Recent Blog Posts in 2010

During the Labor Day holiday weekend and beyond, law enforcement agencies in San Diego will be working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to cut down on drunk driving.

It is reported that 14 police agencies in the county will be conducting sobriety checkpoint and have extra patrol units on the roads for the next several weeks.  The announcement was made by Ross Burns, the executive director for MADD in San Diego.

The upcoming effort is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's nationwide program which features the slogan "Drunk Driving.  Over the Limit, Under arrest."

Burns told new sources, "The timing for the crackdown is significant because Labor Day, a holiday celebrated throughout the nation with parties and parades, has unfortunately become notorious as a day when thousands of drivers make the deadly decision to drive drunk."

The campaign is meant to eliminate drunk driving incident and offers support for high visibility police action, mandatory ignition interlocks for those who are convicted of driving under the influence and development of vehicle technology to detect and stop someone who has been consuming alcohol from operating a motor vehicle.

Burns said that research shows highly visible and frequent sobriety checkpoint have reduced alcohol-related collisions and fatalities by an average of 40%.

If you were arrested for DUI in Southern California, now is the time to hire a San Diego DUI attorney! Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry now!

On Saturday morning, a driver who was traveling the wrong way on the 405 Freeway in North Hills was charged with driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance during the morning hours.

22-year-old Luis Castro was allegedly driving North in the southbound lane in the panorama city area of San Bernardino Valley, which is north of Los Angeles.

While driving under the influence, Castro allegedly caused two separate DUI accidents.  The first occurred when a Honda CRV had to swerve into another traffic lane to avoid Castro and hit a Ford truck.  The second incident occurred when a Nissan SUV tried to avoid hitting Castro and crashed into a small Kia, causing vehicular damage.  Thankfully, no one was injured during the collision.

After being arrested, it was revealed that Castro was driving on a suspended license and was free on bail from a separate criminal case.  He was booked for DUI, violating the terms of his license suspension and possession of a controlled substance.

Charged with DUI in Orange County?  Contact us to speak with an Orange County DUI lawyer!

This week, actress Lindsay Lohan's highly publicized DUI case has concluded.  After her release from rehabilitation, the actress was granted full driving privileges.

Lindsey had to serve 14 days in jail and 22 days in rehabilitation following her 2007 DUI conviction. The sentence came about after she violated probation numerous times. However, she only served a fraction of her original 90 day jail sentence due to "overcrowding" in the prison.

Throughout the week, Lohan made headlines after she went to a DMV to get her license reinstated and then drove her Maserati around West Hollywood.

Due to the case, the city of Los Angeles and its judges, district attorneys and police officers have been criticized and accused of offering unequal treatment to Lohan compared to others who were charged with similar offenses.  Yet, the criticism does not seem to be a problem as Lindsay will remain out of jail as long as she makes effort to attend her mandatory therapy sessions.

Have you been charged with DUI in Orange County?  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry today to discuss your legal options with an Orange County DUI attorney.

It has been reported that not long into a term of probation for pleading guilty to marijuana possession, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill was charged with domestic violence.

With a new trial on the charge approaching, Hill decided to resolve the case.  He entered into a "stipulated order of continuance" which will lead to his charges being dismissed if he stays out of legal trouble for the next 18 months and if he manages to complete one year of a state certified domestic violence program.  If he does not adhere to these terms, Hill will be deemed guilty of fourth degree assault.

Police say that the alleged victim stopped cooperating, which presented problems.  Eventually, they had to issue a "material witness warrant" that prompted her to turn herself in for the purposes of helping prosecutors. 

If you are facing domestic violence charges in California, contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry to get legal representation from an Orange County criminal defense attorney.

This week, it has been reported that people who are convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the state of California may face tougher legal penalties.  The stiffer penalties will be imposed under a bill passed Monday by the California Assembly.

AB1601 allows a court to revoke a driver's license for 10 years if a person is convicted of three or more separate driving under the influence offenses within a decade.  Currently, the court can revoke a driver's license for 2 to 5 years.

According to Democratic Assemblyman Jerry Hill of San Mateo, the bill will allow the state to take 10,000repeat DUI offenders off of the streets of California each year.

The Assembly passed the bill and now the legislation will go to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for signing.

Were you charged with DUI? Are you hoping to avoid harsh DUI penalties?  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry to work with a skilled Orange County DUI lawyer who can help you fight your charges.

In the state of California, it has been reported that a teenager who pled guilty to manslaughter in July for the death of two of his classmates will undergo a mandatory 90 day evaluation. 

On May 11, 2009 at around 2:30 AM, Jared Nobel Berggren crashed his pickup truck into a tree in Fullerton.  During the crash, two of his passengers were ejected and died at the scene of the accident.  Both 19 year old Jacquelyn Ardalan and 19-year-old Miles Christensen were killed.

Police say that the accident occurred after a night of drinking.  Berggren faced two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and a penalty for causing great bodily injury.  Even though he initially pled not guilty, he later changed his plea to guilty on the manslaughter charge and now faces a 14 year sentence.

