Recent Posts in Violent Crime Category

A former insurance claims adjuster who was suspected of terrorizing women in the 1970s as the Westside Rapist has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for seven murders that were committed in two waves of killings and sexual assaults.

John Floyd Thomas was sentenced for the killings that took place in a area stretching from Inglewood to Claremont. Police describe him as one of the California's most prolific serial killers, saying that he is still a suspect in at least 10 to 15 additional murders.

Police said the sexual attacks targeted women who ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s, many of whom lived alone. He broke into their homes at night and raped and choked his victims until they passed out or died. His sentence was part of a plea deal with prosecutors that was described as an act of pragmatism rather than an act of mercy.

She noted that capital punishment was not legal in California when all but one of the killings Thomas admitted to were committed. She said the death penalty would not have been relevant in this case because Thomas would probably die in prison during his appeals, given his age.

Thomas was born in Los Angeles and was raised by an aunt and his godmother after his mother died when he was 12. He attended public schools, and briefly joined the U.S. Air Force in 1956. At Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, he received a dishonorable discharge. The next year, he was convicted of burglary and attempted rape, which put him in prison for nearly almost 10 years. After his release, police noticed a string of assaults on elderly white women. The attacker was dubbed the Westside Rapist at the time.

The attacks appeared to stop in 1978, when Thomas was convicted and sentenced to prison for the rape of a Pasadena woman. After his release in 1983, he moved to Chino, coinciding with a wave of rapes and killings that began in the Pomona Valley area.

The Westside Rapist faded from public memory and authorities made limited progress in the Claremont killings until 2004, when the LAPD matched male DNA taken from two of the crime scenes. The final break in the case came in October 2008, when two officers collected DNA from Thomas while trying to identify the so-called Grim Sleeper serial killer, who was linked to homicides in South Los Angeles starting in the 1980s. Several months later, detectives learned that Thomas' genetic profile matched DNA evidence from four of the killings he admitted in court.

Police will conduct an intensive investigation following a murder or sexual assault. Therefore, if you are criminally charged, you will need a skilled criminal defense attorney from Marks & Brooklier. Criminal defense lawyers  Donald Marks and  Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients for murder and rape charges for decades. They have the experience necessary to provide you with skilled criminal defense in all Los Angeles County Courts. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a murder or sexual assault charge, and with our firm you can feel condifent that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team. Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers are aggressive in the court room and look forward to defending your case. Contact us for a free case consultation.

A Garden Grove man was sentenced to four years, four months in a California State prison for kidnapping his daughter and assaulting her mother with a handgun in Lake Forest. The assault occurred during a custody drop-off in the mother's home, where Daniel Chomina was angered at seeing a male friend at the home.

He was accused of pointing a handgun at the girl's mother and her male friend at the home and then hitting the man with the gun. When the two locked themselves inside the home, Chomina broke in, took his 3-year-old daughter, and fled. A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge sentenced him to four years and four months in prison.

After driving away in his car, he called his former girlfriend and agreed to leave their daughter with his mother at an Anaheim restaurant. Chomina was facing 15 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of assault with a firearm, a misdemeanor count of being in possession of a firearm, and felony counts of kidnapping and first-degree burglary.

Kidnapping is defined as using force or threats of force to take a person against their will. Abducting an individual by force and holding them against their will could result in being charged for felony kidnapping. Regardless of your relationship to the victim, the consequences of your actions will be prosecuted aggressively.

If you have been charged or under investigation for kidnapping, it is critical that you obtain an experienced Los Angeles kidnapping criminal defense lawyer right away. At Marks & Brooklier, our law firm will specially design a top legal team who will defend you against these charges. Attorneys  Donald Marks and  Anthony Brooklier are skilled kidnapping criminal defense attorneys, who will ensure you receive the legal assistance you need to aggressively fight your criminal charges.  Call our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Los Angeles police used a Taser to subdue former USC football standout Everson Griffen after he assaulted a police officer during a traffic stop near the campus. Griffen, who is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, was booked on felony battery after the incident, which was reported at 30th and Hoover streets, in Los Angeles.

