The multiple-agency manhunt began Sunday after fired police officer Christopher Dorner shot a couple sitting in their cars in Irvine, California, killing Monica Quan and her fiancé Matthew Lawrence. According to CNN, Quan was the daughter of former LAPD officer Randall Quan, who Dorner claims bungled his termination appeal after he was dismissed from the force. Dorner says he was fired after accusing another officer of using excessive force.

On Wednesday, Dorner, a former soldier checked into a Navy Hotel in San Diego where he holed up. Meanwhile police named him as a suspect in the Irvine killings after he posted, on his Boy with a Grenade blog, an 11-page online manifesto in which he implicated himself in those murders the LAPD.

In his manifesto, which was addressed to America, Dorner vowed to “bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare” down on the LAPD. Also stating, “He would not be alive to see his name cleared.”

Around 8 p.m. Wednesday Dorner attempted to steal a boat in San Diego, according to LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck. Later on, officers discovered his wallet ID and LAPD badge near the airport, CNN reported.

On Thursday afternoon, Dorner shot at three police officers assigned to protect one of the 40 people he identified as targets in his incendiary manifesto. One officer was grazed with the bullet, but police were unable to pursue him because of the gunfire.

Just thirty minutes later, Dorner allegedly drove up to a patrol car sitting at a traffic light in Riverside and fired on two officers with a shot gun. One of the officers was killed and another was critically wounded. CNN said that a Good Samaritan used the police radio to call for help after discovering the injured men.

Dorner’s crime spree put officers on edge and early Wednesday morning police shot two women delivering papers in a vehicle that matched the description of Dorner’s. Both of those victims were taken to the hospital; one was listed in critical condition.

Around noon, on Thursday Dorner’s burned out vehicle was found in Big Bear. There were tracks leading away from the vehicle leading police to extend the manhunt into that area. Dorner is still on the run and the public should be on the alert.

Everyone is entitled to due process, even Dorner, but preventing a conviction is only possible with a well-practiced criminal attorney. Any violent or aggressive offense targeted at a police officer can only make charges against the accused worse.

Any Los Angeles resident facing minor or serious criminal charges can look to attorney Robert M. Bernstein to build their defense. An attorney with his experience can build solid defense that can minimize your risks of being convicted.

]]> http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/lapd-hunts-for-alleged-cop-killer/feed 0 http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/la-police-charge-four-for-hate-crimes http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/la-police-charge-four-for-hate-crimes#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:33:45 +0000 admin http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/?p=1001 Los Angeles, CA- Police arrested three Los Angeles men in connection to hate crimes targeting an African-American Family in Compton.

Los Angeles is besieged with a Latino, Black, and White Supremacists gangs where the racial tensions run high and sometimes erupt into hate crimes. But it’s not just a gang problem.

This week alone Los Angeles and other area police are dealing with the fallout of two hate crimes targeted towards two different ethnic groups.

Last week, in El Cajon, a group or and individual set a church ablaze. The fire, according to NBC News, began at 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning at the Nyssa Greek Orthodox Church.

The blaze raged for minutes before crews from Cal Fire, San Miguel Fire and two other local departments were able to extinguish it.

 Luckily there was no one inside the church when the fire was set. But Federal Agents from the ATF and officers from the Sheriff’s Bomb and Explosives squad were called to the scene to investigate.

The fire caused close to $250,000 in damage and police quickly came up with and arrested a suspect. They charged Darin Williams, 38, suspicion of arson, burglary and hate crime, NBC reported.

Within days another hate crime in Compton leads to the arrest of three Latino men. The three men claimed to be part of a local gang targeted an African- American family they were trying to drive out of Compton, according to NBC News.

The sheriff’s office said that the three men wielded metal pipes and shouted racial slurs to intimidate a black man who had just moved into the area. One of the suspects allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim while he was allegedly being beaten by another man.

The three men, according to ABC News returned to the scene with 20 of their gang members. The large group surrounded the man’s home and continued to shout racial slurs calling them the N-word and telling them they were not allowed to live in the neighborhood.

