2009 November Archive

Petty theft is considered a misdemeanor crime. However, it is still punishable by jail time and is considered a crime of “moral turpitude”. It also can be a stain on your record and may cost you further down the line, especially when trying to get a new job.

A conviction for petty theft will remain on your record and will appear when any potential employer runs a background check for potential employment. Therefore, in consideration of the potentially harsh consequences outside the criminal justice system, the first thing to do when charged with petty theft is to hire an experienced Southern California petty theft defense attorney.

If you have been charged with petty theft, contact the experienced Southern California criminal defense lawyers at Wallin and Klarich as soon as possible. Our attorneys have been defending the rights of those facing criminal charges in California for over 30 years, providing us with the resources and knowledge to obtain a successful outcome in any criminal case. Call Wallin and Klarich today at 1-888-749-0034 for a case evaluation.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich announced yesterday that several medical marijuana dispensaries are operating illegally throughout Los Angeles County and that their offices will begin to crack down on them immediately. Both assert that the dispensaries are violating California law simply by selling marijuana.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys office is currently investigating about a dozen dispensaries in Los Angeles County and criminal charges could be filed against their owners shortly. However, there are currently hundreds more of these dispensaries throughout Los Angeles County, of which could also be targeted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office as well as the Los Angeles City Attorneys office.

It will definitely be interesting to see how this clash between the dispensaries and the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office as well as the Los Angeles City Attorneys office plays out over the upcoming months. Wallin and Klarich will continue to monitor this issue very closely over the next few months.

Call the skilled Los Angeles drug crime defense lawyers at Wallin and Klarich today to see how this or any other criminal matter could potentially impact you, your loved ones, or your friends. Wallin and Klarich has been in the business of helping people with their criminal matters in their time of need for over 30 years and we would like to help you with yours. Contact us today at 1-888-749-0034 or www.wklaw.com for a consultation of your case. We can help you.

Persons Arrested by Him May Have Their Criminal Cases Reviewed for Possible Dismissal

Moreno Valley police arrested an off-duty Riverside, CA police officer in October on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, among other charges. The Press-Enterprise reported that the two cities are investigating whether David Ray Reeves, Jr., 28, of Moreno Valley may have been involved in a string of other robberies, Moreno Valley police sergeant Jaime Briones said. Reeves, a seven-year police veteran of the Riverside Police Department, allegedly held an Auto-Zone customer who was working on his car outside the store at gunpoint then entered the store and ordered employees to empty the safe. Employees overpowered the renegade cop, causing minor facial injuries, and subdued him until police arrived and took him into custody.

Upon his arrest, Reeves was also found to be in possession of a stolen, illegal assault rifle not related to his police duties, Briones said. Reeves is currently being held on $250,000 bail and his employment with the Riverside Police Department was terminated the day after his arrest.

How ironic it is that this police officer finds himself in the same position as many of the people he has arrested over the past seven years—he’s looking for an experienced Riverside criminal defense attorney to help him avoid a lengthy prison sentence. It is critical for any person who was arrested by this officer to contact our office so we can determine if this officer’s recent arrest can change the outcome of their criminal case.

It is important to contact a criminal defense attorney who would pursue every avenue of defense for your case. If you or someone you love has been accused of a crime in California, contact the experienced Southern California criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich today at 1-888-749-0034 or www.wklaw.com for a consultation of your case. We can help you.

We have many choices in life but when it comes to a person’s involvement in a criminal defense, divorce, custody or child support matter, the choice you make about your legal representation can be the difference in winning and losing your case. Hiring an experienced San Bernardino law firm, such as the Law Offices of Wallin & Klarich, can provide you the valuable advantage you need to win your case.

The first thing you should do is come into the law offices of Wallin and Klarich to obtain a consultation and know what your rights are, what your options may be, and an approach and strategy that is best in your particular case. Sometimes people believe they can save a little money by attempting to work with a “paralegal service” to assist them with their paperwork or their legal matter. Unfortunately, all too often, we see people who represent themselves in court and then come to our law firm to try to “fix the mess” that has been caused by them not hiring a lawyer in the first place. A paralegal service is not legally authorized to go to court and they do not have legal degrees. They are not legally allowed to provide you legal advise.

Going into court can be a very stressful experience. We often tell people, going into court to represent yourself without retaining a lawyer is like trying to do surgery on yourself. You would likely not be able to survive a surgery if you tried to perform it upon yourself. In the same way, you likely will not be able to win your case without the assistance of an experienced lawyer fighting for you. When facing a legal battle or issue, do it right the first time and hire the experienced Law Firm of Wallin & Klarich. Hiring the right and experienced Law firm the first time can prevent you from unnecessary stress, anxiety and apprehension when involved in a legal matter.

It is important to contact a law firm that can provide you the best defense for your case. If you or someone you love has been accused of a crime in California, contact the experienced Southern California criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich today at 1-888-749-0034 or www.wklaw.com for a consultation of your case. We can help you.

A defendant in California was convicted of several crimes in state court. The judge in that case made factual findings, and increased the statutory maximum penalty. The United States Supreme Court has previously held that any fact, other than a prior conviction that increases the penalty for a crime, must be charged, determined by a jury, and proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The state court judge determined that the defendant was on probation at the time the crimes occurred, and as such he increased the penalty handed to the defendant. The Federal court ruled that although a defendant’s probationary status does not fall within the prior conviction exception to the general rule that a sentencing judge may not make factual findings that increase the statutory maximum criminal penalty, a state court’s interpretation to the contrary was not improper.

