Southern California Criminal Lawyer Blog

North Long Beach Resident Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shooting Code Enforcement Officer in Face During Standoff

June 18, 2015 | by The Justice Firm

On Tuesday, June 16, 53-year-old Anthony Glen Gorospe was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading no contest to one charge of attempted murder and two counts of assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm, according to a news article at the Press-Telegram.

Gorospe, a resident of North Long Beach, allegedly fired at the city code enforcement inspector from inside the door at his residence, resulting in the loss of sight in the inspector’s left eye during a standoff that lasted nearly seven hours. The incident occurred in July of 2012 when the city inspector and a cleaning crew arrived at his home to begin cleanup after Gorospe had received numerous code violations. Gorospe held police and the inspector at bay for hours, and reportedly shouted at officers asking them to kill him during the standoff while he barricaded himself inside his home.

Gorospe was a reported hoarder, neighbors claiming that some of the rooms inside his home was filled with debris from the floor to the ceiling. However, many neighbors reported that Gorospe was a friendly man, and that he was kind to children. Some appeared in court to request that instead of prison, Gorospe be given psychiatric help. Brett Bush, the victim who was shot in the eye, stated to news reporters that he and the officers were only there because neighbors had asked them to come out. Bush said that at the time, he didn’t know if he would live or die.

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Retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Bascue Booked on Suspicion of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer

June 12, 2015 | by The Justice Firm

Recently, James Bascue, a retired judge who left the LA Superior Court bench eight years ago, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer following a standoff in the Sawtelle community, according to a news article at the Daily News.

Los Angeles Police Dept. spokeswoman Officer Liliana Preciado said Bascue was being held on $100,000 bail at the time of reports. Police were called by the judge, who is now 75 years old, on Thursday to a townhouse located in the 1900 block of South Barrington Avenue; Bascue claimed he was a hostage at the townhouse, where police found him sitting on a couch armed with two guns upon looking through a window of the home. When police attempted to make contact with Bascue, he allegedly began loading a gun and magazines, firing a shot toward officers through the window, as well as a shot inside the home. Preciado confirmed that no one was hurt during the incident.

SWAT officers were called to the scene, however Bascue eventually walked out of the townhouse after calling a neighbor, who convinced him to come out. No others were inside the townhouse and no other suspects found.

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Antelope Valley High-Speed Chase Ends in Arrest of Woman

February 19, 2015 | by The Justice Firm

On Wednesday February 18, a woman whose name was not revealed in news reports was handcuffed and taken into custody following a high-speed chase on Antelope Valley Freeway and Pearblossom Highway, according to articles at the Daily News. California Highway Patrol officers became aware of the situation after noticing the woman weaving in and out of lanes, and speeding in a Chrysler 300.

The pursuit continued for approximately 25 minutes with the woman reaching speeds of 85 mph in the northbound lanes and continuing onto streets in Palmdale before finally coming to an end near Adela Court just before 1:30 a.m.

Initially, the woman slowed down as the officer attempted to pull her over, however she fled the scene which led to the high-speed chase. Once the chase came to an end, the officer administered a field sobriety test, and took her into custody. News reports do not indicate whether the woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI, reckless driving, or another offense.

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Tragic Bus Accident in Redondo Beach Takes Life of Elderly Man

February 6, 2015 | by The Justice Firm

Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys know that deadly accidents occur every day on roadways in the Los Angeles and Redondo Beach areas. Tragically, a recent accident involving a South Bay bus left an 83-year-old man dead at the scene, while his companion, a woman thought to be in her 70s, sustained serious injuries and had to be hospitalized.

At the time of news reports, authorities were not certain of the identities of the elderly man and woman. According to Sgt. Shawn Freeman, spokesman for the LA Dept. of Transportation which operates the bus involved in the accident, all that was known was that the couple was walking together when the incident occurred. It was not known at the time if the couple was married.

A CBS news report said that the bus was making a left-hand turn in the 1700 block of S. Catalina Avenue when the couple was struck as they crossed the street at about 6:30 p.m. Both were pinned under the bus, although police were not certain of whether the couple attempted to cross after the bus entered the intersection to make the turn, or were already crossing when the bus made the turn. The two were the only ones who were struck by the bus and sustained injuries, according to the report.

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Los Angeles’ Violent Crime Spike Attributed to Increase in Domestic Violence

January 22, 2015 | by The Justice Firm

In 2014, Los Angeles saw a significant jump in violent crime; in fact, it was up 14.3%, according to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Mayor Eric Garcetti in a January 12 news report at NBC4.

According to Beck and Garcetti, the biggest factor in the increase in violent crime was the rise in domestic violence cases. The mayor claims Los Angeles is safer than it has ever been, and that part of the reason for the unflattering statistics and increase in certain violent crimes is the fact that LA is growing. Property crime was down nearly 5% in 2014, and is the most common offense in the Los Angeles area.

The primary drivers for increases in violent crime include not only an increase in situations involving domestic violence, but the switch of some misdemeanor assaults to aggravated.

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No One is Above Being Indicted for a White Collar Crime

December 11, 2014 | by The Justice Firm

As experienced Los Angeles white collar crime defense attorneys, we know that regardless of career or social standing, anyone can be accused of or indicted for a white collar crime. These offenses are generally those that are financially motivated, and typically do not involve violence. Still, the criminal penalties if convicted are often extremely harsh, and even life changing.

Anyone who is familiar with the reality show “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” is probably well aware of the fact that Joe and Teresa Giudice have been indicted in nearly 40 federal charges including wire and bankruptcy fraud, conspiracy to defraud lenders, and more. Charges like these can result in decades behind bars for those found guilty. Unfortunately, there are white collar crimes they may be unknowingly or at least not intentionally committed, such as failure to file a tax return. We are all humans, and mistakes can be made!

