Recent Blog Posts in May 2010

Recently, it has been reported that Charlie Sheen has a new court date.  The well-known actor is expected to appear in court for domestic violence allegations that were made by his wife, Brooke Mueller Sheen.

Not too long ago, Sheen pled not guilty to menacing, criminal mischief and assault charges that were brought against him by Brooke after the couple had a dispute.  The argument took place on Christmas Day at a vacation home the couple frequent in Aspen, Colorado.

According to the Aspen Times, Sheen's new court date has been set for June 7^th.  Before, his hearing was set for June 18^th.  Richard Cummins, Sheen's defense attorney, said that the hearing was set, "in contemplation of a final disposition being made that's acceptable to the district attorney's office."

At this time, prosecutors are refusing to comment on the domestic violence case.

Were you charged with domestic violence?  If so, contact Okabe & Haushalter to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who can help you.

In the city of Sacramento, proposed legislation that would have banned sexual offenders from using social networking sites, like Facebook, has died in an Assembly committee.

This Friday, it is reported that the Assembly Appropriations Committee held two Democratic bills on the issue due to cost concerns.  In order to be considered by the entire assembly, the legislation needed the committee's approval. 

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani told news sources that if it had passed, the legislation would have prohibited sex offenders from using the internet to communicate with minors via social networking sites.  The measure would have also cut down on sexual offenders accessing pornography, but would have cost $20 million a year to implement in California.

Have you been charged with a sex crime 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, like the lawyers at Okabe & Haushalter. Contact our law office today to get the legal advice and representation you need to fight your sex crime charges!

In Los Angeles, news sources report that a man from El Monte who had applied for a position with the California Highway Patrol has pled guilty to child pornography charges.  The man, 30 year old Christian Client Hernandez, stated on his CHP employment application that he had viewed child pornography.

Hernandez entered his plea with the federal court on Thursday.  He is currently facing up to 30 years of prison and is expected to receive sentencing on November 1, 2010.

In October 2008, Hernandez applied with the CHP to become an officer.  After viewing his application, the FBI inspected his computer and found child pornography, including explicit images of a 5 year old girl.  When entering his plea, Hernandez said that he took the illicit photos of the young girl, who was sexually abused. 

Hernandez is also facing charges of molestation.

If you have been charged with sex crimes, contact Okabe & Haushalter to arrange to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer.

In the city of Sacramento, a homebuilder recently agreed to plead guilty to white collar crime charges of mortgage fraud.  The homebuilder, 59 year old Anthony Symmes, was charged with fraud after he inflated the prices of 62 new homes as part of a large scheme that resulted in an international investigation and manhunt.

Symmes acknowledged that he sold homes to an unlicensed mortgage broker when housing prices started to drop in 2006.  All of this information was detailed in a plea agreement drafted by U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.

The mortgage broker that Symmes sold the homes to, Garret Griffith Gililland, fled the United States three years ago.  However, he was discovered and arrested in Spain after fleeing.

At this time, Symmes is waiting for his trial to commence as he has pled not guilty to 24 other charges involving the national $100 million mortgage fraud ring.

Anytime people have been charged with white collar crimes in Los Angeles, they should speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from Okabe & Haushalter as soon as possible.  Contact our law firm to learn how we can help you fight your criminal charges in the state of California.

If you're driving in Fairfield on Friday, be extra careful not to drink and drive.  The Fairfield Police Department just announced that it will conduct a DUI checkpoint from 6 till 11 PM on the 2000 block of North Texas Street.

Traffic Sergeant Mike Mitchell told news sources, ""No matter what you drive -- a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle -- if we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses."

In California, 1,029 people died last year during major DUI accidents.  This is why police officers are doing everything they can to crack down on drunk drivers. 

Remember, in the state of California, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.  It is also a criminal offense to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher.  If you are caught driving under the influence, you could face harsh penalties, like jail time and fines.

Have you been charged with DUI in Los Angeles?  If so, a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from Okabe & Haushalter can protect your rights and best interests.  Contact us today to discuss your DUI case!

This past Monday, a man in the state of Indiana who was charged with child pornography was sentenced to 38 years imprisonment.  The man, 48 year old Dale Russell, was charged with this serious sex crime after he conducted "modeling sessions" with minors whose images were then placed on websites.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Russell was convicted after a six year long investigation.  Numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the state, and even abroad, worked together to build a case against Russell.

During the investigation, Russell fled to Mexico from 2007 to 2009.  He was expelled from the country and returned to the United States, where he was placed under arrest in California.

