Henry Cantor
November 6, 2023
Police took a man into custody in downtown Los Angeles. The incident, which escalated to a standoff at a 50-unit complex at Olive Street and Olympic Boulevard, began after neighbors reported a series of 15 to 20 gunshots. Responding officers found that the tenant had fired at his apartment floor before sealing himself inside. The […]
Henry Cantor
November 6, 2023
Los Angeles police arrested Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo for DUI following a collision. Her high BAC and the crash have drawn public attention. Examining the Incident: On Friday, November 3rd, at approximately 1:30 a.m., police responded to an incident involving Carrillo. She had hit parked cars, and her blood-alcohol level was reportedly twice the legal limit. […]
Henry Cantor
October 25, 2023
CALABASAS, CA — Former NFL star Terrell Owens became the focal point of a legal incident in Calabasas. On October 16, after a disagreement post a basketball game, an individual reportedly targeted Owens with his car, specifically aiming for his knee. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided a statement on the matter: “As the […]
Henry Cantor
October 18, 2023
Alfred Labrada, a seasoned officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and a 30-year veteran, has been put on leave following allegations of stalking. Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Labrada faces claims that he stalked a female colleague by planting an Apple AirTag tracking device in her luggage. These allegations have led […]
Henry Cantor
October 16, 2023
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, […]
Henry Cantor
October 2, 2023
The Los Angeles County has recently adopted the “zero-bail policy,” a significant judicial reform that impacts the pre-arraignment process. Understanding the Zero-Bail Policy The zero-bail policy has been introduced to address the inherent inequities of the bail system. Particularly its disproportionate impact on economically disadvantaged individuals. Under this policy: Certain non-violent and non-serious offenses may […]
Henry Cantor
September 27, 2023
The Amie Harwick case has garnered significant attention due to the shocking and tragic nature of the incident. The charges brought against Gareth Pursehouse are one count each of murder and first-degree residential burglary in the death of 38-year-old Amie Harwick on February 15, 2020. This incident unfolded in California, and we will delve into […]
Henry Cantor
September 25, 2023
In a tragic incident that unfolded in Jurupa Valley, California, a driver and his passenger are facing serious legal consequences following a fatal collision. On Wednesday, September 20, a car struck and killed 42-year-old Jamie Pruitt in the 5000 block of Mission Boulevard. This unfortunate event led to the arrest of the driver, 23-year-old Jose […]
Henry Cantor
September 12, 2023
In the early morning hours of July 22, 2023, tragedy struck on the scenic Angeles Crest Highway in Pasadena, California. 32-year-old Jessie Munoz of Los Angeles lost his life during a robbery while he was inside a vehicle with a female companion. The Pasadena Police Department launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Eventually the […]
Henry Cantor
August 24, 2023
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense with significant legal consequences, especially in California. A recent news article sheds light on the severity of penalties for multiple DUI offenses and related violations. This article explores the news piece’s details while examining California’s rules on interlock violations, secondary aggravated DUI, and driving with a […]
Henry Cantor
August 22, 2023
Photo Credit: Noelskeez/Twitter The rising incidence of organized retail theft in Los Angeles has prompted the establishment of a collaborative task force comprising multiple law enforcement agencies. This united effort is dedicated to curbing the rise of organized retail crime within the region. This article delves into the intricacies of organized retail crime and theft, […]
Arash Hashemi
August 17, 2023
In a recent and tragic incident at a Hollywood Ralph’s supermarket, a security guard employed at the store shot and killed a woman who had armed herself with a fire extinguisher and a screwdriver. The incident took place near the entrance of the store on Hollywood Boulevard, when the woman allegedly made an aggressive move […]
Arash Hashemi
July 14, 2023
In a recent lawsuit against Ja Morant, a basketball star for the Memphis Grizzlies, allegations of assault during a pickup basketball game have led to a complex legal battle. The crux of the case revolves around Morant’s claim of self-defense and the potential immunity he could receive under Tennessee law. But how would self-defense be […]
Arash Hashemi
March 5, 2023
In a recent ruling, a California appeals court overturned a murder conviction and ordered a new trial for a man accused of California murder in 2002. The court cited the state’s flawed interpretation of the law and improper use of evidence as reasons for the reversal. Additionally, the court referred to California’s new “Decriminalizing Artistic […]
Arash Hashemi
August 25, 2022
On August 4, 2022, Nicole Linton was behind the wheel of her Mercedes, speeding as fast as 90 miles an hour. She ran a red light and plowed into traffic at the busy intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues killed 6 people and hurt others. She was charged with 6 counts of murder and […]
Arash Hashemi
August 30, 2020
If you have ever seen a TV show or a movie that involves the law, you have probably heard the term “No Contest.” But do you know what it means in legal terms and the implications that come with it? The term itself comes from the Latin word nolo contendere, which literally means No Contest, […]
Arash Hashemi
June 22, 2015
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
May 18, 2015
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
May 14, 2015
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
April 6, 2015
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
March 18, 2015
A night at a sports bar in Oceanside, California turned ugly and when it was over a man had been injured in a hit and run accident that later was found to possibly be much more than that. The driver of the vehicle was eventually arrested by police, who were led to his home by […]
Arash Hashemi
March 11, 2015
