San Diego Criminal Attorneys Blog

Violent Crime Road Rage in San Diego

Published on: June 29, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

Another road rage incident in San Diego. Violent crimes seem to be increasing in San Diego County especially in the North County. Every day I read incidents of robberies, stabbing and now another road rage case where an 18 year old driver was attacked by another driver with a baseball bat.

The 18 year old driver was driving home from a friend’s house in the early hours (2:27a.m.) when he and the other driver engaged each other in a vehicle confrontation while driving. The young man pulled over and was attacked by the other driver with an aluminum baseball bat. He was treated at a hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Please protect yourself and make good choices in these situations. It’s never a good idea to engage in road rage confrontations while driving and do not pull over and exit your car as you never know who you are engaging! However, if you are arrested for reckless driving or road rage incident, please call my firm to talk to a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in defending these charges.

Escondido & San Marcos Warrant Sweep Nets 34 Arrests

Published on: June 28, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

Escondido police officers along with San Diego County sheriff and probation officers conducted outstanding warrant service on 47 probationers and arrested 34. The service of the outstanding warrants started at 6:00a.m. and went through the night and fanned across San Marcos, Escondido and surrounding San Diego county areas.

The majority of the warrants were for misdemeanor cases but a few felony warrants were also served. Arrest warrants are usually in the form of a bench warrant issued by a judge for the defendant not complying his or her terms or conditions of probation.

Probation terms often include affirmative steps that must be completed by the defendant, i.e. complete a drug program or pay a fine; and other terms to preclude conduct that the defendant can not engage in. For example, don’t don’t drive a car without a drivers license or valid insurance. If the defendant does not due what he or she is supposed to do or does something he or she is not supposed to do, then a warrant can be issued for their arrest.

Search & Seizure Strip Search of School Teen Held Illegal By Supreme Court

Published on: June 28, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

Outrage of the week! Not the ruling by the United States Supreme Court but the complete and utter disrespect by Arizona school officials for the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution to be free from unreasonable searches and seizure.

School officials thought it was OK to strip search a female student,13 year old teenager Savana Redding, to find prescription strength ibuprofen, basically one pill with the strength of two Advil’s. School authorities were allowed to search her backpack and outer clothing but went way to far in searching her underwear. The U.S. Supreme court held that educators cannot force children to remove their clothing unless student safety is at risk.

School officials only need reasonable suspicion, not probable cause, to search a student for contraband not allowed on school grounds. However, the search of the student must be limited in scope. In Ms. Reddings’s case there were no facts suggesting she was a danger to other students or that she was actually possessing the pills in her underwear. Because of these deficiencies, her search was unreasonable under the 4th Amendment.

San Diego Executives Plead Guilty To White Collar & Fraud Charges

Published on: June 28, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

San Diego executives Sterling Pirtle and Ronald Fisher plead guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and tax evasion. Both Fisher and Pirtle were principles in the business, Commercial Money Center, now bankrupt, which would sell lease pools to banks that contained $70 million in fraudulent leases.

Nationwide, the company received more than $300 million through its sale of fraudulent leases.The business’ main location was in Escondido but also had offices in Las Vegas and Florida. Each admitted that they failed to pay personal income taxes of one million dollars on money they received through their company. Fisher’s son, mark Fisher, and daughter, Kelly Fisher, previously plead guilty to conspiracy and or tax evasion charges for their involvement in the bank fraud.

$70-Million Bank Fraud Catches Up to Two Businessmen, The San Diego 6 CW, June 26, 2009

Carlsbad Man Not Mentally Competent To Stand Trial For Murder

Published on: June 28, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

Insane?! Carlsbad Murder suspect, Dennis Gluck, is headed to Patton State Hospital for up to three years or until he regains his mental competency. Mr. Gluck is accused of hacking his parents, Harry and Jean Gluck, to death in their bedroom on January 18th with a bladed instrument.

San Diego Superior Court judge Maguire, suspended the criminal proceedings including the two murder charges after reviewing a psychological doctor’s report. Technically, Mr. Gluck could face the death penalty if his competency is restored due to the special multiple murder allegation.

Mr. Gluck fled to Mexico after the murders and was later captured about six weeks later. Although, he had previous threats and aggressive behavior towards his parents, he had none recently while living with them. A layperson may question, if he was smart enough or of sound mind enough to flee to Mexico after the killings, how could he be insane for court?

Oceanside Web Cafe Computer Gambling Illegal?

