Five Suspected Gang Members Arrested in Alleged Home Invasion in San Clemente

KTLA reports that five men were arrested over the weekend that are believed by authorities to have forced their way into a person’s home and held them at knifepoint.

According to the article, at about 4 a.m. on July 10, deputies in Orange County responded to reports of the alleged home invasion in San Clemente. Officials allege the men attempted to rob the man living in the home by holding him at knifepoint. The five men are suspected gang members. A perimeter was set up around the house and deputies arrested all five men, with the last man arrested around 10:30 a.m. All of the men were arrested on suspicion of home invasion with gang enhancements. Officials report that nothing was taken from the man’s home that was allegedly invaded by the men.

When police make an arrest, there is certain protocol that must be followed, in addition to having just cause for making the arrest. When these important steps are overlooked, serious charges made against a suspect can be lessened or dropped altogether. It is important for anyone who has been arrested for a violent crime or any other crime in California to understand due process and their legal rights to ensure police did not make any errors. Being charged with a crime can have serious repercussions on a person’s life, which is why it is important to consult with a skilled Los Angeles violent crime defense lawyer to determine whether an arrest was made properly and what legal options are available.

For over 40 years, attorney Lawrence Wolf has been helping people who have been charged with a crime in California. To learn how Mr. Wolf can protect your rights, call [number type=”1″] to schedule a free consultation today.

Federal Government Spends $90 Billion on Border Security Over Ten Years

In the past ten years, border patrols and other security measures have ramped up as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security fights to prevent undocumented immigrants and illegal drug shipments from entering the United States, especially along the country’s southern border. According to a recent Associated Press article, however, the $90 billion the federal government has spent on border security in the last decade has done little to stop either people or goods from entering the country.

The current security measures along the U.S.-Mexican borders include 165 x-ray machines used to review the contents of trucks and trains, 650 miles of walls and fences, and a variety of electronic surveillance and other devices, designed to patrol desert areas that border patrol officers cannot cover.

The changes have reduced the number of people arrested for illegal immigration, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In 2001, border patrol agents arrested 1.6 million people suspected of entering the U.S. illegally. That number dropped to 463,000 in 2010. However, the increased surveillance has not stopped illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, from being transported across the southern border and into the country, resulting in $25 billion in trade per year.

Border security in California and other states is meant to reduce crime and criminal charges. However, people in the U.S. are charged every day with crimes, including using, making, or selling illegal substances. If you’re facing a drug charge, the experienced Los Angeles drug crime attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can help you protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. To learn more, call us today at [number type=”1″] for a free and confidential consultation.

Computer Hackers Who Cause Financial Losses Face Bigger Sentences in California

Computer hackers who cause financial losses are prosecuted more harshly and given more severe sentences than those who merely commit “mischief,” according to a recent article in the International Business Times.

The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act allows prosecutors who catch computer hackers to prosecute them if the hacker caused some kind of financial loss to the victim. Charges may be filed even if the hacker didn’t steal any information. For instance, a hacker who causes software damage that requires an experienced technician to fix may be prosecuted because the owner of the computer is out the repair costs—even if the hacker didn’t take the user’s bank account or credit card information.

Currently, the federal Justice Department focuses its efforts on prosecuting hackers who cause large financial losses and those who target government sites, even if no damage is done. While smaller losses may not trigger prison sentences, hackers who are convicted of them may face probation. For instance, a former contractor who had worked for PETA allegedly logged in to the animal rights organization’s website from his Los Angeles apartment recently. He didn’t steal any information, but he did delete over 500 different files. After being convicted of criminal activity for the act, he was sentenced to one year of probation and required to pay $1,400 in fines.

Crimes like theft and embezzlement increasingly involve computer use. Unfortunately, even though computers are now commonplace in most areas of the U.S., many state and federal criminal laws still provide harsher punishments for those who use computers than for those who don’t. If you are facing felony charges in California, the experienced Los Angeles felony crimes defense lawyers at The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf can help. Call us today at [number type=”1″] for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Los Angeles Area Homicides Hit a Historic Low in 2010

The homicide rate in the areas served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department dropped to 0.61 deaths per 10,000 residents in 2010, the lowest it has been since 1965, according to data recently released by the Sheriff’s Department. The numbers are taken from the entire area served by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. In order to be included as a “homicide,” a crime had to involve the killing of one person by another, whether intentional or accidental.

