Recent Blog Posts in April 2010

A Los Angeles man called the police to report a home-invasion robbery, only to get himself arrested.

When police arrived at the man's home to investigate the robbery, they discovered the man was illegally growing pot in his home. Not only did police find a large amount of marijuana, but they also found supplies need to grow marijuana, such as lighting, hydronics, and ventilation.

The man was arrested and taken into custody.

Police believe the robbery incident was tied to the illegal narcotic activity occurring in the home. Nevertheless, police are looking for the two men who committed the robbery.

It's in your best interest to contact an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter if you've been charged for a drug offense. Los Angeles County prosecutors take drug charges very seriously, particularly crimes involving marijuana. Should you choose to work with a lawyer from Okabe & Haushalter, you can trust your rights will protected, your case will be aggressively defended, and every possible effort will be made to help you overcome your charges. 

For more information about the drug defense services offered at firm, please call (310) 543-7708 today!

Authorities have arrested a rabbi in Gilbert, Arizona accused of raping a 7-year-old girl a decade ago.

Because the alleged crime occurred in New York City, U.S. Marshals and detectives from the New York Police Department were assigned to the case. They arrested Rabbi Bryan Bramley outside Temple Beth Shalom Synagogue in Gilbert.

The victim claims she was raped while spending the night at Bramley's family home in New York when she was just 7 years old. But it wasn't until last summer when the victim, now 17, finally came forward to report the incident.

Bramley is being held in the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona pending his extradition to New York City. If convicted of the charges, Bramley could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and mandatory registration as a sex offender for life.

Aggressive Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers Serving Los Angeles

If you or a loved one has been accused of rape or statutory rape, you can trust a Los Angeles sex crimes attorney at Okabe & Haushalter to vigorously fight your charges. We understand that felony sex crimes that like statutory rape must be aggressively defended from all angles, and are committed to doing whatever is legally necessary to ensure our clients are provided with the strongest defense possible. With your rights, freedom, and reputation on the line, trust your case to a law firm that not only has a great deal of criminal defense experience, but that also has helped countless successfully overcome their charges.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case!

The man charged with stalking ESPN sports reporter Erin Andrews and shooting videos of her while she was naked has been sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison.

Michael David Barrett, 48, pleaded guilty to one federal count of interstate stalking. In addition to the 30-month prison sentence, Barrett has also been ordered to pay Andrews $7,366 in restitution and a $5,000 fine.

Barrett admitted in court that on at least three occasions he followed Andrews to the hotel she was staying out, rented the room next to her, and created peepholes so he could film her while she was naked. He shot two separate videos of Andrews, posted them online, and tried to sell them to celebrity gossip sites.

Barrett, who allegedly victimized 16 other women the same way he victimized Andrews, will begin serving his prison sentence on May 3.

Andrews was happy that Barrett received the maximum prison sentence for the crime, but hoped he would begin serving his sentence immediately. She also hoped to receive $335,000 in restitution instead of $7,366.

Experienced Criminal Defense in Los Angeles

In the wake of a criminal arrest, it's important to make every effort to ensure your rights and best interests are protected. When faced with charges for a sex crime or federal offense like interstate stalking, your first priority should be contacting an experienced criminal defense lawyer to help you fight your charges. If your case goes to trial and you're found guilty, your sentence is likely to include incarceration is state or federal prison, heavy fines, restitution to the victim, probation, and more.

At Okabe & Haushalter, we offer aggressive, dedicated, and driven representation to people throughout Los Angeles and South Bay who have been accused or charged with a crime. If you'd like to learn more about our legal services and experience, contact the office today at (310) 543-7708 to arrange a consultation with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at our firm.