San Diego Criminal Lawyer Blog

According to a June 19 press release, San Diego Congresswoman Susan Davis has helped to secure a guarantee $1.9 million for the City of San Diego to combat crime. The House Bill in question, HR 2847, is set to head to the Senate for review after it passed the House of Representatives by a wide margin, 259 to 157.

Representative Davis claims that the money can be used for a wide variety of San Diego crime fighting purposes. A breakdown of the monies follows:

• $350,000 earmarked for a Crime Lab Technology for the city.

• $200,000 to help the County’s DA to track gang and drug investigations and to purchase breathalyzers for police fieldwork.

• $200,000 to support a program designed to help officers in the streets coordinate anti-gang actions and to tamp down on violent crime

• $1.2 million to update data sharing systems among San Diego officers and update local, California, and Federal communication efforts.

These monies are part of a much broader Congressional package known collectively as the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, that also include funding to combat global warming and nearly $7 billion in a National Science Foundation money.

While better technologies for San Diego law enforcement agents will hopefully lead to improved coordination and a reduction in violent crime in the city, individuals arrested for crimes in Southern California may have a more difficult time exonerating themselves in the future. If you’ve been wrongly accused or incorrectly charged, you will need resources to fight back against your charges efficiently. Fortunately, you can trust the law offices of Stephen Brodsky & Associates. Attorney Brodsky boasts tremendous and varied experience with criminal defense matters in Southern California, and he understands how to negotiate with judges and prosecutors to get his clients fair and appropriate sentence reductions. To explore more about the firm’s track record history, please visit CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com. You’re also invited to set up a free consultation with attorney Brodsky at any time regarding your criminal defense matter.

San Diego’s North County Times wire services reports that, on Saturday, June 20, a man named Albert Estrada allegedly went on a bizarre spree of armed robberies in the Logan Heights area. According to San Diego Police Sgt. Ray Patrick, the police apprehended the suspect after he had wreaked havoc with a full day of criminal activity.

Mr. Estrada’s alleged first crime occurred mid-morning, when he backed a pair of men into an alleyway at gun-point and took some of their belongings, including their mobile phones. A few hours later, the alleged suspect knocked on the door of 716 Beardsley Street and held the woman who answered hostage at gun-point. The suspect then forced his way into the women’s house and held her and two other men inside at gun-point while he rifled through their things and then stole car keys from the men. The suspect absconded in a 2004 Nissan owned by one the men. The victims alerted the police, who tracked down the suspect and pulled over the Nissan. Due to the police presence, the suspect abandond the vehicle and fled on foot. But police officers caught up with him and placed him under arrest. Several victims later identified the suspect as Albert Estrada. A handgun was found on Estrada’s person, as were some of the items taken from the victims.

It’s unclear what may have motivated this robbery spree. But the law entitles individuals arrested for crimes in San Diego to a sturdy and thorough defense. If you or a family member has recently been charged with multiple counts of robbery, assault, or other violent or theft crimes, you may required immediate and effective legal assistance to avoid the most severe penalties. Trust the Law Offices of Stephen Brodsky to provide a free, confidential, and comprehensive consultation about your San Diego criminal defense matter. Learn more about attorney Brodsky’s background and excellent trial record here at CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com.

On June 22nd, R&B superstar Chris Brown arrived in Los Angeles Superior Court for a preliminary hearing regarding Brown’s widely-publicized altercation with pop-singer Rhianna prior to the Grammy Awards in February. Brown allegedly beat up the 21-year-old Rhianna while heading to a Grammy party in a rented Lamborghini. Rhianna’s brutalized image proved fodder for paparazzi and celebrity gossip purveyors like TMZ.com, US Weekly, and People Magazine.

Although the Superior Court Judge did not permit cameras in the courtroom to observe the proceedings, reporters could listen in via a closed-circuit broadcast. In preliminary hearings of this kind, prosecutors need only establish “probably cause” to get the go ahead to proceed to trial. Assuming the Brown-Rhianna matter does in fact move on to trial, the prosecution will then face a much stiffer burden of proof and will have to demonstrate Brown’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Whether you've been accused of a crime in San Diego that’s vaulted you unexpectedly into the spotlight, or you’re simply overwhelmed by the criminal charges pending against you, the law entitles you to a sound defense. Trust the Law Offices of Stephen Brodsky to provide excellent counsel and deliver results. Find out more about one of San Diego County's most highly-regarded criminal defense attorneys today at www.CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that Ron deHarte, the Executive Director of San Diego’s LGBT Pride Festival, suffered minor injuries after being attacked in Lemon Grove, while marching in a Gay Pride Parade.

