Angelos Law Group to Sponsor The Unbattle Project’s Camo for a Cause 5K

camo for a cause

Angelos Law Group is proud to sponsor The Unbattle Project‘s upcoming Camo for a Cause 5K at Liberty Station in San Diego on Saturday, March 4, 2017.

The Unbattle Project (UP) is a non-profit organization that offers free confidential counseling to men and women in the military. UP is hosting its first annual Camo for a Cause 5K to support this mission.

Did you know that 1 in 5 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are diagnosed with PTSD and/or depression and that over 50% of homeless veterans have mental health issues? Did you also know that 20 veterans commit suicide each day and that veterans make up 20% of U.S. suicides? San Diego is known for being a military town. In fact, there are over 100,000 active duty and 240,500 veterans residing in San Diego County.

It is very important that we get these men and women the help they need. If left untreated, many military men and women with mental health issues will continue to struggle to keep jobs. Consequently, these veterans end up on the streets, adding to our growing homeless population. The Unbattle Project believes that service members and veterans are “bent, not broken”. They want to help them get back to their lives by providing no-cost confidential counseling in order to reduce the likelihood of homelessness and suicide.

For more information, including registration information, visit the Camo for a Cause website. Hope to see you there as we support our amazing service men and women!

Traffic Violations – Red Light Cameras: What to Know

san diego criminal defense

Red-light cameras have become ubiquitous around the country. But what do you really know about these sometimes controversial devices and the laws surrounding them? And why are some cities turning their cameras off?

What They Are
A form of automated enforcement technology, red-light cameras are used to detect and deter drivers who run red lights at intersections. They are also sometimes used to catch drivers who speed, block intersections, fail to stop at a stop sign, disregard a railroad crossing signal or drive through a toll road station without paying.

Laws Around the Country
As of December 2016, 21 states have established laws that allow for some form of red-light camera use, 10 states have prohibited their use and 19 states don’t have any laws concerning red-light camera enforcement. Many jurisdictions treat red-light and other automated enforcement violations like parking tickets, meaning the registered owner of the vehicle is liable for paying the fine, even if he or she wasn’t driving the car at the time of the offense.

What Critics Say
Some see the cameras merely as an easy source of revenue for municipalities. Others take a big-brother view of the technology, seeing it as an overreach of government into citizens’ lives. A 2016 court case sided with critics, ruling that the devices violated drivers’ rights. As a result, the city involved made the decision to suspend the practice until officials could obtain clarification on the legality of the devices.

What Studies Say
Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that red-light programs in 79 major U.S. cities prevented almost 1,300 fatalities through 2014. The data also showed that when the cameras were turned off, the rate of deadly crashes caused by red-light runners increased up to 30 percent.

Do you have questions about traffic-related issues including red light violations? Contact San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation. Military discounts available.

Angelos Law Group Named One of the “Top Criminal Defense Feeds to Follow on Twitter”

San Diego Criminal DefenseCriminal defense is a highly complex field of law. If you want to be successful in such a case, you’ll have to enlist the help of an experienced, qualified attorney.

When a person is accused of a committing a crime, they’ll need an attorney who specializes in criminal defense. Criminal attorneys help the accused criminals to organize a defense, and they argue cases using their knowledge of the law. People seek the counsel of defense attorneys because they are considered a highly valuable asset in legal defense.

So, Justipedia has compiled a list of of the top criminal defense feeds to follow, which is based on Twitter data culled according to content, follower/following ratios, frequency of tweets, blog popularity, the opinions of other criminal defense experts and influencers, as well as their own subjective judgment.

We’re proud to announce that Angelos Law Group was included on this list! Be sure to follow us on Twitter today at handle @laurenangelos!

For the complete story from Justipedia, read on here.

If you are someone you know have been convicted of a crime, contact award-winning San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation. Military discounts available.

Teen Dating Violence: How to Spot It and Stop It

Teen Violence

 

Two short weeks away, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month – an effort to raise awareness about relationship abuse and promote programs that can help prevent it. It’s important for both parents and teens to know the signs and how to take action if dating violence ever becomes a concern.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines teen dating violence as the “physical, sexual, psychological or emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking. It can occur in person or electronically and might occur between a current or former dating partner.”

