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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: How does reversed burglary affect pc 220b conviction?

My son was convicted of 220b. The appellate court reversed the burglary saying it was a lesser included and an enhancement of 220a1. How does this affect his conviction/sentence?

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answered on Jul 13, 2021

What most likely happened here was that your son was convicted on both counts, but the appellant court reasoned that one of the counts (220a) was a lesser included offense of the substantive count (220b). For this reason, the conduct comprising the lesser count is already fully considered by... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: To be charged with vandalism, does it have to be done maliciously?
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answered on Jul 12, 2021

The mens rea, or criminal intent, for vandalism is generally defined as "willfulness" and therefore does not require malicious intent.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Identity Theft for California on
Q: Can I be charged 4 months after my case reads not guilty on all charges?

On 11/30/2016 my file reads not guilty on 4 felony counts. But on 3/13/2017, 1 of the charges I'm forced to take a plea bargin is this legal?

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answered on Jul 12, 2021

You present very limited facts here to really know what is going on. But to the extent you were previously found not guilty on a criminal charge after a trial, you cannot again be prosecuted by the same court for the same charge; in other words, you cannot be subjected to "double... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law and Criminal Law for California on
Q: I am in Appellate Division Appeal-Misd Supreme Court in California. If I lose where would I appeal to ?

Filed for Factually Innocent. Prosecutor is fighting me over it.

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answered on Jul 12, 2021

In California, there are three levels of courts, including superior court (trial court), appellate court (first appeals), and the supreme court (final appeals). In rare cases, you may be able to also file in federal court after exhausting all of your state appeals. There are also three levels of... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Health Care Law and Criminal Law for California on
Q: Can police hold you in hospital after being shot
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answered on Jul 10, 2021

If you're asking if you can be kept under arrest while hospitalized, the answer is yes.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: if bonded out and after 2 years no case do u still have to pay bail ?
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answered on Jul 9, 2021

If there are no charges filed or pending against you, there is no "bail," which is intended to assure your appearance in court to answer the charges.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: What is a confidentual witness
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answered on Jul 8, 2021

A confidential witness, also known as an informant, is a person working undercover for law enforcement to gather evidence of criminal behavior by others.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: is grand theft an expiditable crime?
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answered on Jul 2, 2021

I believe your asking if grand theft is an extraditable crime. If it's filed as a felony, it is generally extraditable.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: Can california expedite you from another state for grand theft?
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answered on Jul 2, 2021

I believe your asking if California can extradite you. The answer is yes, but there is a court process that needs to be followed, and you also have the right to contest the extradition, although that only tends to delay it.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Federal Crimes, Identity Theft and Stockbroker Fraud for California on
Q: Who investigates false documents and fraud done to the deceased

Yeah because I have reason to believe that my father's name was changed my mother's name was changed and then they made everything look that way now people are benefiting from everything that's written on the story and then it appears that my father and my mother the identity was... View More

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answered on Jun 20, 2021

Most fraud offenses can be investigated by either local or federal authorities. If you have evidence of a criminal fraud or identity theft, you can begin by reporting that evidence to either your local police department of FBI field office.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

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3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: Will I go to jail after my arraignment
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answered on Jun 15, 2021

Typically, you will only go to jail after an arraignment if the court has determined not to set bail and to detain you pending trial. You may also be temporarily detained pending a bail hearing, during which bail will be determined.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams

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3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: During sentencing can new evidence change a guilty ruling?

The perpetrator was A Dark-skin African American woman bearing no resemblance to my family member. The witness testified under oath, that he was assaulted during theft of a Target department store by a Dark-skin African American woman. While my family member is a light-skin African American woman.... View More

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answered on Jun 11, 2021

No. The sentencing hearing is not the correct forum to argue new evidence supports the defendant's innocence, unless it is presented as a mitigating sentencing argument. A better approach would be to file a motion to reconsider the verdict based on newly discovered evidence.

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for California on
Q: I was stopped for a infraction concerning riding a bicycle the wrong way on a sidewalk. Subsequently they patted me down

The reason given was because I was in a area know for drug activities and they wanted to make sure they were safe and free from any weapons I may be carrying. I was next to a motel 6 where I had a room at the time.

I am not on probation or parole and I have my 4th amendment rights. I was... View More

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answered on Jun 8, 2021

Although this appears to be a close issue, the short answer is that they probably had the right to search you. The reason is that pat down searches are generally legal when police stop or detain a suspect for there own safety. Here, it appears they had the right to detain you based on the observed... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: I have a threatening phonecalls misdemeanor case. In Rancho Cucamonga California. It was some texts I send my wife.

This happened in an argument 3months ago. We're back together now. She told the D.A. She doesn't want to press charges. They subpoenaed her anyway last week. She missed it, she didnt go. They offered me a disturbing the peace deal, to think about it. I have court tomorrow.

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answered on Jun 3, 2021

That your wife does not want to press charges does not determine whether charges will be brought. However, as a practical matter, it may mean they now have a weak case based on the strength of the evidence. Further, there is a "spousal" privilege in the law under which your wife cannot be... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: I have a probation violation that i haven't been arraigned or sentenced on, can the probation dept. sentence me.
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answered on Jun 2, 2021

I agree with Mr. Gribow. You can only be sentenced on a probation violation by the judge. The probation department and prosecutor will make recommendations as to the sentence, as should your own attorney.

- Law Office of Joseph Abrams, Anaheim, CA

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: Is it an unlawful search and seizure when an officer say I'm on probation and I'm not.he pulls me out the car

he sees the contraband i was sitting on after he pulled me out the car stating I was on probation after I told him I wasnt

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answered on May 28, 2021

If the only basis for the search was that you were subject to a search condition, when in fact you were not, then arguably it's an unlawful search. On the other hand, for example, if you were lawfully stopped, the search could be considered as a lawful search incident to arrest. There are not... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: How does voluntary consent / Miranda questioning work when the suspect is drunk or intoxicated?

is there case law surrounding these or is it considered a "grey" area. Voluntary consent to search*

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answered on May 27, 2021

Any consent must of course be voluntary, but also knowing. This is where the grey area lies. For the consent not to be knowing, usually some type of clear mental defect must be present. In most cases, intoxication won't rise to the level necessary; however, it comes down to the extent of... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law for California on
Q: What is a wobbler charge? Can they be strikes?
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answered on May 26, 2021

A "wobbler" refers to a charge that, depending on the facts and circumstances of the case, can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony at the discretion of the prosecutor. Depending on a "strike" is defined in your jurisdiction, a wobbler filed as a felony could constitute... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for California on
Q: Hello my name is Daniel I have cameras in my room Against my will and without my permission I am 31 years old

Yah my case is pretty heavy

I am not a bad guy

I need legal help

It doesn't feel good having cameras in my

And everything else that is being done to me

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answered on May 15, 2021

The facts here are very vague as to what is actually going on. Are you on some type of pretrial electronic monitoring? Although that would not involve cameras. Are you detained in an institution of some type? Which could very well include cameras. Try to be more specific as to your circumstances.

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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Traffic Tickets for California on
Q: illegal search?

So I got pull over cause my tags were expired and so the officer pull me over and came to the window and asked me "you know the reason why I pulled u over" and I reply yes cause of my tags. So the officer asked me and the passengers for our ID (3 people in the car) so we hand them our ID... View More

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answered on May 14, 2021

It sounds like the passenger was on probation or parole with a search condition. If that is the case, it was likely a legal search incident to arrest.

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