In total, 181 homicides occurred in Los Angeles County in 2010, the lowest number in any one year since 1971. Overall, since 1960, the year with the fewest total homicides was 1972, with 146 deaths. The year that saw the most homicides was 1995, when 473 lives were lost.

Although a few years since 1960 have seen fewer total homicides than 2010, the rate of homicides – or the number of deaths divided by the total number of people in the area – was at a historic low in 2010. The rate of 0.61 deaths per 10,000 people in 2010 is similar to the rates of the early 1970s and is much lower than the rates in the mid-1990s, when rates of 1.5 homicides per 10,000 people were not uncommon.

Every type of homicide charge carries serious penalties if the charged person is convicted. If you have been charged with murder, manslaughter, or a similar crime in California, experienced Los Angeles homicide defense lawyer Lawrence Wolf has the experience to provide an aggressive defense that protects your legal rights and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation, call the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at [number type=”1″].

California Supreme Court Rules “Hiring Away” Prostitutes is Illegal

California’s pandering law prohibits encouraging another person to become a prostitute and imposes penalties on people convicted of trying to get someone else to become a prostitute. According to the California Supreme Court, the law also forbids a person from encouraging a current prostitute to come work for them, reports The San Francisco Chronicle.

In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a Los Angeles man who, in 2007, had stopped his truck to solicit an undercover police officer dressed as a prostitute. The man had allegedly offered the “prostitute” housing and clothes if she would give him her earnings. The court stated that, when a pimp offers a prostitute protection or other things in exchange for her income, “the offer increases the likelihood that the prostitute will be able to maintain or expand her activities.”

The two dissenting justices, however, argued that it isn’t possible to “become” a prostitute when one already is a prostitute and that the law was not designed to punish people for asking a prostitute to go on being a prostitute. They argue that the penalty for encouraging someone to become a prostitute should be separate, because it causes more harm to encourage someone to take up prostitution than it does to encourage someone who already practices prostitution to go on doing it.

Often, the application of the criminal law is a matter of interpretation, especially when the facts of what happened don’t exactly match up with the acts a particular law prohibits. The experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf examine the facts of each client’s case carefully and build an aggressive defense that fights for the best possible outcome based upon the specifics of their case. For a free and confidential consultation, call the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at [number type=”1″].

Baldwin Village Raid Results in 35 Drug-Related Arrests

At least 35 people were arrested recently in Baldwin Village by a joint law enforcement team that included both the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to an article in The Los Angeles Times. The people arrested were believed by authorities to be involved in drug trafficking and/or gang activity in the area. They included both men and women for alleged drug trafficking.

According to the article, both state and federal law enforcement officers have been concerned with drug trafficking in the Baldwin Village area for at least 10 years. Six years ago, a raid similar to the most recent one resulted in 28 arrests of suspected gang members, all of whom were believed by authorities to be running the illegal-drug trade in the area.

The LAPD believes that, although Baldwin Village covers less than one square mile, it houses several hundred gang members. Most or all of these people allegedly belong to the Black P Stones gang. Law enforcement officers suspect that, in addition to the drug charges, these people may also have been involved in recent theft, assault, and carjacking incidents in the area.

Criminal charges in California can be overwhelming to face, particularly when they involve felonies such as drug trafficking, which can carry severe penalties for someone who is convicted. At The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf, our Los Angeles drug crime defense lawyers have the legal resources and the courtroom experience needed to present an aggressive defense on your behalf, fighting for the best possible outcome in your case while ensuring your rights are protected. To learn more, call The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at [number type=”1″].

Mistakes May Cause Incorrect High Readings on DUI Breath Tests in California

When stopping a driver on suspicion of drunk driving, a police officer may require the driver to take a chemical test to determine the driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Although a chemical test for BAC can be done on a driver’s breath, blood, or urine, most officers begin with an alcohol breath test administered by using a breathalyzer or similar machine.

Like all machines, however, a breath test machine is only as reliable as the person running it. Mistakes in using the breath test machine can cause the reading to be higher than the driver’s BAC actually is, resulting in an arrest or even criminal charges; even though the driver was not in fact violating California’s drunk driving laws.

For instance, a breath test machine will pick up any residual alcohol in the person’s mouth and add it to the reading. A driver who has recently used certain kinds of cold medicine, mouthwash, or other alcohol-containing products may therefore test positive for blood alcohol, even if they are sober. In addition to alcohol left in the mouth, certain other substances can cause some breath test machines to “detect” alcohol whether or not it’s actually present. For instance, some breath test machines are sensitive to cigarette residue, ether, chloroform, or acetone.

Experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer Lawrence Wolf understands that errors in breath testing can result in improper arrests or charges, and he fights for the best possible outcome in each client’s case. For a free and confidential consultation, call The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at [number type=”1″].

Understanding Standardized Field Sobriety Tests Used in Los Angeles DUI Cases

When a police officer suspects a driver is driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), the officer may stop the driver in order to search for more clues that the driver has been drinking. Often, police will have a stopped driver perform one or more tests. Known as thestandardized field sobriety tests, these activities are designed to provide clues for police officers that confirm whether or not a person is driving impaired. The three most common standardized field sobriety tests are the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the one-leg stand test, and the walk-and-turn test.

The horizontal gaze nystagmus tests whether the driver’s eyes can follow something smoothly, or if the eyes start to jerk involuntarily the further they look to the side. This jerking movement may be a sign of alcohol intoxication. It may also be a sign of several different neurological defects.

Both the one-leg stand test and the walk-and-turn test require the driver to demonstrate balance and agility. Usually, police officers give all the instructions for the test first, and then wait to see how well a driver can remember and follow them. Meanwhile, the officer is looking for any signs that the driver is intoxicated, even though both tests are difficult to perform correctly, even if a person is sober and able-bodied. People who are tired or who have any one of a wide range of neurological or movement problems are far more likely to fail the test than able-bodied people, even if they have not been drinking.

How well or poorly a driver does on the standardized field sobriety tests are often key pieces of evidence in the prosecution’s case charging a driver with a DUI in California. If you are facing drunk driving charges in California, the experienced Los Angeles DUI attorneys at The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf will examine your case carefully, including the results of any sobriety testing, and will fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For a free and confidential consultation regarding your DUI case, call [number type=”1″] today.

Year-Long Drug Crime Investigation in Los Angeles Area Leads to 13 Arrests

After a year of investigating suspected drug crimes in the Los Angeles area, police have arrested 13 individuals whom they believe are dealing drugs in Los Angeles and surrounding communities, according to an article in The Santa Maria Times.

Officers from Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, and San Luis Obispo County teamed up with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other local police departments to carry out the investigation, which looked into the activities of gangs in the area as officers searched for signs of illegal drug-related activities. Most of the 13 people arrested are members of one of the gangs under surveillance. Nine of them were arrested on May 2 in a sweep that involved 125 police officers.

A Los Angeles grand jury has indicted 10 of the arrested people on federal charges, charging them with possessing, selling, and/or distributing methamphetamine. Police are still looking for one of the suspects. Four more people were arrested on suspicion of violating California criminal laws, and they will likely face felony charges filed by the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office.

Whether you are charged with violating state law, federal law, or both, being convicted of a felony that involves drugs means facing heavy penalties, including prison time. An aggressive defense by an experienced Los Angeles drug crime defense attorney offers you the best chance of avoiding or reducing these penalties while protecting your rights. At The Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf, we understand the seriousness of drug crime charges and will fight for the best possible outcome in your case. For a confidential consultation, call us at [number type=”1″] today.

DMV Hearings in California DUI Cases

Many drivers who receive a DUI for the first time are confused about their hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The following is important information from the California Department of Motor Vehicles website regarding the DMV hearing after a DUI.

A DMV hearing is not mandatory. A driver who wants a DMV hearing, usually in the hopes of keeping their driving privileges, must request one. The hearing with the DMV regarding the DUI is not a criminal proceeding. It is a separate proceeding that determines whether or not a person who received a DUI should be allowed to keep their driving privileges.

The DMV hearing will not determine whether or not a person committed a crime. The DMV hearing will determine whether someone took a blood, breath, or urine test or refused testing, whether they were arrested, and whether they had a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. The DMV hearing will also not take the place of a criminal trial.

Fortunately, if a person who was charged with driving under the influence is acquitted in a criminal trial, any suspension or revocation of driving privileges will be reversed. However, if the charges are merely reduced to reckless driving, any suspension or revocation of driving privileges will not be reversed. If DUI charges were dismissed, or if the district attorney decided not to file DUI charges, a driver may get their driving privileges back, but this is not always the case.

Are you facing DUI charges in California? Are you confused about the criminal charges as well as the driver’s license penalties? If so, contact Los Angeles DUI attorney Lawrence Wolf of the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf today at [number type=”1″] to learn more.