08 June

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How to Testify in Court

How to Testify in Court At first glance, you maybe thinking, “Why would anyone need to write something about this, you just tell the truth.” And that may be true. But court testimony is no the same as an average conversation you would have with your friends or family. When a person has to testify in court, it will feel like the opposite of a normal conversation. Which is why this article was written for those who are anxious about having to testify in court. It should be noted that this does not just apply to defendants in a criminal case or...

07 June

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Expunged Case on a Background Check

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Background Check, Criminal Record, Expungement

Expunged Case on a Background Check You are shocked...

03 June

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Arrested in Laguna Beach for Public Intoxication

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Background Check, Criminal Record, Disorderly Conduct, Laguna Beach, public intoxication

[caption id="attachment_13645" align="alignleft" width="359"] Photo Credit: D. Ramey Logan[/caption] 4 Things to Know: If you were Arrested in Laguna Beach for Public Intoxication There is an idea floating around that some cities are good "drinking towns" and some aren't. When it comes to Laguna Beach, it may come down to a lot more factors than that. But as one of the most visited cities in Orange County, some clients are shocked when they are arrested in Laguna Beach for public intoxication (aka: "drunk in public"or "disorderly conduct"). The biggest shock comes with a statement such as, "I wasn't even that drunk! Why...

02 June

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Arrested in Newport Beach for Public Intoxication

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Background Check, Criminal Record, Newport Beach, public intoxication

3 Things to Know: If You Were Arrested in Newport Beach for Public Intoxication ("Drunk in Public") The city of Newport Beach is a unique place in Orange County. It's both a tourist destination for those who live far away and it's a highly visited place for those who live locally and want to experience a great time. So it's no wonder that where people spend quality time with one another, sometimes you can have "one-too-many" and spend the night in jail. That's why it's important to know a few things after you've been arrested in Newport Beach for public intoxication...

09 January

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5 Things You Need to Do If You’re Arrested for a DUI

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in DUI

Highway Patrol Police Car Next to Alcoholic Drink and Keys Under Spot Light.

There are few worse ways to end an evening than with an arrest for a DUI. Whatever the particular circumstances of your DUI arrest might have been, and regardless of whether you thought the police officer was fair in making the arrest, the situation anyone arrested for DUI is always the same: you face serious consequences if convicted for your DUI. This can include jail time, expensive fines and court costs, the installation of an ignition interlock device on your car, and skyrocketing insurance rates that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over the years. You will also...

27 December

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What Types of Criminal Charges Can Be Expunged in California?

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Criminal Record

People seek expungement of past criminal convictions for a variety of reasons in California. But what types of criminal charges can be expunged in California? The motivations to expunge are numerous: Someone might not have contested a charge in their earlier years, but did not realize how much that criminal conviction would affect their career and/or reputation in later years. Or maybe they did contest the charge and were nevertheless found to be guilty, and now they want to take advantage of California’s relatively progressive expungement laws to prevent any unnecessary obstacles in their careers (e.g. denial of licenses, failing background...

20 December

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Can You Be Charged With Making Criminal Threats Online?

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Legal Advice

We often hear about how the internet has changed the way we communicate with one another. It’s just a fact that, for most of us, how we talk to people online that we do not know personally and who are far removed from us - and who may have no idea who we are or where we reside - is different from how we talk to coworkers, friends, and people we might encounter in public. And sometimes we say things online that are not meant to be taken seriously and/or literally. We could be making a joke or using an...

12 December

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Johnny Manziel’s Domestic Violence Charge Dismissed Via Agreement with Prosecutor

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Criminal Record

Johnny Manziel is barely 24 years old, but his name has been in the headlines for years. He won the Heisman Trophy at age 20 and was a first-round draft pick for the Browns in 2014, but was released a year later due in part to his numerous off-field run-ins with the law. His latest controversy has been a domestic violence charge brought against him by Texas prosecutors after he was accused of striking his girlfriend in public in January 2016. Manziel faced up to a year in prison for the misdemeanor charges and a $4,000 fine, but it appears...

07 December

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Can the Police Search My Car for Marijuana or Alcohol?

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in Drug Possession, Drugs, Marijuana

Marijuana and a gavel together for many legal concepts on the drug.

If you are a California resident, you no doubt have heard by now that California voters have legalized the recreational use and possession of small amounts of marijuana, effective immediately. And alcohol has of course been legal since the end of Prohibition. So why would a police officer ever have reason to search your car or vehicle for evidence of marijuana or alcohol? Because numerous situations remain in which you might face criminal charges based on the presence of alcohol or marijuana in your vehicle, including: Driving while intoxicated Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) Open container laws Possession...

14 November

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What Are Your Legal Rights at a DUI Checkpoint?

Posted by Bart Kaspero

in DUI, Legal Advice

California law enforcement has been cracking down on intoxicated driving in recent years, and one commonly used tactic in doing so is through DUI checkpoints. Several thousand DUI checkpoints are set up each year in California, with well over 5,000 individuals being arrested for a DUI crime each year at those checkpoints. A single DUI conviction can result in jail time, high fines, court fees, and increased insurance rates in the tens of thousands over the years. Thus, it is important to understand what rights you have at a California DUI checkpoint. DUI Checkpoints are Constitutional Normally, a police officer must have...

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