If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime, it is imperative that you hire an aggressive, experienced criminal defense firm. Hiring an experienced Southern California criminal defense law firm can greatly increase your chances of keeping your freedom, and ensuring that you receive the lowest possible sentence. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been helping people for over 30 years.

Please feel free to contact Wallin & Klarich to discuss your case. You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-749-0034 or go to our website at wklaw.com for more information.

In California, an assault/battery is committed when one person does either of the following:

1. Tries to or does physically strike another
2. Acts in a threatening manner to put another in fear of immediate harm.

Also the law in California declares that a more serious or “aggravated” assault/battery occurs when one does either of the following:

1. Tries to or does cause severe injury to another
2. Causes injury through use of a deadly weapon

Historically, laws treated the threat of physical injury as “assault”, and the completed act of physical contact or offensive touching as “battery,” but many states, including California, no longer differentiate between the two.

If you have been charged with assault and battery, contact the experienced Southern California criminal defense lawyers at Wallin and Klarich as soon as possible. Our attorneys have been defending the rights of those facing criminal charges in California for over 30 years, providing us with the resources and knowledge to obtain a successful outcome in any criminal case. Call Wallin and Klarich today at 888-749-0034 for a case evaluation.

A suspect was arrested in Long Beach on suspicion of raping an 83 year-old woman in Norwalk. Even more shocking than the age of the alleged victim is that she is also legally blind. Prior to the suspect’s arrest on suspicion of rape, a DNA sample had been taken from him following an unrelated domestic violence arrest. Los Angeles County Sheriff detectives then realized that the DNA sample matched the DNA of the suspect in the Norwalk rape case.

In the Norwalk rape case, the suspect is alleged to have broken into the 83 year-old woman’s condominium on May 1 of this year. The suspect is alleged to then have robbed the woman as well as sexually assault her. Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies had few leads until the DNA match.

If you have a question about this case or any other criminal matter, call Wallin and Klarich today. Wallin and Klarich has been in the business of vigorously representing clients with their criminal matters in their time of need for over 30 years and we would like to help you with yours. We have experienced, knowledgeable Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys available to answer your calls 7 days a week, 24 hour a day. Contact us today at 1-888-749-0034 or www.wklaw.com for a consultation of your case. We can help you.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the defending champions in the National Football League. Unfortunately, it appears that their kicker has not stopped celebrating the victory. Kicker Jeff Reed was cited by law enforcement recently for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside a Cleveland area bar. The incident occurred a few blocks from where the Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns earlier in the day.

Reed helped the Steelers defeat the Browns by kicking two field goals in the victory. Police have not released the circumstances surrounding the incident, but say that he will be receiving a summons to appear in court for the episode.

California Penal Code Section 647(f), states any person “who is found in any public place under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, controlled substance, in a condition that he or she is unable to exercise care for his or her own safety or the safety of others, or interferes with or obstructs or prevents the free use of any street, sidewalk, or other public way”, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime, it is imperative that you hire an aggressive, experienced criminal defense firm. Hiring an experienced CA criminal defense law firm can greatly increase your chances of keeping your freedom, and ensuring you receive the lowest possible sentence. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been helping people for over 30 years.

Please feel free to contact Wallin & Klarich to discuss your case. You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-280-6839 or go to our website at wklaw.com for more information.

If you are facing the loss of your drivers license, you need an aggressive attorney at Wallin & Klarich. There are many reasons the California DMV can take your privilege to drive away. It could be for a DUI, or perhaps for being a negligent operator (too many points) or even for a medical reason. Wallin & Klarich have trained attorneys who specialize in DMV hearings. We have won many DMV hearings over the past 30 years and can certainly assist you with your DMV problems. In dealing with DMV, timing is often critical when seeking a hearing so it is important to contact an attorney as soon as you realize your privilege to drive is being suspended.

If you or a loved one is having problems with DMV, call the law offices of Wallin & Klarich. Wallin & Klarich has over 30 years of experience. Call 1-888-749-0034 to speak to one of Wallin & Klarich’s aggressive and experienced DMV attorneys in California today. Also visit us on the web at www.wklaw.com. We will be here when you call.

If a Jury Finds that the Criminal Defendant did Not Commit Murder and Robbery by Use of a Firearm, then the Criminal Defendant Can Not be Later Found Guilty of Possession of a Firearm

Recently, the California Court of Appeal held that a defendant who was found not guilty of murder, attempted robbery, kidnapping by a jury could not later be found guilty of being in possession of a firearm.

Two years ago, three men entered a home in an attempt to rob it and one of them shot and killed a man in the home. The defendant was charged with murder, attempted robbery, kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant was able to sever the firearm charge from the others and went to trial on the other charges.

The jury determined that the defendant was not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore he was not the shooter and was acquitted. However, the trial court later found that the defendant was guilty of being in possession of a firearm.

The Court of Appeal disagreed; they stated that the only issue at jury trial was the identity of the shooter and since the jury determined that the defendant was not the shooter, there is no way he can be guilty of possessing a firearm. Therefore, the Court of Appeal reversed the trial courts decision.

It is important to contact a criminal defense attorney who can provide clarity in terms of your rights under the Constitution. If you or someone you love has been accused of a crime in California, contact the skilled Southern California criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich today at 1-888-749-0034 or www.wklaw.com for a consultation of your case. We can help you.