According to deHarte and others, the event occurred as the victim was marching in the Equality Torch Relay – a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. All told, more than 2,000 gay activists participated in the march throughout San Diego.

DeHarte allegedly had been standing peaceably by a statue in Lemon Grove waving a rainbow colored flag when a visibly angry man approached him and demanded that deHarte and his fellow marchers leave Lemon Grove promptly. The unidentified assailant then tried to wrestle the flag away from deHarte. When deHarte resisted, the man punched him in the face and slapped him around. The entire attack lasted only about a minute and half to unfold. A local TV cameraman taped the final few seconds of the confrontation and later broadcast the footage on San Diego news stations.

Despite suffering a sore jaw, a swollen lip, and some bruising, deHarte was not seriously hurt. The suspect was later caught and arrested by police. It is unclear whether the San Diego District Attorney will press for hate crimes charges in addition to assault and battery charges. The Union Tribune reported that the assailant does have a minor criminal history, including outstanding warrants for illegal weapons possession and a restraining order violation.

Sometimes, for whatever reasons, our emotions get the best of us, and we take our aggressions out on innocent people. If you or a loved one has been arrested for assault, battery or other physical crimes, you may benefit tremendously from getting good legal counsel. The law offices of San Diego attorney Steven Brodsky may be able to help you. Connect with us here at CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com to schedule your free consultation.

Per a report from TV station KTLA, two OC citizens have been arrested and charged with 106 felony counts for a massive workers compensation scam valued at $38 million--a California state record.

The husband and wife defendants--Devon Kile and Michael Petronella--own and operate two large area roofing companies. According to allegations, the couple underreported how many people worked for them and actively discouraged injured employees from filing for workers comp. Additional counts against the couple include "filing false tax returns" and "grand theft."

An investigation of the couple's home and assets revealed a luxurious lifestyle. Officers found ½ million dollars worth of jewelry; luxury name-brand shoes, bags, and other artifacts; and a veritable convoy of top-end cars, including a Range Rover, a Bentley, and two Ferraris. Investigators also found Kile's application to be featured on the next season of "The Real Housewives of Orange County."

Petronella's attorney, Joe Angelo, stated that the couple will likely plead "not guilty" to the charges pending. The state has seized the couple's personal and business assets, so "Real Housewives" wannabe Kile will rely on a public defender provided by the state.

Meanwhile, business interests throughout the state reacted with predictable outrage to the charges. California's State Insurance Commissioner, Steve Poizner, lambasted the alleged scheme, citing the fact that insurance premiums for workers comp are already sky-high and that the couple's actions likely constituted "unfair practices" because legitimate competitors have had to pay full price for their insurance.

If you or a family member has been accused of a crime in Orange County, you may feel like the entire world--particularly the press--has turned against you. Instead of making rash and impetuous decisions which could affect your future, get council from the Law Offices of Stephen Brodsky. Peruse www.CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com today for help, or call or e-mail us for information about how to handle your criminal charges.

On Tuesday May 26, 2009, the Sheriff’s Department of San Diego County announced a sweeping new biometrics program designed to identify “removable” criminal aliens in the city’s jails. This project is a joint venture between the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Commonly known as “Secured Communities,” the program extends information-sharing capabilities among various law enforcement agencies.

The basic idea is that these agencies can now more quickly track and integrate information from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to determine whether given inmates might be “deportable.” In particular, Secured Communities focuses on preventing criminals convicted of aggressive offenses--such as assault, murder, rape, and kidnapping--from roaming free on San Diego streets.

The biometrics initiative evolved from an earlier ICE pilot project, The Criminal Alien Program, which ID’d hundreds of thousands of deportable aliens in jails across the U.S. DHS officials estimate that at least $1 billion will be spent on efforts to ID and deport removable criminal aliens… over the coming year alone!