The incident took place during a routine traffic stop. Police asked Griffen for his license, which turned out not to be valid. Griffen then told them "he did not want to go back to jail" and sprinted away from the officers, who caught up with him after a short distance. When one of the officers tried to subdue him, he grabbed the officer in the groin area. Moments later, officers used a Taser to subdue him. Griffen was arrested in 2009 in Massachusetts on suspicion of breach of the peace.

If you or someone you know have been arrested for an assault and battery charge, this can lead to serious consequences. Due to the complexity and severity of this type of charge, you will want to have a skilled and experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer to defend you. At Marks & Brooklier, we have the experience you need to offer a criminal defense that can lessen the chances of your being convicted. In assault and battery cases, there can convincing evidence proving that you might have been acting in self defense. With decades of dedication to our client's needs, our highly trained legal staff will supply you with strong legal advice to best handle your criminal charges. We will review all evidence against you and conduct our own investigation as needed. If you find yourself facing assault or battery charges, it is best to confront it quickly and get the best legal counsel you can to direct your defense. Attorneys  Donald Marks and  Anthony Brooklier have been  successfully representing clients since 1976, and we can do the same for you.  Call our office anytime, 24/7, for a free case evaluation.

Two men arrested after a robbery in Fontana, California are believed to be responsible for an armed robbery of a Redlands restaurant and many other robberies in surrounding cities. Fontana police arrested David Richard McKinney and Jonathan Burnside, both of Highland, California, following an armed robbery and vehicle pursuit in Fontana. Police have linked the two men to similar robberies in Highland and San Bernardino.

Two armed men entered the Mediterranean Grill and demanded money from an employee at the cash register. The suspects fled in a silver sport utility vehicle. Redlands detectives said the suspects and vehicle from the Fontana arrest matched video taken from the Redlands restaurant and other surrounding businesses. The suspects are in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on numerous charges, including the Redlands robbery.

Because armed robbery is considered a violent crime, California judges and prosecutors tend to aggressively prosecute the accused. There are usually severe consequences for any robbery crime that can affect your life for many years. When our Los Angeles armed robbery criminal defense attorneys at Marks & Brooklier meet with you at our free initial consultation, we will carefully review all of the facts of your robbery case in order to properly advise you as to how we can best provide effective criminal defense on your behalf. Avoiding a conviction is always our goal, as we understand the consequences of serving a lenghtly prison sentenced can be to your family. Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have extensive experience in armed robbery arrest and we strongly encourage you to make an appointment to discuss how we can best defend you. Contact us today for your free consultation.

In Santa Ana, California, a Lake Forest man goes on trial on multiple felony charges of raping five women and sexually assaulting a sixth. The charges against Sekayi Rudo White, could result in a sentence of 119 years to life in prison if he is convicted of all counts. He is accused of 14 felony counts involving six women he met in bars, had been dating, or was acquainted with during a five-year span.

Prosecutors say that three of the victims initially were too frightened to report the sexual attacks, but called police after they read news accounts of his arrest in connection with the other three women. And one of the assaults took place after he was released on $250,000 bail. He has been in custody without bail since that incident in Lake Forest on March 31, 2007.

White is accused of forcible rape, assault with intent to commit rape, sexual battery, dissuading a witness and residential burglary, plus sentencing enhancements for committing sex crimes against multiple victims, using a deadly weapon, and committing crimes while out on bail. The six incidents according to prosecutors:

On March 31, 2007, a 28-year-old woman was drinking with a friend at Patsy's Irish Pub in Lake Forest. Prosecutors say he covertly followed the victim home, knocked on her door, and was allowed inside after she recognized him. He raped her after she passed out.

On Feb. 21, 2007, he broke into the home of a 22-year-old woman he had been dating, pushed her to the ground, and stepped on her chest as he removed her clothes. He is accused of forcibly raping the victim as he held a large hunting knife to her neck.

