San Francisco Criminal Defense Blog
When neighborhood disputes escalate
How many people in America have lived next door to an aggravating neighbor? It's a common situation, and most people choose not to engage in arguments or retaliation. Others have a low tolerance for being irritated. Neighborhood skirmishes have erupted into physical...
What constitutes battery in California?
Many people tend to use the terms "assault" and "battery" interchangeably because they so often go together. However, assault encompasses actions that merely threatened another individual while California law defines battery as the unlawful and willful use...
When can the cops search your car in California?
Average citizens have rights against unlawful searches and seizures. The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents police from randomly searching people's homes and cars. At the end of the day, the police cannot search your car on a whim....
Defending against a RICO charge
If you enjoy watching old black-and-white TV shows on your California classics channel, you likely are a big fan of The Untouchables, the 1959-1963 series about Elliott Ness and the other intrepid G-men who pursued such Prohibition-era gangsters as Al Capone. If you...
Can you own a firearm after a felony conviction?
California has some of the strictest regulations in the country concerning firearm possession. In 2018, the state passed new laws, such as how gun owners can no longer purchase assault rifles in the state and how they need to register the ones they currently...
What to do when falsely accused of assault
There are plenty of cases of assault occurring around the Bay Area. One recent example involved a San Mateo woman who robbed and assaulted another woman who police apprehended shortly after. However, some people have to contend with false assault...
One big misconception about shaken baby syndrome
The issue of shaken baby syndrome is nowhere as clear-cut as people used to believe. In fact, it is troubling how many have been falsely accused of shaking their babies and convicted of related charges. Unfortunately, quite a few people, including those in the...
Impatient drivers beware: Road rage is a crime
It can be difficult driving in California at the best of times. Traffic is usually congested, and people are always in a hurry. Impatient, rude and inattentive drivers surround you wherever you go. It is no surprise that it can be easy to lose your patience. However,...
Could you be denied a real estate license due to a crime?
Some employers are hesitant to hire people who have criminal convictions, no matter how light or serious the convictions seem to be. That is one reason quite a few people with convictions start their own businesses, from relatively simple lawn care...
Are you facing accusations of shaken baby syndrome?
Are you facing accusations, arrest or charges for shaking a baby? This is a serious criminal allegation that may result in conviction of child abuse or even murder if the baby dies. However, it is possible to defend against these charges and prove you are...
