Criminal Defense
Why you need to be engaged in the jury selection process
You have a constitutional right to be tried by a jury of your peers. This protection seeks to provide you with a fair trial where a unanimous decision must be made as to your guilt before a conviction can be obtained. Fortunately, you’ll get to have a say in what the...
How can I fight DV allegations in a divorce to avoid charges?
Domestic violence allegations are never a good thing. However, divorce proceedings in Newport Beach, California, can become significantly more complex and emotionally taxing when allegations of domestic violence surface. This is especially true when this is the first...
Don’t back these costly errors in your criminal case
Regardless of the type of crime you’re accused of committing, a criminal conviction can cause significant damage to your life. You could end up facing jail or prison time, financially ruinous fines, and harm to your character that negatively impacts everything from...
What are my rights if I am stopped by police in California?
Getting stopped by the police can be an intimidating experience. Many people make the mistake of giving the police too much information or consenting to searches of their personal property. If you have been stopped by police, it is important to remember that you have...
Handling ‘he said/she said’ issues in domestic violence cases
A domestic violence accusation is something many people fear. One reason is that there are so many harmless or innocent situations that could result in domestic violence charges. A neighbor or bystander may overhear you and your spouse or partner having a heated...
Minimizing the reliability of the prosecution’s witnesses
When you’re accused of criminal wrongdoing, you have to aggressively defend yourself if you want to protect your future. After all, any kind of conviction can upend life as you know it, making it hard to reclaim the life that you once knew. One area of attack that you...
Addressing an accusation of self-dealing
If you are in a position of trust and authority within an organization and are accused of self-dealing, you could face criminal penalties as well as reputational harm. There are defenses that may be available to you, however. Self-dealing Self-dealing applies when a...
Possible battery charges based on California domestic violence laws
When disagreements between partners or family members get heightened, the conflict may get out of hand. Often, when law enforcement in California is called to a domestic matter, one or more individuals could be placed under arrest with the presumption that they were...
When does theft become a felony in California?
If you are accused of theft in California, your charge could be treated as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. The crime of theft is the unlawful taking of another person’s property without their consent. You must also intend to permanently...
Understanding the “collateral consequences” of a conviction
When California residents face a criminal charge, they understandably have one primary concern: protecting their freedom. From misdemeanor charges to the highest of felony cases, criminal charges can land people behind bars, sometimes for years. However, besides...