According to a Los Angeles Times article on March 3, 2015 the brother of Paris Hilton, Conrad, is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom to be arraigned on an assault charge. This stems from an in July of last year incident last year when the younger brother of the socialite and reality TV […]
Arash Hashemi
January 26, 2015
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
January 13, 2015
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
November 18, 2014
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. […]
Arash Hashemi
November 12, 2014
On November 4, 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47 (“Prop 47”), which dramatically changed the Justice System in our State. These changes went into effect immediately. Some penalties for common drug and theft crimes in California will be reduced from potential felonies to misdemeanors, shortening the time some offenders spend behind bars to a maximum of […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
On July 16, 2014, US District Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled that California’s death penalty violates the 8th amendment of the United States Constitution which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The case was brought up on a petition made by death row inmate, Ernest Dewayne Jones who was sentenced to death nearly twenty years ago. […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
How Does the Criminal Process Work in California? When I was younger I loved law shows on TV, in particular ones that had to do with crimes, such as the Law & Order franchise. I used to watch them passionately studying the tactics, the procedures and dialogue the lawyers in the shows used. However, after […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
One of the most common questions asked of me is “What is the difference between a civil case and a criminal case?” There are many differences but some of the main ones are easy to distinguish. A civil case usually involves a dispute between private persons and/or organizations, such as a corporation. A criminal case […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
On June 17th, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5 to 4 to uphold the 1992 murder conviction of a Texas man named Genovevo Salinas (Full Story). He sat silently when the police questioned him about the shotgun shells that were found at the scene of the murder and traced to his shotgun. […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
In the July 2013, California Supreme Court case People v. Davis, Mr. Davis was arrested at a rave party after he sold blue pills to an undercover officer. The California Health and Safety Code lists methylenedioxy amphetamine (MDA), commonly known as Ecstasy, as a controlled substance. However, subsequent tests revealed that the blue pills contained […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
There are several different violent crimes a person can be charged with in the United States of America. One such example is Murder; which is defined as the intentional and unlawful killing of another human being. However, there are different degrees of murder a person can be charged with. Professional athlete Aaron Hernandez (formally of […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
On October 2, 2013, a jury found AEG Live not liable for negligence in the case of KATHERINE JACKSON, ET. AL. VS. AEG LIVE LLC, ET. AL. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case #: BC445597). The case was filed by the family of Michael Jackson, one of the world’s biggest Pop Stars. The verdict shocked not […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
While some states restrict expungement of records to cases in which the defendant was innocent or wrongfully prosecuted, California is more willing than other states to give criminal defendants a fresh start following a criminal conviction. In People v. Parker, a June 24, 2013 decision from the Second Appellate District, the Court considered the case […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
71-year-old Herman Wallace died on October 8, 2013, approximately one week after being released from prison in Louisiana. Mr. Wallace, a member of the Black Panthers and one of the Angola 3, was convicted of armed robbery in 1971 and sent to Angola State Prison. The next year, he was accused of fatally stabbing a […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
The Supreme Court of the United States of America is the highest court in the country. The Court hears cases that are on appeal from a United States Circuit Court decision. The Supreme Court can choose to overturn the opinion of the lower court, or they can rule Stare Decisis, which is Latin and translates […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
In October 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law that expanded the definition of disorderly conduct and invasion of privacy. Senate Bill 255 outlaws so-called “revenge porn,” which involves the posting of private, pornographic photos of another person as a means of revenge against an ex-partner. The bill, which goes into effect immediately, specifically […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
Expungement in California, particularly for expunging California criminal records, is a vital legal process for individuals aiming to conceal their criminal history from the public eye. This process, while not completely erasing the conviction, significantly lessens its impact, thereby enhancing opportunities in employment, housing, and other crucial aspects of life. Key Penal Code Sections for […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
After the arrest and before the trial, there are a number of important events that take place in the life of a felony criminal case. Once a person is arrested, a judge determines the amount of bail. Bail cannot be tied to the evidence against the person — instead, the judge determines the likelihood that […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
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. […]
Arash Hashemi
August 1, 2014
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
July 18, 2014
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 […]
Arash Hashemi
July 14, 2014
In August 2009, David Riley was pulled over in San Diego, California for having expired tags on his car and a suspended driver’s license. The officer impounded Riley’s car and conducted a warrantless search of the car. The officer found two handguns that were later linked to a shooting that had taken place a few […]
