Recent Blog Posts in August 2009

A new California law now requires mandatory ignition interlock devices on motor vehicles owned and operated by motorists convicted of driving on a suspended license due to a previous alcohol-related conviction.  Under the new law, a person who is required and fails to install an ignition interlock device is guilty of a criminal misdemeanor.

Driving under the influence is a serious offense in California. It can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony in California depending on the nature of the incident, the seriousness of injuries and the driver's level of intoxication. In California, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. It is also illegal in California to drive under the influence of drugs - whether they are recreational or prescription drugs.

If you are convicted of a first-time DUI offense or you are a repeat offender, it is critical that if you are charged with drunk driving that you contact a skilled and experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. If you, or someone you know is facing DUI charges, contact Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Robert M. Bernstein at (310) 477-1480 for a free consultation.

There has been a dramatic rise in theft crimes and robberies occurring at medical marijuana dispensaries in the Los Angeles area.  A team of gunmen allegedly enter the dispensaries posing as customers, then take over the business and flee with large quantities of marijuana and U.S. currency.  The frequency of the heists, and their violence, is increasing.   

Theft crimes, especially armed robbery, is a very serious crime in Los Angeles and requires the skill of an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney.  The penalties for robbery crimes in Los Angeles may include imprisonment, fines, restitution, community service, probation, and more. 

Los Angeles theft crimes include petty theft, grand theft, shoplifting, carjacking, burglary, robbery, armed robbery, identity theft, credit card fraud and more.  Some crimes are classified as misdemeanors and carry fines and possibly short periods of jail time.  Carjacking, armed robbery and felony grand theft carry much more severe penalties including years in prison.  Such crimes require a skilled Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who knows and understands how to properly defend these serious charges.  Contact Robert M. Bernstein for a free consultation today.

The California Supreme Court held in the recent case of Superior Court v. Nguyen, that a juvenile who was adjudicated a ward of the court in Juvenile Court for a crime that would be considered a strike under California's Three Strike Laws will count as a strike if that juvenile offender commits another felony.  The 6-1 decision of the California Supreme Court now allows prosecutors to allege a prior juvenile strike for purposes of increasing the punishment on any new felony committed as an adult.

If you or someone you know is charged with a serious crime in juvenile court, it is more important than ever to seek strong legal counsel that understands the implications of a juvenile being charged with a serious felony. Unlike other juvenile cases, this new law allows a juvenile adjudication (conviction) to affect that juvenile through his/her adult life. Contact Robert M. Bernstein at (310) 477-1480 for a free consultation today.