Lawrence Wolf - Part 13

LAUSD Teacher Pleads Guilty to Molestation Charges

A 51-year-old Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teacher pleaded guilty to charges of child molestation. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the teacher admitted to having a relationship with a 14-year-old between June and September of 2005. When questioned about the relationship on July 10, 2012, he led police on a high-speed chase that ended when he crashed his pickup truck into a tree. He faced three counts of committing a lewd act on a child, two counts of oral copulation, one count of sexual penetration by a foreign object, and one count of evading an officer. He pleaded guilty to two counts of committing a lewd act on a child and one count of evading an officer.

According to California Penal Code Section 288: “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act … upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”

Torrance Doctor Accused of Groping Patients

A 67-year-old Torrance doctor faces years of incarceration after three patients have accused him of inappropriate touching. According to The Daily Breeze, the podiatrist who works at the West Torrance Foot and Ankle Group on Lomita Boulevard, will continue to practice until his December 13, 2012 court date.

Prosecutors have filed three counts of sexual battery by fraud against him. He faces fraud charges for allegedly touching patients on parts of their body that was not part of a legitimate medical exam. The doctor, who already faces accusations of molestation from his own daughter, allegedly touched patients inappropriately in three incidents dating back to 2009, 2008, and 2003. He faces up to six years of incarceration if convicted on all counts.

Proposition 35 Temporarily Blocked by Judge

gavel_2008935 Proposition 35 passed on November 6 with 81 percent of the vote, but a federal judge has temporarily blocked its implementation. According to an ESR Check news report, a U.S. District Judge in San Francisco has blocked the proposition because of a civil lawsuit that has been filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and two registered offenders. If the temporary block is lifted, approximately 73,000 registered sex offenders in California will have to provide their online screen names and Internet service providers to law enforcement officers. The civil lawsuit claims that Prop 35 violates the First Amendment right to free speech.

The ACLU suggests that Proposition 35 will require sex offenders to turn in their email addresses, usernames, and every identifier they use to comment on websites online. The proposition also increases prison sentences and fines for individuals involved in sex trafficking.

Understanding the Rules of Field Sobriety Tests in L.A.

A field sobriety test is one of many tools that officers use in Los Angeles to determine if a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers commonly assume that they are required by law to participate in these motor skills tests, but field sobriety tests are voluntary. You have the right to decline. If, however, you have already consented to a field sobriety test, you should contact a skilled Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer right away.

During a traffic stop, an officer will try to detect the smell of alcohol. Empty bottles, slurred speech, or unusual behavior are all signs of intoxication. In some cases, an officer will ask the driver to exit the vehicle and perform any number of field sobriety tests.

How Not to Get Arrested for a Thanksgiving DUI in Los Angeles

Police officer giving a sobriety test to a drunk driver.

Increased driving under the influence (DUI) patrols in Orange County over Thanksgiving week resulted in more DUI arrests this year compared to 2011. According to a KTLA news report, between November 21 at 6 p.m. and November 24 at 6 a.m., there were 44 DUI arrests in Orange County. That number reflects a 16 percent increase from the 37 DUI arrests that occurred in Orange County during the same period in 2011. Statewide, however, arrests decreased from 903 in the year 2011 to 840 this year. Officials also say that there were no reported traffic fatalities over the holiday in Orange County.

Los Angeles law enforcement officers increase their efforts to crackdown on drunk driving every Thanksgiving. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, during an 84-hour period around Thanksgiving in 2011, 303 motorists were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Los Angeles County. That number reflects a slight increase from the 276 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests that occurred during the same period in the year 2010. Los Angeles officers will attempt to prevent fatal DUI crashes by continuing their enforcement efforts this holiday as well.

If you plan on driving in Los Angeles County this Thanksgiving, you should be aware that any unusual behavior could result in a traffic stop and arrest. Local law enforcement agencies utilize DUI saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout Los Angeles and will be on the lookout for motorists who are driving erratically, carelessly, or dangerously, as these are signs of intoxicated driving.

Expect More DUI Checkpoints in Los Angeles

Police officer giving a sobriety test to a drunk driver.

For the eighth year in a row, Los Angeles County has been awarded a substantial grant to implement more driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints. According to an EGP News report, Los Angeles County’s DUI task force has been awarded $450,000 to fight drunk driving through September of 2013. The grant will allow law enforcement officers to conduct DUI saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the county.

The city of Montebello has not conducted a DUI checkpoint for a while, but officials have applied for support to begin cracking down on drunk driving. Bell Gardens has not had a checkpoint within city limits since July of 2012, but the grant should mean more frequent checkpoints in the future. Other cities, such as Monterey Park and Vernon, are expected to utilize the funds as well.

Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Woman on Los Angeles Bus

Law enforcement officers are searching for a man who they believe sexually assaulted a mentally disabled woman in the back of a Metro bus in broad daylight. According to a CBS2 news report, the alleged sexual assault occurred after the 18-year-old woman boarded the bus at Jefferson and La Cienega boulevards in Baldwin Hills. Officials believe the man followed the woman to the back of the bus and started sexually assaulting her.

The only other passenger in the bus notified the driver who got on the intercom and pulled over. The suspect left the bus at Slauson Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard. The victim, who officials say has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, reported the incident to the authorities. Investigators have released security camera footage of the man in the hopes of determining his identity.

Irvine Student Arrested on Suspicion of Sexual Assault

handcuffs_8831626 A 21-year-old Irvine Valley College student has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman in a school parking lot. According to The Orange County Register, the alleged assault occurred at Irvine Valley College in Irvine. Officials say the two were talking when the man allegedly forced the woman into his vehicle. After escaping, she described him to the authorities.

They arrested the 21-year-old man because he had previously been stopped, but not arrested, for other incidents involving inappropriate touching, the report states.

Bobby Brown Arrested on Suspicion of DUI in Tarzana

Bobby Brown, the late Whitney Houston’s ex-husband, has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) for the second time in six months. According to a report by The Los Angeles Times, the arrest occurred near Ventura Boulevard and Corbin Avenue in Tarzana. Officials claim that they smelled alcohol after pulling him over. It is not clear if Brown took a Breathalyzer test, but he was booked for drunk driving before being released. Brown was previously arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in March near Victory Boulevard and Wilbur Avenue in the San Fernando Valley.

Individuals who have been arrested multiple times for drunk driving typically face harsher treatment from officers, prosecutors, and judges. There are many alternative sentencing options offered to first-time offenders that are simply not available for repeat offenders. While first-time offenders can avoid lengthy jail time by agreeing to alcohol treatment programs or community service, a repeat offender will likely face a mandatory jail sentence.

Look Out for Sobriety Checkpoints in Los Angeles this Halloween

police_sirens_4247691_small1 A sobriety checkpoint is when law enforcement officers block off a roadway to search for impaired drivers. In Los Angeles, it is common to see checkpoints on busy roadways near popular bars and restaurants where alcohol is served. For example, there were recent driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints at the intersections of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue; South La Cienega Boulevard and West Manchester Boulevard; and at Ventura Boulevard and Rubio Avenue. You can be sure that local law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County will man a number of sobriety checkpoints this Halloween as well.

It is common practice for Los Angeles officials to set up checkpoints on holidays. You will see an increase in L.A. DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols every Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. If you plan on attending Halloween parties this year, it is important that you secure a designated driver.