The Arrest and Charges Against Bruce Edward Bell in Los Angeles Bank Robbery

The Arrest and Charges Against Bruce Edward Bell in The Sun Valley Bank Robbery

Photo: (Photographs of Bell are being released in order to identify and speak with additional persons who may have been victimized)/ www.lapdonline.org Bruce Edward Bell’s arrest on December 21, 2023, for a high-stakes bank robbery in Sun Valley, Los Angeles, marks a critical development in a series of criminal activities. Bell, facing charges for allegedly […]
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California Penal Code § 243(e)(1) PC – Domestic Battery

California Penal Code 243(e)(1) PC – Domestic Battery

What is Domestic Battery? Under California Penal Code Section 243(e)(1), domestic battery is a misdemeanor offense that involves the use of force against an intimate partner. This charge is commonly applied in cases of spousal abuse, cohabitant altercations, or other domestic violence conflicts. Key Elements of Domestic Battery: Willful and Harmful Touching: The defendant must […]
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San Fernando Valley Police Arrest Convicted Felon for Ghost Gun and Counterfeit Watch Sales

San Fernando Valley Police Arrest Convicted Felon for Ghost Gun and Counterfeit Watch Sales

Photo: (photograph of the handgun recovered/photograph of the seized watches) / www.lapdonline.org   The Los Angeles Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Division, specifically the Illicit Pharmaceutical and Counterfeit Unit (IPCU), recently made a significant arrest in the San Fernando Valley. Albert Bantug, a 33-year-old ex-convict, was apprehended for selling counterfeit Rolex watches. His bail was set […]
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Los Angeles Bank Fraud Attorney

Moreno Valley Man Confesses to $24 Million Ponzi Scheme

Paul Horton Smith Sr., 59, from Moreno Valley, California, has entered a guilty plea to a federal charge of wire fraud in connection with a Ponzi scheme. This scheme, which spanned nearly two decades, defrauded over $24 million from at least 200 investors, many of whom were elderly or retired. Case Overview Charge and Penal […]
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Second Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Murder in Aid of Racketeering

Second Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Murder in Aid of Racketeering

Photo: (Pat Brady, 53, of Lake Forest (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California) Pat Brady, a 53-year-old Aryan Brotherhood member, confessed to a murder within a Northern California prison, as part of a significant investigation into the gang’s activities. This announcement was made by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. Details of the Prison Murder […]
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California Penal Code Section 186.22 PC: Gang Enhancements

Often referred to as ‘Gang Enhancements,’ California Penal Code Section 186.22 PC deals with criminal street gangs. It’s integral to the “Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act”(STEP) in California, addressing gang-related issues. Active Participation in a Criminal Street Gang Subsection (a) of Penal Code Section 186.22 PC defines the consequences for individuals actively participating in […]
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L.A. Robbery Suspects Posting Stolen Cash on Instagram

Two Charged in Extensive $8.5 Million Airbnb and Vrbo Fraud Scheme

Photo: ( closeup shot of metal handcuffs and dollars) The federal government has charged Shray Goel and Shaunik Raheja in a complex case involving an $8.5 million scam. This scheme, primarily executed through Airbnb and Vrbo, involved misleading property listings and discriminatory practices against Black renters. Case Details Indictment Charges: Both men face allegations of […]
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Father Arrested in California After Son Fatally Shoots 10-Year-Old with Stolen Gun

Photo: (arrangement at a crime scene)   Law enforcement in Sacramento County apprehended a 53-year-old man named Arkete Davis and his 10-year-old son following a tragic shooting incident. The boy, whose identity remains undisclosed, fatally shot another 10-year-old with a stolen gun he discovered in his father’s car. This incident took place in Foothill Farms, […]
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Arrest Made in Series of Residential Burglaries in Granada Hills and Porter Ranch

Photo Credit: (Bolton’s Photograph) Via: www.lapdonline.org Case Overview and Key Details: The arrest of 21-year-old Bobby Bolton marked a significant development in addressing a series of residential burglaries in Granada Hills and Porter Ranch, California. Devonshire detectives, after a thorough investigation, successfully linked Bolton to these crimes. This breakthrough was largely due to the diligent […]
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Ex-La Habra Police Chief Sentenced for Capitol Riot Involvement

Case Summary The sentencing of Alan Hostetter, the former La Habra police chief, to over 11 years in prison is a pivotal development in the legal proceedings following the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. This analysis delves into the case specifics, the charges, and the broader legal implications of this high-profile sentencing. Alan Hostetter […]
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Understanding Ja Morant’s Self-Defense Claim in the Alleged Assault Case

Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant, recently testified in a Memphis courtroom. He stated that his altercation with teenager Joshua Holloway at his home was an act of self-defense. This testimony marks Morant’s first court appearance in the lawsuit. In July 2022, at Ja Morant’s home, an altercation occurred during a pickup basketball game involving Morant and […]
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Mikey Williams Secures Plea Deal, Evades Jail in Gun Incident

Mikey Williams, a prominent basketball recruit, recently navigated a crucial phase in his legal proceedings. By entering a plea deal in a high-profile gun case, Williams marked a significant shift in a case that has garnered extensive attention. The Plea Deal in Detail Williams faced nine felony charges, arising from a shooting incident at his […]
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Gareth Pursehouse Receives Life Sentence in the Amie Harwick Murder Case

