L.A. School Bus Driver Charged with DUI after Fatal Crash

school_busA 54-year-old woman was arrested and booked for felony driving under the influence (DUI) after allegedly causing a fatal school bus accident while under the influence of a controlled substance. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal bus accident occurred at Brookshire Avenue and Woodland Street in Ventura. Officials say the bus driver was transporting 11 children when she turned left and struck a 75-year-old female pedestrian. The elderly pedestrian suffered critical injuries and died at the hospital. The driver was released on bond and is due in court this month.

There are many charges that can result from an accident when someone has been injured or killed. If the driver was under the influence, it is possible for vehicle manslaughter charges to result in a 16-month, two-, or four-year jail sentence. There are additional penalties if the driver had underage passengers at the time of the incident.

Orange County Man Pleads Not Guilty to Ecstasy and Steroid Possession Charges

A 29-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to drug possession charges involving a kilo of ecstasy powder and thousands of steroid pills. According to an Associated Press news report, the man was arrested for picking up a package holding more than two pounds of ecstasy powder. Officials have accused the man of dropping a bag containing approximately 2,500 steroid pills in the car of a man who was also arrested.

Officials were monitoring the package and arrested the two men shortly after the alleged exchange. The 29-year-old man faces up to six years in prison and is currently out of custody on $500,000 bail.

Penalties for Repeat DUI Offenders in Los Angeles

drunk_driving_11181975Los Angeles drivers convicted for the first time of drunken driving can expect to receive a sentencing of three years of informal probation, a license suspension, fines and fees of approximately $2,000, and four months of alcohol education classes. There is even the potential for jail time on a first offense. All of these charges increase dramatically if the driver is a repeat offender.

A second driving under the influence (DUI) offense could result in a two-year drunk driving license suspension, mandatory jail time, and an 18-month alcohol education program. Under the law, a second offense can result in a jail sentence of up to one year, but it is more common for the sentence to be between four and 60 days. With the help of an attorney, it may be possible to convert the two-year license suspension into a restricted license after 12 months.

Burbank Man Arrested on Suspicion of Attempting to Kidnap Child

A 54-year-old man was recently arrested for allegedly exposing himself to a teenager before telling her to get into his car. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the incident occurred at Keystone Street and Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank. Officials say he allegedly exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl while in his car before asking her into his vehicle. The girl ran away and gave his license plate number to the authorities. The man was later taken into custody for suspicion of indecent exposure and attempted kidnapping.

Attempting to kidnap or imprison someone is a serious crime in California. There are many different charges that can result from a kidnapping incident. Simple kidnapping under California Penal Code 207 is a felony that involves instilling fear to carry a person from one place to another.

Former Member of Dio Arrested following Burbank DUI Crash

A former member of the band Dio faces driving under the influence (DUI) charges after being involved in a Los Angeles car accident. According to a news report in The Los Angeles Times, the collision occurred on Vanowen Street near Hollywood Way in Burbank.

Officials say the former bassist of Dio turned his 1995 green Toyota Camry left in front of another vehicle while exiting a parking lot. The arresting officer says that the driver failed to pass the field sobriety test and that he was in possession of Vicodin for which he did not have a prescription. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI, possessing narcotic pills, and for an outstanding felony warrant relating to drug charges.

Marina Del Rey Deputy Sentenced in Teen Sex Case

prison_1616955A former 46-year-old Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced for having sexual relations with a minor. According to The Marina Del Rey Patch, the investigation began when an informant contacted the Los Angeles County Child Abuse Hotline. Officials say the deputy had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl.

On August 10 he pleaded no contest to felony charges of oral sex with a minor. He must spend 60 days in jail and could end up serving an additional 30 days under house arrest with electronic monitoring. Additional penalties include supervised probation for five years and mandatory sex offender counseling.

The Consequences of Driving Under the Influence in Los Angeles

According to The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP), there were 195,879 people were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in California in the year 2010. The average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of convicted DUI offenders was .15 percent in the year 2009. That is nearly twice the legal limit. In California, individuals with a BAC of .08 percent or higher can face serious penalties.

Drivers convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol face mandatory jail time of at least 48 hours, three to five years of court probation, fines and court fees between $1,400 and $1,800, a six-month driver’s license suspension, and enrollment in DUI school. These charges may increase if the driver is a repeat offender or if someone was injured in the DUI collision.

Los Angeles Drug Bust Leads to 2 Arrests, Seizure of 1,000 Marijuana Plants

marijuana foliage

A drug bust in Los Angeles culminated in the arrest of a 54-year-old Lawndale man and a 50-year-old Los Angeles man. According to The Acorn, the drug bust occurred at a residence on Oakfield Road in Hidden Hills. Officials executed a search warrant to seize 1,000 marijuana plants, 40 pounds of processed marijuana, and a semiautomatic handgun. The two men face multiple felony charges for transporting, selling, and cultivating marijuana.

In California, it is a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison and a $10,000 fine to grow just one marijuana plant. It is possible to have a cultivation charge reduced to simple marijuana possession if the amount of marijuana was clearly only for personal use. If, however, there is a large number of plants, or if the defendant intended to sell the drugs, the penalties can be severe.

San Fernando Valley Driving School Owner Accused of Molesting Teenager

The owner of a San Fernando Valley driving school is facing accusations of molesting a teenage boy. According to a CBS News report, the 44-year-old man has been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery after a 17-year-old boy told officials that the instructor molested him. The teenager said the driving instructor touched him inappropriately. Police believe that there may be other victims and an investigation is still ongoing.

According to California Penal Code Section 243.4 (a): “Any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched and is for the purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of sexual battery.” A conviction is punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000. If convicted of a felony, individuals could face up to four years in state prison and a $10,000 fine.

More than 2,000 Arrested in 18-Day DUI Crackdown in Los Angeles

Businessman being handcuffed and placed under arrest in front of his home.

Los Angeles County law enforcement agencies arrested 2,098 people for driving under the influence (DUI) through sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and regular routine patrols as part of the Avoid the 100’s anti-DUI campaign. According to The Glendora Patch, the arrests occurred over an 18-day period leading into the long Labor Day weekend. Officials made 2,795 arrests during the same period in 2011. The DUI campaigns are likely to get even more intensive during Halloween and later during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays. The campaigns are made possible by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

When cities conduct sobriety checkpoints or saturation patrols, we often observe that police officers are eager to catch as many drivers as they can. A number of organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) even have awards ceremonies to commend police officers who make the maximum number of DUI arrests each year.