Officials say the group have been intimidating the family or four, including two children, for several days by driving by their home, one suspect allegedly threw a beer bottle through one of the windows in the home.

Police arrested three suspects one of which is a juvenile; they face hate crime charges.

Hate crimes are not exclusive to Los Angeles, but it is a continuing problem that increased 15 percent last fall. When a person is charged with a hate crime in addition to another crime such as vandalism, intimidation and burglary, it adds up to a year of imprisonment to your original charges, depending on the severity, if you are convicted.

It takes extensive resources to investigate and combat hate crimes so the fines can costly and total up to $5,000 just for the hate crime.

These are charges that need to be taken seriously, and if you believe you have been wrongfully charged with a hate or any other crime, you must have a practiced attorney with the skills to build a highly effective defense. Los Angeles criminal attorney Robert Bernstein will dedicate his time and resources to making sure you don’t go to prison.

]]> http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/la-police-charge-four-for-hate-crimes/feed 0 http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/2000-dui-arrests-over-holidays http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/2000-dui-arrests-over-holidays#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:48:03 +0000 admin http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/?p=995 Los Angeles, CA- Los Angeles County DUI task force had a busy holiday season, arresting over 2,000 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during their annual holiday crackdown.

Holidays mean more people are traveling to visit family and friends. Many of these seasonal gatherings involve alcohol. And New Year’s Eve is the heaviest nights of drinking for the entire year.

Law enforcement agencies across the country are aware that the holiday season, which begins with Thanksgiving and ends on New Year’s Day, is one of the most dangerous periods on the road for alcohol-related crashes. In an effort to keep the roads safe, DUI patrols and checkpoints are increased. Los Angeles County is no different and their efforts were very successful this year.

Multiple agencies teamed up in an initiative they called “Avoid the 100.” In just 17 days, the task force arrested 2,443 people for suspicion of DUI through saturation patrols and checkpoints, down from the previous year, according to LAist.

Last year, during the same period, less two days, police arrested 1,773 individuals for DUI-related offenses. The drop is promising and means people decided to designate drivers or take a cab instead of get behind the wheel.

Few people realize how little alcohol it takes to push them over the legal limit. Even though you may not feel intoxicated, your blood alcohol level can be over the legal limit. Under California law you can be charged with intoxicated driving even if you aren’t over the legal limit of .08.

Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer can create a different set of legal problems, and can keep you tied up in the legal system. Just because you refuse to blow doesn’t mean you can’t be charge with a DUI.

If you happen to be under the age of 21, California had a no tolerance policy, which means you can be charged with DUI if your blood alcohol concentration is a mere .01.

Aside from the criminal charges of DUI, you also face numerous traffic infractions, adding to the headache of DUI. If your arrest was the result of an injurious or fatal traffic accident, the charges against you will mount and will adversely affect your future.

One of the biggest mistakes a person makes following an intoxicated driving arrest it to think they can handle the charges without legal representation. Without an advocate in court, a judge can give you the maximum sentence which will result in a jail sentence, loss of driving privileges, probation, and months in DUI School. While some of the penalties are unavoidable, such as alcohol and drug awareness classes and probation, a criminal attorney can help you avoid jail time and make it possible for you to keep your license.

Don’t make the mistake of facing these very serious charges without legal assistance. As a prominent Los Angeles criminal attorney, Robert Bernstein, is well-equipped to handle your DUI case. He is willing to help you with the criminal aspect along with helping you deal with the DMV. Don’t hesitate to call his office to set up a consultation.

]]> http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/2000-dui-arrests-over-holidays/feed 0 http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/homeless-woman-set-ablaze http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/homeless-woman-set-ablaze#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:10:35 +0000 admin http://bernsteincriminalattorney.com/?p=988 Van Nuys, CA- An elderly California woman is barely clinging to life after being set ablaze while she was sleeping on a bus bench in Van Nuys.

The 67 year-old homeless woman was a familiar fixture on the bus bench which sits on the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way.  People who worked in the area were used to seeing her; every morning she would go into the local Union gas station and purchase a pack of cigarettes. She often slept on the bench, but on Thursday her slumber was horrifically ended when a man used flammable liquid and set her on fire.

