California Legal Blog

Charged with federal drug trafficking under 21 U.S.C. § 841 in San Francisco? Learn how the Northern District prosecutes fentanyl and other drug cases and w...

Extortion under California Penal Code § 518 means obtaining money, property, or an official act through the wrongful use of force or fear a straight felony carrying 2, 3, or 4 years. In San Francisco’s business environment, the contested question is where a legitimate demand ends and a criminal threat begins. Learn the elements, the five threat categories, penalties, and the defenses that work at 850 Bryant.

Your child was arrested in San Francisco. Learn how SF's juvenile court works under W&I § 602, restorative justice options, diversion programs, and how to prot...

Facing murder charges under PC § 187 in San Francisco? Learn how SFPD's Homicide Unit and the SF DA build these cases, what SB 1437 means, and how defense attorneys fight back.

Charged with violating a restraining order under PC § 273.6 in San Francisco? Learn about EPOs, CPOs, DVROs, how violations are prosecuted in SF, and your defense options.

Facing fraud or embezzlement charges under PC § 484 in San Francisco? Learn how the SF DA's Economic Crimes Unit prosecutes Financial District and fintech fraud ...

Charged with carrying a concealed weapon under PC § 25400 in San Francisco? Learn how SFPD enforces California's CCW laws, SB 2's sensitive places, and w...

Charged with robbery under PC § 211 in San Francisco? Learn how the SF DA's Violent Crimes Division prosecutes BART, rideshare, and street robberies, and what d...

Facing burglary charges under PC § 459 in San Francisco? Learn the difference between residential and commercial burglary, Three Strikes exposure, and how defense attorneys fight these cases.

Charged with grand theft under PC § 487 in San Francisco? Learn how the $950 felony threshold works, how SF's retail crime environment affects charging, and your defense options.

Facing assault or battery charges under PC § 240 or § 242 in San Francisco? Learn how SFPD builds these cases, what self-defense means in SF courts, and your defense options.

Charged with drug possession under HS § 11350 in San Francisco? Learn about Prop 47, PC 1000 diversion, SF's treatment-focused approach, and how to protect yo...

Arrested for DUI in San Francisco? Learn how the SFPD and SF DA build VC § 23152 cases, what your 10-day DMV deadline means, and how experienced defense attorneys fig...

Where California Law Draws the Line Between a Legitimate Demand and a Criminal Threat and How That Line Is Contested in Santa Clara County The line between a legitimate legal demand and criminal extortion is thinner than most people realize and in Santa Clara County's high-stakes business enviro...

18 U.S.C. § 1028A: The Mandatory 2-Year Consecutive Sentence, How It Is Used in Silicon Valley Cases, and What Defense Options Exist One charge. Two years. Mandatory. Consecutive. No exceptions. That is the core of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A aggravated identity theft. The statute exists not primarily to...

W&I § 602, Santa Clara County's Juvenile System, Diversion Options, and How to Protect Your Child's Record and Future Your Child Was Arrested in San Jose. What Happens Now? The most important thing to understand about a juvenile arrest in Santa Clara County is that the system moves fast and the...

What the Charge Means, How Santa Clara County Prosecutes These Cases, and Why Defense Must Begin Immediately PC § 288 charges carry consequences that extend far beyond any prison sentence. A conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 results in mandatory Tier III sex offender r...

18 U.S.C. § 1956: The SUA Requirement, Three Theories of Prosecution, and How Silicon Valley Cases Are Defended in the Northern District Federal money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 is not a standalone crime it is always charged on top of something else. The ‘something else' is a Specified Un...

PC § 187: Degrees of Murder, the Felony Murder Reform, Self-Defense, and Why the First 48 Hours Define Every San Jose Homicide Defense Murder is the most serious charge in California criminal law and the most consequential decision point in any murder defense is the first 48 hours after arrest. ...

PC § 273.6: Types of Orders, How Violations Are Charged, and What Defense Options Exist in Santa Clara County A restraining order violation in San Jose can be charged as a misdemeanor or, in some circumstances, a felony and it can be prosecuted even when both parties agree the contact was welcom...

First vs. Second Degree, Three Strikes Exposure, Firearm Enhancements, and How Defense Attorneys Fight Robbery Cases in Santa Clara County Robbery is not like other theft charges. You cannot negotiate it down to a misdemeanor. There is no diversion program. There is no wobbler option. Robbery un...

26 U.S.C. § 7201: How IRS Criminal Investigation Builds Tax Cases in Silicon Valley and What Defense Attorneys Do About It IRS Criminal Investigation IRS CI is one of the most effective federal law enforcement agencies in the country. Its agents are trained forensic accountants with subpoena pow...

How 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and § 1343 Are Prosecuted in Silicon Valley's Northern District and Why Every Email Can Become a Federal Count A venture-backed founder sent emails to investors describing their company's technology capabilities in terms that proved overstated. Or a tech executive authorized...

PC § 484 in Silicon Valley: How Business Disputes Become Criminal Cases and What Defense Attorneys Do About It Your startup's co-founder filed a police report claiming you diverted company funds. Or a former client alleges you misrepresented your product's capabilities to secure their investment...

What California's Concealed Carry Law Means, How SJPD Enforces It, and What Defense Options Exist After a Weapons Arrest in Santa Clara County California has some of the most restrictive firearm carry laws in the United States. Following the Supreme Court's 2022 landmark decision in New York Sta...