One night in January 2007, a woman renting a room from the victim in the Feb. 21 incident was attacked in her bedroom after he broke the lock on her door. He is accused of threatening to kill her if she reported the rape.

On Aug. 13, 2006, White met a 19-year-old woman at Atlanta Lounge in Huntington Beach, California. He offered to give the drunken victim a ride home, but instead drove her to his apartment and raped her.

On Dec. 23, 2005 White met a 44-year-old woman at the Fox Sports Grill at the Irvine Spectrum and offered to give her a ride home because she had been drinking. After arriving at her Newport Beach apartment, he asked to use the bathroom. Prosecutors say he ran out of the bathroom naked, tried to rape the woman while threatening to kill her if she told anyone, but she screamed anyway and he fled the scene.

In September 2002, White met a 22-year-old woman in driving school and asked her out for a date. He is accused of taking her to a hotel in Santa Ana and forcibly raping her while she was temporarily unconscious. After the attack, he is accused of harassing the woman, who did not initially report the incident,  by showing up at her work and home.

If you have been charged with a rape or any type of sex crime, you need the skilled defense services of a Los Angeles rape criminal defense attorney who has the experience and knowledge of this area of the law. At Marks & Brooklier, attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are qualified Los Angeles sex crimes lawyers who will aggressively defend you. Our skilled lawyers have handled high profile cases involving rape with great success and can do the same for you. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7, strictly confidential.

The bodies of Phong Le, 30, his wife, Ngoc "Trish" Lam, 25, and their son Tommy, were found in separate bedrooms in their Garden Grove home. They had been bound, gagged and stabbed multiple times. The couple's infant daughter, dehydrated but alive , was found next to the body of her mother.

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons argued that Le had borrowed $80,000 from Quan but never paid it back. That was the motivation for the murders, he said. Quan, who has two prior strike convictions for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in 1990, was sentenced by Orange County Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg.

Police will conduct an intensive investigation following a murder. Therefore, if you are charged, you will need a skilled homicide attorney from Marks & Brooklier. Murder criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been representing clients for murder charges for decades and have the resources and experience necessary to provide you with skilled criminal defense. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a murder charge, and with our firm you can feel condifent that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team possible. Our Los Angeles homicide and murder criminal defense lawyers are aggressive in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.

Two Santa Clarita, California residents responding to a Craigslist ad for a camera were robbed in Hollywood Nov. 20 by three suspects who blocked their vehicle and took all their personal belongings, including their cellphones and cash for the camera. The men wore ski masks and fled in a black BMW with no license plates. Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputies initially had little to go on except for the missing cellphones.

In the ensuing weeks, detectives found a similar incident that took place in the North Hollywood area, investigated by Los Angeles police. Electronic communications were used to identify a potential suspect. That led authorities to the vehicle used in the crime and the arrest Dec. 3 of Talin Shahin, of North Hollywood on suspicion of robbery. Aram Damirjian, of Canyon Country was also arrested just after he appeared in a San Fernando courtroom on an unrelated marijuana case.

During a search of Damirjian's residence in the 28200 block of Winterdale Drive, sheriff's investigators found evidence of a robbery as well as a marijuana growing operation in the garage that included 90 marijuana plants. Damirjian, who is free on bail, faces charges of drug cultivation in addition to robbery. Shahin is being held without bail at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Century Regional Detention Facility.

If you have been accused or charged with robbery or any type of violent crime, it is crucial that you obtain a qualified Los Angeles robbery criminal defense attorney immediately. A conviction for any type of violent crime in the State of California can result in a lifetime sentence in a California penitentiary.

Attorney's Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have represented clients for robbery and other violent crimes charges since 1976. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a violent crime charge, and with our firm you can feel condifent that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team possible. Our Los Angeles robbery criminal defense lawyers are aggressive and are well-versed in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.

