San Diego Criminal Lawyer Blog

The Associated Press has reported that, on Monday, August 24, Connecticut Police arrested a man named Howard Jamison in Milford on charges that he committed a brutal murder crime in San Diego two decades ago.

The FBI allegedly used DNA evidence from the crime scene to confirm its suspicions that Jamison did in fact murder an 83-year-old California man named Ewing Scroggs back in December of 1989. The gruesome details of the San Diego murder fascinated and terrified local residents at the time. The elderly man was attacked brutally. Not only was Mr. Scroggs’ home raided, but several valuable personal items also disappeared after the murder, including a wedding band and quilt. The FBI says that Jamison was in fact in San Diego on the day Scroggs was killed in his Pacific Beach house. Jamison will be extradited to California to await trial.

Even though this San Diego murder occurred 20 years ago, Mr. Jamison can still be tried, convicted, and sentenced for the crime (if he is indeed guilty). But not all San Diego crime charges can be made to stick years after the fact. The law imposes what are known as statutes of limitation that make it difficult or even impossible for individuals to be charged with crimes in San Diego after a certain amount of time has elapsed. Thus, even if you did commit a crime and the authorities have enough evidence to convict you, if the statute of limitations has elapsed, the charges won’t stick.

Of course, defending against charges of a serious San Diego crime, such as homicide, requires careful planning and a compassionate approach. Attorney Stephen R. Brodsky, a top rated and extremely popular criminal lawyer in San Diego, can assess your case and advise you about how best to proceed. Visit www.criminalattorneysandiego.com right now to learn more about Attorney Brodsky’s practice, or call 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE immediately for a confidential, no obligation consultation.

The Orange County Register has reported that an arrest has been made in a jewel heist case that’s attracted attention from on-alert authorities and San Diego theft crime blogs.

The action began earlier in the week when three unknown suspects robbed Baca’s Jewelry store in Laguna Beach at gunpoint, stealing over $600,000 in jewelry. Local police chased three suspects to the Aliso Viejo Shopping Center but failed nab the perpetrators. By investigating the history of one of the getaway cars, a white painted Ford Fusion, the San Diego County Police managed to identify one suspect, Alonso José Lopez (31), a Vista resident who's been convicted of violent crimes in the past, including kidnapping and illegal use of a firearm.

Authorities tracked Lopez to an Oceanside home and staked him out. When police attempted to take him into custody, Lopez fled on foot into an agricultural zone, but the cops secured the perimeter and eventually made the arrest, thanks in part to the work of a search dog.

When ordinary citizens read about San Diego crimes in the newspapers or on the web, they often reflectively side with law enforcement. After all, few people crave to live in a disorderedly society, and it’s easy to “mentally convict” a suspect based on flimsy evidence and hearsay. Unfortunately, if you're a San Diego crime defendant, even though the law presumes your innocence, you may face an uphill battle in terms of getting your case heard fairly.

The good news is that you can turn to Stephen R. Brodsky for active and effective representation. Since 1988, Attorney Brodsky has successfully defended hundreds of individuals charged with a diverse assortment of crimes in San Diego. Discover how Attorney Brodsky’s methods, profound knowledge of the law, and unique rhetorical tactics can help. Head to www.criminalattorneysandiego.com now to find out more, or dial 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE.

A 33-year old man named Steven Richardson was arrested in Evanston, Illinois on August 21st in conjunction with a series of rapes and sexual assaults in San Diego and Illinois.

Prior to making the Thursday arrest, San Diego crime detectives working in conjunction with local police pooled their resources -- including fingerprint evidence, eyewitness testimony, and DNA evidence. According to the reported allegations, Richardson committed five rapes in Southern California between 2000 and 2001 as well as other assault crimes in his native Illinois. All told, he now faces 23 counts, including allegations that he is the “A.M. Rapist,” a sexual assailant who’s M.O. was to break into women’s homes early in the morning and brutalize them.

If convicted of all charges, Richardson faces up to 225 years in prison. The accused is a former Navy officer who was discharged in 2000 after acting “mentally unstable.” Navy officials at the time did not believe he was an imminent threat to anyone. Richardson has a wife and young son; as of this time, his wife has made no public comment regarding the allegations.

Sexual assault, battery, and rape are extremely serious crimes in California and can result in lengthy jail sentences and even theoretically life in prison and/or capital punishment. If you stand accused of a crime in San Diego that carries strict punishments, you need a good lawyer to represent your interests. For over 20 years, San Diego defendants have entrusted Steven R. Brodsky and his legal team. Find out what sets Attorney Brodsky apart from the pack here at www.criminalattorneysandiego.com, or get a free consultation about your case right now by calling 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE (toll free). All initial consultations are 100 percent free and confidential.

Per the AP, authorities have concluded a mass arrest of suspects in a San Diego drug crime ring that allegedly may have been responsible for at least nine area murders since 2004.

Seventeen alleged members of a Mexican drug cartel known as the Los Palillos gang (also known as the Toothpicks) were indicted by a grand jury in San Diego County on charges that included robbery, kidnapping, and murder. All told, the men face 22 counts. Nine of the accused are in custody; three may have been killed in Tijuana, Mexico; and the others named in the indictment are still at large.

Authorities have long followed the intramural gang violence between the Los Palillos and another Tijuana cartel, the Arellano Felix. The ring leader of the Los Palillos, a 30-year-old man named Jorge Lopez, allegedly blamed the Arellano Felix cartel for the death of his brother. He stands accused of systematically extorting and killing people who have associations with his enemy’s cartel.

If you or someone you know has committed a crime in San Diego that’s linked to the drug gang or cartel, you may be hesitant to admit guilt or cooperate with authorities out of fear of retribution, either from members of your own gang or from members of a rival group. Such San Diego crime defense strategies need to be handled within abundance of a care, so that more violence does not erupt and so that the true ring leaders can be brought to justice.

If you need effective, careful, and respectful legal help with your San Diego crime charges, look to Attorney Stephen Brodsky, a 20-year veteran San Diego Criminal Defense lawyer who has delivered excellent verdicts for defendants in literally hundreds of cases. At www.criminalattorneysandiego.com, you can read more about Attorney Brodsky’s philosophy and credentials. To book an appointment to discuss your matter in a confidential setting, phone 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE right away. Respect yourself and your family by getting solid legal counsel to help you.