Various white collar crimes include:

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Chino Three Vehicle Accident Leaves Five Dead

October 9, 2014 | by The Justice Firm

Five days ago, a fiery three car collision ended with the tragic loss of five lives in Chino. According to a news article at CBS Los Angeles, four of the deceased victims were friends who graduated from Roosevelt High School.

Crews were dispatched to the scene at Pine Avenue between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. on Friday, according to the Chino Police Dept. The vehicles involved included a 2013 Honda Accord, a 2002 Honda Civic, and a 2000 extended cab Chevy truck; authorities reported that two of the vehicles were engulfed in flames.

The speed limit in the area is 25 mph. News reports indicate that the roadway in the area where the accident occurred is rough, narrow, and extremely busy. Police stated that there were four men in the Chevy truck, and that it crashed into the k-rail before catching fire and causing a chain reaction with the other two vehicles.

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Four People Lose Their Lives After Truck Jackknifes on Interstate 10

June 6, 2014 | by The Justice Firm

On May 21 of this year, an accident involving a truck carrying steel pipes triggered a bus accident that left four people dead. According to a report at U.S. News & World Report, a flatbed truck was hauling steel pipes on a remote stretch of Interstate 10 that links Arizona and Southern California when it drifted into the dirt median causing it to jackknife.

When the truck jackknifed, its load of steel pipes scattered across the highway in an area that is not adequately lit. According to California Highway Patrol Lt. Cmdr. Gustavo Guzman, the driver of the truck was driving on a section of highway where the speed limit is 70 mph when he attempted to pass vehicles that were moving at a slower speed. He lost control when his truck drifted onto the dirt.

A bus traveling from El Paso, Texas to Los Angeles carrying 33 passengers struck a load of the steel pipes, which caused it to overturn after sliding down an embankment. Four passengers of the bus were killed; at least seven others were seriously injured, according to news reports. The steel pipes were scattered across all east and west bound lanes. Two other vehicles struck the pipes, however there were no injuries reported in those incidents. The driver of the truck was not identified; neither he nor the driver of the bus was injured.

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Orange County Deputy Recognizes Attempted Robbery Suspect While Viewing Surveillance Footage

May 4, 2014 | by The Justice Firm

On Monday April 28, a San Clemente man was arrested after being viewed in surveillance footage and recognized by an Orange County sheriff’s deputy. The man was allegedly attempting to rob a CVS Pharmacy just before 5 p.m. in the 600 block of Camino De Los Mares, according to a news article at the Orange County Register. The man, whose name was not revealed in news reports, allegedly had a handgun in his waistband as he attempted to get the pharmacist to give him drugs, according to Lt. Steve Gill of the OC Sheriff’s Department. Instead, the pharmacist and suspected robber became involved in an argument, which led to the suspect leaving the store empty handed. A deputy who was later viewing surveillance footage of the CVS attempted robbery recognized the suspect as someone he had encountered in the past, according to Gill. Authorities went to the suspect’s home; after positively identifying the man through witnesses, he was arrested. Deputies also recovered the handgun that was believed to be the gun used in the attempted robbery. The suspect was booked into jail on Monday evening. What will the suspect likely be charged with, if anything? It really hinges on whether the man has a prior criminal history, and the decision of the district attorney. Robbery is a felony offense that if convicted, will leave the defendant facing between two and nine years in prison. In the majority of cases, the penalties a defendant will face for attempting to commit the crime of robbery are approximately half of the penalties for actually committing robbery, so the suspect could fact between one and 4 1/2 years in prison. Of course there are exceptions, and the outcome of this case will depend on additional details not made public. The crime of robbery in California, according to CA Penal Code 211, involves using force or fear to take another individual’s property from his or her presence or person. Because robbery generally involves threats, violence, or force, it is considered a violent criminal offense. Increased penalties may be applicable in cases where the defendant is accused of possessing or using a weapon or firearm either in the attempt or actual commission of the crime. Anyone who is accused of robbery or attempted robbery should consult with a capable criminal defense attorney early on; in fact, this is one of the most vital steps a suspect can take to protect his or her freedom and future. Although the suspect in this case was identified by an Orange County sheriff’s deputy and others, it does not presume his guilt. In fact, the U.S. Constitution protects individuals who are suspected of crimes by presuming all who are accused are innocent until proven guilty. In order to be found guilty of attempted robbery, the prosecutor will have to prove all elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Be sure your legal rights are not violated and that you have the best possible chance of obtaining good results by contacting a highly experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. Regardless of the evidence, there are legal options that can minimize the damage to a defendant’s reputation, career, and future.

California Crimes: Misdemeanors, Felonies, and ‘Wobblers’ – Understanding the Difference

April 11, 2014 | by The Justice Firm

As seasoned Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, we understand that many people do not really know the difference between a misdemeanor and felony offense. In California, there are also criminal offenses that are classified as “wobblers,” which simply means that the crime may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, at the prosecutor’s discretion.

Generally speaking, misdemeanors are crimes that would be considered less serious than felonies, and are punishable by a maximum of one year in a county jail. Felony offenses are those that are more serious, and incur penalties which include one year or more in state prison.

What are the most common crimes which are usually charged as misdemeanors? There are really two categories of misdemeanor crimes, standard and aggravated. Examples of standard misdemeanors include public intoxication and petty theft. Aggravated misdemeanor offenses include simple assault, simple battery, and DUI (driving under the influence). The criminal penalties for a conviction on a standard misdemeanor offense include fines of up to $1,000 and a maximum of 6 months in county jail.

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