Although officials at the DOJ and the Sheriff’s Department appear hopeful that this effort will keep dangerous criminal aliens off of San Diego’s streets, opponents have questioned whether Secured Communities violates civil liberties. Some have also argued that the program has the potential for “Big Brother”-like abuse and that biometrics analyses are not as bulletproof and accurate as proponents might have people believe.

Given San Diego’s intensified efforts to crack down on crime; if you’ve been charged with a felony or misdemeanor in CA, now, more than ever, you need an intelligent, empathetic and aggressive attorney to vouch for your rights and help you navigate the justice system. Look to Stephen Brodsky & Associates to build the smartest possible defense strategy. Find out more information at www.CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com.

On May 6, 2009, a 36-year-old California man named John Burgess pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the death of a 19-year-old pre-med student at San Diego State University named Donna Jou. Burgess--a convicted sex offender who had served jail time for failing to register as such--faces five years.

According to the defendant's admissions in court, he had met Ms. Jou after answering an advertisement she'd put up on Craigslist.com for students to tutor. On the night of June 23, 2007, he brought Ms. Jou back to his house and injected her with a mixture of cocaine and heroine known colloquially as an "eightball." The drug cocktail sadly proved lethal. The next morning, Burgess awoke to find that Ms. Jou had died during the night. Burgess then panicked and--instead of contacting the police--took Ms. Jou's body out onto his sailboat and dumped her into the Pacific Ocean.

For over a year following her death, Burgess laid low... or at least tried to. He was actually arrested in Florida in the interim for different charges. But the law finally tracked him down and arrested him on involuntary manslaughter charges (as well as on charges of providing drugs and alcohol to a minor).

Burgess's case drew national media attention and fueled a growing debate over the obligations of services like Craigslist.com to patrol their message boards for predators, pedophiles, and scam artists. In the wake of the trial, Craigslist.com has revised its guidelines. The site now requires individuals to pay to advertise in its "adult services" section, and its curators promise to vet future postings to ensure their accuracy.

California criminal cases can be complex, both legally and emotionally. If you or a family member faces criminal charges in San Diego, you need a determined, veteran attorney in your corner. Look to Stephen Brodsky and Associates. To arrange a free consultation now, go to www.CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com.

San Diego DUI lawyer, Steven Brodsky defended a 38 yo San Diego resident who was charges with a DUI. His BAC at the time was in the range of .18%. NOT GUILTY-SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT with San Diego DUI Lawyer Stephen Brodsky.

Stephen Brodsky's client was driving on PCH when an Encinitas Sheriff pulled him over for doing 40 in a 35 mile-per-hour zone. The Encinitas Deputy Sheriff stopped this individual and parked his patrol car approximately 100 yards from where Stephen Brodsky ran a string of field sobriety tests.

During the trial, Stepehen Brodsky's client said that he was missing a hundred dollars from his wallet after he was bailed out of jail. During Stepehen Brodsky's cross examination, this completely took the Encinitas Sheriff by surprise when he asked him to explain the missing hundred dollars.

The Deputy seemed visibly nervous and acted very suspiciously, and compounded with the fact that he stammered everything seemed to add up that the Sheriff may indeed of taken the funds. The jury came to a quick conclusion and only after 30 minutes of deliberation returned a not guilty verdict.

Federal officials have been making several arrests in Riverside County taking down members of the Mongol motorcycle gang, with roots in Hesperia, Corona, San Jacinto and Redlands, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents raided homes in the middle of the night and in the wee hours of the morning, ransacked homes for illegal weapons and arrested individuals who they perceived to be members of this outlaw motorcycle gang.

According to the news report, in June, Temecula police officials made several arrests claiming that the Mongol motorcycle gang caused chaos on the 15 Freeway by “pulling off stunts and closing parts of the freeway en route to a rally in San Diego. Mongol leaders in Riverside and other areas have said in the past that they have been unfairly pursued by police and federal agents for having gatherings that are perfectly legal.

Whether it’s a federal or state prosecution, if you have been accused of a weapons charge or any other federal crime, you would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable Riverside criminal defense attorney, who is well-versed in dealing with both state and federal prosecutions.

