The following are the number of crimes reported by the Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. County Sheriff for the 6-month period ending December 26^th, 2010:

• 16, 956 violent crimes
• 70,775 property crimes

The neighborhood with the most violent crime was Chesterfield Square. The neighborhood with the most property crime was Rancho Dominguez. The neighborhood with the least property and violent crime was Green Valley.

A violent crime may be any type of criminal offense committed against a person, with the intent to cause harm or injury. Assault and battery, murder,  manslaughter and forcible  rape are all examples of violent crimes. A property crime is a criminal offense committed against property. This may include shoplifting, auto theft,  arson and similar offenses.

Particularly for people who live in communities with high crime rates, law enforcement will forever be on the lookout for criminal offenders. In their attempt to keep the streets safe and put criminals behind bars, they may cut corners, make unlawful arrests or otherwise violate a defendant's rights. If you or someone you know has been accused of or arrested for any type of criminal offense in the Los Angeles area, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney who can actively protect your rights and interests. At Okabe & Haushalter, we treat our clients with the respect and one-on-one attention they deserve while fighting on their behalf inside and outside of the criminal courtroom to seek the case result they need.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at our firm today for a confidential review of your case.

A series of raids conducted across Los Angeles County led to 11 arrests. On January 26^th, 2011 local law enforcement officers, sheriff's detectives, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and special weapons teams carried out a gang sweep targeting members of the Gardena 13 gang. The sweep resulted in 11 arrests, including the arrest of Luis Erasmo Garcia, 27, a man wanted on suspicion of killing 3 men at a car cruising event back in 2008.

Garcia was taken into custody by Gardena police shortly before 6:00am after law enforcement agents raided several homes. Court records indicate that Garcia faces capital murder charges for the killings of brothers Jose Farias and Victor Manuel Farias and another man, Vidal Hernandez Rebolledo, in August of 2008.

Immediately involving an attorney is absolutely crucial if you or someone you know stands accused of any criminal offense, particularly one involving a violent crime such as murder. A capital felony may be punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole or by the death penalty. When your entire life is on the line, you need the level of hard-hitting defense counsel that will grant you the best possible opportunity at avoiding a conviction and these harsh penalties.

At Okabe & Haushalter, we are here to offer you the representation, guidance and support you need. Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at our firm today.

The South Los Angeles serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper" got his name because he allegedly killed seven women in the South LA area during a three-year period from 1985 to 1988 before coming to a stop for more than a decade, allegedly resuming in 2002 with another killing and continuing in 2003 with another killing and yet another in 2007. Investigators originally thought that no killings occurred from 1989 to 2001, but they have now linked two more deaths to the suspect based upon new evidence and information.

LAPD Det. Dennis Kilcoyne has been leading the investigation. According to a statement reported in the Los Angeles Times, Det. Kilcoyne stated "I don't think there is a gap. We are continuing to examine many, many old cases now we know Mr. Franklin's identity. We are trying to put together other cases."

Lonnie Franklin, Jr. currently faces charges for killing ten people and has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Formal charges have not yet been filed regarding the new killings.

Particularly in ongoing investigations regarding murder or manslaughter, the most important thing a defendant can do is hire a competent  criminal defense lawyer to protect his or her legal rights and interests. Regardless of what you or someone you know may have been accused of, you have the right to due process. Exercise your Constitutional rights by hiring an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter to discuss your case.

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!

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.