Recent Blog Posts in February 2010

An Arizona man could spend the rest of his life in prison following a conviction for 11 counts of child pornography.

John Hartman is accused of possessing child pornography images on both his cell phone and his home computer. He was arrested in November 2007 after another man alerted police after finding Hartman’s cell phone. The police were able to track Hartman down and, upon searching his home computer, found more child pornography images there.

Hartman was convicted of all 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Because he faces 10 to 24 years in state prison for each count, he could be sentenced to 110 years in prison if he is ordered to serve out his sentences consecutively. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March.

Hartman’s attorney claims that someone stole her client’s phone and downloaded the pornographic images without her client’s knowledge.

The wife of an Olympic medalist accused of first-degree murder still remains in custody after a judge lowered her bail to $1 million.

Jane Laut is accused of murdering her husband, Dave Laut. Laut won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic games. Laut pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Laut initially told investigators that her husband went outside to investigate shooting sounds, and moments later she heard shots fired. Police believed Laut at first, but then was able to determine that the killing was not a random act of violence committed by intruders.

Laut’s attorney, Ron Bamieh, said his client was acting in self-defense, contradicting the comments previously made by Laut when she was first questioned about the killings. According to Bamieh, Dave Laut got drunk and threatened to kill Jane, their son, and their dogs. Dave Laut’s BAC at the time of his death was .05 percent.

Former Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach was allegedly drinking at a strip club before he crashed a city-owned vehicle.

According to Jon Diamond, the attorney representing the club, Leach drank about four glasses of Scotch whiskey while at the topless club, but appeared to be fine when he left. Diamond said he wasn’t acting drunk or disorderly while at the club.

The California Highway Patrol has video surveillance footage from the club that shows Leach leaving the club. About an hour after leaving, Leach crashed the city-owned vehicle he was driving into a fire hydrant. He then continued to drive for another three miles with a hanging fender and two blown tires.

Leach says he was disoriented from the prescription medication he is taking for a back injury and other ailments.

Leach was on medical leave at the time of the accident, but on the day of the accident he announced he was retiring for medical reasons, effective immediately.

Leach said he takes full responsibility for his actions. At this time he has not yet been charged with DUI or a related crime.

Three Washington state teenagers are facing criminal charges for “sexting,” the crime of sending, receiving, or disseminating sexually suggestive images via text message or email. If convicted of the charges, the middle school-age teenagers could be ordered to register as sex offenders for life.

The three teens were charged for sexting a nude photo a classmate around their middle school. The victim allegedly took the nude photo of herself and emailed it to her boyfriend. When she and the boyfriend broke up he supposedly texted the photo to other students.

It’s important for all teenagers and their parents to realize that sexting charges are incredibly serious. Disseminating nude images of a person under the age of 18 is considered distribution of child pornography, even if the person disseminating the images is a minor themselves. And with child pornography charges comes mandatory sentencing guidelines, which include imprisonment and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

If your son or daughter has been accused of sexting, it’s important to consult an attorney who has experience in this new area of criminal law. At Okabe & Haushalter, we focus a large majority of our practice on sex crimes defense, and have the experience, skills, and resources to provide your child with the effective and aggressive defense he or she needs. If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation with a  Los Angeles child pornography defense lawyer to discuss your child’s sexting charges,  contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7703.

A foot chase through Compton has led to the arrest of a man wanted for carjacking, evading police, and assault with a deadly weapon, among other crimes.

The incident occurred about two weeks ago after police were called to Central Avenue and Rosecrans Avenue to deal with an alleged carjacking.

When deputies arrived at the scene they were able to identify the suspect, who tried to hide behind a car. The suspect soon started firing his gun at the officers and took off running. As he was running he shot at the officers a second time.

The suspect hid inside a home, but police were able to locate him, arrest him, and bring him into custody.

Carjacking, as with almost all crimes involving the use of a weapon, is considered a felony offense in the state of California. Anyone arrested or charged with carjacking stands to face serious penalties upon conviction, including probation, large fines, prison, and the loss of the right to own a handgun in the future. When faced with charges for carjacking or any other violent crime, it’s in your best interest to consult an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter right away. An attorney at our office can immediately begin preparing a defense strategy and work toward securing a favorable resolution to your case.

For more information about the defense services offered at the firm, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today!

The charges against a Catholic priest suspected of operating an Internet child pornography ring have been dropped due to lack of evidence.

The Rev. Rafael Muñiz Lopez of St. Peter Apostle Church in Xalapa, Mexico was released from a Mexico City jail and all charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence that the priest engaged in organized crime.

Muñiz, along with his brother and five other suspects, were arrested last April after an investigation turned up an email containing several images of sex acts involving minors. In the email was a link to a web page that, according to the prosecution, contained “scenes of explicit sex between adults and girls and boys from 0 to 10 years old.”

