The presence of an eye witness makes an enormous difference to the outcome in a criminal case. If the prosecution has an eye witness then your chances of being convicted goes up by 54%, even if you are innocent.  That does not mean that the presence of an eye witness is a “slam dunk” for…

The “insanity defense,” or the M’Naghten Rule, plays a huge role in television portrayals of criminal defense law. But how much of a role does it really play in a California criminal case? And is it a good defense? It’s certainly invoked. In 2021 a man accused of fatally shooting two people inside of a…

There’s nothing more frightening than being the subject of an arrest. Many people believe it will never happen to them, but it can happen to almost anyone. People make mistakes. Some get falsely accused. While you can only be arrested in specific circumstances, it is absolutely vital that you know exactly what to do if…

Anyone who has seen a police show or two can probably recite the Miranda warning by heart. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be…

It can be tough to make the choice to take a plea deal. In order to do so you must plead guilty to a crime, even if it isn’t the crime you were originally charged with committing.  It’s never an ideal situation, yet there are times when our team will advise you to do just…

If you are suspected of committing a low-level misdemeanor or infraction in Los Angeles you won’t necessarily be brought to jail. LAPD has the option to offer a “cite and release” instead. When a police officer issues a cite and release, they charge you with the crime and then release you on your signed promise…

Social media is a big part of most people’s modern lives. It’s not much of a surprise to learn that social media evidence often ends up part of criminal cases. Everything from your posts to your friends list can be used against you. Even your private messages can be obtained and brought up in court. …

While being acquitted is an excellent outcome to a Los Angeles criminal case, getting your charges dropped or dismissed is even better. When your charges are dropped there is no trial and no criminal record. While your life may still have some fallout from your initial arrest, the damage can be fully repaired. That’s why…

Affirmative consent is a law that was enacted in 2014 through Senate Bill 967. It is a law that covers all publicly funded universities and colleges here in California. It requires students on college campuses to receive “active consent” before all sexual activity. “Active” consent, or “yes means yes,” is a clear, enthusiastic “yes” signaled…

If you’ve been arrested, it’s very likely that police will try to intimidate you into unlocking your phone so they can get at all the juicy data inside, and use it against you.  Thanks to the 4th and 5th Amendment, and some hotly contested court cases, they can’t…not easily. Here’s what you need to know…