What Are the Statistics?
A 2011 CDC survey found that 22 percent of women and 15 percent of men who ever experienced rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. One in 10 high school students has been intentionally hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

What Are the Signs?
If a teen is the victim of abuse, they may become depressed, engage in unhealthy behaviors, begin having problems in school or lose interest in social activities. An abusive partner might have a bad temper or mood swings. They might belittle their partner, keep their partner from family and friends, or pressure their partner to do things they don’t want to do. Constantly monitoring their partner’s social media accounts and making false accusations are also signs of dating violence.

How to Get Help
There are numerous resources available if you or a loved one needs help. Teens and young adults can reach out to the trained peer advocates at Loveisrespect.org at any time, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day.

Do you or someone you know have questions about teen-related or domestic violence? Contact award-winning San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation. Military discounts available.

What to Know: New California Laws in 2017

A higher minimum wage, a ban on using “Redskins” as the name of a school team or mascot, and new restrictions on assault weapons are among the latest California laws taking effect with the new year. Below, what to know about the new laws in California:

  • Minimum Wage: California’s minimum wage will increase from $10 an hour to $10.50 for businesses with 26 or more employees under SB3 by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. It will eventually rise to $15 an hour in 2022. The law delays the increases by one year for smaller employers.
  • Assault Weapons: Lawmakers passed a package of bills to strengthen California’s already tough gun laws then voters reinforced them by passing even more measures. People who own magazines that hold more than 10 rounds will be required to give them up starting Jan. 1. Buyers must undergo a background check before purchasing ammunition and will be barred from buying new weapons that have a device known as a bullet button. Gun makers developed bullet buttons to get around California’s assault weapons ban, which prohibited new rifles with magazines that can be detached without the aid of tools. A bullet button allows a shooter to quickly dislodge the magazine using the tip of a bullet.
  • Handgun Storage: Law enforcement officers will be required to follow the same rules as civilians by securely storing handguns in a lockbox out of plain view or in the trunk if the weapons are left in an unattended vehicle. SB 869 by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, closed a legal loophole that had exempted authorities and concealed weapons permit holders from those rules. The move came after stolen guns were used in high-profile crimes.
  • Sexual Assault Sentencing: Sexually assaulting an unconscious or severely intoxicated person will become a crime ineligible for probation — a change prompted when former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner was given a six-month jail sentence for assaulting an unconscious woman. AB2888 clarifies that a victim cannot consent to sex while unconscious or incapacitated by drugs, alcohol or medication.
  • Texting While Driving: Add using traffic apps or updating your Instagram account to the list of things you cannot do while driving. AB1785 by Assemblyman Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, updates California’s existing ban on texting while driving to make it clear that state law prohibits the use of any hand-held device in a way that distracts from driving — not just while texting. Motorists can still use devices that are mounted or voice-operated and hands-free.
  • School Mascots: California public schools will be barred from using the name “Redskins” for sports teams and mascots under AB30 by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville. American Indians regard the term as offensive.
  • Child Safety Seats: Children younger than 2 must be in rear-facing child restraint systems unless they weigh 40 or more pounds or are 40 or more inches tall under AB53 by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens.
  • Epipens: Businesses can stock EpiPens — used to treat people undergoing life-threatening allergic reactions — under AB1386, which allows pharmacies to dispense the devices to colleges, private businesses and other venues that have a plan in place for using them. Gov. Jerry Brown said he signed the bill because the move has the potential to save lives. However, he called out EpiPen manufacturer Mylan for what he termed “rapacious corporate behavior” by rapidly raising prices.
  • Building Safety: The state will attempt to better monitor potential safety issues in the wake of a fatal balcony collapse at a Berkeley apartment building that killed six young people in June 2015. SB465 by Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, requires better information-sharing between state and local agencies about contractors, convictions and legal settlements. A working group will have one year to decide whether changes are needed to state building codes after several structure failures.
  • Right-to-Try: Terminally ill California patients will be allowed to use experimental drugs that do not yet have full regulatory approval under AB1668 by Assemblyman Ian Calderon, D-Whittier. It authorizes but does not require health plans to cover investigational drugs and protects physicians from disciplinary action if they recommend them when other treatment options have been exhausted.
  • Human Trafficking: Young people under 18 cannot be charged with prostitution and will instead be treated as victims under SB1322 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles. It’s one of several human trafficking-related bills that include raising the age kids can testify outside a courtroom from 13 to 15, protecting victims’ names from disclosure and mandating that they have access to county services.

