Menu

Month: March 2014

Santa Monica Hit-And-Run Kills Mother and Injures Daughter

Posted on by admin

A mother was killed and her child injured when a hit-and-run driver stuck the two as they were crossing Ocean Avenue at 1:00am last week.  Both victims were from out of town and the younger female was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released.

If you have been arrested, cited or sent a notice to appear regarding a hit-and-run, it is important to consult and attorney and take action on the matter early on.  It is possible for your attorney to contact the victim(s) and their insurance company, determine the extent and amount of damage to their property and injuries, and resolve the matter outside of court without you ever having criminal charges filed against you.  Even if formal criminal charges do end up being filed against you, it is still possible to resolve the matter without any conviction on your record through a civil compromise.

For detailed information on what to do if you are arrested for a hit-and-run, click on this link to read the firm’s prior blog about that topic in-depth.  Keep in mind that a conviction under this code may carry license suspension, jail time, a 2-point penalty on your driving record, fines and fees to the court and restitution to the victim(s).

If you have been arrested for a hit-and-run in North Hollywood, Hollywood, Burbank, Pasadena, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, or anywhere in Southern California, contact attorney Ross Erlich 24/7 for a free case consultation.  Taking the right action early on is always the best way to handle a hit-and-run incident and the most likely way to prevent formal criminal charges against you.

LAPD Officer Injured, Suspect Dead After Domestic Violence Calls Goes Bad

Posted on by admin

A domestic violence suspect who wounded an LAPD officer after barricading himself inside a Hollywood Hills home has died.  The man had locked himself inside of a home shortly after he fired a gun at LAPD officers responding to a domestic violence call.

If you have been arrested for, or charged with, domestic violence or domestic battery, it is important to contact an aggressive defense attorney early on in the case.  The consequences of the arrest begin immediately when a temporary criminal protective order is issued preventing the suspect from being in contact with the victim, at least until the first court date.

There are a few ways you can be charged for an altercation involving your spouse or domestic partner.  You may be charged with inflicting a corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant (can be charged without any visible injury), domestic battery (usually requires some visible injury), or even simply making criminal threats.  If there are children present, there is the possibility of having an additional charge of child endangerment.  Furthermore, in California, prosecutors may file a domestic violence case as either a felony or a misdemeanor.  This is known as a “wobbler” and the prosecutor’s decision typically involves looking at severity of injuries, nature of conduct and other factors.

A conviction under these domestic violence-related charges may include jail time, Caltrans or community service work, a mandated 52-week domestic violence program, anger management, fines and fees to the court and a period of either formal or informal probation.  It is crucial that you contact attorney Ross Erlich to fight to reduce or eliminate some or all of these penalties and avoid having a violent crime on your record.

One important thing to remember is that innocent people get wrongfully arrested.  An accuser may be making a false allegation due to jealousy or anger or may even have been the initial aggressor in the incident.  Numerous cases involve an aggressive victim who attacks the accused and the accused is simply acting in self-defense to prevent any injury or damage to their property.

If you or someone you know has been charged with inflicting a corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, domestic battery, domestic violence or child endangerment, contact attorney Ross Erlich today for a free consultation.  Ross Erlich handles domestic violence cases occurring in Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Culver City, Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Monica, and all over Southern California.

Off-Duty LAPD Officer Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI in McDonald’s Crash

Posted on by admin

An off-duty LAPD officer was arrested last week on suspicion of DUI after he allegedly crashed his car into a McDonald’s drive-through in Diamond Bar.  Apparently the officer was exiting the freeway at 1:15 a.m. when his car veered off the exit ramp, crossed over to an on-ramp and then was launched 50 feet, eventually coming to rest in the drive-through.

Firefighters had to pull the officer from his car and transport him to the hospital.  A CHP officer responded to the hospital, where the officer must have shown the objective symptoms of being under the influence, and was arrested for DUI.

Assuming this off-duty officer has not had any prior DUI convictions within the last 10 years, he is facing a possible license suspension through the DMV and possibly through the court, a longer first-offender driving under the influence class (due to the accident), possible jail or Cal Trans work, court fines and fees and possible suspension or loss of his employment.  There are additional issues to keep in mind with regards to the impact of a DUI.  Contact the office to have a consultation about your specific case.

When there is a car accident such as this while driving under the influence, prosecutors seek to impose additional penalties to, what would otherwise be, a normal first-offense DUI offer.  Accidents, injuries, open containers, and driving on a suspended license are all common issues that can elevate the normal DUI case.

If you have been involved in a DUI with an accident or injuries, it is important that you contact attorney Ross Erlich as soon as possible.  Contacting law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office and even trying to compensate victims can put you in a better place dealing with your case than if you just sat and waited.  Also keep in mind the need to contact the DMV within 10 days from the date of arrest to request a hearing and prevent an automatic suspension of your license.

If you have been arrested for a DUI anywhere in Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County or San Bernardino County, contact attorney Ross Erlich today.

Posted in DUI

New Pilot Program In San Fernando Valley Gives Tougher Penalties For Pimps, Diversion For Johns

Posted on by admin

In an effort to combat the age-old problem with prostitution and the victims associated with this conduct, the Los Angeles City Council approved a program that provides counseling and assistance to prostitutes and counseling sessions to johns, with tougher penalties sought for against pimps.

The City mentioned the problem of trying to “arrest their way out of” the prostitution problem instead of dealing with it as a quality-of-life issue and trying to address the root cause of prostitution while seeking to inform johns of the dangers.

Deputy City Attorney Richard Schmidt, who handles City Attorney matters in the Van Nuys Courthouse, agreed with this new pilot program and mentioned that the Central Division has been seeking to do this already through diversion programs for prostitution first offenders.

If you have been arrested for pimping or for solicitation of prostitution, there are many different channels of resolving this matter.  Diversion programs are available in certain situations and in certain courthouses, while tougher consequences may exist for those who have had a prior offense, who might have had narcotics in their possession or for those people who law enforcement believed to be “pimping” these women.  Depending on the circumstances and prior criminal record, Attorney Ross Erlich may be able to to get the case dismissed and/or prevent any criminal conviction from appearing on your record.

If you have been arrested or given a citation for solicitation of prostitution for the Van Nuys Courthouse, San Fernando Courthouse or East Los Angeles Courthouse, contact Attorney Ross Erlich before your first court date for a free case consultation and to know your rights.