California Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Javier Colon, convicted of first-degree murder in the throat-slashing death of his girlfriend, was sentenced to 25 to life last week.

Janelle Peralta was forced into their Irvine, California bathroom after an argument escalated into violence between the two. Colon had dropped their one-year old baby and the victim tried to save their child by running out of the apartment. She was ultimately forced into the bathroom and slashed and choked by Colon, who had slashed his own wrists and body dozens of times. Colon survived his own wounds but Peralta died. He was arrested and charged with Murder.

It is difficult to imagine the powerful grip of mental illness that could cause a person to perform these deeds on another person. I would guess that his lawyer tried to assert a mental defense, such as insanity, though it apparently didn't sway a jury in his favor.

Colon will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, since only a fraction of people serving 25 to-life ever are actually paroled.

To qualify for the death penalty instead of just life in prison without the possibility of parole, special circumstances need to be present. Some special circumstances include felony murder, murdering a peace officer, prosecutor or judge or multiple murders, among others. If you are convicted of murder with special circumstances, you will be on Death Row for years before being executed. If you are sentenced to murder without special circumstances, you will have to spend your life in prison. Whether you live in Santa Ana, Irvine or Newport Beach, if you are charged with murder, call an experienced murder defense attorney right away to assist you.

Continue reading " Life in Prison for Throat Slasher in Orange County " »

Guaranteed you're going to hear more about a synthetic spray which imitates the effect of cannabis when smoked.

Apparently, some Asian chemists stumbled upon this some years ago. It was commented on by a Clemson chemistry professor, Dr. John Huffman. He was doing a study on the effects of cannabinoids on humans. His comment on anyone smoking this stuff? "They're idiots".

The stuff is called K-2. It has a shorter high, has totally unknown short and long-term side effects and it is totally legal in the United States. Europe, however, has banned it. Don't worry, we'll ban it soon enough.

Marijuana, for better or worse, can cause cancer, if you smoke it long enough. If you drive with it in your system, you could be arrested and charged with DUI. If you are high on it and are driving with your child in your car, you could be arrested for child endangerment, since it impairs your judgment and reflexes.

if you are charged with marijuana possession or a related offense, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.

Continue reading " Fake Weed Gets You High Enough-Idiots! " »

An Orange County woman is waging a one-woman campaign to identify the man she says groped her while riding the Tower of Terror ride at Disneyland's California Adventure.

It seems the Anaheim Police aren't working quickly enough for this person. She bought a keepsake photo of herself on the ride and has tried to implicate a man seated next to her on the ride. The police don't say whether they have identified this person or whether he's given a statement. The alleged groping took place in the dark.

Groping is defined under the law as a form of sexual battery. Sexual battery can be punished as a misdemeanor or a felony under California law, section 243.4. In the event the person is caught and convicted, he would be looking at a probation sentence and counseling. The accused may want to assert mistake as a defense, or consent, as I discussed in a January 13 post to my blog concerning a rape case here in Orange County, or that the woman falsely accused him, in order to gain financial benefit by suing Disneyland for failing to protect her from harm. He may even use her photograph to show that he was not assaulting her in any way.

if you are charged with sexual battery, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you in preparing a defense.

Continue reading " Anaheim Disney Sex Groper Sought by Police " »