The girl's parents, as well as her four siblings, were interviewed at the Santa Ana police station, where investigators learned that a 5-year-old and 8-year-old had also been victims. Police took Gary Gruber, into custody at his home in the 1200 block of East Fairhaven. He was arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, sexual penetration by threat of retaliation and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

Gruber met the girls' father about five years ago, while the two were serving time at Theo Lacy Jail and as the two went through the Phoenix House program for alcohol addiction.  A man with the same name and birth date as Gruber pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in 2005 and to misdemeanor hit-and-run and felony possession of a controlled substance charges in 2006, according to Orange County Superior Court records.

Gruber and the girls' father remained friends after their release, Bertagna said, and when the man and his wife went out on Saturday nights, they would leave their children in Gruber's care. Authorities believe the abuse began about three years ago, when the oldest victim was 10. Gruber began having her sleep in the bed with him overnight, Bertagna said. Police believe he molested the girl's younger sisters as well but not her two brothers.

Gruber told the girl that her parents would be mad at her if they learned what was going on, Bertagna said. He also claimed that he had just been awarded custody of his three sons from foster care and that he would lose them if she said anything, Bertagna said.

Los Angeles lewd & lascicious acts criminal defense attorneys, Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are exceptionally qualified to represent clients who have been accused of sex crimes with children criminal charges. Having the most skilled lewd & lascicious acts criminal defense lawyer will ensure you are provided with the defense you require to overcome the stigma and charges in your case. We provide our clients with the highest quality defense, including a dedicated legal team that is aware of how sex crimes with children charges can adversely affect your future. Marks & Brooklier has the experience necessary to present the type of defense that will allow a jury to view the facts without being caught up in the nature of the charges made against you.

Serving the Los Angeles & Beverly Hills areas since 1976, we have a thorough understanding of the complexity and details involved in defending against sex crimes against children charges. Our skilled and caring lawyers will provide you with the individual support and experience you need to fully understand the process and guide you through this difficult time in your life. Conact our office for a free, strictly confidential, consultation.

A Santa Ana man was charged with abducting and raping a 16-year-old girl as she was walking home from a fast-food restaurant. Police were led to Juan Humberto Avila, from DNA collected after he was convicted of a federal weapons charge in Ariznoa.

The girl was walking home after meeting friends at an In-and-Out Burger in Santa Ana about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2008, when her attacker jumped on her and punched her, according to prosecutors. Avila allegedly dragged the girl across the street while threatening to stab her to death if she screamed. He allegedly forced her behind large storage containers at the rear of a parking lot, where he repeatedly raped and sodomized the teenager before forcing her to orally copulate him.

Avila stole the girl's bank card before fleeing. She ran home and reported the assault to the Santa Ana Police Department. Prosecutors said DNA was recovered from the girl during a medical rape examination, but the case remained cold until recently, when the recovered DNA was matched to Avila's.

Avila is charged with felony sexual penetration by a foreign object by force and two felony counts each of forcible rape, sodomy by force and forcible oral copulation. He is also accused of inflicting great bodily injury and kidnapping. Avila has a previous strike against him from a 1997 conviction for participating in a criminal street gang. He faces a maximum sentence of 355 years to life in state prison if convicted. Prosecutors planned to request that Avila be held on $2-million bail.

If you have been charged with a rape or kidnapping, you will need the services of a Los Angeles rape criminal defense lawyer who has the special knowledge of this area of the law. At Marks & Brooklier, attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are qualified Los Angeles and Beverly Hills sex crimes lawyers to represent you. You will need the over 33 years of experience that our law firm can provide you with. Our legal team has handled high profile cases involving rape and kidnapping with great success and can do the same for you. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7, strictly confidential.

Authorities using DNA evidence have linked a 44-year-old convicted murderer and rapist on death row to a 1990 double homicide in Riverside County. Alfredo Rolando Prieto, who is already on California's death row and who recently received the death penalty for a murder in Virginia, was linked to the slayings of Stacey Siegrist, 19, and Anthony Gianuzzi, 21, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.

On May 5, 1990, a jogger discovered the victims’ bodies along a dirt power line access road west of the intersection of Canal and Alta streets in Rubidoux. The two were dating and had not been seen for nearly two days. Both had been shot once in the side of their heads and once in the back of their necks. Siegrist had also been sexually assaulted.

