Articles Posted in Penal-Code

The charge of Petty Theft under Penal Code Sections 484(a)-488 is a very commonly alleged crime and generally not considered serious as first time offenders generally face no jail time and small fines. However, the effect of such a conviction on professionally licensed persons like Nurses, Doctors, Lawyers and Teachers can be career ending. The reason for…

The two most frequently charged sections of the Penal Code for Child Abuse are Penal Code Section 273(a)a and Penal Code Section 273(a)b. Penal Code Section 273(a)a covers conduct by a defendant where the individual willfully causes a child great bodily harm, suffering or death. This section carries a maximum of 6 years in prison but…

Jorge OCampo, a 21-year old documented gang member has been arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run. On August 22, 2013 he allegedly ran a stop sign and hit another vehicle killing two of the occupants. It was about 11:00 am when the accident occurred and there is no evidence that alcohol…

In the state of California sex between one individual and a person who is under the age of 18 years is known as ‘Unlawful Intercourse’ under Penal Code section 261.5. This crime is commonly known as ‘statutory rape.’ Presumably, that description came about because regardless of whether the underage person gives consent, it is still…

One of the most confusing issues in criminal law concerns liability under conspiracy or aiding and abetting theory. Put succinctly, if someone helps another in the commission of the crime but does not actually commit the crime, both people are still guilty of the offense. For example, if two people agree they will work together…

Many sex crimes require lifetime registration under Penal Code Section 290. However, for some sex crime convictions like Penal Code Section 314(Indecent Exposure) a person may be relieved of the duty to register if he is granted a Certificate of Rehabilitation under Penal Code Section 4852.01. This generally requires a clean record since the conviction and…

Tensions remain as the District Attorney’s Office of Orange County deal with the incident of a homeless man being beaten by Fullerton Police. The details given by the Los Angeles Times, explain that police were responding to a possible car break-in. Police arrive and approached Kelly Thomas, a homeless man that regularly spends his time…

For three years the media reported on Casey Anthony’s allegedly being implicated in the death of her toddler daughter Caylee. Ms. Anthony waited some 30 days to report that her daughter was missing and lied repeatedly to the police about various matters concerning the case. Caylee’s body was eventually found near her grand parent’s property…

Defense attorneys have filed a motion that would limit the public statements given by the District Attorney’s office in regards to the on-going case against 11 UC Irvine students. The motion argues that chief of staff for Orange County District Attorney, Susan Kang Schroeder and Assistant D.A. Dan Wagner have made public statements that were…

Donations and tips continue to stream in the case of San Francisco Giants’ fan Bryan Stow. As his medical bills increase donations are being sent to the family by various people. There was a fundraiser at Dodger Stadium this past Monday which brought in $60,000. Former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda attended and gave $5,000 lamenting…