Police say that Russell had produced child pornography on four separate occasions with two female victims.  The images he produced were found on the computer of another sex crime offender in Canada.  Aside from his sentence, Russell has been forbidden from having contact with minors once he is released from prison.

If you have been charged with a serious sex crime, now is the time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact us today to learn more about possible defenses and your rights.

In Los Angeles, it is reported that Belinda Exon (55), the former president of a Southern California company, has decided to plead guilty to charges of embezzlement. White collar crime charges were filed against Exon after it was discovered that she had embezzled $4 million from cities in the state of California.

 According to prosecutors, Exon worked at Rehab Financial Services, Inc., which is based out of Huntington Beach.  The company, which handled loans and escrow, administered grant money to cities in California.  Some of the money the company collected came from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and was meant to pay for city wide housing programs.

Since the embezzlement was discovered, the company has gone out of business.  At this time, Exon plans to plead guilty to one charge of embezzlement.  She could be sentenced with up to 46 months imprisonment and is scheduled to make her appearance in court on June 7, 2010.

If you have been charged with a white collar offense, you absolutely need to protect your best interests by hiring a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer from Okabe & Haushalter.  To learn more about our legal services, contact us today by calling 310-543-7708.

Recently, a shopkeeper in Winnipeg was charged with the criminal offense of manslaughter.  The charges were filed months after the shop keeper was involved in a confrontation with a shoplifter.

According to reports, the shop owner killed 29 year old Geraldine Beardy, who has shoplifted from his store.  Beardy was died five days later from her injuries.

The 62 year old shop owner, Kwang Soo Kim, told police that he was innocent and felt terrible for causing the death of Beardy.  Kim owns Okay Groceries, which is located on Sherbrook Street.  The incident took place on September 13, 2009.

Kim says that he confronted Beardy when he saw her stealing from her store, but did not lay his hands on her. Instead, he said that during the confrontation, Beardy fell to the floor and was injured.

If you have been wrongfully accused of manslaughter or murder, now is the time to speak with a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact our team oflitigators to learn how we can help you fight your serious criminal charges.

This week, it was reported that Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) star and NFL Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, was arrested on suspicion of rape.  He was also arrested for suspicion of beating a 15 year old.

According to one news source, Taylor is, "being held in lockup on suspicion of third-degree rape."  Next Thursday, an arraignment has been scheduled for the NFL star and police are planning a news conference as well. 

For many, the news came as a complete shock as many felt Taylor was charming on Dancing with the Stars and commend Taylor for his NFL career.  More developments on the story are expected to follow in upcoming days.

If you have been charged with a sex crime, like rape, it is important that you have your case reviewed by a Los Angeles sex crimes lawyer at Okabe & Haushalter.  Contact our law office now to set up a time to discuss your case. 

In Edgewood, Washington, four robbery suspects are still at large after responding to a Craigslist ad for the sale of some jewelry.

Three men and a woman arrived at the home saying they were there to purchase an expensive ring. They showed some cash then pulled out a gun. A man was shot and killed. His fourteen-year-old son attempted to fight off one of the attackers was consequently hit in the head with a gun. A woman, believed to be the man's wife, was tied up and a younger son managed to escape the house to safety. The suspects ransacked the house before leaving stealing more items.
 
Police think this crime may be related to another Craigslist robbery that occurred earlier that same day involving the sale of jewelry, where a man was tied up and his car was stolen.

Both theft and murder carry heavy penalties. If you have been accused of a crime in the Los Angeles area, it’s imperative that you contact a  Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to avoid the serious repercussions associated with a conviction. Contact Okabe & Haushalter today to learn more about the ways we can defend your case and help you fight your charges!  

In a recent CBS news undercover investigation, DWP workers were videotaped buying beer, going to a strip club and driving under the influence while on company time.  

A former DWP employee said going to a strip club and and drinking while on company time got to be like a tradition. The former employee admitted going to the bar with other DWP employees on numerous occasions. 

The undercover investigation also causght a worker going into a liquor store on a sunny day during working hours, taking off his uniform before entering the store, buying beer, then getting back into the truck, drinking the beer (wrapping the outside of  bottle in a white napkin,) and then driving off.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense that involves such penalties as incarceration in jail or prison, large fines, license suspension, and more. If you or someone you know has been charged with DUI, you need to get experienced advice to avoid the serious consequences connected with this offense. At Okabe & Haushalter, we can defend you against your DUI charges and guide you through each stage of the criminal process in an effort to secure the best possible case results. To learn more about our defense services, please contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at our office today by calling 310-543-7798 to set up a consultation.