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Failing to register as a sex offender is a serious crime in California. Since 2011, violating Megan’s Law has been punishable by up to 180 days in county jail. According to a news report in The Los Angeles Times, a bill that would require prison time instead of jail time for failing to comply with Megan’s Law has failed to make it out of the public safety committee. Supporters of the bill believed that it was necessary because a violation of Megan’s Law can result in as little as one day in jail because of overcrowding issues. The Republican assemblyman… Read More

Every holiday, local law enforcement agencies increase their efforts to crack down on drunk driving. The Orange County Register reports that 45 people were arrested in Orange County on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, and many others were pulled over, cited, and fined. As part of the “Avoid the 38” DUI task force’s efforts, officials conducted a number of DUI checkpoints, roving patrols, and saturation enforcement actions. The number of DUI arrests made this year is similar to the 64 arrests made over the entire St. Patrick’s weekend in the year 2012. Orange County law enforcement officers conduct DUI checkpoints… Read More

A 40-year-old man who was already facing rape charges is now looking at additional charges after a girl allegedly recognized him when she saw him on the news. According to The Daily Breeze, the Redondo Beach man was arrested for an alleged rape reported on September 28, 2012. Officials say that he assaulted a Gardena woman he met on Tagged.com at gunpoint inside a vehicle that was specifically designed to keep people inside with disabled doors and locks. When his arrest was reported in the news, a teenage girl allegedly recognized him and notified the authorities. According to the new… Read More

Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers know that the cost of being convicted of a DUI in California has increased dramatically in recent years. A study by the Automobile Club of Southern California, as reported in The Los Angeles Times, shows that a first-time misdemeanor DUI conviction can cost up to $15,649. That reflects a 29 percent increase from the year 2011. The Auto Club determined this substantial increase by calculating the mandatory state and local fines as well as the penalties, restitution, legal fees, and insurance increases associated with a DUI conviction. This number does not, however, include lost wages,… Read More

A Los Angeles doctor has been arrested and charged with committing sexual battery on a patient more than five years ago. According to a news report in The Republic, the San Fernando Valley doctor was arrested in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred in 2007. Officials say a woman was receiving a medical exam as part of her U.S. citizenship exam when the doctor sexually assaulted her. He lost his license in 2011 after being accused of this incident during a licensing hearing. His license was stayed, however, and he was placed on probation. He now faces two felony… Read More

A massive series of raids throughout Los Angeles County resulted in the arrest of 28 people. According to a CBS Los Angelesreport, more than 400 federal agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worked with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to conduct a number of raids in the greater Los Angeles area. The enforcement action resulted after a 32-count federal indictment was handed down in January, which charged individuals of multiple drug crimes involving oxycodone and hydrochloride. In the raids, the LAPD seized an estimated $20 million in cash and drugs. The 28 suspects face charges including drug… Read More

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of molesting three children at his Los Angeles County daycare center. The Los Angeles Times reports that the owner of the Cano & Ramos Family Child Care center in Boyle Heights was arrested for alleged incidents that occurred in 2008, 2009, and in February of this year. Officials say a five-year-old girl attended the facility for the first time on February 5 and told her parents that the man touched her inappropriately. The new allegations prompted police to review prior cases that did not lead to arrests. In 2008, the authorities were… Read More

Los Angeles drug crime defense attorneys believe that the war on drugs in California has relied heavily over the years on severe criminal punishments over treatment options for individuals convicted of drug possession. The penalties for marijuana-related offenses have decreased in recent years, but the penalties for heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine possession have remained harsh. A new bill could potentially change these laws. The Los Angeles Times reports that Senator Mark Leno joined hands with the American Civil Liberties Union of California and the NAACP to announce a bill that would make simple possession of dangerous drugs a misdemeanor instead… Read More

The laws and regulations regarding driving while under the influence of alcohol are clear in California. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. The laws regarding driving while under the influence of drugs, however, are a little more confusing. Currently, there is a bill that California lawmakers are considering, which they hope will change that situation. According to an NBC Los Angeles news report, Senate Bill 289 would make it illegal to operate a vehicle with any detectable amount of Schedule I, II, III, or IV drugs in your system. There… Read More

Unless you have a prescription, it is illegal to possess marijuana or any other controlled substance in Los Angeles. You can face charges for possessing marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, or other narcotics. You can even face serious penalties for possessing medical drugs without a prescription. The consequences and penalties you could face for drug possession in Los Angeles depend on the type of drugs involved, the quantity of drugs seized by the authorities, and the prior criminal record of the defendant. A person who possesses one ounce or less of marijuana will likely face misdemeanor charges. The punishment for this offense… Read More