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Westside Rapist Sentenced to Life in Prison in Los Angeles

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:01:00 GMT

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.

Beverly Hills Movie Producer Pleads Guilty to Child Molestation

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:05:00 GMT

A Beverly Hills movie producer pleaded guilty to molesting a teenage girl he met on the internet through MySpace. Prosecutors in Orange County, California said Iren Koster, 62, met her on the website when she was 14 years old and starting chatting with her online on a regular basis.

He met the girl in person four times starting in 2007 after she was 15 and 16 years old, and had oral sex with her in his vehicle and at her residence. A person in the Internet community became concerned about their communication and alerted the Fullerton Police Department in 2009. Mr. Koster pleaded guilty to two felony counts of lewd acts on a child and two felony counts of oral copulation of a minor. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in a California state prison. His film credits include producing the movies "Invisible Kids" and "Mustang Sally's Horror House."

When an individual is arrested for any type of sex crime, it usually means they have attempted or have performed a sexual act on another person using force and against their will. Anyone accused of a sex crime is labeled a sexual offender, pervert or sexual deviant. A conviction requires a person to register with a sex offense registry for the remainder of their lives. Once you have labeled as a sex offender, it is difficult to remove the reputation. If you are convicted of a sex crime, you will be viewed with distrust by friends and neighbors. Securing employment will prove to be extremely difficult, even finding a place to live can be a huge challenge. Therefore, it is critical that you handle obtain the services of the best possible sex crime criminal defense attorney. At Marks & Brooklier, we are highly skilled Los Angeles Sex Crimes defense attorneys who know how to defend you against these charges.

Sex Crimes Attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have years of experience in handling all types of sex crimes cases. With our knowledge of sex crime laws and how the courts will prosecute these cases. we work closely with our clients to defend them from unwarranted charges. As experienced court litigators, we can bring your defense to trial if necessary. We offer legal defense representation for all types of sex crimes criminal charges including Prostitution, Sexual assault, Sexual battery, Lewd & Lascivious conduct, Rape, Statutory Rape, Indecent exposure and child pornography charges. Call our office for a free review of your case.

Garden Grove, California Man gets 4 Years for Kidnapping & Assault

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:40:00 GMT

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.

2 Men Arrested in Multimillion-Dollar Car Theft Ring

admin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:59:00 GMT

Two men were arrested in connection with what police call a complex, multimillion-dollar car theft ring. Kirsio Cruz, of Norco and Luis Marroquin, of Huntington Park, California were taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles after a long investigation. The men are believed to have stolen 26 cars valued at least $1.2 million by using fake documents to remove the actual lien holders from the vehicles' titles.

The men conspired to remove the lien holders using fraudulent notary stamps, fraudulent CHP stamps and fraudulent DMV stamps. The arrest were made at King City Auto Sales in Los Angeles. Police also served a search warrant at an unlicensed registration service in Los Angeles, where more evidence of fraudulent activity was found. The state attorney general’s office has filed multiple charges in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the men. CHP authorities said the theft investigation is still ongoing.

Regardless of what type of theft charges you are facing, our Los Angeles car theft criminal defense lawyers are confident we can assist you with your defense. We will aggressively approach your theft case with the intention of either having the charges lessened or getting the charges dismissed.

At Marks and Brooklier, we have successfully defended individuals since 1976 in all types of theft crimes including: burglary, robbery, commercial burglary, conspiracy, counterfeiting, grand theft, grand theft auto, petty theft, petty theft with prior, residential burglary, shoplifting, carjacking, forgery, embezzlement and white collar crimes. Contact our office to learn more about what we can do for you.

NFL Player Arrested for Felony Battery on Police Officer

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:11:00 GMT

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.

Adult Day Care Center Employee Pleads No Contest to Sexual Assaults

admin — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:23:00 GMT

A former employee of an adult day-care center in El Monte pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting three severely disabled women with the mental capacity of children. The plea came in exchange for an agreement with prosecutors that he be sentenced to no more than eight years in prison.

