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, people are protected from tampering, interference, fraud and unauthorized access to computer systems. The law, California Penal Code 502, people convicted of this type of crime can be sent to prison for up to three years and fined up to $10,000.

These are serious charges and have no doubt that politicians are taking note of the change in technology. As with any other crime that gains media attention, lawmakers will want to show voters how tough they are on crime and will continue pushing for tougher penalties, which will include prison time.

And some crimes, such as child pornography, can be charged in federal court and carry even tougher penalties that those brought in state court. Creating, distributing or receiving child pornography can result in decades in prison, if convicted. This is all the more reason to not make any statements to law enforcement, don't consent to a search and seizure without a proper search warrant and consult with an attorney immediately.

A skilled attorney will fight to dispute the evidence, suppress it from being shown to a jury, prove that someone else could have hacked the defendant's computer or utilize other defense strategies. Don't leave these complex charges up to anyone. Hire an attorney who has years of experience defending clients from serious criminal charges.

Continue reading " Orange County Computer Hacker Charged With Peeping Through Women's Laptop Webcams " »

A Santa Ana man was recently arrested and charged with sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl for several weeks, The Orange County Register reports.

Orange County sex crimes are among the most difficult to defend because prosecutors and judges alike are more than happy offering few plea deals and handing down harsh sentences. That's why these types of charges require the Santa Ana Criminal Defense Team to stand up on behalf of those who face these difficult charges.

According to the newspaper, the man is charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, oral copulation with force, sexual penetration by a foreign object and rape by force. According to the news report, the girl told a family member she wanted the man to stop touching her. The man is accused of showing the girl sex tapes before performing the acts on the girl.

All of the charges the man faces are felonies and are punishable by prison time. Lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 (California Penal Code 288) is punishable by up to eight years. Oral copulation with force (California Penal Code 288a) is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Sexual penetration by a foreign object (California Penal Code 289), can be punishable by up to 12 years in prison. A charge of rape by force in California (Penal Code 261) is punishable by up to 13 years in prison.

As you can see, these are charges that could possibly keep a person in prison for the rest of their lives, depending on the circumstances. Not only can these charges produce lengthy prison sentences, but also bring shame and ridicule to a person and their family. Careers become ruined and it often happens in the public eye.

What sometimes happens with sex crimes, especially those involving a juvenile, is that witness credibility can become an issue. Young children are often influenced to lie about these types of crimes, so if it becomes a he said/she said case, that can help the defendant. If evidence, such as DNA or statements, become part of the case, Santa Ana sex crimes attorneys must understand how to proceed in the best interest of a client. Each client, regardless of the alleged crime, is entitled to a competent defense of the charges.

Many sex crimes in California are punishable by life, even for first-time offenders. We understand how sensitive these charges are and how embarrassing they may be. Our firm will work to ensure you have the best possible representation while assuring that any possible issues for appeals are well-preserved on the official record of the case.

We believe every defendant deserves a strong defense and their day in court and we strive to make sure all possible defenses are explored and every piece of evidence is carefully examined.

Continue reading " Santa Ana Sex Crimes Must Be Fought Diligently " »