Earlier this year, Riverside County’s cold case unit submitted evidence from the crime scene to a private laboratory. The lab linked the DNA to Prieto. The department said it delayed notifying the public to ensure Virginia jurists were not influenced during the penalty phase of Prieto’s trial there. Prieto has been linked to nine murders and four sexual assaults, including the 1992 murder and rape of 15-year-old Yvette Woodruff of Ontario, the crimes for which he was sentenced to death. He is appealing his California death sentence.

In 2005, preliminary DNA tests implicated him in three 1988 Virginia slayings. Prosecutors from Fairfax County, Va., extradited Prieto from California to face trial for two of those murders. Prieto has operated with three other accomplices in the past, and authorities believe the Rubidoux murders involved one or two additional suspects.

If you have been arrested or under investigation for murder, it is important that you consult a Los Angeles homicide and murder criminal defense attorney immediately to begin planning of your legal defense. A conviction for murder can result in a lifetime sentence in a California penitentiary or even the death penalty.

Los Angeles Police will conduct an intensive investigation following a murder. If you are criminally charged, you will need an experienced murder criminal defense lawyer from Marks & Brooklier. Attorney's Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients for murder or homicide charges for over four decades. They have the skill necessary to provide you with an exceptional criminal defense. We will conduct our own thorough investigation of the facts and study all evidence obtained against you in order to present a strong defense. Our Los Angeles homicide criminal defense lawyers are aggressive and are well-versed in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.

Michael Dean Stephens, a 21-year-old, was convicted of murder in the 2007 Stevenson Ranch death of Joshua Pipho. Stephens was found guilty on one count of second-degree murder; however, the jury was unable to come to a decision on an attempted murder charge involving a second victim who was stabbed more than a dozen times but survived.

After the jury announced that it was deadlocked on the second charge, Judge Daniel Feldstern declared a mistrial. A decision on whether to retry the attempted murder count is expected to be announced later.

Pipho was among a group of young men who got into a fight with another group at a condominium complex on Nov. 24, 2007. The dispute got out of hand, as about 10 to 15 people were involved in the melee, which culminated with Pipho's killing. The Deputy District Attorney argued in court that Pipho, was stabbed and then run over by a car driven by Stephens. His sentencing is scheduled at North Valley Superior Court. He faces up to 17 years to life in prison.

Law Enforcement will conduct an intensive investigation following a murder. Therefore, if you are eventually charged, you will need an experienced homicide attorney from Marks & Brooklier. Criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been representing clients for murder charges for over four decades and have the resources and experience necessary to provide you with skilled criminal defense. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a homicider charge, and with our firm you can feel condifent that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team possible. Our Los Angeles homicide and murder criminal defense attorneys are aggressive and are well-versed in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.

A Rowland Heights, California woman was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in the 2007 deaths of her husband and two young sons in the family's townhouse. Manling Tsang Williams, could face the death penalty because the Pomona jury also found her guilty of the special circumstances of multiple murders and lying in wait.

On Aug. 7, 2007, Williams called police to report that she had come home from grocery shopping at 7:30 a.m. and found her husband and her children dead. At the time, neighbors said that Williams ran from her house screaming that her husband had been injured. When Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrived and searched the house, they found the bodies of Neal Williams, 27; Devon Williams, 7; and Ian Williams, 3. Prosecutors say Williams stabbed her husband to death with a sword and smothered their two sons, who were in their bunk beds in an upstairs bedroom, with a pillow. Manling Williams was arrested for the murders on Aug. 8.

A medical examiner testified during the trial that Neal Williams had been slashed and stabbed more than 90 times with a Samurai sword. The jury returned its verdict one day after closing arguments and final instructions. Testimony in the penalty phase now begins,  during which the same jury will have to decide between the penalty of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Police will conduct an intensive and thorough investigation following a murder. Therefore, if you are eventually charged, you will need a skilled homicide lawyer from Marks & Brooklier. Criminal attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been representing clients for homicide charges for three decades. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a murder charge, and with our firm you can feel confident that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team possible. We will conduct our own investigation of the evidence in order to present a strong defense. Our Los Angeles murder criminal defense attorneys are aggressive and well-versed in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.

