Recent Blog Posts in July 2010

This past Friday, a Los Angeles man that sexually assaulted his girlfriend's 11 year old daughter and then killed her was sentenced to death for the second time.  The man, 58 year old James Heard, allegedly killed the girl because she bit off part of his tongue.

In 2003, the California Supreme Court upheld Heard's conviction, but then overturned his first death sentence.  The Court found that the trial judge improperly excused a man during the jury selection process.

Heard was sentenced again in Los Angeles County Superior Court for the death of Katrina Brown, which occurred in December 1990.  At the time of the crimes, the girl's mother was at work.  Prosecutors say that the girl bit off part of Heard's tongue during the attack.  Heard then poured a bottle of alcohol down the girl's throat in hopes that she would regurgitate his tongue before he strangled her.

Contact Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer!

This week Friday, a man who pled guilty to raping and murdering a young woman will be sentenced.  The crime took place 15 years ago and the girl's body was found near Cal State San Marcos.

Now, Michael Eddie Williams will be sentenced for the first-degree murder and rape of 18 year old Shannon Conway.  Authorities say Conway was killed in July 1995 and that Williams said her death occurred during the rape.

The prosecution said that Williams, now 37 years old, will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Williams was extradited back to California from Mississippi last December after a DNA match linked him to Conway's death.  Before his extradition, Williams was serving a 40 year sentence for raping a child.

If you have been charged with felony offenses, like rape or murder, it is important that you hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.  Contact our law office to set up a consultation with an attorney.

In Manassas, a high school teacher that was accused of sexually abusing a former student is now facing charges for child pornography.  Authorities say that 50 year old Kevin Garfield Ricks has been charged with transporting and possessing child pornography.

Ricks worked as a teacher at a high school in Manassas between September 2007 and February 2010, when he was arrested.  He was accused of having sexual relations with a 16 year old student prior to his arrest.

After his arrest, authorities searched his laptop and found pornographic images of children.   Ricks is currently being held at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center and will face at a sentence of five to 30 years if he is convicted.

Charged with transporting or possessing child pornography in L.A.?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter and arrange to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.  We have experience handling all types of sex crime cases, including cases that involve child pornography.

This week in Los Angeles, charges were filed against a 23 year old unlicensed driver that was suspected of hitting an 11 year old boy and driving away from the scene of the accident.

Police formally charged Silvia Vanessa Saldana with one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.  The boy, Natanael Garcia, was killed after being hit by Saldana.

On July 15^th, Garcia was in a marked crosswalk at Hovver and 76^th Streets when Saldana hit him with her SUV.  The accident took place around 2:30 PM.  Following the collision, an anonymous tip was given to the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Street Station, which led to Saldana's arrest.

Saldana told police that she had borrowed the SUV from an in-law.  She parked the vehicle a few blocks from her home and did not tell the vehicle's owner what happened. 

If you have been charged with manslaughter, now is the time to contact our law office and discuss your situation with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

In Minnesota, it is reported that a man that was accused of sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl died in jail.  The girl reportedly used her iPod and Facebook to get help.

This week, 42 year old Raymond Ernest Cesmat was found dead in his jail cell.  Cesmat used a bed sheet to hang himself this past Tuesday.  He had been alone when the incident occurred.  Jail officials found his body during a routine check on inmates.

Prior to committing suicide, Cesmat was charged with two counts of sexual conduct in the first degree.  If he was convicted, he would have faced 30 years of jail time for each offense.

On July 10^th, the victim was alone in her house with Cesmat, her mother's former boyfriend.  Despite their break up, Cesmat continued to rent the home with the girl's mother.  The girl told police that Cesmat had taken her phone when she went to bed because he didn't want her texting all night. 

She said that Cesmat entered her room naked and tried to remove her pants.  She kicked him and screamed.  When he left her room, she used her iPod and Facebook to summon help by contacting Cesmat's daughter.