Do you have questions regarding California’s new laws for 2017? Contact award-winning San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation. Military discounts available.

Source: NBC San Diego

How Mistrials Work in the U.S. Court System

 

The average American likely hears about mistrials via courtroom dramas (both real and fictitious) on television, but do they fully understand the situation and what can cause it? Here’s a look at the mistrial process and how it can affect a court case.

Mistrial Basics
A mistrial is a civil or criminal trial that’s terminated and declared void before a verdict is reached. And it can happen for a variety of reasons. Jurors may be deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict; this is known as a hung jury.

Other causes for mistrial include the death of a juror or attorney involved in the trial, an error prejudicial to the defendant that can’t be cured by instruction to the jury, and juror misconduct. The latter can occur in several ways, such as legal parties making contact with a juror or a juror discussing the case with anyone outside the courtroom while the trial is underway.

Asking for a Mistrial
Both sides — the prosecution and the defense — can make a motion for mistrial. The presiding judge decides whether to grant the motion and either declares a mistrial or continues with the trial.

Hung Juries
In some states, if the cause for a potential mistrial is a hung jury, the judge may instruct jurors to continue deliberations in an effort to reach a verdict and avoid a mistrial. This has become known as the Allen charge. (Other states prohibit this instruction.) If jurors still cannot agree on a verdict, a mistrial will be declared.

After a Mistrial
A case that has ended in a mistrial can be retried, unlike cases that end in acquittal, which are protected by the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment. This prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for the same crime.

Do you have questions about mistrials? Contact award-winning San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation. Military discounts available.

Need a Job but Have a Criminal Record?

 

If you or a loved one has a criminal record, you probably already know how challenging it can be to find employment. But the job search doesn’t have to be impossible if you know what to do and how to find help.

Review the Criminal Record
A good first step is to request a copy of the criminal record. Some people are surprised to learn what’s on their record and how the offense or offenses are classified (e.g. misdemeanor, felony). This is a good opportunity to know for sure and to address any potential corrections.

If the record includes convictions, one option might be to try to get them expunged. Many states allow individuals to clear their records after they’ve served their sentences. However, the cost can sometimes be an obstacle. Filing fees can be as low as $30 in some jurisdictions, but as high as $550 in others. And legal fees can run into the thousands of dollars in some cases.

Be Honest and Professional
It’s important to know how to handle a criminal record while looking for a job. You don’t want to lie about your past, but it’s acceptable to wait to discuss it until you’re further along in the hiring process. When you do tell your potential employer, describe what happened in a professional manner and explain what you’ve learned since then.

Hiring Practices May Be Changing
Fair-chance policy changes, also known as “ban the box,” are popping up around the country. These policies prohibit employers from asking candidates about convictions at the beginning of the hiring process or require them to consider other factors, such as how much time has passed since the conviction and if there is evidence of rehabilitation.

Do you have questions about seeking employment with a criminal record? We’re here to help! Contact San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation.

When Can Minors/Juveniles Be Tried As Adults?

Juvenile Delinquency

 

Recent high-profile cases such as the 2014 Slender Man stabbing highlight the controversial practice of trying accused juveniles as adults. How do prosecutors decide which cases involving minors land in adult courts and which stay in the juvenile system? It’s a complicated combination of laws, guidelines and judicial choice.

Supreme Court Rulings
All 50 states must follow some rules regarding juvenile convictions, in part due to laws that have been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years.