In Santa Ana, California, jurors will begin deliberations in the re-trial of a Washington man accused in the cold-case murder of his estranged wife. William Gregory Mordick, 64, maintains he is innocent of the Jan. 22, 1983, slaying of Katherine O'Connell Mordick, a 28-year-old mother of two young girls. Katherine's body was found partially nude inside her Anaheim Hills home. Her throat had been slashed. There was no evidence of sexual assault and nothing was stolen from the home.

Authorities charged Mordick, who eventually moved with the couple's two daughters to Washington, with the crime in 2008. They said DNA technology not available in 1983 linked him to physical evidence at the crime scene. Deputy District Attorney Dan Wagner accuses Mordick of killing his wife that morning when he dropped by to pick up his daughters, ages 2 and 4 at the time, to bring them to a birthday party.

Mordick, who is charged with special circumstances murder for financial gain, was worried about paying approximately $124,000 in child support over a span of 16 years, Wagner said. By killing Katherine, Mordick could avoid the payments and gain full custody of his girls, he said. Forensic evidence – specifically blood found in several areas the home – links Mordick to the killing, Wagner said. He also accused Mordick of staging the crime scene, such as taking off his wife's clothing to make it appear she was sexually assaulted.

Mordick, who testified in his own defense, said he didn't kill his wife. He said Katherine was alive that morning when he picked up their children. Katherine's body was found the next day, when her brother and boyfriend came to the home, worried because Katherine wouldn't pick up her phone.

His defense attorney said his client is innocent, and that some of the forensic evidence was tainted or inconclusive. He pointed out that a deputy coroner's estimate of Katherine's time of death was in the afternoon, and Mordick last saw his wife that morning. Mordick was first tried for Katherine's murder last year. That first jury deadlocked 6-6.

Jurors in the re-trial, which is being held in the courtroom of Orange County Superior Court John D. Conley, heard closing arguments and were read jury instructions. The panel is tasked with deciding if Mordick is guilty of first-degree murder, meaning a killing made willfully, deliberately or with premeditation, or second-degree murder, a non-premeditated killing. If they convict him of first-degree murder, they also have to decide on the truth of the special circumstance of financial gain. Mordick's maximum penalty would be life in prison without the possibility of parole.

If you have been accused or charged with homicide, it is important that you obtain a highly qualified Los Angeles homicide criminal defense lawyer immediately to begin planning of your defense. A conviction for murder can result in a lifetime sentence in a California penitentiary or even the death penalty.

Los Angeles Police will conduct an intensive and thorough investigation following a murder. Therefore, if you are charged, you will need an experienced homicide attorney from Marks & Brooklier. Attorney's Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been representing clients for murder charges for three decades and have the experience necessary to provide you with an exceptional criminal defense. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a homicide charge, and with our firm you can feel condifent that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team possible. Our Los Angeles murder criminal defense attorneys are aggressive and are well-versed in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to put some sex offenders in prison for life at a bittersweet ceremony for family and friends of a 17-year-girl who was killed after being abducted while running less than seven months ago.

Chelsea's Law is named for Chelsea King, who was murdered by 31-year-old convicted child molester John Gardner. He was sentenced to life in prison fter pleading guilty to murdering Chelsea and 14-year-old Amber Dubois. "Because of Chelsea, California's children will be safer. Because of Chelsea, this never has to happen again," said Schwarzenegger, an early backer of the legislation.

The ceremony began under a light drizzle then gave way to sunshine at an outdoor theater in Balboa Park, where Chelsea played French horn for the San Diego Youth Symphony. Many of the 200 people in the audience carried sunflowers, her favorite flower.

Brent and Kelly King, who traveled from their new home in suburban Chicago, thanked lawmakers for speeding the bill through the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. Brent King said he was initially skeptical about the bill's prospects and had been preparing to sponsor a ballot initiative. Kelly King said the lawmakers were an example for young people.