Juan Fernando Flores faced up to 27 years had he been convicted of all the charges, which included multiple assaults and the transmission of a sexual disease. The victims all have mental disabilities, including Down's syndrome. He worked as a cook and driver at the government-subsidized facility, then known as Healthy Start. After the arrest, he confessed to assaulting the three women. Police suspected there may have been other victims but did not have enough evidence to press more charges. Under the terms of the plea, Flores would have to serve 85% of the sentence and register as a sex offender upon release.

The criminal case was set for trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pomona. Instead, the judge set a sentencing hearing for which the victims and their families will be given an opportunity to describe the effect of the crimes on their lives. Several families pulled relatives out of the facility after the arrest, and police sent letters to clients' families suggesting they be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

When someone is accused or charged with a sex crime, it usually means that they have attempted or have performed a sexual act against another person using force and against their will. Anyone accused of a sexual assault is labeled a sexual predator, pervert or sexual deviant. A sexual assault conviction requires a person to register with a sex offense registry for the rest of their lives. If convicted of a sex crime, you will be viewed with distrust by neighbors and friends. Obtaining employment will be difficult. Therefore it is critical you handle this type of a charge with the best possible sex crime criminal defense attorney. At Marks & Brooklier, we are highly experienced Los Angeles sexual assault criminal defense attorneys who know how best to defend you against these charges. Attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients for decades and can do the same for you. Call our office anytime, 24/7, for a free case evaluation. All consultations are strictly confidential.

2 Arrested in Fontana, California for Armed Robbery

admin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:26:00 GMT

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.

Walmart Wallet Thief Gets 7 Years in Prison for Burglary

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:53:00 GMT

A man accused of stealing wallets from purses of several customers at Walmart has been sentenced to nearly seven years in a California state prison. Jose Bernardino Vargas, of Placentia, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of second-degree burglary. Three counts, including felony receiving stolen property, misdemeanor falsely representing himself to an officer and misdemeanor petty theft, were dismissed. He will be deported upon completing his sentence.

Bernardino Vargas was arrested at the Walmart at 2595 E. Imperial Highway after store security recognized him as the man suspected in carrying out several previous thefts. He followed potential victims and waited for them to turn away from their carts, grabbed their wallets from their purses and quickly left the area. In one case, he grabbed a wallet from a purse left inside a vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Bernardino Vargas was caught on store surveillance video, and when he returned to the store, employees notified Brea police. Police watched as he stole a wallet from another shopper's purse and was taken into custody. Along with the stolen wallet, police also discovered gift cards taken during the previous thefts in his car. Police said he admitted to the thefts during an interview. He also had an outstanding warrant for burglary and possession of stolen property.

With the many years we have been successfully representing our clients against burglary and other related theft charges, criminal defense attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are committed to providing you with the strongest defense to fight your charges. Having handled large and complex cases in all Los Angeles County courts, we are well-versed in effectively defending you for your theft crime charges, from initial investigation all the way through the court room. We understand the seriousness of these charges and the consequences they can have on your life. Contact a Los Angeles burglary criminal defense lawyer at our firm to find out how we can help you.

Orange County, California Man Accused of Raping 5 Women

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:01:00 GMT

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.

Anaheim, California Man Arrested for Manufacturing Methamphetamine in Aunt's Home

admin — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:29:00 GMT

An Anaheim, California man has been arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine in the living room of his 87-year-old bedridden aunt. The methamphetamine lab was discovered by police while conducting a welfare check on the elderly woman after her granddaughter to say she had not heard from her grandmother in three months, according to a statement by the Orange County district attorney's office.

Police arrested Thomas George Hogue, the caretaker of his aunt, who was confined to her bed in another room. He is being charged with one felony count each of manufacturing methamphetamine and elder and dependent adult abuse. If convicted, he faces a maximum of eight years in state prison.

A methamphetamine manufacturing conviction can be produce severe consequences. Therefore, it is critical that you discuss your case with an aggressive Los Angeles methamphetamine manufacturing criminal defense lawyer immediately. If you are facing any type of drug crime, you will need an experiences lawyer to take immediate action and to represent you at a bail hearing. Criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been able to successfully challenge evidence obtained improperly and have methamphetamine manufacturing criminal charges reduced, or even dismissed. When you retain Marks & Brooklier as your criminal defense lawyers, you can be assured you will have the best legal counsel representing you. Contact our office today for your free consultation.

