Cannabis is still strictly regulated in California
California law and societal attitudes about drugs have changed in recent years, but drugs are still strictly controlled under state law. If you have been accused of drug-related crimes, the exact charges against you will depend on the exact circumstances of your case. The type of drug, the quantity of the drugs and many other factors can make the difference between misdemeanor charges and serious felonies.
Different drug classes and consequences
Like federal law, California law classifies drugs into schedules, with Schedule I drugs the most heavily regulated. Schedule I drugs include substances such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Charges …
Five ways to defend against fraud and embezzlement allegations
Allegations of embezzlement or financial fraud can threaten to ruin your future. A conviction, if one is obtained, may hit you with a significant amount of incarceration, financially ruinous fines and restitution, and damage to your reputation that can haunt you for the rest of your life. We don’t say that to scare you, but rather to let you know that the stakes are high and stress the importance of putting forth the best criminal defense possible in your case.
What are your defense options?
This is going to depend, in large part, on the facts of your case. However, …
Legal penalties for domestic violence in California
If you find yourself facing any manner of criminal charge, it can be a stressful and uncertain time. However, domestic violence charges come with a plethora of unique legal and social challenges, even if you did nothing wrong. Plus, because California law treats relationship violence differently, the law compounds the consequences for a subsequent offense.
Domestic violence in California
A lot of actions qualify as domestic violence. In California, state law defines domestic violence in terms of relationships. Spouses or former spouses, a parent of your child or anyone you are or were engaged to all qualify for domestic …
Beverly Hills MD pleads guilty to stealing nearly $38 million
Medical fraud, specifically fraud against Medicare and various insurers, may be a tempting target because the financial resources appear to be almost unlimited and because the enormous bureaucracy makes discovering theft and identifying the perpetrators of the fraud very difficult. However, as a recent case from Orange County demonstrates, an initial success may lead investigators to a person who is attempting to defraud the system on a large scale.
The scheme
The defendant in the case was an anesthesiologist who worked in Beverly Hills. He was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of …
California’s Clean Slate Act – AB 1076 – Expungements Without Petitions?
California has recently adopted legislation that claims to meaningfully address post-conviction relief. For those convicted of a criminal offense, having a criminal record can be an enduring punishment beyond the direct consequences of a conviction. California’s Clean Slate Act goes further than other post-conviction relief options to truly give those with a criminal record a fresh start.
Subject to budget constraints, the California Clean Slate Act provides automatic post-conviction relief to qualifying convictions.
You may qualify if:
- You are not required to register as a sex offender,
- You are not on supervision, probation, or parole,
- You are not serving
Do police have the right to search my house?
Police raids are back in the headlines again, and if there was even a doubt about who can be raided, we should all know now, it can be anyone. That was always the case, but everyone is on notice now. Do police generally have the right to search you house?
Is there a general right to search your home?
No. In the United States, our homes are protected against unreasonable searches and seizures, and no law enforcement officer has the right to access our home, generally. Of course, there are exigent circumstances that may give them the right to …
Federal embezzlement and what makes it unique
Being investigated for or accused of committing a crime can be a terrifying experience. After all, the outcome will have an enormous impact on your life, your family and your career. Embezzlement is a crime that most have heard of but they don’t necessarily understand, particularly at the federal level.
It’s a theft, but more than that
Embezzlement is basically theft. The alleged embezzler is accused of taking something that is not theirs. However, embezzlement is different because of the relationship between the person accused and the money or allegedly stolen property.
Embezzlement only happens when the alleged embezzler is …
What does it mean to have a 1275 hold placed on your case?
You have been arrested on accusations that you committed a serious financial crime and are waiting in jail to be bailed out, only to find out that there is a hold on your case preventing you or a loved one from posting bail.
You may think this is unwarranted, as you do not think you pose any threat to the public and that the crime you are accused of is not that serious. However, there are numerous factors that will be considered when bail is set and there are circumstances under which bail money will not be accepted.
What factors
…Diversion for Prostitution Charges
We’ve seen evidence of prostitution in some of the world’s oldest cultures. Prostitution has been described as one of the world’s oldest jobs. In some countries, prostitution remains a legal profession. In others, like the United States, prostitution is criminalized. Not everyone supports the criminalization of prostitution. To some, if not many, prostitution is a transaction between two consenting adults.
Nevertheless, as it stands, prostitution is illegal in California. California Penal Code section 647(b) criminals the exchange of of sexual act for compensation.
Recently, in fact, law enforcement has “rebranded” prostitution as an act of human trafficking. Or, at least, …
What is considered insider trading?
There are many different ways people use their money, but investing it can be one of the best ways to maximize it. Proper investments can result in substantial gains. However, bad investments on the other hand can cause people to lose a lot of money. It is important that people research the various investments before making them to ensure they are making the proper ones.
Some people will use every advantage they have in order to ensure that they are making the proper investments, but it is important that everyone has the same advantages. That is why insider trading is …