The Kings, in an interview, said they plan to promote similar legislation in other states and have tentatively targeted Texas, Florida, Colorado and Ohio, the scenes of high-profile child abductions. They have not settled on a timetable.

The Kings have not been considering their new home state of Illinois for legislation because they want to shield their 14-year-old son Tyler from the spotlight. The avid baseball player has recently shown renewed interest in the game.

The Kings plan to use their nonprofit foundation, Chelsea's Light, to promote peer counseling programs  and to offer scholarships for college and other programs.

Chelsea's Law allows life without parole sentences for adult predators who kidnap, drug, bind, torture or use a weapon while committing a sex crime against a child. Life terms could be ordered for first-time and repeat offenders.

It also increases other penalties for child molesters, including requiring lifetime parole with GPS tracking for people convicted of forcible sex crimes against children under 14. Previous law permitted lifetime GPS monitoring, but most tracking ended when offenders leave parole.

Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, the San Diego Republican who spearheaded the Chelsea's Law legislation, said in an interview it would have resulted in a longer prison sentence, possibly life, and longer parole for Gardner in 2000 for molesting a 13-year-old neighbor. Gardner served five years of a six-year sentence and repeatedly violated parole. Supporters came to the ceremony wearing T-shirts with one of Chelsea's favorite quotations, "They can because they think they can," from the Roman poet Virgil.

If you have been arrested with a sex crime, you will need to consult a Los Angeles sex crime criminal defense lawyer who has the special knowledge of this area of the law. Attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are qualified Los Angeles and Beverly Hills sex crimes criminal attorneys to defend you. You will need the over 33 years of experience that our law firm can provide you with. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7, strictly confidential.

A Long Beach, California homeless man was found guilty of 22 counts including attempted murder, kidnapping and mayhem. He stabbed, slashed or strangled six women from February to May 2008; all of the victims survived. The homeless man who went on a crime rampage in downtown Long Beach that included slashing two women's throats was sentenced to 11 life terms and 433 years in prison.

Charles Juan Proctor was convicted of 22 counts including attempted murder, kidnapping for robbery and mayhem. He was accused of robbing various Long Beach businesses and one in Hawaiian Gardens for cash ranging from $35 to about $700. In the process, Proctor threatened, slashed, stabbed or strangled six female shop owners.

The prosecution alleged that Proctor left a 1/4-inch-wide gash on one woman's throat. In another incident, he stuck a knife into a woman's throat and turned it when she resisted, then repeatedly slashed her face.

The victims, of varying age and race, were attacked in beauty salons, a clothing boutique and a bridal shop. The incidents occurred between February and May 2008, most of them on consecutive days in late April. The crimes were linked to Proctor through DNA he left on a cellphone case at one of the crime scenes. The genetic material was matched to Proctor's records in Nevada, where he had been arrested and convicted for assaulting a woman with a box cutter in a Hooter's parking lot in Las Vegas in 2007.

Proctor will serve nine years in Nevada prison for his conviction there, then return to California for the rest of his terms. Victims spoke at Proctor's sentencing, saying they continue to be haunted and traumatized by the attacks.

If you have been accused or charged with attempted murder, robbery or any type of violent crime, it is crucial that you obtain a qualified Los Angeles criminal defense attorney immediately. A conviction for any type of violent crime in the State of California can result in a lifetime sentence in a California penitentiary.

Los Angeles Police will conduct an intensive and thorough investigation following a violent crime. Therefore, if you are charged, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney from Marks & Brooklier. Attorney's Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have represented clients for attempted muder, robbery and other violent crimes charges since 1976. It takes a dedicated legal team to fight a violent crime charge, and with our firm you can feel condifent that we will provide you with the highest quality criminal defense team possible. We will conduct our own thorough investigation of the facts and study all evidence obtained against you in order to present a strong defense. Our Los Angeles attempted murder criminal defense lawyers are aggressive and are well-versed in a court room setting and look forward to assisting you with your case. Contact us for a free consultation, 24/7.