California Gang Leader Sentenced to Federal Prison for Racketeering and Drug Distribution

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:05:00 GMT

A man identified as a drug kingpin and a key defendant in a federal gang sweep was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for overseeing the racketeering and drug activities of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens street gang. George Manuel Flores was arrested in 2009 as part of Operation Knockout, one of the nation's largest gang sweeps. He was labeled a leader in the Hawaiian Gardens gangs and was accused of ordering gang members to collect taxes from drug dealers in this Los Angeles county city. He pleaded guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy, being a felon in possession of ammunition and other drug charges. Flores was sentenced by a United States District Judge, who is presiding over the 57-defendant racketeering indictment. Prosecutors portrayed Flores as a drug lord.

As part of his guilty plea, he admitted to distributing mass quantities of drugs, including more than 30 kilograms of heroin, more than 4.5 kilograms of crack cocaine, more than 1.5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, more than 15 kilograms of narcotics that contained methamphetamine, and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

The investigation began after Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Ortiz was murdered in 2005 by a gang member he was attempting to arrest. In 2009, about 170 gang members were taken into custody in the massive operation. Flores is the last defendant to be sentenced in this federal prosecution. Marcos Romero was sentenced last November to 291 months in federal prison for being a primary wholesaler of narcotics. Brian Viramontes was sentenced in September to 210 months in federal prison for distributing narcotics. This case also revealed a link between the Nazi Low Riders and the gang. Frank Wayne Henley, a member of the Nazi Low Riders gang, was sentenced last November to 262 months in federal prison for supplying members of the Hawaiian Gardens gang with methamphetamine and heroin.

Federal crimes can be labeled as such by falling under federal legislation of Title 18 of the United States Code. A federal crime is defined as a crime that is either made illegal by falling under this legislation, or because of occurring on federal property. Federal crimes are normally investigated by the FBI and are tried in the Federal Court system. Federal courts have their own governing rules and regulations which are different from California State laws. If you are facing federal criminal charges, you will need to discuss your case with a federal criminal defense lawyer who has the special knowledge of this area of the law. At Marks & Brooklier, we have qualified Los Angeles federal criminal defense attorneys to represent you.

Federal criminal defense attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are uniquely qualified to represent you in court. They have represented defendants in virtually every major organized crime case prosecuted in Southern California. In 1980, Marks & Brooklier was lead counsel in the "Los Angeles Mafia" case in a major RICO conspiracy case. Conact our office anytime, 24/7, for a free case evaluation. All consultations are strictly confidential.

Law Office Manager Charged with Grand Theft by Embezzlement

admin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:20:00 GMT

In Tustin, Californa, in Orange County, a law office manager has been charged with embezzling more than $480,000, after prosecutors allege she used the money for her own personal pleasure. Donna Joy Henderson, has been arrested for 14 felony counts of falsifying records and a felony count of grand theft by embezzlement by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say between January 2003 and September 2009, she was responsible for all financial accounts for Rinos & Martin, LLP. She wrote 122 company checks that she deposited into her own personal bank account. Prosecutors say she used the embezzled funds to maintain a "lavish lifestyle," purchasing such things as timeshare properties, cruises, jewelry and collectibles from the Home Shopping Network, home improvements, an indoor sauna, and visits to pampered pet day spas and gambling.

To conceal her theft activity, prosecutors say she falsified the firm's financial records, recording the stolen checks as "void" and altering monthly statements from the bank. Tustin police detectives began investigating the reported theft after a new accountant hired by the firm noticed that one of the checks had been marked "void" and made payable to herself. If convicted, Henderson faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in a California state prison.

Regardless of what type of theft charges you may be facing, Los Angeles grand theft criminal defense lawyers at Marks & Brooklier are confident they can successfully assist you with your defense. Attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier will aggressively approach your criminal case with the intention of either having your charges lessened or getting them dismissed altogether.