The other important issue to look at in this case would be if the federal agents who conducted these raids did so in a legal manner following procedures that are required by California law. If they have searched and seized evidence that violated the Constitutional rights of the defendants, the defense attorney can make an argument in court to prevent that evidence from being used during a trial.

Ahn Quang Ho, 54, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman at a Moreno Valley nail salon, according to this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Riverside County Sheriff’s officials have booked him on rape and sexual battery charges after a woman accused Ho of forcing himself on her while they were inside the suspect’s workplace, Creative Nails Salon on Perris Boulevard.

In the State of California, a person can be charged with rape if they had sexual intercourse with a person who could not give legal consent because they were drunk, drugged, unconscious or did not have the mental capacity to give legal consent. A person may also be charged with rape if they physically force another person to have sex with them.

An important factor in a sexual assault or rape case involving two adults is whether the accused rapist knows the victim. In such cases, the issue of whether the victim agreed to have sex with the accused rapist becomes all important. Police investigators will usually question the victim about the alleged rape. The Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART) will also give the alleged victim a medical exam to see if there is any physical evidence of rape.

A sexual assault conviction usually results in severe punishment including a lengthy jail sentence. It is very important to have an experienced and knowledgeable Riverside rape defense attorney on your side, who will examine the evidence, conduct an independent investigation and listen to your side of the story. If you have been charged with a Riverside sex crime, please call the Law Office of Stephen R. Brodsky for a free consultation.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials served a narcotics related search warrant in Indio Hills and uncovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab on October 17, 2008, according to this news report. The search warrant was reportedly issued at 29181 Desert Charm Road, a 9-acre property, which is located in an unincorporated area of Indio Hills. Apparently, this was a large-scale operation capable of producing several pounds of methamphetamine.

Police arrested three people at that Indio Hills location: Apolinar Estrada Arellano, 51 and Ricardo Ramirez of Coachella on drug charges; and Rodrigo Dominguez Arellano, 33, of Indio Hills on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In a drug or narcotics crime charge, there are always two important factors that can determine the seriousness of your charges and also whether it will be investigated and prosecuted by state law enforcement officials or federal officials. First, it depends on the kind of drugs and the quantity of illegal drugs or narcotics that led to your arrest. The quantity makes a difference because if your arrest involves several pounds of illegal drugs, then you face the charge of possessing drugs for sale, which is an extremely serious charge. Secondly, if you already have a prior criminal record for drugs and narcotics convictions, your charges and the consequences of a conviction will be more severe.

Whatever your situation, if you have been accused of a drug crime in Riverside County, please contact Riverside drug crime attorney, Stephen R. Brodsky for a free consultation. For more than two decades, we have successfully defended hundreds of people who have been charged with committing state and federal drug or narcotics crimes. Call us today to find out how to build a winning defense.

Police in Hemet arrested two men on suspicion of possessing drugs after employees at a Target store called officials to report an attempted shoplifting incident, according to this news report. Randell McNeil, 32, was reportedly arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin, a parole violation and resisting arrest in the Target store on West Florida Avenue.

Another man, Frederick Weber was arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of methadone and released on bail. McNeil is being held without bail. Police reportedly had to use Taser to subdue McNeil because he allegedly ignored police commands and reached into a pocket where he had a knife and a “replica firearm.”

Possession of drugs is a serious crime in Riverside. If you are arrested on suspicion of a drug or narcotics crime, your case can be determined by the kind and amount of illegal drugs involved and whether you have a prior criminal record for drugs or narcotics convictions and arrests. Other convictions, probation and parole could also play a role in the nature of your charges.

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Riverside, you need a truly experienced Riverside criminal defense attorney who knows the politics and law of drug or narcotics crimes. Your defense lawyer must know how the world of drug or narcotics crime investigations works. Your attorney must know and understand how police investigators and prosecutors think when they work together as a narcotics law enforcement team.

When you retain Stephen R. Brodsky as your defense attorney, you are getting a drug crime defense attorney with a much-needed winning attitude. Our philosophy is not to give up and plead guilty to a crime you never committed in the first place. Our goal is to keep you out of jail, protect your legal rights and obtain justice for our clients. If you or someone you love has been charged with a drug crime, please call our law offices for a free consultation.