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People often think of civil rights violations committed by government actors such as police or governmental employees. When these violations take place, remedies include evidence suppression and civil lawsuits. It is uncommon for a government actor to be criminally charged for a civil rights...

In California, criminal conspiracy is a serious offense that can expose you to the same penalties as the underlying crime—even if the crime was never completed. Under Penal Code 182 PC, simply agreeing with one or more people to commit a crime and taking a step toward carrying it out is enough...

It is a serious offense in California to prevent a witness or victim to a crime from reporting it to authorities or testifying concerning it. Intimidating or dissuading a witness, otherwise known as "witness tampering," may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony under Penal Code 136.1 PC...

While placing friendly wagers with friends is a common pastime, California maintains strict regulations on organized gambling. Under California Penal Code 330 PC, participating in, operating, or dealing in certain types of gambling games is a criminal offense. Navigating the line between a legal social game...

In their mission to serve and protect, law enforcement officers have the authority to issue orders to people to execute their duties. When a person is approached by a police officer or pulled over by an officer for a suspected traffic violation, they are expected to follow the officer's orders. These orders might...

Indecent exposure in California is a serious sex crime that carries long-lasting consequences, even for a first-time offense. While a violation of Penal Code 314 PC is typically charged as a misdemeanor, a conviction can still result in mandatory jail time, steep fines, and lifelong consequences...

According to Penal Code 287 PC, it is a crime in California to engage in oral copulation with anyone under 18—even if the engagement is consensual and even if both parties are underage. PC 287 also applies if the oral copulation was completed by force, violence, or fear. This sexual-related crime is a...

In California, forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object is a serious felony offense prosecuted under Penal Code 289 PC. This law makes it illegal to penetrate another person’s vagina or anus with a foreign object without their consent using force, fear, threats, or coercion. These cases are...

Sexual assault, also called "sexual battery," is a serious offense. Sexual assault crimes in California range from misdemeanor to felony offenses, but even a misdemeanor charge can carry serious long-term consequences if you are convicted. Not only could you be facing significant jail time and...

Under California Senate Bill 384, the sex offender registry rules changed on January 1, 2021, by creating a three-tiered approach to registration. Under prior law, a defendant convicted of specific sex-related offenses was required to register as a sex offender for life under California Penal Code 290...

Under Title 18, U.S.C, Section 1544, it’s a federal crime for anyone to knowingly use another person’s passport. Further, this statute also prohibits anyone to use a passport in a manner that violates the restrictions that govern its usage. In addition, it’s illegal for anyone to give someone a passport...

Fraud involving visas, permits, and immigration documents is a serious federal offense that can lead to prison time, deportation, and permanent immigration consequences. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1546, it is illegal to forge, use, possess, or obtain immigration documents through fraud, misrepresentation...

International parental kidnapping is a federal crime that occurs when a parent removes or retains a child outside the United States to interfere with the other parent’s custodial rights. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1204, it is illegal to take a child out of the country or keep them abroad with the intent to obstruct...

Kidnapping is a serious felony offense resulting in significant fines and prison time upon conviction. It is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 1201. It is also a crime under California Penal Code 207 or 209 PC. If you kidnap someone in California without crossing state lines, you will likely be tried under state...

Lewd conduct in public is a criminal offense under California Penal Code 647(a). The law makes it illegal to engage in sexual touching in a public place or where others are present who may be offended. Although this offense is typically charged as a misdemeanor, it can still result in jail time, fines, and a...

A proffer agreement is a written agreement between a federal prosecutor and a defendant or target of a criminal investigation. It allows the individual to provide information to the government in exchange for limited protection against the use of their statements. Often referred to as a...

The imperfect self-defense theory in criminal law can avoid a murder conviction, and a life sentence if accepted by the jury. Our law firm has handled homicide cases where the evidence of intent was mitigated either by heat of passion or imperfect self-defense. In many instances, our clients have been...

Recently, criminal investigations for child pornography offenses have risen sharply in both state and federal courts. Normally, an alleged child porn case begins with an anonymous online tip to police from a peer-to-peer network or social media. Based on the information received, federal law enforcement...

The federal crime of bank robbery is defined under the United States Code Title 18, Section 2113 as part of a statute that also includes other theft-related crimes. Bank robbery is described as taking, using force or intimidation, any money or property under the custody and control of a bank, credit union... 

California Penal Code 647(b) defines the state’s prostitution crime as agreeing to engage in, or actually engaging in, any act of prostitution intending to receive something of value in exchange. Put simply, it’s a crime to make an offer to pay or accept money or something of value in exchange for a sexual...

California Penal Code 647(a) PC defines the crime of lewd conduct in public as the touching of your genitals, buttocks, female breast, or another person’s, in order to gratify sexual desires, when you knew, or should have known, other people were present and might be offended by your behavior...

California Vehicle Code 23153 defines the crime of DUI causing injury. Put simply, this statute makes driving under the influence more serious in a situation where someone was injured. It’s generally described as somebody driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and then you cause physical... 

Penal Code 273a PC describes California’s child endangerment crime as willfully placing a child in an endangering situation likely to produce the child’s great bodily harm or death. The statute also includes language prohibiting exposing a child under 18 to unjustifiable...

If you flee the scene of an accident, you can be charged with hit and run, a potentially serious offense that can result in major fines and jail time. There are two types of hit and run charges in the state of California. Vehicle Code 20002 VC defines a misdemeanor offense and Vehicle Code 20001 VC...

Review of Receiving Stolen Property Charges and Defenses. California Penal Code 496 PC describes “receiving stolen property” as when someone buys, receives, conceals, or sells any property they know is stolen. This theft crime statute can be filed as a either a misdemeanor or felony...