Charged with a sex crime in Los Angeles?  Contact Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

This week, the Boston Globe announced that federal investigators "have identified several dozen Pentagon officials and contractors with high-level security clearances who allegedly purchased and downloaded child pornography, including an undisclosed number who used their government computers to obtain the illegal material."

Numerous employees were under investigation for child pornography.  Detectives investigated workers from the National Security Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office.  Employees that work in these divisions deal with some of the most sensitive defense and intelligence work for the government. 

The Boston Globe said that many of the cases are numerous years old and some remain open at this time.  The newspaper wrote, "The fact that offenders include people with access to government secrets puts national security agencies 'at risk of blackmail, bribery, and threats, especially since these individuals typically have access to military installations,' according to one report by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service from late 2009."

The DCIS report was publicly released by the Department of Defense inspector general's office.

If you have been charged with child pornography, know that you are truly in for the fight of your life.  For this reason, it is imperative that you hire a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has vast experience handling sex crime cases.  Contact Okabe & Haushalter today!

In Connecticut, a 17 year old male has been arrested in connection with two sexual assault cases.  Police say that on Thursday, they arrested and charged Terrence Easton with first degree sexual assault and first degree burglary. 

Easton was arrested after police investigated two sexual assaults in the Black Rock section of the city.  During both incidents, police found that the perpetrator broke into the homes of women were alone.  One of the victims told news sources that due to the incident, she is now afraid to even go outside.

She said through the mail slot of her door, "I was in bed and I was awakened by a black man in a black ski mask with a gun."  Police say that in both cases, more charges may be filed against Easton, whose bail has been set at $1 million. 

Officers are still waiting for more laboratory work to be completed at this time.

Were you charged with a serious sex crime?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter to arrange a time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer that can help you fight your criminal charges.

This week, a second man stands accused of using social networking sites to share child pornography in western Pennsylvania. The man, 21 year old Ryan Chiles, pled guilty to exploiting children.

Chiles is of Hampton, Virginia and he entered his plea on Wednesday in federal court.  On Tuesday, 56 year old Stephen Sims pleaded guilty in the case.  He is from Palm Springs, California.

According to officials, both men will be sentenced in February.  They face a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for their offenses.

Prior to being caught, the two and others distributed thousands of explicit images and videos of children on a social networking site.  The defendants were part of a group that exchanged such material online.

Have you been charged with child pornography in Los Angeles?  If so, your best option is to consult with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has handled numerous other sex crime cases. Contact our law office today to get the legal advice and representation you deserve!

This Wednesday, a 49 year old man by the name of Blaine Kelley Beckham was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and grand theft.  Police say that the arrest occurred after Beckham crashed a stolen car on San Timoteo Road.

Prior to the crash, a green 1993 Honda Accord was reported as stolen.  When police arrived at the scene of the crash, witnesses told them that they saw a driver leave the scene earlier.  Minutes later, officers found Beckham. 

Police say that the car was reported stolen in Colorado.  However, Beckham was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. He also has a no-fugitive warrant from Los Angeles County for failure to register as a sexual offender as he was convicted of committing a lewd act with a child under 14 years of age. 

If you are in need of DUI defense in Los Angeles County, contact Okabe & Haushalter to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

After being charged with white collar crimes, a heart monitoring services company that is based in Orange County, California has agrees to pay $3.6 million.  The large payment was offered by the company to resolve allegations that it had defrauded government health care programs.

According to U.S. attorney's spokesman, Thom Mrozek, the settlement was finalized this week Thursday with National Cardio Lans LLC, the manager of the company (Adrienne Stanman) and her husband (Robert Parsons) who worked as a former manager.

In a lawsuit, the company stood accused of submitting false health care claims to Medicare, TRICARE and various other health insurance companies that were contracted through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.  The fraud allegedly took place between 1998 and 2004.

In May, the company agreed to pay the United States $2.3 million.  It also forfeited $584,000 in assets and is set to pay the remaining $720,000 by July 21^st.