Berggren also suffered serious injuries during the accident.  After the crash, he provided a blood sample and his BAC was .1%, well over the legal limit for adults and minors.  New sources say that Berggren will be evaluated by the California Department of Corrections before his sentencing in November and their  evaluation will weigh heavily on his penalties.

If you have been charged with DUI, contact our law office to discuss your case with an Orange County DUI attorney!

On Saturday, the Marion County Sheriff's office received a phone call about someone riding a lawnmower on a road in Anthony at 11:30 PM.

After receiving reports, a deputy stopped the man who was riding a red craftsman lawnmower that was heading east in the westbound lane without any lights.

The driver of the lawnmower, Richard Paschen, was holding a cup containing beer in a cup holder. When stopped, Deputy Gary Miller asked the Paschen how much he had drank and Paschen said, "a pretty good bit". 

After failing field sobriety tests, they lawnmower rider was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. At the Marion County Jail, he refused to take a breath test. When questioned by police, Paschen said that he has so manyDUI charges that he has lost count.

Upon pulling his record, police saw he had three prior DUI convictions and that his driver's license has been suspended seven times. One of the suspensions was permanent.

If you have been charged with DUI in Southern California, now is the time to contact our firm and speak with an Orange County DUI lawyer.

Today, it has been announced that singer George Michael is facing charges of marijuana possession and driving under the influence. Michael was arrested last month after he crashed his Range Rover into a store on the side of a road in London.

In 2007, Michael pled guilty to driving under the influence of drugs. As a result, he was banned from driving for two years and was released on bail.

Footage obtained of the crash showed the singer's car going over the curb and crashing into a store or by the name of Snappy Snaps.  Michael then climbed out of his vehicle and when police came he told them he had not been drinking.  He was not administered a breath test, but later he was tested for drugs.

In 2006, Michael was arrested twice and charged with possession of marijuana after police found him slumped over the wheel of his car on roads in England.  After his arrests, he told news sources that he was once addicted to prescription drugs and that he smokes marijuana regularly.

In 2008, George Michael was arrested in a public bathroom and charged with the possession of drugs, which included crack cocaine. He was released on a warning.

Charged with DUI of drugs? Contact the Law offices of Virginia L. Landry to discuss your case with an Orange County DUI lawyer.

In Hemet, police say that a man was arrested for driving under the influence after he crashed into another motor vehicle head-on and then fled the scene of the accident.

The suspect, 18-year-old James Ray Brennan, was reportedly driving south on Winchester Rd. at Simpson Road during the early morning hours when he slammed into a vehicle and drove away. His arrest was reported by a California Highway Patrol dispatcher.

The CHP reports that the woman who was driving the other car as not having sustained any injuries.

Shortly after the accident, the suspect called the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and told them that he was the victim of two carjackings.  It is reported that Brennan called the Sheriff's Department several times, but had no clear message and hung up without finishing the conversation.

A few hours later, police were able to track him down when he was walking on Winchester Road. Brennan was booked at the Southwest detention center on suspicion of drunk driving and hit-and-run.

Charged with DUI in Orange County? Contact our law office now and discuss your charges with an Orange County DUI attorney.

This week, Joe Giudice, husband of TV reality star Teresa Giudice of the New Jersey Housewives, is expected to appear in court to appeal his sentence.  In March 2010, Joe was fined $864, lost his driver's license for 12 months and was sentenced to 30 days of community service after being found guilty of driving under the influence. 

Joe was arrested for DUI on January 13^th after he flipped over his truck at 1:47 AM.  Following the accident, Joe was taken to a hospital where his blood alcohol level was recorded as .11%, well above the state's legal limit of 0.08%. 

Court records indicate that this is not the first brush with law enforcement Joe has had.  Over the past 20 years, he has had his driver's license suspended for a total of 9.4 years and only has 39 points remaining on his driver's license.

Charged with DUI?  Now is the time to speak with an Orange County DUI lawyer who can help you combat your charges.  Contact our law office to set up an initial consultation.

This weekend, former Texas state Representative Pat Haggerty was arrested in California for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI).

Officials with the San Diego Sheriff's Department said that Haggerty was arrested by deputies during a DUI checkpoint this past Saturday.  He was later released from custody after posting $2,500 bond.

Prior to his arrest, Haggerty and several other lobbyists and legislators were in San Diego for the American Legislative Exchange Council.  State Senator Troy Fraser told an online news source that he was in the car with Haggerty when the DUI stop occurred and he did not believe Haggerty was intoxicated.

More details are expected to be released at a later time.

If you have been charged with San Diego DUI, it is important that you hire a San Diego DUI lawyer who can help you fight your charges.  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry today to secure the representation you need.

This week, a 19 year old from San Diego that was partying in Tijuana was arrested and placed in jail.  Reports indicate that the girl, Jenny Garth, was driving under the influence when she ran over a police officer.