The police were able to track the link to Luis Alejandro Vergara. After searching his Mexico City home, investigators found large quantities of child pornography. Information on his computer led to the arrest of the six other suspects, including Rev. Muñiz.

The Rev. Muñiz and his brother are the only two suspects to have been released. Vergara confessed to rape and sexual assault, and the other four men remain in police custody.

Accused of Child Pornography in Los Angeles or South Bay?

If you have been accused or arrested for child pornography it is absolutely crucial that you speak with an attorney at Okabe & Haushalter right away. As you can imagine child pornography charges can lead to numerous penalties, including large fines, restitution to the victims, probation, incarceration in state prison, and lifetime registration as a sex offender once you’re released from prison. In addition, with a child pornography conviction also comes a stigma that can be incredibly damaging to your reputation and future. When faced with these charges, nothing is more important than hiring a skilled Los Angeles child pornography defense attorney. At Okabe & Haushalter, we have considerable experience in this area of criminal law, and would be happy to meet with you to discuss your charges and determine what defense strategies can be used to help you achieve the best possible case result.

To learn more, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708!

A parolee is back in police custody after sawing off his ankle monitoring bracelet, which constitutes a parole violation.

Jonathan Schwartz allegedly sawed off the bracelet while riding on a commuter bus. Police were alerted when another passenger found the device and brought it to the Burbank police station. According to police the bracelet showed obvious signs of being cut with some type of sharp tool.

The police found Schwartz at a home in the Burbank area and brought him into custody, where he remains without bail.

Schwartz, a registered sex offender, was ordered to wear the device for past sexual assault charges and narcotics violations.

Any type of parole or probation violation can land you back in hot water. If you have recently been arrested for violating your parole or probation, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter can help. During an initial consultation we can review the facts your case to determine which defense strategies would be most effective, and then ensure they are aggressively applied to your case.

To set up a consultation with an attorney at Okabe & Haushalter please call (310) 543-7708 today!

A teenager has been arrested on murder charges for allegedly killing a gang intervention worker.

According to police, 40-year-old Ronald Barron confronted the teen as he was tagging a wall on Pico Boulevard. The teen then pulled out a gun and shot Barron.

Barron, who worked as a gang intervention worker with the Amer-I-can program, was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to witnesses, the teenager calmly walked away from the scene after shooting Barron, disappearing into a residential area. He was later apprehended by gang and homicide detectives. The suspect is not believed to be associated with any gangs, but is a known tagger. His name is not being released due to his age, which is 16.

Nothing is more serious than being charged with murder, especially murder in the first degree. If you or a family member has been arrested for murder, hiring a highly skilled criminal defense attorney is absolutely essential. At Okabe & Haushalter, we are committed to helping clients throughout Los Angeles and South Bay fight their criminal charges. Whether you are facing a simple misdemeanor or a life-changing felony, such as murder, you can trust a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter to work diligently in pursuing the best possible end result for you!

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708 to learn more about our criminal defense services.

A military soldier is facing assault and child abuse charges after police discovered that he “water boarded” his four-year-old daughter after she failed to recite her ABCs.

Joshua Tabor, who recently served 15 months in Iraq, is accused of submerging his daughter’s head into water three or four times. Water boarding is a torture technique commonly used in military interrogations.

Tabor admitted to police that he used the technique after growing frustrated that his daughter would not recite the alphabet, knowing that she was afraid of water.

Police came to the house after neighbors reported Tabor going around the neighborhood threatening to break in windows while wearing a military-type helmet. He allegedly was drunk at the time.

Police interviewed Tabor’s girlfriend, who revealed that he regularly beats his daughter.

Court documents back up the girlfriend’s claim, showing evidence of bruising on the front and back of the girl’s neck. In addition, police found the girl in the bathroom with bruises and scratch marks on her back and shoulders.

The girl has since been taken into protective custody and Tabor has booked and charged with assault in the third degree of a child. Although he was released on bail, he has been ordered to remain at the Lewis-McChord base in Tacoma, Washington.

Police take child abuse accusations extremely seriously, and will not hesitate to remove your child from your custody and place you under arrest if any evidence exists that suggest you might be guilty. When faced with child abuse charges, it's in your best interest to contact an experienced Los Angeles domestic violence defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter. With years of criminal defense experience, we have the resources, knowledge, and practice to defend your best interest and work towards reducing your charges to lesser offense or getting them dismissed completely.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708!

A former Riverside police officer has been found guilty of forced oral copulation and petty theft. He has since been sentenced to six months in prison and three years probation.

Robert A. Foreman, an eleven-year police veteran, was arrested in October 2008 and charged with forced copulation after he forced a woman to perform oral sex on him in order to avoid arrest. He was also charged with sexual battery and a second count of forced oral copulation, but the jury deadlocked on the first offense and acquitted him of the second.   

