Los Angeles Criminal Attorney Blog

New Gang and Gun Laws Approved

The Los Angeles CBS affiliate, channel 2, reported on December 8, 2008 that the Los Angeles city council committee has preliminarily approved seven city laws intended to suppress gang and gun hostility in the city. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and city council members introduced the proposals in June. It was a partnership showing between local and federal law enforcement organizations to attack gangs and gun related crime in Los Angeles.

The Public Safety Committee ordinances, if approved, would: permit landlords to throw out tenants who illegally posses firearms on the residence or within 1,000 feet of the property; forbid the sale of .50 caliber ammunition and cartridges; also force ammunition vendors to be licensed; allow the confiscation of vehicles used by gang members while committing a crime; calls for face to face transactions and record keeping for all ammo sales; forbids secret compartments in vehicles to conceal firearms; and mandates gun vendors to conduct inventories and report the inventories to the Los Angeles police department.

Councilman Jack Weiss, chair of the Public Safety Committee said, “it is comprehensive and it covers apartments, cars, guns, ammunition. "It's the right way to attack these problems, to be comprehensive in scope and to be comprehensive in terms of support," he said. "This is truly a gun control package that has been generated by and has support from the entire city." According to the LAPD 93 percent of gang related murders are committed with a firearm.

In the State of California, all violent crimes are severely punished. If you or a loved have been accused of a violent crime in California contact the experienced Los Angeles violent crime defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf who will fight to make sure all your rights and options are exercised. Please call 1-866-390-7373 for a free consultation.

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Los Angeles Times reporter Phil Willon reported on December 12, 2008 that the petition efforts to get what is being called “Jamiels Law” onto the ballot for this coming May’s election has come up drastically short of the required signatures. The measure would change the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Order 40, that forbids officers from beginning any contact with people for the sole reason of finding out if that person is an illegal immigrant. Jamiels Law would allow police to arrest illegal immigrants exclusively because they are in the country illegally.

Jamiel Shaw II was a high school football player when he was shot and killed in March by an illegal immigrant. Althea Shaw, 47, aunt of Jamiel and lead proponent of the ballot measure claimed to have turned in more than 76,000 petition signatures to city election officials before the December 12th deadline. Election officials said they had only tallied 18,559 signatures, while 73,963 are required. “We’re not going to stop,” said Shaw, “We can’t bring my nephew back, so we’re going to keep fighting. We have to.” Next for Shaw will be an attempt to place the measure on the Los Angeles County’s November poll. If that is successful Shaw plans to organize a campaign to add it statewide with a voter proposal in California’s 2010 election. "There's no one watching the city," Shaw alleged. "We're forced to take the word from a city that doesn't even want to talk about illegal immigration." Immigrant rights advocates say this law would open the door for police racial profiling and Chief Bratton says the police already report violent gang members to immigration authorities.

The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf are knowledgeable and experienced violent crime lawyers in Los Angeles. In the State of California, all violent crimes are severely punished. In fact, recent U.S. laws have been passed that will increase the mandatory minimum sentences that will apply to people who are convicted of committing certain violent crimes. If you have been arrested for carrying out a violent crime, you may be looking at a prison term of 25 years to life. Please call 1-866-390-7373 for a free consultation.

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The CBS affiliate in Los Angeles reported on December 2, 2008 that Ron Martinez 41, was arrested in connection with the murder of his ex girlfriend Karyn Kleine 42, of Palm Springs. Initially the case started with her disappearance March 10, 2007, where at that time Martinez was no where to be found. Palm Spring authorities have now arrested Martinez and filed California murder charges against him for her murder. Martinez was arrested November 15, 2008 in Nevada and is being held at the Indio jail.

According to officials evidence was discovered inside Kleine’s car connecting Martinez to her disappearance. Martinez quit his job a short time after Kleine’s disappearance. Kleine’s body was found partially buried in a dirt field off Farrell Drive and Tachevah Road in Palm Springs by a resident who was walking his dog. Officials say evidence of foul play was found at the scene. Last December authorities found and questioned Martinez who denied any involvement with Kleine’s disappearance and gave conflicting statements.

Authorities believe Kleine and Martinez broke up approximately two weeks before she went missing. Neighbors tell officials that loud arguments could be heard emanating from the couples residence often.

Personal conflicts between loved ones are always a very sensitive matter to all involved. The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf have a long history of successfully handling the defense of clients charged with ALL domestic violence matters in California. The California penal code defines abuse as “intentionally or recklessly causing or attempting to cause bodily injury, or placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent, serious bodily injury to himself, herself or another”. Do not attempt to fight these charges on your own. The Los Angeles domestic violence attorneys at The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can and will help you win your case. Please call 1-866-390-7373 for a free consultation.

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Domestic Violence , Violent Crimes

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