Retailers and night club owners have the right to protect their property and patrons from criminal activity. In the case of retailers, a store owner has what is called the "shopkeepers privilege". This allows the store security to detain you for a reasonable period of time if they have reasonably believed a crime occurred. However, [...]
The following is an excerpt from a recent Press Democrat article printed on July 5, 2009. The trial for Bret Matz, 47, of Monte Rio is nearing opening arguments. He is accused of beating to death his 46-year-old partner, Robert Guess, with a lamp on Jan. 2. A preliminary hearing is set to be held [...]
With the ever-rising popularity of MMA (Mixed-martial arts) it is likely that more and more criminal cases will be prosecuted in which the victims and/or perpetrators will have had some level of training. It is important to understand that, to quote self-defense expert Animal MacYoung, "The problem with self-defense training is 1) that it doesn't [...]
In a criminal case it is well known that the burden of proof for the prosecution is "beyond a reasonable doubt". While we need not go into great detail here, suffice to say that the judge or jury need to be really certain that a person has committed a crime in order to convict them. [...]
If you have been arrested in Sonoma County for DUI, you will almost certainly be charged with the crime of driving under the influence, and your name forwarded to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Thus, your case will go forward in two different avenues, the criminal court and the administrative arm of the DMV [...]
Clients looking for an attorney should start first at the state bar website. You can search here by clicking the link on "Attorney Search" in the upper right hand corner of the page. The information provided will give you their contact information, how long they have been practicing, and perhaps where they went to school. [...]
There are many people who fantasize about the "good old days" when you could seal a deal with handshake and walk away knowing you had the word of another person to do what they said they were going to do. While I do not doubt that our society has become less honest, this is probably [...]
In representing both fathers and mothers in family law cases, charges of child abuse can often present themselves. Child abuse is not uncommon in the United States. The third leading cause of death for children ages 5-14 is homicide. Because the victims are so innocent and the perpetrators are almost always a caregiver, the crime [...]
Mill Valley real estate broker facing jail after admitting to embezzlement By ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. SAN RAFAEL — A Marin County real estate broker is facing up to eight years in jail after admitting to swindling nearly $1.4 million [...]
If you have been arrested by the police, more than likely you are going to have a lot of questions. That is why it is important to understand the process. A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by a sentence of less than a year in prison. A felony is a crime that is [...]