Anytime people have been charged with white collar crimes in Los Angeles, they need to contact Okabe & Haushalter and set up a time to discuss their case with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

This week in Long Beach, California, a jury decided to convict a man that stood accused of repeatedly raping his niece and her two friends.  The girls were between the ages of 14 and 16 when the rape took place.

The jury presiding over the case took 90 minutes to convict the defendant, Carlos Aguirre Jr.  He was charged with 12 felony counts which included rape, possession of drugs for sale and possession of child pornography.  Now, he will face a life sentence for his crimes.

According to authorities, Aguirre (25) raped the girls between 2004 and 2006.  However, it is reported that he had started molesting his niece when she was only 5 years old.  Investigators say that they found pornographic images on Aguirre's computer, including an 18 minute video that shows the victim being raped by Aguirre and a 12 year old boy.

Have you been charged with sex crimes in Los Angeles?  If so, now is the time to contact Okabe & Haushalter and arrange a time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa - it is reported that a man by the name of Arthur Neal has been sentenced with 30 years of jail time for producing child pornography.

Back in January, 47 year old Neal pled guilty to his sex crime charges.  This week, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Linda Reade.

Neal was accused of producing pornography with a girl he babysat for multiple years.  He was sentenced to a maximum sentence based on his sadistic and masochistic conduct, his criminal history and the fact that the abuse was ongoing also enhanced his sentence.

Reade said that Neal poses a "significant danger to children".  At this time, the victim is in a residential treatment program.  She called the court to give a victim's impact statement and said that she had resorted to using drugs because she cannot cope with the sexual abuse she had to go through due to Neal.

If you are in need of sex crimes defense in Los Angeles, now is the time to contact Okabe & Haushalter and discuss your offense with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

According to KABC, a man in Simi Valley was recently arrested for committing a sex crime.  Allegedly, 32 year old Steven Soliz exposed himself to a traveler who was waiting for an Amtrak train.  The incident caused the commuter train to be delayed.

Supposedly, the woman was waiting for the northbound train when Soliz exposed himself to her.  He then proceeded to board the train and the victim called police. After officers arrived at the scene, the train was briefly delayed as they searched for Soliz.  The victim was able to identify him and he was placed under arrest.  No other witnesses came forward.

Police issued Stoliz with a misdemeanor citation for lewd conduct and he was released.

If you have been charged with a crime in Los Angeles County, now is the time to contact Okabe & Haushalter to schedule an initial case evaluation with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.

Recently, a Los Angeles County child abuse investigator was arrested for sex crimes.  The investigator, 45 year old Rod Carter, was arrested for suspicion of having sex with a 15 year old girl this past Sunday.  After paying bail, Carter was released from police custody.

According to Lt. Dan Keil, police found Carter and the victim having intercourse in a parked car.  They are still trying to determine if the girl was a prostitute or not.

At the time of the incident, the county Department of Children and Family Services say Carter was not on duty.  They also say that the 15 year old is not involved in the child welfare system. On Thursday, Carter refused to comment on the arrest.  He did say that he will be fired and has no plans to contest his termination because it is appropriate given the allegations.

Have you been charged with sex crimes involving a minor?  Now is the time to secure representation from a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.  Simply contact Okabe & Haushalter now!

In San Diego, a man from Oceanside that was investigated by authorities for illegal chemic sales on the Internet has been convicted by a federal jury.  The man, 45 year old David Grummer, was charged with 23 counts of child pornography.

According to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy, Grummer was convicted on Thursday.  His charges included 18 counts of receiving child pornography and 5 counts of possession of child pornography.  Each of his receiving child pornography counts carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and the possession of child pornography counts have a maximum of 10 years jail time.

Initially, the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency investigated Grummer for illegal sales of chlordane and DDT over the web.  However, while conducting investigations, they found pornography on Grummer's computers.  He was arrested on December 5, 1008 and will be sentenced on September 17^th.

Facing child pornography charges in Los Angeles?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter and arrange a time to meet with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.