  • Roper v. Simmons ended capital punishment for those who commit a crime while younger than the age of 18.
  • The 2010 case of Graham v. Florida abolished life terms without parole for juveniles who commit crimes other than murder.
  • A similar ruling came down in 2012 in the case of Miller v. Alabama, deeming mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles cruel and unusual.

Court Selection Process
Prosecutors consider several factors when deciding on the direction of a juvenile case. For example, repeat adolescent offenders are more likely to be transferred to adult courts, as are older minors, those accused of particularly serious offenses, and juvenile offenders who have experienced unsuccessful rehabilitation efforts in the past.

This decision is usually left to the judge and/or prosecutors who are overseeing the case. If a juvenile offender’s case moves to an adult court, he or she will face prosecution and, if found guilty, sentencing as an adult would.

Some states have mandatory transfer or “direct file” laws that kick in based on the age of the offender and the nature of the crime. States such as Florida are reassessing these laws, which may be at least partially responsible for several thousand juveniles ending up in adult courts for nonviolent crimes.

Juvenile crimes can be extremely confusing. That’s why we’re here to help! Contact San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation.

What You Should Know About Stalking

 

Nowadays, stalking is a commonly used term. And, although you’re probably familiar with the term, there’s a lot more you might want to know about stalking. The Stalking Resource Center describes it as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.”

What constitutes stalking?
Stalking includes following or spying on the victim, making unwanted calls and sending unwanted letters or emails. Leaving unwanted items or gifts, waiting for the victim to show up places, and posting information or spreading rumors about the victim can also be considered forms of stalking.

Roughly 1 in 4 victims of stalking reported some form of cyberstalking such as email or instant messaging. Constantly monitoring someone’s social media accounts and trying to engage with them or their friends and family without consent can be considered cyberstalking.

What are the statistics?
Every year, 7.5 million people are stalked in the United States. Most victims are stalked by someone they know: 44 percent of male victims and 61 percent of female victims are stalked by a former or current intimate partner. An acquaintance is the offender for 32 percent of male victims and 25 percent of female victims.

What does the law say?
Although the laws surrounding stalking vary depending on the jurisdiction, it is a crime in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. In more than half of the states, stalking becomes a felony when it’s a second or subsequent offense; there’s a deadly weapon involved; it violates a court order, probation or parole; the victim is under 16; or it’s the same victim as in previous occasions.

Questions about stalking, cyberstalking or related issues? We’re here to help! Contact San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation.

Search Warrants – Do You Have to Consent to a Search of Your Home?

 

Search warrants can be intimidating and confusing. Imagine you’re sitting on your sofa when you hear a knock at the front door. You ask who it is and immediately hear, “Police!” What do you do next? More importantly, what can you do next? Here are a few basics regarding your rights and consent to search your property.

Legal Protection
The Fourth Amendment requires that police obtain a warrant to enter legally and search your home if you do not consent. The warrant must be signed by a magistrate as well as specify the precise location of the search and exactly what law enforcement is looking for.

Police can lawfully seize illegal items not specified in the warrant if they’re in “plain view” during the search. For example, if the police are looking for a weapon but spot illicit drugs on your coffee table, they can arrest and charge you, even if they don’t find the weapon.

Law enforcement also has the right to search under “exigent circumstances,” or when there’s probable cause but not enough time to obtain a warrant (Payton v. New York).

When You’re Not Home
Law enforcement can legally act on a search warrant if another resident who is present consents. The 1974 case of United States v. Matlock established this co-occupant consent rule.

When There’s a Knock…
Ask law enforcement through the door if they have a search warrant. If there’s no warrant, you have the right to not answer the door or respond to any questions they may ask. If a warrant is in hand, request to see the document through the peephole or by sliding it under the door. If you must open the door to see it, you can step outside and close the door behind you. Confirm that the information on the signed warrant is accurate.

Even if you state that you do not consent to the search, the American Civil Liberties Union recommends that you do not interfere with officers who proceed. Instead, note the law enforcement agency, names and badge numbers and contact a lawyer.

Questions about search warrants or related issues? We’re here to help! Contact San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer, Lauren Angelos, at Angelos Law Group today at (619) 727-6812 for your complimentary consultation.