Director Roman Polanski, who fled the U.S. 30 years ago to avoid prison in a child sex case, has taken the unusual step of petitioning the court from outside the country to dismiss his case.

Polanski’s petition is based on a documentary film that aired on HBO in June that alleged misconduct by both a prosecutor and Polanski’s original trial judge. The director’s attorneys included a DVD, script, and reviews of the documentary in their motion.

Polanski fled the country in 1978 after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful intercourse with a minor.  He served a short stint in jail for “evaluation” before sentencing, then left the country when it became apparent that the prosecutor and judge were preparing to renege on a plea agreement that guaranteed he would spend no more time in prison.

Because Polanski is a fugitive, he would be arrested immediately upon stepping foot on U.S. soil. However, representatives from both the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Superior Court have indicated that they believe Polanski must appear in court to make his unusual request.

Whether Polanski will prevail in his effort to have his case dismissed remains to be seen. If he can prove judicial or prosecutorial misconduct, he may have a chance at having his case dismissed, but only if the impasse created by Polanski’s fugitive status can be overcome.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s 19-year-old son, Esteban Nunez, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Nunez was arrested in Sacramento on a murder warrant issued in San Diego. He is accused in connection with the stabbing death of a 22-year-old college student during a fight at a party. Three other 19-year-old men are also charged with murder in the case.

Fabian Nunez declined to comment to the media on his son’s case and referred all inquiries to his attorney. That’s a smart move in a high-profile case - statements made the to the press can harm a defendant’s chances at trial.

Murder is obviously an extremely serious charge that carries harsh repercussions, but any California criminal charge has the potential to negatively impact your life and your future. If you’re facing a California criminal charge, you need an aggressive defense lawyer with the advanced skills to fight for you.

With offices throughout California, an experienced defense attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm is ready to review your case and help you to determine your next move. Please contact us today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 3% [?]

A woman who teaches driver’s ed to teenagers in Northern California was arrested on suspicion of DUI / DWI in Sacramento.

Bathsheeba Thomas, an instructor for Bond Driving School, was arrested for DUI / DWI during the early morning hours by a California Highway Patrol officer.

DUI / DWI arrests sometimes occur after a traffic stop for an unrelated moving violation, although it’s not clear why the CHP officer stopped Thomas. However, police must have probable cause to both initiate a traffic stop and make a DUI / DWI arrest.

If you’re facing a California DUI / DWI charge, your defense lawyer should thoroughly analyze your case to determine whether police had probable cause to pull you over and place you under arrest.

An experienced California DUI / DWI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm is ready to review your case and determine the appropriate challenges. Please contact a skilled California DUI / DWI lawyer today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Actress Heather Locklear has been charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs stemming from her arrest in Santa Barbara two months ago.

Locklear is accused of driving while under the influence of legally prescribed drugs. Investigators found no alcohol or illegal drugs in her system.

Many drivers don’t realize that they can be arrested for DUI even after taking drugs legally prescribed by a doctor. The issue in these cases is whether the driver was impaired, not whether the drug is legal or illegal.

If you’re facing a California drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs charge, an experienced DUI attorney will do everything possible to protect you from the consequences of a conviction.

To learn more about aggressive defenses to driving under the influence charges, please contact a skilled California DUI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 29% [?]

A driver accused of being under the influence of drugs and sending text messages when his truck struck and killed a teen on a bicycle in Huntington Beach has been indicted on felony charges.

Jeffrey Francis Woods, 21, faces felony charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving under the influence of drugs.  Prosecutors allege he was under the influence of Vicodin and Xanax at the time of the crash.

Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases can be challenging for both the prosecution and the defense, because tests used to detect drugs cannot determine when the substance was ingested - only its presence in the body. The prosecutor will argue that the driver was impaired behind the wheel, while the defense will argue that the driver wasn’t impaired.

If you’re facing a California driving under the influence charge, you need a skilled defense lawyer who will take an innovative and creative approach to fighting your case. An experienced California DUI lawyer from The Kavinoky Law Firm has the knowledge needed to aggressively fight for your rights. Please contact us today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 31% [?]

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected appeals by two Californians convicted of capital murder who asserted that videos prepared by the victims’ families prejudiced jurors against them.

The justices ruled 6-3 to uphold the murder convictions of Douglas Kelly and Samuel Zamudio. Each was sentenced to death after jurors saw videos prepapred by family members that commemorated the victims’ lives.

Although these appeals were unsuccessful, California criminal convictions can sometimes be overturned on appeal. Of course, the surest way to avoid the penalties of a California criminal charge is to avoid being convicted in the first place. If you’ve been charged with a California criminal offense, please contact an experienced defense lawyer from The Kavinoky Law Firm today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 38% [?]

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department admitted this week that more than 5,600 rape kits may be untested by its crime lab. The news of the backlog came just weeks after the Los Angeles Police Department acknowledged a backlog of more than 7,000 untested DNA samples.

Unfortunately, the longer a law-enforcement agency takes to perform any scientific tests, the more likely it is that an error will occur.  Errors have occurred in crime labs processing evidence in offenses ranging from DUI / DWI to sexual assault to murder.

If you’re facing a California criminal charge built on scientific evidence, you need a defense lawyer with the knowledge to thoroughly examine the facts of your case. A skilled California defense attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm will analyze your case and determine whether evidence may be open to challenge. Please contact us today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 43% [?]

Attorney Craig Sturm of The Kavinoky Law Firm has earned an enormous win for a California DUI client who was facing a murder charge in connection with a wrong-way freeway crash. The client was instead convicted of manslaughter.

Craig and a team of top attorneys and investigators fought long and hard to ensure that their client received a top-notch defense. Because of this, their client avoided life in prison.

If you’re facing a California DUI charge, you need a knowledgeable defense lawyer safeguarding your rights. An experienced California DUI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm is prepared to review your case and develop an aggressive defense on your behalf. Please contact a skilled California DUI lawyer today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 58% [?]

The Los Angeles County District Attorney dropped DUI / DWI charges against Pomona mayor-elect Elliott Rothman after a blood test revealed that he was not legally drunk.

Rothman was arrested on suspicion of DUI / DWI after he a failed a field sobriety test, but chemical tests revealed that his blood alcohol content (BAC) was just .04 percent, far below the legal limit for driving.

Rothman’s arrest demonstrates the unreliability of field sobriety tests, which nearly every accused drunk driver “fails” because they are designed to be failed. There are many factors that can cause you to “fail” your field sobriety test that have nothing to do with alcohol use, including illness, injury, fatigue or even nervousness.

If you were arrested for DUI / DWI in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego or Riverside County or anywhere in California after failing a field sobriety test, you should have a skilled defense lawyer at your side fighting for your rights.

An experienced California DUI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm is ready to review your case and begin planning an aggressive defense strategy. Please contact us today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 65% [?]

Former Orange County sheriff Mike Carona went on trial this week on felony conspiracy, mail fraud and witness-tampering charges.  Carona, once a charismatic public figure with a bright political future who was dubbed “America’s Sheriff,” is now facing prison time if convicted on all counts.

Corruption and conspiracy cases are extremely serious charges that can bring significant prison time if you’re convicted. If you’re charged with a white-collar crime, you need a defense lawyer with the skills and experience to aggressively fight for your rights. A knowledgeable California defense attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm can review your case and develop a strong defense strategy. Please contact us today at 1.877.4NO.CUFFS for a free consultation.

Popularity: 88% [?]