Gareth Pursehouse Receives Life Sentence On Wednesday, December 6, Hollywood sex therapist Amie Harwick’s ex-boyfriend received a life sentence without parole. This decision was announced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Gareth Pursehouse, 45, was convicted of murder in September. He threw Harwick over a balcony at her Hollywood Hills home on February […]
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Riverside County Woman Receives 3.5-Year Federal Prison Sentence for $2.8 Million Unemployment Fraud

Case Overview Sasha Lizette Jimenez, a 26-year-old from Riverside County, California, received a sentence for her involvement in a major unemployment insurance fraud case. This case showcases the serious legal consequences of large-scale financial fraud. Jimenez and her accomplices, including her boyfriend Meshach Samuels, defrauded the California Employment Development Department (EDD) of over $2.8 million. […]
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The Josh Giddey Situation: Newport Beach Allegations Bring Legal Heat to NBA Player

Josh Giddey, a prominent player for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, is under investigation by the Newport Beach Police Department. The probe concerns allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. The allegations surfaced when photos and social media posts involving Giddey and a 15-year-old girl became public. The incident reportedly took […]
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Tupac Shakur’s Murder: The Role of The Statute of Limitations

The hip-hop world and legal community alike were stunned when news broke: Duane Keith “Keefe D” Davis was arrested in connection with the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur. This case, which has remained one of music’s most enduring mysteries, offers a unique intersection of entertainment and law. The Unresolved Crime In September 1996, […]
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Bail Reduction is Denied for Suspect Accused of Arson

The man arrested for the arson of the unfinished Da Vinci apartments in Los Angeles was denied a reduction in bail. Judge Upinder Kalra ruled in favor of the prosecution, who argued against the reduction on June 11, 2015. The suspect, Dawud Abdulwali, is said to have traveled out of the country a number of times and […]
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Man Arrested for Home Invasion Robbery in Manhattan Beach

According to a May 13, 2015, CBS local news Los Angeles report local police announced that a suspect has been arrested for a crime committed in Manhattan Beach in November of 2014. A second suspect is still at large and is believed to be connected to another home invasion robbery in Los Angeles. The two men were connected to the crime […]
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Police Officers’ Texts at the Center of California Task Force

Homophobic and racially charged texts between police officers in San Francisco will be the focus of a new Task Force investigation according to District Attorney George Gascon. The task force has no deadline but the D.A. stated that the investigation may be finished by the end of the year. The texts came to light during the […]
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California Defense Attorney Fights Back in Kidnapping Hoax Case

The kidnapping of Denise Huskins has been the subject of local and national news stories and television reports. In what last week seemed to be thought of as a hoax Ms. Huskins was reported taken forcibly from her boyfriend’s home. He spoke to police and FBI agents and they were reported as being skeptical but […]
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Close Call for Driver in Multi Car Pile Up

A major, multi vehicle accident in Baker City, Oregon is being referred to as a miracle for the man behind the wheel of a pickup truck. While the 27 year old vehicle was completely totaled as a result of being pinned between two semi trucks, the man was amazingly able to walk away from the […]
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California Requires Sex Offenders On Parole to Take Lie Detector Tests

State officials said that the lie detector tests will help the government better determine which offenders are most dangerous and in need of increased supervision. The question that will be asked of parolees can range from whether they are attending 12-step addiction programs to whether they are lingering at playgrounds or having inappropriate contact with […]
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Is the LAPD Spying on you?

The Los Angeles Police Department has been using technology to tell patrol officers where crime is most likely to occur and also to identify and keep track of ex-convicts and others they believe are most likely to commit crimes. Yes, you read that right; the LAPD is tracking “potential” criminals using a technology dubbed LASER. […]
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The Hearsay Rule and Its Exceptions

Whether watching court trials on the news, movies or popular television shows, we all have been exposed to some kind of court proceeding. Perhaps one of the most memorable events during a trial is when you see an attorney yell “objection!”, when opposing counsel is questioning a witness. While there are many objections an attorney […]
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The 4th Amendment and Illegal Search of Property

As a citizen of the United States of America, it is always good to know your legal rights. Perhaps one of the most common questions that people ask is whether it is legal for police to search one’s personal property without the consent of the owner and/or a warrant? The 4th amendment forbids unreasonable searches […]
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The Heat Of The Moment

A sudden passion can separate murder from manslaughter, in a legal sense — but, where is that line drawn? On June 3, 2013, the California Supreme Court delivered People vs. Beltran, (124 Cal.App.3d 335). Mr. Beltran shared a residence with Claire Joyce Tempongko and Ms. Tempongko’s son. While the son called Mr. Beltran “Dad,” Mr. […]
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Discovery In Criminal Cases

Traditionally, discovery in criminal cases was a one-way proposition: the prosecutor had a duty to disclose evidence to the defense, but the defense had no duty to reciprocate. That dynamic changed with Proposition 115. Proposition 115, narrowly approved by voters on June 5, 1990, made reciprocal discovery the rule in California criminal cases. While the […]
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Taking & Storing DNA Evidence During The Booking Process in California

On March 20, 2014, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that California’s taking and storing DNA profiles from anyone arrested on suspicion of a felony is Constitutional. This caused a bit of controversy throughout the State, because some argue that this practice should not be legal. The state of Maryland practices the same […]
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