According to witnesses, a man walked into the Walgreens near the corner and purchased a bottle of rubbing alcohol, KTLA reported. The 28 year-old man then walked by the slumbering woman, dowsed her in the fluid, lit a match and set her on fire. He then fled.

But one witness, Erickson Impina quickly sprang into action and chased the man down.

“I was following him and then pulled out my cell phone. I called 911 and he just turned back on me and pulled out a knife and he told me ‘Stop following me or I will cut you,” Impina told ABC.

Impina was undaunted and continued to follow the suspect until police arrived and place him under arrest.

The woman suffered burns all over her and is listed in critical condition at a local burn unit. She is barely alive and authorities are worried she could die.

The suspect has been booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, but his charges could be changed to attempted murder, and if the woman dies he is facing homicide.

Police have not released the name of the suspect and still try to determine the motive for the heinous crime.

When Van Nuys residents awoke and heard of the tragedy they purchased poinsettias and placed them with candles along the bench in honor of the injured woman. The charred bench serves as a reminder of how hard life on the streets can be.

Crimes committed against the homeless are not unusual in Southern California.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a 55 year-old homeless man was also set on fire as he slept outside a donut shop in Southern LA County; police don’t have a suspect for this crime.

In October a Long Beach man was set afire when a passing motorist threw a bottle of flammable liquid at him outside a market.

And between Dec., 2011 and Dec. 2012, a former Marine, Itzcoatl Ocampo, murdered four homeless men and is currently awaiting trial.

While these crimes are very violent, a large fraction of people arrested in Los Angeles are charged with lesser crimes such as burglary, drunken driving and drug charges. And despite the severity of the crime a person is charged with they deserve to defend themselves in court.

For a solid defense, offenders must hire an accomplished attorney who will dedicate their time and energy to stopping your conviction. Los Angeles attorney Robert Bernstein has been providing his criminal defense services to LA residents for over two decades.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/04/local/la-me-1205-acid-bombs-20121205

The woman called police around 7 a.m. Sunday morning stating she found plastic bottles containing a blue liquid near her home. One of the acid bombs—small explosives made out of common household chemicals—went off while she was on the phone with authorities, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The bomb squad was dispatched to the home on Mainway Drive where they found several explosives scattered on the lawn and one placed in a tree. All of the bombs were deactivated.

Though the explosives were small, they have enough power to rip apart a person’s hand when held and can pierce eardrums.

The woman, who remained unidentified, told KTLA-TV that she believed the crime was racially motivated. But Kent McBride, Investigator for the Orange County bomb squad told the Los Angeles Times “there was no evidence” that this was a hate crime, since there was no graffiti or “the obvious intent to harm or terrify.”

Even if this particular incident may have not been racially motivated, California has a hate crime problem. In 2011, California had the highest hate crime rate in the country.

Being charged with a hate crime can result in additional jail time for those accused. If personal injury results from a biased crime or it involves firearms and explosives it can carry a penalty of an additional 10 years in prison. A person can get life or the death penalty if it involves kidnapping, sexual assault, or murder.

Serious offenses require superior legal expertise. Alleged criminal offenders need an attorney who has focused their practice criminal defense. Renowned Los Angeles attorney Robert M. Bernstein will provide the very best defense and be there for their clients during every stage of the legal process.

That May, Daniel ‘Dan’ Wozniak, Buffet’s fiancé lured one of his neighbors 26 year-old Samuel Herr to community theatre facilities on the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base where he and Buffet were appearing in a play together. Once Herr arrived, Wozniak allegedly shot him in the head twice before stealing Herr’s wallet and cellphone, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Later that evening, Wozniak is accused of using Buffet’s cell phone to send a text to one of Herr’s friends, 23 year-old Juri Kibuishi. Local CBS affiliate reported that Wozniak posed as Herr in order to lure Kibuishi to his apartment. Police believe he also shot her in the head twice and then removed some of her clothing to make the crime look like a sexual assault.

Wozniak allegedly staged Kibuishi’s murder in order to point the finger towards Herr.

