Recently in Criminal Defense Category

Another defendant was added to the case in which multiple celebrity houses were allegedly burglarized.  Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney David D. Diamond represents Roy Lopez who is accused if burglarizing Paris Hilton's home.  Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney David D. Diamond has denied those charges. 

Rachel Lee has been charged with felony burglary and receiving stolen property.

She  was charged on Wednesday, January, 13, 2010. She joins five other young men and women charged with burglaries at the homes of celebrities including Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson, Ashley Tisdale, Megan Fox and Audrina Patridge.

Ms. Lee turned herself in and was released after posting a $150,000 bail,  according to jail records.

She is charged with the burglaries of the homes of  Hilton, Lohan and Patridge.   Lee and Nicholas Prugo, who faces seven counts of first-degree burglary, have been accused by authorities of planning the crimes. 

Our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney had to appear in court in the West District to resolve a case where the defendant was facing State Prison time for allegedly stealing a purse with thousands of dollars inside.  He has a prior conviction from about three months ago.  With a goal to humanize each case and help the prosecution understand the history of the defendant, our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney received an offer of 180 days in County Jail. 

That same afternoon, our Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney traveled to the Ventura County Superior Court to resolve a case where the defendant was charged with 7 counts of fraud (false checks).  Mr. Diamond was able to speak to the victim who did not wish any criminal prosecution.  As the case moves forward, Mr. Diamond will try to get a dismissal of all criminal charges. 

In the city of Burbank, California, a 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the death of his father, who was the assistant football coach at Burbank High School.

Noah Lock is facing one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and posted a $25,000 bond. He will return to the Pasadena Superior Court on July 16, 2009.

Burbank Criminal Defense attorney, David D. Diamond, finds this to be a tragedy after the two men appeared to have been in a fight.  You can find out more about the criminal process at www.BurbankCriminalDefense.com

Recently, the government has started to consider the potential value to placing a tax on marijuana, which is already lawful given a proper physician's recommendation.   Californians spend about $980 million each year to enforce state and local marijuana laws.  California is in a state of financial chaos and if there exists a possibility to eliminate such a large part of the problem, that proposal must be considered. 

Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat recently elected to the state legislature, announced that he was introducing a bill that would "tax and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol" in the state of California. According to Mr. Ammiano, Assembly Bill 390, which would impose a tax of $50 per ounce on marijuana sales, "would generate $1 billion in new revenue" for the state if it is enacted.  Other factors to consider are that the elimination of a profit margin for the sale of marijuana could help the troubled Mexican government deal with its out of control drug war. 

David D. Diamond is a Los Angeles based medical marijuana attorney.   

Three have been charged in a conspiracy case that alleges misuse of drug prescriptions.  Anna Nicole Smith's psychiatrist recently surrendered to authorities in Los Angeles on charges that she conspired to over-prescribe medications to Smith, with knowledge that she was an addict. The other two defendants are Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, who allegedly prescribed thousands of pills to Anna Nicole, and Howard K. Stern, Anna Nicole's boyfriend and lawyer.  Both have already surrendered to authorities.

David Diamond made a radio appearance to discuss the media involvement in criminal cases as well as sex crimes.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/justiceinterrupted/2008/09/24/Justice-Interrupted-Crime-Radio-Network.mp3 

Los Angeles Criminal Defense lawyer David D. Diamond recently appeared on a talk show to discuss criminal defense.  He was asked to get the other side of justice by speaking withabout his perceptions of cases in the media, how the media effects criminal cases, and how justice is interrupted for defendant's, suspect's and people of interest.

To listen:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/justiceinterrupted

The four tree-sitters who had been living in a redwood tree near the University of California football stadium were charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of contempt of court for allegedly violating a court order as well as lodging illegally, according to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.

The individuals took began their protest at a grove of trees on the site where the university plans to build a new sports training facility.

Recently, the tree-sitters agreed to come down from their perch only on the condition that the University of California create a land use committee to look into the school's future land decisions.  A UC spokesman denied the deal, and no such plans exist.

Early Tuesday afternoon, the protesters climbed down and heard cheers from the nearby supporters.  They were arrested immediately.

If you are facing criminal prosecution, please call David D. Diamond at 213 250 9100 or visit www.LADefender.com  

In Las Vegas, Nevada, OJ Simpson's defense wants to seat a racially diverse panel that has not prejudged the former pro football star based on his past.

On Tuesday, three panelists were dismissed while the day before, 16 were excused for various reasons.

Reports state that the initial jury pool of 500 had at least 50 blacks, and that defense lawyers had not shown a "systematic exclusion of a group."

Simpson, 61, and co-defendant Stewart, 54, have each plead not guilty to all 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy, burglary, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon.

The men face prison time if convicted of armed robbery. A kidnapping conviction carries the possibility of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

 Blogger David D. Diamond is a Los Angeles based criminal defense attorney and an adjunct professor of law. 

www.LADefender.com   213 250 9100

WHAT IS AN EXPUNGEMENT?

We offer clients the opportunity to clean up their criminal past.  The great benefit of this relief is that it removes the blemish of a criminal record. We do want to note that there are exceptions to the expungement procedure. 

If you have completed probation and fulfilled its conditions, the Judge must grant you relief.   There is no discretion. 

WHAT DO I TELL MY EMPLOYER?

Private employers may not even require an answer to the question of whether you were ever convicted and had an expungement. Pursuant to the Labor Code, no employer, whether a public agency or private individual or corporation, shall ask an applicant for employment to disclose, through any written form or verbally, information concerning an arrest or detention that did not result in conviction.

However, an expungement does not erase the actual court records. 

WHAT IF I AM A WITNESS IN A TRIAL?

If you are a witness in a civil or criminal case, you cannot be impeached as a witness with a felony conviction dismissed under section 1203.4.  This immunity does not apply to a defendant witness.

ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS?

There is a rule pertaining to weapons.  In the areas of weapon possession, you still cannot permit a person to own, possess, or have in his or her custody or control any firearm.

Some sex and vehicle code offenses are excluded.  There is no expungement for any misdemeanor that is within the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 42001 of the Vehicle Code [involving pedestrians who receive infraction offenses], to any violation of subdivision (c) of Section 286, Section 288, subdivision (c) of Section 288a, Section 288.5, or subdivision (j) of Section 289, any felony conviction pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 261.5, or to any infraction.

 CAN I GET MY LICENSE BACK?

An expungement does not have any bearing on any revocation or suspension of the privilege of the person convicted to drive a motor vehicle.

WHAT ABOUT PUBLIC ENTITIES?

Public Office, State, Local Agencies...  You still must disclose the conviction in response to any direct question contained in any questionnaire or application for public office, for licensure by any state or local agency, or for contracting with the California State Lottery.

WHAT ABOUT FEDERAL COURTS?

Federal Courts May Not Abide by the Relief.  While it appears that the federal government will honor the decision of the state court to relieve its citizen of the felony convictions under most circumstances, any of the limitations which apply within the state will apply in the federal action as well. But, there is no guarantee.