Foreman was charged with assaulting three women between February and April 2008. He has denied the allegations and insisted that his sexual relations with one of the victims, a woman identified only as Kathryn, was consensual.

Kathryn, however, testified that Foreman assured her she would not be arrested as long as she agreed to cooperate. Foreman came to Kathryn’s house in response to a domestic disturbance call. At the house police discovered drug paraphernalia and evidence of check fraud. Worried she would be arrested for violating her probation, she agreed to “cooperate” with Foreman, who later returned to the house and demanded sex.

The jury sided with Kathryn and Foreman was found guilty of forced copulation.

Another woman, identified as Tessa, claims Foreman gave her a ride to a bus station and, upon dropping her off, put his hand down her pants and tried to kiss her as she got out of the vehicle. The jury found Foreman guilty of sexual battery, but only convicted him of taking item’s from one of Tessa’s costumers. Tessa is a known drug user and sometimes works as a prostitute.

A third woman, Nadia, a known prostitute and cocaine addict, claims that Foreman drove her to an isolated area and ordered her to perform oral sex. She testified that she complied because she felt she had no choice. Forman claims his interaction with Nadia was strictly limited to gathering information about drug suppliers. The jury sided with Foreman.

The judge presiding over the case gave Foreman a 125-day credit for good time and time served, which means he could get out of jail in as early as three weeks.

The district attorney may request a re-trial of the sexual battery charge, but at this time no such request has been made.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, such as forced oral copulation, it’s imperative that you speak with a highly trained and knowledgeable defense attorney right away. At Okabe & Haushalter, you can trust your case will be aggressively defended by a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer who has extensive practice representing clients throughout Los Angeles and South Bay who have been accused of committing a sex crime.

To learn more about the defense services offered at the firm, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708.

Following accusations that she doused a bikini dancer in gasoline and then lit her on fire, a Los Angeles woman has been convicted of aggravated mayhem and torture.

Rianne Theriault-Odom faces life in prison after a Los Angeles jury found her guilty of the charges. She was also charged with attempted murder but was acquitted.

According to prosecutors Theriault-Odom and the victim, Roberta Dos Santos Busby, were feuding at a Tarzana club when Theriault-Odom set Busby on fire.

During the trial, Busby testified that she suffered burns over 40 percent of her body, had to spend five months in the hospital, and had to undergo 30 skin grafts.

Theriault-Odom claims someone else set Busby on fire.

A man suspected of molesting at least four young girls in the Westlake area was recently caught and arrested.

For more than two years police have been searching for Daniel Merino, 41. Merino was accused of approaching at least four girls, each around the age of 9 or 10, and then sexually assaulting them. According to police, all four girls were walking alone when Merino approached them. After starting up a conversation Merino would then try to lure the girls into a car or building or would sexually assault them as they were walking.

Police were able to track down Merino after video surveillance caught him trying to leave a building after attempting to molest a victim. The image was circulated and, using a high-tech license plate scanner, police were able to track Merino’s location.

Merino was arrested and charged with kidnapping for sexual assault. He is being held on $4 million bail. If he is convicted of the charges he could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, as well as be ordered to register as a sex offender, probably for the rest of his life.

Last week Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed an ordinance that will result in the closure of hundreds of medical malpractice shops throughout the city.

Mayor Villaraigosa signed the ordinance into effect after the city council approved the bill in late January.

The ordinance limits the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city to just 70, and creates a buffer zone around schools and places of worship. The ordinance says a dispensary cannot open within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, libraries, places of worship, or anywhere children are likely to congregate. It is unclear which 70 dispensaries will be allowed to remain in business and which will be forced to close or be banished to industrial areas.

Despite last week’s signing, the city cannot enforce the ordinance for at least 45 days. 

The city said it plans to seek an injunction against any dispensaries that do not comply with the ordinance.

The use and sale of medical marijuana has been a heated topic in Los Angeles County over the last few months. Late last year, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley announced he will begin cracking down on dispensaries, especially those who sell to people who don’t qualify for medical marijuana under state law. Cooley clarified that he is not against the use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes, but rather is against selling the drug.

If you have been arrested in connection with medical marijuana, you can trust a skilled  Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter to help. At Okabe & Haushalter, we understand medical marijuana is a controversial topic, and are committed to doing whatever it takes to get our clients’ charges reduced or dismissed to a lesser offense, whether that means challenging the prosecution’s evidence, negotiating for a drug diversion program, or battling your charges in court.

To arrange a consultation to discuss your charges, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708!

Rey Maualuga, a rookie linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, has pleaded guilty to  driving under the influence in a Kentucky court. Following the guilty plea, Maualuga was sentenced to two years probation and fined $350. His driver’s license was also suspended for 90 days and he received a suspended seven-day jail sentence.

