San Diego Criminal Lawyer Blog

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 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.

Comic Con has wowed comic book fans for four decades. Over the past ten years, however, the niche festival has blossomed into the entertainment industry’s biggest trade show. 2009’s Comic Con -- held at the San Diego Civic Center -- attracted literally tens of thousands of comic book, gamer, animation, and feature film buffs. Fortunately, crime statistics for this year’s Con were down significantly from Con 2008.

Major attractions this year included a Tim Burton inspired Alice in Wonderland exhibit, a booth for Richard Kelly’s much-anticipated new film, The Box. (Kelly directed the critical darling, Donnie Darko, which inspired a generation of young filmmakers to reach for new heights of eccentricity.) In addition, James Cameron floored the crowd with stupendous teasers for his upcoming 3D movie, Avatar. Sci-Fi fans also mooned over previews for Tron: Legacy, the sequel to the 1984 sci-fi classic starring Jeff Bridges.

Despite the influx of literally tens of thousands of tourists, the San Diego Police Department managed to contain the crowds effectively, and no serious crimes (e.g. manslaughter, assault, and other violent crimes) were reported. Officers did report some instances of petty theft, vandalism, and a handful of street altercations. But for the most part, the crowd was well behaved. Attendance was down from 2008, perhaps due to the fact that the recession forced would-be conventioneers to spend their money on more practical pursuits, like paying the gas bill.

If you were charged with a San Diego crime at the 2009 Comic Con, or you need help with some other San Diego criminal defense matter, turn to Attorney Stephen Brodsky. Since 1988, Attorney Brodsky’s practice has served hundreds of San Diegans. Attorney Brodsky leverages a deep knowledge of San Diego defense law, an agile and intuitive way with legal argumentation, and a results-focused attitude to deliver for his clients. Find out more about how the law offices of Attorney Stephen Brodsky can go to work on your San Diego criminal defense today by connecting with someone at 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE or by exploring www.criminalattorneysandiego.com.

If you’ve been charged with a crime in San Diego -- be it a minor misdemeanor for violating terms of a probation, or a serious felony, like a felony DUI or a charge of manslaughter or assault and battery -- you may be feeling a range of conflicting and powerful emotions. It's important to understand that you’re not the first person to experience similar reactions to being charged with a San Diego crime. One of the keys to moving beyond feelings of vulnerability, weakness, anger, regret, and panic is to acknowledge the reality of your emotions -- this way, emotions won't get in the way of constructing your best San Diego crime defense. To that end, let's examine some emotions commonly felt by the criminally accused:

1. Guilt/remorse -- whether you injured someone in a motor vehicle crash, hurt someone in a bar brawl, or simply embarrassed yourself in front of your friends or coworkers, you may feel a strong component of remorse. In some cases, this remorse may be merited; in other cases, it may be an exaggerated emotional response. A sound and comprehensive defense strategy and treatment program can help you confront these feelings and take action on them in a constructive way. For instance, by making amends to a victim or his or her family, you may help mitigate your sentence.

2. Panic/anxiety -- the fear of the unknown is powerful. Although you’ve been charged with a crime, you don’t know exactly how your defense will play out in a court of law. Will you be able to make a plea arrangement with the prosecution? Will your case go to trial? How soon will it take to resolve the matter -- two weeks or three years? With all these unknowns at play, it's unsurprising that many defendants experience profound anxiety over their futures. A good remedy to that is to connect with a solid San Diego criminal defense attorney to plan a strategy for your defense. Once you have a plan in mind, you may find some of your anxiety and panic falling away.

3. Numbness -- accused criminal defendants often report feeling less emotion than expected. “Going numb” may indicate that you have not fully processed the event, the arrest, or other matters relating to the crime or alleged crime. The human psyche tends to be both fragile and self-protecting. For instance, in many cases, emotional numbness protects your psyche from confronting the harsh realities of the situation. One potential solution is to enter therapy as quickly as possible. This can help not only with your legal defense but also with your coping and rehabilitation strategies.

For more help about how to handle your San Diego criminal defense matter, connect with the Law Offices of Attorney Stephen R. Brodsky ASAP. Attorney Brodsky can provide a free, no obligation consultation to you and advise you about your options. Attorney Brodsky has tremendous qualifications, and he’s represented a wide variety of defendants in his more than 18 years of practicing law. Book your appointment now by phoning 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE or by emailing the firm via 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.

Riverside police arrested seven men on suspicion of solicitation during an undercover sting, according to this news report. The men reportedly approached undercover police officers who were in the guise of prostitutes. Police conducted the sting after residents and business owners in the University Avenue corridor complained of prostitution activity in that area.

Police impounded the suspects’ vehicles. One of suspects was also arrested on suspicion of driving without a license and another was booked on suspicion of attempted robbery after he allegedly threatened an undercover officer.

Prostitution or solicitation crimes are usually misdemeanors. These types of sting operations are a concerted effort on the part of police departments that deploy female officers to attract the attention of unwary male motorists driving by an area where there is a high incidence of prostitution. Once these undercover officers lure a man and get them to agree to a sex act for money, they would direct them to a location, typically a hotel parking lot where the man would be placed under arrest for solicitation.

An experienced San Diego prostitution defense lawyer will be able to evaluate your interaction with the undercover female decoy and determine if an entrapment defense can be a successful defense for you. If you have been charged with prostitution or solicitation, please call the Law Office of Stephen Brodsky for a free and completely confidential consultation. Whether you decide to enter a plea or fight your charges, we will remain on your side and respect your decisions.

A father and son got arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public after they allegedly got into a scuffle with a PGA Tour caddie at the US Open in San Diego even as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Adam Scott were playing their final hole of the tournament, according to this news report. San Diego police officials said Thomas W. Campbell, 62 and his son Thomas Campbell, 38, were heckling some people, which led to their exchange with Tony Navarro.

Police said none of the spectators was hurt in the brief altercation. However, two female police officers who tried to subdue the younger Campbell suffered minor injuries when resisting the police, the article said. Navarro was not arrested, but he was questioned by police.

A disturbance or drunk in public charge is in most cases, a misdemeanor, which means it is a lesser charge than a felony. However, it does not mean there are no consequences. A misdemeanor could go on your record. You could face probation, fines and penalties. If it is a first-time offense, there is a good chance that an experienced San Diego criminal defense attorney could help you clear your name.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, contact the Law Offices of Stephen Brodsky for a free consultation. We will help you analyze your legal options and get you the help you need.