After murdering Kibuishi, prosecutors say that Wozniak returned to theatre and allegedly cut of Herr’s head, left arm and right hand before dispensing of the body parts in the theatre parking lot and a nearby parking lot, LA Times reported.

Just a couple of weeks later, on May 26^th Wozniak was arrested for the gruesome murders while at his bachelor party at a Huntington Beach restaurant. Police are able to track him down through the stolen money.

Prosecutors believe Wozniak committed the murders to steal his savings so he could pay for his and Buffet’s wedding and honeymoon, which indicated premeditation.

Wozniak pled not guilty to the two murders and is awaiting trial. If he is convicted he could face the death penalty.

After a lengthy investigation, police arrested Buffet on November 20^th of last year and charged her with accessory to murder after the fact. But Buffet says she was duped and only guilty of being in love with the wrong guy.

“I’m innocent,” buffet told ABC News, “It was like the person I loved never really existed.”

However police believe she helped direct police to Herr as the murderer instead of her fiancé. They said she intentionally misled them during questioning after the murders. They don’t believe she aided Wozniak in the commission of the murders so she is only charged with accessory after the fact which carries a maximum penalty of four years in jail.

Although accessory to murder doesn’t carry the same weight as murder, it certainly isn’t charge a person wants on their record and avoiding a conviction will require a strong defense or a savvy attorney capable of negotiating for a plea bargain.

When you have been charged with any crime, regardless of the gravity, you need an attorney with extensive experience in criminal defense. Los Angeles criminal lawyer Robert M. Bernstein has aided numerous individuals with a range of criminal offenses avoid convictions and lengthy prison sentences.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/woman-pleads-not-guilty-to-helping-fiance-cover-up-murders.html

Los Angeles, CA- As thousands of shoppers crowded the Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach, a troubled man began shooting his semiautomatic handgun into the air. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed, but the gunman

Authorities said Marcos Gurrola, 42, began firing in the air around 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. He managed to shot off 50 rounds, sending shoppers scrambling.

One witness, Kateri Wonzy, told CBS Los Angeles, “I saw all of these people running and thought maybe some celebrity was in the back. But when I heard what sounded like a gunshot. And we all started panicking. I ran to where my car was. We were all just trying to get out of there.”

Another witness told CBS Gurrola was shooting wildly into the air and describe the terror they felt, “We were all so scared. Some people were crying. It felt like a horror movie.”

There were numerous bike patrols in the area to cut down on theft and police arrived almost immediately to diffuse the situation.

Following in the wake of the tragedy in Connecticut, when police received the call, they feared the worst. Orange County Police Deputy Chief David McGill told the Los Angeles Times all he could think was “Oh Gosh here we go.” But luckily no one was hit by a bullet and only one person was injured when trying to flee.

Gurrola was taken into custody and charged with firing at an inhabited building. McGill said they believed Gurrola was unemployed.

McGill also said they believe Gurrola began shooting to “vent” his frustrations and was possibly living in his vehicle. Gurrola was former armed guardsman for the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. His handgun permit expired in 2001.

There are conflicting reports about the charges Gurrola is facing. The Los Angeles Times reported he was charged with firing at an inhabited building while CBS reported he would be charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The final charges will depend on the discretion of prosecutors, but either charge could result in jail time.

Shooting at an inhabited building could result in 6 months to 10 years in jail or state prison, along with losing the right to own a gun.

In the wake of two deadly shootings, one in Oregon that killed two people and the school shooting in Connecticut which took the lives of 20 children and 7 adults, authorities will likely aggressively pursue tough sentencing for people who endanger the public.

These two tragedies also compelled gun owners in New York, San Francisco, Maryland, and New Jersey to turn in their guns in a buyback program paid for by an anonymous donor.

Though Gurolla’s actions did not result in injury, his possible charges are still very serious and will require a strong defense.

Defense attorneys have numerous ways to approach a case, either than can negotiate for a plea bargain or a court trial, depending on the circumstances surround an individual’s charges. Those charged with a felony need to retain an attorney with extensive knowledge of the California penal code. As a practicing criminal defense attorney, Robert M. Bernstein will work diligently on a case in order to give his clients a chance to avoid an unduly harsh sentence or avoid a conviction.