Maualuga was arrested on January 29 after hitting a parking meter and two parked cars. Because he pleaded guilty to the charges, his case will not move forward to trial. 

Maualuga could face action from the National Football League, although at this time no action has been taken against him.

Following the arrest, Maualuga publicly apologized for his actions, expressing his regret for “letting everyone down and making a terrible decision to drive under the influence.” In a statement, Maualuga said he wanted to “acknowledge fault quickly and accept the consequences of my actions.”

A spokesperson for the Bengals franchise released a similar statement, saying they expect a higher standard of conduct from their players and that Maualuga is taking the appropriate steps to correct his wrongdoing.

Six sorority sisters are in deep trouble with the law after several girls claimed they were tortured during the sorority’s pledge period.  

The suspects, members of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority at Rutgers University in New Jersey, were arrested after seven “pledges” claimed they were beaten and starved for eight days. One of the victims claims she was struck 201 times between January 18 and January 25. 

The girl was in so much pain she felt the need to call her family and ask to be taken to the hospital. Police were then alerted to the situation and the six sororities sisters were arrested and taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility. Each girl’s bail was set at $1,500.

Rutgers University officials are still investigating the incident, but so far have suspended the chapter from the school. The university’s policy “strictly prohibits all forms of hazing. Under the Code of Student Conduct, a student found to have engaged in hazing may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion."

The national headquarters for Sigma Gamma Rho revoked the chapter, which means the sorority will no longer be recognized and cannot accept any new members while the investigation is on-going.

Hazing is considered more than just a silly college ritual. Hazing is a serious crime that can result in a number of criminal penalties. If you or a loved one has been charged with hazing or a violent crime in connection with hazing, it is important to consult a lawyer right away. To speak with an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter who will ensure you are aggressively defended at all stages of you case, please contact the office by calling (310) 543-7708!

A Victorville man faces felony sex crime charges after police discovered him partially naked with a 12-year-old girl.

Efrain Cruz, 26, was arrested on Sunday after police spotted his vehicle on the side of the road and found him inside with the girl, who was also partially undressed. The officers said they noticed the vehicle after seeing a two-year-old boy in the back seat of the car.

Cruz and the girl, whose name has not been released, were in the front seat with the same articles of clothing removed.

Cruz has since been arrested on suspicion of sex crimes with a child.

Cruz was introduced to the girl when her mother began dating his stepfather.  According to police he has been picking up the girl from school and visiting her on a regular basis. The girl’s mother had no idea her daughter and Cruz were engaged in any type of sexual contact.

A registered sex offender is back in court again after soliciting oral sex from a 12-year-old girl.

According to police, the girl’s mother said 41-year-old Marco Julio Gonzalez offered her daughter $1,000 for oral sex last year, and ever since neighbors have been keeping an eye out for him.

When Gonzalez returned to the housing project where the girl lives last week, a resident recognized his vehicle and wrote down the license plate number.

Gonzales was eventually arrested and charged with soliciting sex from a minor. He was released on $40,000 bond the same day he was taken into custody.

Gonzales’ previous conviction was for indecent exposure.

Tinsel Town’s newest resident to join the DUI club is "Heroes" star Adrian Pasdar.

Pasdar was arrested on suspicion of DUI last week after police spotted him veering across multiple lanes on the 405 Freeway driving close to 95 miles per hour.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Pasdar was pulled over around 3 a.m. on Jan. 27 after officers noticed him speeding down the freeway and straddling two lanes.  

The CHP’s report said the scent of alcohol could be detected in the vehicle. A  field sobriety test was given and Pasdar was arrested and taken to county jail. He was later released after posting $15,000 bail.

A court appearance has been scheduled for February 24.

Pasdar, who plays Nathan Petrelli on “Heroes”, is married to Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines.

A 14-year-old Colorado boy is being tried as an adult for the murder of his parents.

John Caudle admitted to authorities that he killed his mother and stepfather because he didn’t want to do his chores.

According to police, Caudle took two .22 caliber pistols from his parents’ gun safe and fatally shot his mother after they got into an argument over taking out the trash. He then hid in the laundry room until his stepfather walked by. That’s when he shot and killed him.

Shortly after killing his parents Caudle proceeded to play on a computer and watch movies. He even went to school the next morning before trying to flee in the family’s truck.

Authorities have chosen to charge Caudle as an adult. Because he is technically a minor, they could have tried him in juvenile court. When minors are tried as adults it is usually because they not only committed a heinous crime, but also because they fully understood the consequences of their actions at the time the crime took place.  

Caudle faces two counts of first-degree murder. Because he is being tried as an adult he could be sentenced to a lifetime in prison if he is found guilty.