Published on: June 27, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

Internet and computer crimes are on the rise! In San Diego County local law enforcement officers and a special task force raided several internet cafe’s including one in Oceanside that allegedly offered its customers illegal gambling.

Oceanside police officers served a search warrant on Lucky Bob’s Internet Cafe on Friday June 26, 2009 on Mission Ave. In San Diego other locations raided were Cafe Hong Hung, Phnom Penh Video, ’08 Wireless, and Cafe 2000.The Attorneys General’s news release claims the small businesses were operating slot machines and computer gaming which are computer crimes.

Lucky Bob’s advertised that their patrons could win more than eighteen thousand dollars in “instant cash sweepstakes.” Oceanside police did not arrest anyone at Lucky Bob’s but did confiscate gambling equipment. However, in San Diego, police arrested two people and seized more than $11,000.00.

San Diego DUI Checkpoint In Oceanside on Saturday Night

Published on: June 26, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In San Diego County a DUI checkpoint is set for Oceanside on Saturday night! It’s always better to not drink alcohol and drive! If you go out partying, please have a designated driver, call a cab or my law firm! We can arrange a ride home for you!

A DUI sobriety checkpoint is scheduled for Saturday, June 27th, from 9:00pm to 3:00am at an undisclosed location in Oceanside. As all DUI checkpoints, their goal is to limit and or reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roadways to prevent injury accidents and even fatalities.

Although the goal of DUI checkpoints is honorable, they must be set up and administered in conformity with the law which requires strict guidelines. A competent criminal defense DUI attorney understands the intricacies in the constitutionality of DUI checkpoints. If the DUI checkpoint is not set up or administered to the constitutional standards, then it’s an unlawful seizure of the driver and occupants and they should have all evidence seized suppressed and not used against them.

OCEANSIDE: DUI checkpoint planned Saturday night, North County Times, June 24, 2009.

Vista Woman Pleads Guilty To Burgalry & Identity Theft Charges

Published on: June 26, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In San Diego County and elsewhere theft and identity theft cases are on the rise. Recently, in the Vista Superior Court, Juanita Williams plead guilty to commercial burglary and other identity theft charges and is looking at a thirty-two month prison sentence.

Ms. Williams charged about $10,000 dollars worth of computer equipment and other office supplies to the Vista Chamber of Commerce by posing as a Chamber of Commerce representative.

San Diego Sheriff Deputies in the financial crimes unit were investigating the unauthorized charges after Chamber officials reported a series of unauthorized purchases on their Staples account.

San Diego CHP Officer Accused in Felony Sex Bribery Case

Published on: June 25, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

San Diego & Oceanside California Highway patrol officer Abram Carabajal, now retired, was held to answer after a preliminary hearing in San Diego Superior Court, North County, Vista, [need to upload link legal resource page] before Judge Runston G. Maino. Mr. Carbajal has been charged with three felony counts of accepting a bribe, conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury.

The three felony charges stem from an alleged fix my traffic ticket in exchange for sex back in 2006. An Encino woman, Shirin Zarrindej, allegedly conspired with former CHP officer Carabajal to have her traffic ticket dismissed in exchange for sex. Ms. Zarrindej has a prior conviction for bribing a Los Angeles police officer back in 1998 in a prostitution case at which time she served 60 days in jail.

On July 1, 2008, the two met a Oceanside hotel after Carabajal lied in court to get the speeding ticket dismissed. Ms. Zarrindej who is also being charged in the same case is claiming that she was a victim to Officer Carabajal’s sexual advances and that there was insufficient evidence she conspired with or bribed him.

San Diego Sheriffs Locate Wanted Sex Offender in Valley Center

Published on: June 25, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

The old saying “you can run, but you can not hide” came true to convicted sex offender and his girlfriend. A fugitive sex offender, Robbi Potter, and his girlfriend, Candace Watson, were arrested in Valley Center in San Diego County. The couple and Ms. Watson’s pre-school aged daughter, Haylee Donathan, fled Ohio and began residing in Valley Center about one week ago.

A local rancher recognized the three persons from information on a digital billboard in Las Vegas and then called the police. Mr. Potter and Ms. Watson were arrested without any altercation.

This case grabbed National attention on CNN and was aired on America’s Most Wanted on June 13th. Mr. Potter is in San Diego Federal custody on probation violation allegations while Ms. Watson has an extradition hearing in State Court on the Ohio arrest warrant for aiding and abetting Mr. Potter’s disappearance. Mr. Potter will need an experienced criminal lawyer knowledgeable in sex crime cases. Likewise, Ms. Watson is also looking at federal charges for aiding in Mr. Potter’s escape.