Los Angeles, CA- A quiet residential neighborhood in Los Angles was shocked Sunday when the bodies of two women and two men were found shot to death outside an illegal boarding house in what appeared to be a targeted crime. Now the men responsible for the crime have been arrested and are awaiting extradition.

Residents in the Northridge neighborhood where the two-story home was located called police hours before dawn Sunday morning after hearing screams and several gunshots. When police arrived they found four people lying on the ground besides the home, The Mercury News reported.

Councilman Mitch Englander told the Mercury News, “There was a lot of blood. It was a very graphic scene, a very heinous crime. It appears to be an isolated incident; it was not a robbery situation.”

The LAPD said they believed the murders were targeted and not part of a home invasion burglary. Over a dozen people lived in the home.

With little to go on, police issued an APB for a black Audi with a missing license plate. Just one day later police in Los Vegas located the Audi at a hotel and placed four men under arrest. They are now in the Clark County Jail awaiting extradition to Los Angeles. The LA Times reported.

The alleged gunman, Ka Pasasouk, was arrested for suspicion of murder, and three other men are facing charges of accessory to murder and committing burglary.

In some cases, murder is punishable by death, or life in prison. Accessory to murder also carries a severe penalty. No matter how serious a crime a person is accused of committing their freedom hangs in the balance.

 Los Angeles criminal attorney Robert M. Bernstein has years of experience handling criminal cases and his aggressive defense strategies can help you stop a conviction and help you maintain your freedom. If you have been charged with a crime, don’t wait, call for an immediate consultation.

After 12 years with the MLB, Dykstra retired and built a new career for himself as a financial guru, writing a daily stock picking column along with running several privately held companies. But Dykstra got in over his head when he purchased an $18 million mansion from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky that soon fell into foreclosure.

Between the foreclosure and 20 different lawsuits, Dykstra was broke and decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While he was going through the process, Dykstra hid assets from the bankruptcy trustee, and sold off sports memorabilia, earning him close to $15,000 in undisclosed income. Federal prosecutors also said he stripped the mansion of valuables such as high-end stoves, sconces and plumbing fixtures, all of which added to the value of the home.

Bankruptcy law requires that all filers honestly disclose their assets and any income they earn. However Dykstra was not honest with the court and was charged with bankruptcy fraud.

Amid other criminal charges which included drug possession and grand theft auto, which stemmed from an elaborate scheme to fraudulently purchase luxury vehicles. Dykstra made a deal with prosecutors; he would plead guilty to fraud and auto theft in exchange for having the drug charges dropped. The prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Dykstra to 2 ½ years in jail.

Dykstra was already serving 3 ½ years for the auto theft and on Monday a court gave him an additional 6 ½ months for fraud, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Bankruptcy fraud is considered a federal crime and the government has very effective prosecutors. People facing federal charges need an attorney who will effectively challenge the prosecution’s case. If you need an aggressive defense, you should contact Los Angeles criminal attorney Robert M. Bernstein immediately to begin building your defense.

The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to The Constitution gives every charged with a crime to present a defense and for that the accused needs an attorney. The accused can have a public defender or court appointed attorney, but there are a number of reasons why hiring a Los Angeles criminal defense firm will be beneficial to your case.

Personal attention can make all the difference, spending time with a client and careful questioning allows a lawyer the opportunity to learn about a case. This is the foundation of rigorous and effective defense.

While working with a client, a criminal attorney will be honest with the offender about the ramifications of pleading guilty without trial, inform them of the possible pre-trial diversionary programs, and negotiate with prosecutors for plea bargains and sentencing.

After years of litigation, defense attorneys are aware of how to present arguments that challenge the claims and evidence presented by the prosecution. Through their research skills, and knowledge of precedents from previous cases, attorneys are able to present convincing evidence that can help you avoid conviction.

If been accused of a crime and need help with your case you should contact the office Robert M. Bernstein for a consultation immediately.