Phil Spector Convicted of Second Degree Murder

The latimes.com website reported in an article on April 13, 2009 that music producer Phil Spector, 69 was found guilty of second degree murder in California of actress Lana Clarkson. The shooting took place six year ago. A Los Angeles Superior Court jury came to its verdict after nine days of deliberation. This is the second trial. The first jury ended deadlocked, 10 out of the 12 jurors in favor of guilt.

Spector gained fame after working with musical bands including the Righteous Brothers, the Beatles, and Tina Turner. When sentenced, Spector faces a minimum of 18 years in prison. The jury concluded that Spector murdered Clarkson, who was a tall blond actress, in February 2003 just hours after he met her.

During the trial which began in October, Spector was described by the prosecution as being a brutal women hater who had a track record of more than three decades of playing Russian roulette with women when intoxicated.

In summation, a prosecutor said, “By the grace of God, five other women got the empty chamber and lived to tell. Lena just happened to be the sixth woman who got the bullet.”

Spector’s lawyers argued that Clarkson had killed herself. The defense claimed that Clarkson was depressed about her unsuccessful career and money problems leading to her shooting herself after drinking with Spector.

If you have been accused of a violent crime in California, you need to hire an aggressive andLos Angeles violent crime defense attorney. At the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf, their criminal defense lawyers have the experience and knowledge that are required to defend even the most challenging violent crime case. Do not attempt to represent yourself, there is just too much at risk! Please call [number type=”1″] for a free consultation.

Drug Crimes

If you have been charged in California with an offense under the Controlled Substance Act, do not attempt to face the court system without representation from a Los Angeles drug offense attorney who has experience in successfully defending clients charged with drug crimes.

Drunk Driving

California DUI laws are becoming stricter with each passing year. California especially has adopted a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level (BAC) exceeding 0.08 percent or with an open container in tow.

Registered Sex Offender Arrested for Allegedly Videotaping Girl in Valencia

A 69-year-old registered sex offender has been arrested for allegedly videotaping girls in Los Angeles County. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the arrest was made after detectives received a report of the man taping a girl at a Target store on Magic Mountain Parkway in Valencia. During a search of his home, officials allegedly found tapes that he made at the Santa Monica Pier, Real Life Church, Target, and Walmart. According to an online search, he is a registered offender for a number of convictions including lewd or lascivious acts with a child less than 14 years of age by force of fear.

Sex offenders have their personal information posted online. They have to register with their local law enforcement on a regular basis. The very places in which they are allowed to live and work are restricted by the terms of their probation. Offenders in Los Angeles are often scrutinized and vilified by their neighbors and by the authorities.

Driver Charged with DUI Following Los Angeles Pileup

A 54-year-old man faces four felony counts of DUI causing injury after being involved in a wrong-way accident. According to a KABC news report, the alleged DUI accident occurred on the northbound lanes of the 14 Freeway in the Antelope Valley during rush hour traffic. Officials say the man was driving the wrong way on the highway when he caused a collision that involved eight vehicles and four serious injuries. It is unclear from the report what his blood alcohol content (BAC) level was at the time of the crash. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.

The penalties for driving while impaired are significant in Los Angeles. Even first-time offenders can face a jail sentence as well as fines, fees, suspensions, treatment program requirements, and the installation of an ignition interlock device. These penalties increase substantially if the DUI incident resulted in a serious injury.

Challenging Breath Tests after a DUI Arrest

Breath tests are among several tools used by the police to determine if drivers are under the influence of alcohol. An important part of fighting DUI (driving under the influence) charges in Los Angeles is breaking down all of the evidence against the defendant. Depending on the circumstances of the arrest, challenging the results of the breath test may be an important part of fighting the charges. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to challenge breath tests.

One of the most effective ways to fight the results of a breath test is to prove that the breath machine was not working properly. The most important question to ask is whether the machine was calibrated properly and when that was last done. A skilled DUI criminal defense attorney will review the device’s calibration records.

Rapper 2 Chainz Arrested for Drug Possession

Tauheed Epps, better known as 2 Chainz, was arrested on possession charges after drugs were allegedly found in his checked luggage. According to a news report in Entertainment Weekly, he was escorted off a plane at Los Angeles International Airport. Officials allegedly found marijuana and Promethazine, which is a key ingredient in the street drug concoctions “lean” or “sizzurp.” This is the rapper’s second drug-related arrest this year. He was arrested back in February for marijuana possession after the Maryland State Police pulled over his van.

Marijuana is widely considered a relatively harmless drug that has a number of medical uses. However, California law enforcement officers and prosecutors continue to prosecute individuals found in possession of marijuana to the full extent of the law. It is important for anyone facing marijuana charges in California to take their situation seriously because penalties for a conviction can be severe.

LAPD Captain Loses Position as Commander after DUI Arrest

A 25-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department has been removed from his position as commander after being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. According to an ABC News report, the Los Angeles Police Captain was arrested on the 101 Freeway in Sherman Oaks. The Rampart commander was not taken to jail, but his vehicle was impounded before he was released to a friend or family member. His position has been reassigned. An investigation is imminent.

It is common for individuals arrested for drunk driving to face social and professional consequences in addition to criminal penalties. Individuals who drive for a living, or who are in a position of authority, have been known to lose their jobs after being arrested long before they get an opportunity to fight the charges in court. This is why it is important to proactively fight the charges by contacting an experienced DUI criminal defense attorney as soon as possible…

ACLU Exposes Racial Profiling During Marijuana Arrests

marijuana-smoking_3644048According to national findings reported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), African Americans are four times more likely than Caucasians to face charges for marijuana use. The ACLU believes that this is proof of racial profiling because African Americans and Caucasians use marijuana about equally. As reported by The Los Angeles Times, the study took into account California arrest records from 2001 through 2010. The report did not consider arrests after California decriminalized possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana.

Unfortunately, the arrest rate for African Americans appears to be on the rise. While the marijuana arrest rates for Caucasians have remained consistent, the arrest rate for African Americans rose from 537 cases per 100,000 people in the year 2001 to 716 per 100,000 in 2010. With regard to California, African Americans make up just over 16 percent of marijuana arrests while only making up only 6.7 percent of the population…

Long Beach Men Arrested for Felony Sex Trafficking

Two Long Beach men, aged 24 and 22, have been arrested for holding two women and a 16-year-old girl captive while allegedly forcing them to work as prostitutes. The Press Telegram states that the men were arrested during a traffic stop near The Pike at Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. The arrests occurred after the women escaped and notified the authorities of their situation. The teenager was rescued from an Inglewood motel. One of the men faces nine felony counts while the other faces two. The charges include human trafficking, mayhem, kidnapping, pimping, pandering, and other sex crime charges.

According to the California State Attorney General, sex trafficking is the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise. By some estimates, human trafficking is a $32 billion-a-year business. The United States is one of the top destinations for trafficking, and California’s Attorney General has stated that the state is “one of the nation’s top four destination states for trafficking human beings.”

Human trafficking involves the unlawful trade of people who are forced to work as prostitutes or laborers. Some trafficking victims are U.S. citizens, but the majority of trafficking victims are brought in from Mexico, Asia, and other countries.