Receiving stolen property happens when someone purchases or obtains possession of an item that was acquired by the seller or “giver” by theft (i.e. burglary, embezzlement, shoplifting, robbery), fraud or any other unlawful means. Our office has seen this charge arise from purchases allegedly from pawn shops, consignment stores, garage sales and swap meets. The […]
Our office often receives phone calls from folks aware that “a warrant was issued” and they are anxious to know what do to next, as they fear police may execute it on them at any time. Our first reaction to such a question is to clarify what type of warrant (arrest, bench, search or complaint) […]
A search conducted without prior approval by a judge (in the form of a warrant) is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with the exception of a few situations. Such exceptions arise quite frequently in day-to-day police investigations. Arizona v. Gant (2009) 556 U.S. 332, 338. In the case of Travis Pope, […]
At about 2:00 a.m. on January 26, 2010, Margarito Iboa had a fire going on in his backyard. The Lancaster Fire Department arrived at his house. While firefighters attempted to extinguish the fire, coming from a 10 to 12 floor high mound of trash, Iboa yelled expletives at them and moved fire hoses a round, […]
The mention of embezzlement conjures up images of an untrustworthy accountant methodically stealing small amounts of cash over a long period of time, adding up to thousands of dollars, or an employee at a cash register dropping a few dollars here and there into his or her pants pockets. Sadly it seems the most common […]
Passing a bad check is tendering a check for goods or service, from a bank account that has insufficient funds to pay the full amount of the check. It happens every day, to the tune of millions of dollars in California alone. Even attempting to tender a check with insufficient funds is a crime. The […]
Our office has heard many clients report that they were pulled over because the police officer told them they had illegal tinted windows. The client usually suggests that the police officers had a hunch that our client was DUI, on probation, had drugs in the car or was wanted for an unsolved crime. The tinted […]
Forgery brings to mind in some people’s mind the act of writing a note from one’s mom, signing it with her name, and leaving school to “go to the doctor.” In other people’s mind, forgery is writing a check out to oneself and signing someone else’s name as the account holder. In other people’s mind, […]
Our office often represents folks accused of domestic violence and who are not U.S. citizens. A big issue is consequently the effect of a conviction on their ability to legally remain in the United States and return to the United States if they leave for any reason. The client may have a business he or […]
It is increasingly common for judges nowadays to specify to a defendant being placed on probation that he or she cannot use marijuana. Defendants often respond quickly, “but I have a medical marijuana card, Your Honor.” The judge says, “Sir (or Ma’am), I repeat, you cannot use marijuana in any way, shape or form as […]
