Arash Hashemi
March 9, 2015
There was an illegal street race in Chatsworth, California that led to the deaths of two spectators and seriously injured another. Israel Venezuela was arrested by the Valley Traffic division according to the LA Daily News story on March 5, 2015. He is the second man arrested for the crash which occurred on February 26, 2015. […]
Arash Hashemi
March 2, 2015
The auto accident that occurred earlier in February of 2015, involving reality TV star Bruce Jenner, is still under investigation by the Major Crimes Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. An examination of the phone records of all parties involved is still underway in order to determine if anyone may have been negligent […]
Arash Hashemi
February 23, 2015
An Illinois woman has brought charges of battery and infliction of emotional distress against the owner of a Kane County haunted house. The incident that prompted the filing occurred in October of 2014, when the woman claims that she and her teenage daughter were accosted by two employees in the parking lot of the haunted […]
Arash Hashemi
February 16, 2015
A fourth grader in Kermit, Texas has been suspended from school for making what school officials have referred to as terrorist threats. The boy’s father has a very different view of the scenario that played out on school grounds but administrators are sticking with the punishment thus far. The investigation began after the nine year old […]
Arash Hashemi
February 9, 2015
A woman in Jacksonville, Florida has been released from prison after having served three years as part of a plea agreement for three counts of aggravated assault. The charges stemmed from an incident where the woman discharged a weapon at her husband and his two children. While 1095 days might have felt like an eternity […]
Arash Hashemi
February 2, 2015
A North Carolina man who has spent nearly the last forty years behind bars has been cleared of charges after an investigation conducted by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. Joseph Sledge had escaped from prison just one day prior to the murders and was picked up, charged and ultimately convicted of the crime. Sledge […]
Arash Hashemi
January 30, 2015
Former music mogul Suge Knight is suspected of running over two men after an argument in Compton. The confrontation between Suge Knight and two unidentified men took place at 3:00 p.m. on January 29, 2015, on the set of “Straight Outta Compton,” a biopic about the group N.W.A. Witnesses says that about 20 minutes after the alleged […]
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 19, 2015
On January 13, 2015, three suspects ranging in age from 14 to 17 allegedly participated in a full day’s long crime spree that included such serious acts as carjacking, robbery, attempted fleeing police and murder. Police are currently keeping the identity of the suspects under wraps because the teens are also suspects in a host of other […]
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
October 24, 2014
Since 2002, Arash Hashemi has protected the rights of Los Angeles residents facing criminal charges. He’s not only recognized in the area as a strong defender, but as an ideal expert commentator on noteworthy criminal cases. Mr. Hashemi’s insider knowledge of California law and Los Angeles criminal courts gives him the advantage over his competitors. […]
Arash Hashemi
September 30, 2014
On September 30, 2014, at approximately 1:40 am Maryland Transportation Officers observed a white Land Rover traveling at 84mph in a 45mph speed zone. The car was crossing double lane lines. Officers initiated a traffic stop and discovered that the driver was non-other than 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps. Even though Phelps was cooperative he was “unable […]
Arash Hashemi
September 19, 2014
Los Angeles, CA – The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi announced today that their telephone and facsimile numbers have changed. This change takes effect immediately, however, the old telephone number will remain working until October 15, 2014. All facsimile correspondence should be sent to the new number. The new numbers are as follows: Telephone: […]
Arash Hashemi
September 8, 2014
While driving, if you look at the car next to you chances are you will see the driver on his/her phone. Some are talking without a headphone. Others might be texting, Tweeting, or updating their Facebook statues. It seems the threat of getting a traffic ticket does not deter these drivers. All those public service […]
Arash Hashemi
August 6, 2014
Discrimination is usually defined as an action that denies social participation or human rights to a person or group of people based on prejudice. Racial discrimination differentiates individuals on the basis of real and perceived racial differences. On Wednesday, July 16, 2014, Beverly Hills High School principal, Carter Paysinger, filed a lawsuit against the Beverly […]
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
One of the most dramatic manhunts in US history has come to an end with many questions still unanswered. One of them is how to treat Dzhokhar Tsarnaev within the legal system. Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Representative Peter King (R-N.Y.) issued a joint statement commending law enforcement […]
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
On June 20, 2013, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of the First Amendment’s protection of free speech striking down part of a Federal law regarding funding. The law had required all groups that receive funding for fighting AIDS globally to announce policies “opposing prostitution and sex trafficking.” Several of the […]
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
A woman accused of murdering her two children has requested the death penalty. In September 2013, police in Orange County arrested 42-year-old Marilyn Edge of Scottsdale, Arizona in connection with the murder of her two children, aged 9 and 13. Prosecutors allege that Ms. Edge poisoned her children after she lost a custody battle with […]
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
The question often arises: can a criminal conviction be a snake in the grass as far as your immigration status is concerned? The California Supreme Court recently considered this question in the September 11, 2013 case of People v. Martinez. In 1992, Mr. Martinez was arrested for and charged with possession of marijuana. He pled […]
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
Los Angeles, CA – The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi announced that it has launched a fundraiser in support of Homeboy Industries and the wonderful job they do for the Los Angeles community. The goal is to raise Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for men and women looking to leave their gang lives behind by joining […]
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
August 1, 2014
“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit!” That line was made famous during the O.J. Simpson trial by a man who himself became a household name in America. His name was Johnnie Cochran. However, few seem to know that Johnnie Cochran was a well accomplished attorney and famous in his own right prior to 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 […]