At Marks and Brooklier, we are successful Los Angeles embezzlement criminal defense attorneys who have been defending clinets since 1976. We also represent clients in all types of theft crimes including burglary, commercial burglary, conspiracy, counterfeiting, grand theft auto, petty theft, petty theft with prior, residential burglary, shoplifting, and white collar crimes. Call our office anytime, 24/7, to discuss your case with a skilled attorney who can help you.

Sylmar, California Man arrested for Running a Methamphetamine Lab

admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:16:00 GMT

Los Angeles police arrested one person at a suspected methamphetamine lab in Sylmar, California, where SWAT officers confiscated narcotics and weapons and evacuated part of the property. The unidentified suspect was being held morning on narcotics and weapons charges, said LAPD’s gang and narcotics division.

The investigation into the home on the 13700 block of Polk Street began with a tip received by narcotics detectives at the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill division. Foothill detectives went to the home and found nine people there. Eventually bomb squad and Special Weapons and Tactics officers were called out, along with several Los Angeles fire trucks. Officers seized a rifle, a silencer and a stolen car and were beginning to search an evacuated part of the property.

Because of the severity of the sentencing that can occur with a methamphetamine conviction, it is important that you consult an aggressive Los Angeles methamphetamine criminal defense lawyer immediately. If you have been arrested for any type of drug crime, you will need an attorney to take immediate action on your behalf to represent you at a bail hearing and proceed with the necessary actions to move your case forward. Criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been able to challenge evidence obtained improperly and have charges reduced, or even dismissed. When you retain Marks & Brooklier as your criminal defense attorneys, you can be assured you will have the best counsel representing you. Contact our office today for your free consultation.

Chico, California Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

admin — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:19:00 GMT

A San Diego FBI Special Agent announced the arrest of Amado Nicholas Hernandez, of Chico, California. Hernandez was arrested as he arrived on board a cruise ship at the Port of San Diego. Hernandez was arrested by FBI Agents based on information developed from an investigation conducted by the Sacramento FBI. According to the affidavit in a federal criminal complaint filed, Hernandez is alleged to have received and possessed child pornography in violation of federal laws.

In the summer of 2010, the Sacramento Division of the FBI received information from a deputy of the Glenn County Sheriff’s Department regarding a computer he received from a concerned citizen. The citizen had received the computer at an estate sale in Chico, California. The computer had been given away by a woman holding the sale because the computer was thought to be broken. The person who received the computer was a technician who was able to repair the computer. Once the computer was repaired, the citizen discovered images of child pornography on the hard drive and promptly turned the computer over to law enforcement.

A law enforcement forensic review of the computer revealed that there were approximately 450 still images files of child pornography and approximately 250 video files of child pornography on the computer. Additional review of the computer and address checks for the estate sale residence linked Hernandez to both the computer and residence. The still and video images found on Hernandez’s computer were forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which compared those files with images of known child pornography victims. NCMEC subsequently reported that 43 of the submitted videos files were of known child victims from 15 different identifiable series of child pornography. They also reported that there were 72 child pornography still images from 35 different identifiable series of child pornography. As there were some video and image files from the same series, there were a total of 44 different child victims who appeared in video or image files on the abandoned computer.

A federal arrest warrant was authorized by a U. S. Magistrate Judge from the United States District Court, Eastern District of California, charging Hernandez with receiving and possessing child pornography. Hernandez was booked into the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Metropolitan Correctional Center in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles child pornography lawyers at Marks & Brooklier are qualified to defend individuals who have been accused of child pornography or any related sex crime. Having the most skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney will ensure you are provided with the defense you require to overcome the these charges. We provide our clients with the highest quality defense that includes a skilled legal team that is aware of how these charges can affect your future. Child pornography lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have the experience necessary to present a defense that will allow a jury to view all the facts without judging you based soley on emotion. Contact our office for a free case evaluation.

Man Gets Life Without Parole for Killing 3 Family Members

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:24:00 GMT

In Santa Ana, California, a Houston man was sentenced to three terms of life in prison without parole for murdering a husband, wife and their 6-year-old son in a crime prosecutors say was motivated by an $80,000 unpaid loan. Quang Van Quan, was found guilty of three counts of murder with special circumstances for the killings of three members of a family, which happened a few days after Memorial Day 2006.

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.