Menu

Month: July 2013

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested For Rape And Other Charges

Posted on by admin

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who worked patrol out of the Palmdale station is being accused of 11 felony charges including sexual penetration under the color of authority, raper under fear of duress and soliciting a bribe from alleged victims.  Deputy Jose Sanchez, who was a seven year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, was taken into custody at his home.

The arrest was the culmination of a six-month investigation into a 2010 incident where a tip from an informant lead to this case being turned over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in early 2011.  Sanchez had been relieved of duty with pay after the 2010 incident and without pay starting this past Monday when he was arrested.

Sanchez is currently being held at LA County’s Men’s Central Jail on $1.45 million bail and set to appear at CCB this week.

A lot of the facts aren’t yet too clear on this case, but it appears as if Deputy Sanchez was using the authority of being a Sheriff’s Deputy to have sexual relations with people and, apparently, against their will.  Thus, Sanchez is facing up to life in prison if convicted of these offenses.

Being charged with rape or any sex crime is a very serious offense and something that can either take away or diminish your freedom for a long time.  Sex crimes are crimes that the District Attorney’s Office takes very seriously and are crimes which require aggressive and zealous advocacy by a criminal defense attorney.

If you have been charged with rape or any other sex crime in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Airport Court or Pasadena and are wondering what the next step is, call attorney Ross Erlich for a free consultation and to know what your rights are.

Hit-And-Run Suspect Held After Injuring Mother And Toddler

Posted on by admin

A 70-year-old man is in custody after police say he failed to stop his car after hitting a woman and her toddler with his SUV in the North San Fernando Valley last week.

Witnesses at the scene told police officers that the toy car the toddler was in was pushed by the man’s car for approximately one block before bystanders flagged down and stopped the driver.

The man was driving his car without a license and was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run, a violation of California Vehicle Code section 20001.

Witnesses at the scene also told officers that it appeared the man was unaware that he was pushing the toy car with the toddler inside of it and that he only drove approximately one block.

California Vehicle Code section 20001, more commonly known as felony hit and run, is a “wobbler” in the state of California.  This means the prosecutor can charge this crime as either a felony or a misdemeanor, usually depending on the facts of the case and the suspect’s prior criminal record.

If the hit and run is charged as a misdemeanor, the defendant is looking at a maximum of 1 year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine.  If the accident resulted in death or some other serious injury, jail time is usually always sought.

If the hit and run is charged as a felony, the defendant is looking at a fine between $1,000 and $10,000 and between 16 months to 3 years in state prison.  If there was death or serious injury, typically the state prison commitment goes up to between 2 to 4 years.

If you have been in an accident in California, you are required by state law to stop your car, identify yourself and provide your license, insurance, registration or any other relevant documents to the other driver.

If you have been arrested for, or charged with, a hit and run in the Los Angeles area, it is important to contact an attorneybefore making ANY statements to law enforcement.  After years of experience handling hit and run cases, I have only seen these statement come back to hurt people’s cases.  Contacting an attorney early on in the process can help facilitate a civil compromise or other possible resolution to your case which can avoid a conviction on your record and points on your license.

If you have been involved in a hit and run in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Burbank or any other part of Los Angeles County, contact attorney Ross Erlich today for a free consultation.

Kidnapping And Rape Suspect Charged With 14 Felonies

Posted on by admin

An 18 year old Lancaster man was charged today in the Van Nuys court with 14 felonies, including forcible rape and kidnapping, stemming from his July 4 attack on a worker at the Westfield shopping mall in Canoga Park.

The alleged attack happened when the man held the victim at knifepoint when she returned to her car in the parking lot.  He then sexually assaulted and robbed her.

The man now faces counts of rape, identity theft, kidnapping, second-degree robbery, sexual penetration by foreign object, forcible oral copulation, sodomy by use of force and second-degree commercial burglary.  He faces a maximum of life in prison.

Being  charged with kidnapping or a sex crime is about as serious as it gets in Los Angeles County.  The District Attorney’s Office takes these crimes, and protecting the victims, very seriously.  Kidnapping charges can lead to long prison sentences, especially if committed along with other serious crimes, and sex offenses can lead to possible lifetime sex offender registration.  There are many things a good criminal defense attorney should consider when representing someone faced with these types of charges.  Sometimes it is not just about keeping someone out of jail, but also about minimizing the negative impact on that person’s life down the line.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a sex crime, kidnapping, identity theft or burglary in Downtown Los Angeles, CCB, Airport Court, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills or anywhere in Central Los Angeles, contact attorney Ross Erlich today.

Miranda Warnings Must Be Given In Correct Spanish

Posted on by admin

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided on Monday that a district court judge erred by admitting comments made by a suspect after he was given his Miranda warnings in English and “poor” Spanish.

The Circuit Court ruled that a Miranda warning given in English and Spanish to a Spanish-speaking suspect is insufficient if a police officer’s translation fails to convey the true meaning of the arrested person’s rights.

As you may have heard on television of the movies, a Miranda warning is your right to remain silent, the fact that anything you say may be used against you in court, your right to an attorney before speaking to the police and if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you before you are questioned by police.

This issue arose when a detective used the word “libre,” meaning “without cost,” when giving the Miranda warning to a Spanish-speaking suspect.  Expert witnesses testified that this was an incorrect translation.  They testified that “libre” instead means free as in “being available or at liberty to do something,” and not as in free of cost.

If you have been stopped by law enforcement and are being questioned, remember that you have a Constitutionally-protected right to remain silent, not answer any questions and to be able to consult with your attorney before answering any questions.  If you cannot afford an attorney, you will be able to speak to a public defender when you are first brought before a judge.  Also remember this; it is never a good idea to answer questions without an attorney present or to think you can talk your way out of something.  This usually only provides the prosecutor with incriminating statements to be used at you at your criminal court case.

If you have been arrested or contacted by police in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Pasadena, Downtown Los Angeles or Santa Monica, contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible.

Former Dodger Sentenced To Jail For Domestic Violence

Posted on by admin

Milton Bradley, the former Dodger outfielder who has had many behavior-related issues on and off the field, was sentenced last Tuesday to 2.5 years in Los Angeles County Jail and 5 years of probation.  The sentence came after Bradley was convicted last month by a jury for kicking his wife and attempting to choke her.

Los Angeles Superior Court judge Thomas Rubinson handed down the sentence, which also includes 400 hours of community service and the 52 week domestic violence and anger management class.

Last month a jury found Bradley guilty of, among other charges, four misdemeanor counts of spousal battery, two counts of criminal threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and brandishing a deadly weapon.  These charges all stemmed from incidents in 2011 and 2012 where Bradley threatened to beat his wife with a baseball bat, kicked and choked her inside of their home.

As is apparent from this sentence, prosecutors and judges take incidents of domestic violence and spousal battery very seriously in Los Angeles County, particularly where there are injuries, threats and real fear by the victim.  Each misdemeanor domestic battery or domestic violence conviction is punishable by up to 1 year in the Los Angeles County Jail and up to a $1,000 fine.  Furthermore, each domestic violence-related conviction typically also carries a mandatory 52-week domestic violence and anger management class and a possible prohibition on owning a firearm for 10 years under state law.

If you have been arrested for domestic violence or spousal abuse, it is important to contact attorney Ross Erlich right away to protect your rights and freedom.  There is a lot at stake when you are charged with domestic abuse and it is crucial for you to make sure your side of the story is heard.

Contact attorney Ross Erlich today for a free consultation.