Category: blog

Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a grave criminal act. It involves any action or failure to act that causes a child to become delinquent, a habitual truant, or a dependent of the court. Under Penal Code 272, law enforcement agencies can address conduct by adults that poses a threat to a child’s…

Accidents occur all the time, but when they result in the loss of someone’s life, you could face serious legal consequences, including up to life behind bars. If you are curious whether the prosecutor could charge you with “accidental homicide,” many people have the same concern, and it is a reasonable question. The answer to…

Attempted murder happens when you try to kill a person but fail. It is a serious felony, punishable by a lengthy prison sentence and a hefty fine. A conviction for attempted murder also results in life-changing consequences, mainly because it leaves you with a damaging criminal record. It is also a strike, under the Three-Strikes…

An arraignment is typically your first court appearance after an arrest, and it is the stage at which criminal charges are formally brought against you. Within hours or, at most, a couple of days, you are brought before a judge. The charges listed in the complaint or indictment are formally presented, unless counsel waives the…

When you are charged with Penal Code 211 (robbery), the legal consequences are dire. Robbery is not simply taking property that does not belong to you; it is classified as a crime against a person because it involves force or fear. When the dispatcher transmits that code, what they are telling the officers is that…

“Prank calling” refers to making a telephone call or other electronic communication to a receiver with the primary intention of causing a response by being either deceptive, humorous, or annoying. Such conduct falls under several regulatory umbrellas in California, for example, Penal Code Section 653m. The statute criminalizes communications that are meant to annoy or…

California law divides offenses into three main categories. They include infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Felonies are the most serious offenses, involving severe violations. However, most people are confused about the differences between infractions and misdemeanors. These offenses arise from everyday behavior. They can include traffic violations, disturbing the peace, or driving without a license. However,…

Trying to negotiate personal safety in California could feel like walking a legal tightrope. With one of the strictest gun laws in the state, many residents feel they have limited options for personal security. However, you do have legal defenses available. The law actually carves out specific exceptions for powerful, non-lethal tools designed to level…

Stand your ground is a law that removes your duty to retreat before using force in self-defense. Under these laws, you can use deadly force without attempting to retreat if you believe that you are in imminent danger of death or serious injury. In states with an explicit stand your ground law, a person does…

A “specific intent crime” is a criminal activity in which the prosecution must demonstrate that you committed it with the subjective intent to bring about a particular, forbidden outcome. But what does this actually mean in terms of a criminal charge? Does the prosecutor need to demonstrate that you just intended to commit the action…