Los Angeles Criminal Attorney Blog

A California jury is determining the fate of a drunk driver who killed a professional baseball player and two other individuals, according to the Associated Press.

The defendant, age 23, was drinking for several hours at three bars with his stepbrother, started driving, and ran a red light. He struck a car and killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two of the car’s three other occupants. The fourth occupant lived but has had severe medical problems due to a serious spinal injury. Following the crash, the defendant fled the scene on foot. Police found him two miles away, running beside a freeway.

Prosecutors charged the defendant with second-degree murder, a much harsher penalty than the related crime of manslaughter. The prosecutors claim they charged him with murder instead of manslaughter because he had a previous DUI conviction in 2005. At that time he signed a form in which he acknowledged that if he later drove drunk and killed someone, he could be charged with murder.

The defense pointed out there was some doubt as to whether the defendant or his stepbrother was driving the car at the time of the crash. The defense also presented witnesses who testified that individuals who have blackouts induced by alcohol often can’t understand right from wrong.

If convicted, the defendant could receive more than 50 years in prison. As this case illustrates, drinking and driving in California can have very serious legal consequences, ranging in severity from a DUI conviction to a murder conviction. If you are facing a Los Angeles DUI charge, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf at 866-390-7373. Our experienced Los Angeles drunk driving attorneys will help you navigate the criminal justice system.

Earlier this month, two Hispanic gang members were convicted of first degree murder for killing a 14-year old African-American girl and a potential witness in Los Angeles, according to the L.A. Times.

The gang members, aged 22 and 23, were found guilty of killing the 14-year old because of her race. They shot her in 2006 while she was standing with some friends in a driveway in broad daylight. The shooting allegedly occurred because one of the gang members was still angry from an earlier argument with a black man. However, the defendant’s attorney claimed that race was not a motivation in the slaying of the 14-year old.

They also killed a 21-year old male gang member that the rest of the gang suspected of communicating with police about the murder of the girl. He was stabbed over 60 times, wrapped in a blanket, and dumped beside a road. At trial, another gang member testified about the killing of the fellow 21-year old in exchange for a lighter sentence.

One of the gang members could receive life in prison without parole, while the other faces the death penalty. Three other gang members are expected to be tried in connection with the killings.

California hate crimes are serious offenses that typically carry harsher penalties than similar crimes that are not hate-driven. If you have been charged with a California hate crime, it is in your best interest to hire an aggressive, skilled California criminal defense attorney who will fight for your rights and freedom. Contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at 866-390-7373.

A coalition based in San Francisco, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, recently issued a report showing that preschool can be an important crime-fighting tool in certain circumstances, according to ABC News. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is composed of California law enforcement officials.

The report found that for kids who are at-risk or socio-economically disadvantaged, preschool can help children avoid becoming involved in criminal activity and quitting school. A study followed groups of 3 and 4 year olds until age 40. The study found that children who were not involved in a preschool program studied were 7 times more likely to be arrested for drug possession and were 4 times more likely to be arrested on felony drug charges, and were two times as likely to be arrested for violent crimes.

The study also found that 16 dollars were saved for every 1 dollar invested in the preschool program. Those savings were achieved through both a reduction in future prison costs as well as a reduction in special education costs in later years. The coalition recommends nationwide preschool programs be introduced.

Once an individual commits a crime in California and becomes a part of the California criminal justice system, there are negative repercussions in that individual’s life for years or even the rest of his or her life. This study shows that by exposing at-risk children to a high-quality preschool, some of those challenging issues can be avoided in the children’s lives.

If you have been charged with a crime in California, you need an aggressive and knowledgeable Los Angeles criminal defense attorney on your side. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can help defend your rights. Call us today at 866-390-7373 for a free consultation.

A bill that would make it illegal for paparazzi to break traffic laws or interfere with the operation of a celebrity’s car while trying to obtain photographs has passed the California Assembly, according to MSNBC. The bill previously passed the Assembly, was revised by the Senate, and the modified version was passed by the Assembly again.

Under the bill, paparazzi could face jail time of up to a year and a $5,000 fine. The bill is headed to Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature. Pundits have predicted he will sign the bill into law, noting that he and his wife were run off the road by paparazzi in 1997.

Proponents of the bill point out that the bill will protect not only celebrities and their passengers, but also other individuals between celebrities and photograph-hungry paparazzi. Various news organizations have countered that the bill will punish ordinary methods used to gather news.

The first anti-paparazzi law was passed in California in 1998, in a reaction to Princess Diana’s death in France. Her death was blamed on a high-speed chase between the Princess’s car and paparazzi. That law was amended in 2005 and 2009.

If this bill becomes law, an accusation with subsequent charges under the new law will be serious. This anti-paparazzi law carries a large fine and potential jail time. If you have been accused of a violation of the anti-paparazzi law or another crime, contact the Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf. We have extensive experience representing defendants in a variety of Los Angeles crimes. Contact us today for a free consultation at 866-390-7373.

Los Angeles is turning on the lights in an effort to reduce crime in certain neighborhoods throughout the city, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. LA added eight parks to the Summer Night Lights program, which keeps lights in parks on until midnight in areas with high levels of gang crime. The program is an effort to keep gang violence, prostitution and other crimes off the streets and to give residents of these neighborhoods a safe place to spend time in their communities. The Summer Night Lights program is designed to instill a fear of being caught by law enforcement in those who engage in illegal activity.

One park in South Los Angeles was once riddled with those accused of being drug dealers, prostitutes and gang members, leaving residents scared to approach the area at night. Now, one mother says she isn’t afraid to watch her children play there anymore.

While it will certainly take more than the Summer Night Lights program to rid Los Angeles of violent crime, it’s a step in the right direction. With more law enforcement and community members present however, it may be easier for someone to be wrongfully accused of a crime where this program is active.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for a crime in Los Angeles, it would be in your best interest to retain the services of a skilled criminal defense attorney. The legal team at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf has successfully represented numerous clients in the region, examining every detail of their cases and garnering the best possible outcome. Depending on the circumstances of your criminal case, skilled California criminal defense attorney Lawrence Wolf may be able to get your charges reduced or dropped in a court of law. For more information and to learn more about The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf, call (866) 390-7373 today.