Police say that Garth had spent the night drinking and partying at La Plaza Del Zapato, which is a popular hangout in Tijuana.  After midnight, Garth drove in her 2003 Toyota Camry and struck a police officer who was directing traffic on a busy street.  The 21 year old officer had to be rushed to the hospital.

Authorities say that Garth failed her breath test and field sobriety tests.  At this time, detectives are not releasing too much information about the 19 year old and have asked Mexican Officials to keep the case quiet while they investigate.

Arrested for underage drinking and driving?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry and consult with an Orange County DUI lawyer today.

In an attempt to reduce instances of drunk driving, the Huntington Beach Police Department is considering posting the names of DUI suspects on its website.  In a report submitted to the City Council this month, officers said that driving under the influence is a "significant problem" in Huntington Beach.  By publicly posting offenders' names, it hopes to send a strong message that police are cracking down.

When asked about posting names on the Department's site, Lt. Russell Reinhart said, "Public awareness of the problem, and scope of the problem, is one way of addressing any public safety concern."

The Department started to consider publishing names of people who were arrested for DUI after a local newspaper, the Huntington Beach Independent, stopped publishing a weekly list of offenders in December due to a change in editorial policy.

Huntington Beach would not be the first county in Southern California to engage in this practice as the city of Orange County and city of Irvine already post names.

Police in Huntington Beach say that in the last three years, they have made an average of 1,700 DUI arrests annually. 

If you have been charged with DUI in Orange County, get the defense you need right away by consulting with an Orange County DUI attorney.  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry now!

This week, actor Chris Klein voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation facility for more than 30 days.  A representative for the actor said that Klein asked for his stay to be extended.  Klein decided to seek treatment after being charged with driving under the influence for the second time.

His representative spoke with PEOPLE and said, "Chris, along with his support team, has decided to extend his treatment. He is doing fantastic and is optimistic about his future. He thanks everyone for their continued support."

At this time, it is unclear how long Klein will be in treatment.  However, it has been revealed that he checked into Cirque Lodge in Utah on June 21^st. 

Klein, who is 31 years of age, was arrested for his second DUI on June 16^th in Los Angeles County.  At the time of his DUI arrest, his blood alcohol level was three times the state's legal limit of 0.08%.

Charged with DUI?  Speak with an Orange County DUI attorney now by contacting our law office.

In upcoming years, it is possible that motor vehicles may be able to detect that a driver is under the influence of alcohol through his or her skin.  If vehicles were to detect that drivers are under the influence, the vehicles' engines will not start.

Last week, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was in Elmira promoting a bill that would provide funding for the research of vehicle alcohol testing devices.  With the funding, the aforementioned scenario could become reality.

Schumer said, "There's a real chance for a tremendous breakthrough that doesn't prosecute drunk driving after the act, but prevents it."  The Senator also said that sensors in vehicles, placed on steering wheels and seats, could detect drivers' blood alcohol levels.  Alcohol-sensing bracelets are an example of this technology.

Senator Schumer is aggressively promoting the ROADS SAFE Act of 2010, or Senate Bill 3039, which would give the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration $60 million over the next five years to figure out whether or not such an alcohol-detecting device would produce accurate results and be affordable.

Like alcohol-monitoring bracelets, the new device would detect "through sweat that is always coming out of your pores, even when you can't feel it, the legal limit of alcohol," stated Schumer.  At this time, Schumer is uncertain whether the federal government would require devices to be installed in vehicles if devices were perfected. 

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he said. "And we would leave it up to each state to decide what they want to do."  The Senator is hopeful that if the Act is approved and such devices are perfected, drunk driving could be eliminated altogether.

Have you been charged with driving under the influence in Orange County?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry and discuss your case with an Orange County DUI lawyer.

This week in Santa Ana, it is reported that the judge presiding over the case of a man that is accused of killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart has delayed the trial.  The man, 23 year old Andrew Gallo, has been charged with second-degree murder for killing Adenhart and two other individuals during a DUI accident.

Originally, the trial was expected to start on Monday in Orange County.  Now, it has been pushed back to September.  The change was made after Gallo's attorney said that she needed more time to repare an expert witness for the defense.

In April 2009, Gallo struck a car at the Fullerton intersection.  Inside of the car were Adenhart and some of his friends who were out after a recent MLB game.  Police say that at the time of the accident, Gallo's blood alcohol concentration was three times the legal limit in the state of California.  Gallo pled "not guilty" to three counts of second-degree murder.

Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry to discuss your charges with an Orange County DUI lawyer and get the representation you need to fight your case.

In San Diego, Chula Vista police conducted a crackdown on illegal street racing.  As a result of the crackdown, 16 vehicles were impounded and 10 people were placed under arrest.

According to a spokesperson from the Chula Vista Police Department, the operation took place this past weekend and resulted in arrests for street racing, driving under the influence and also possession of narcotics. 

Police report that five dozen traffic citations were issued during the operation, which involved police from Chula Vista, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, San Diego and San Diego State University.

The department started the crackdown two years ago and said that since that time, deaths and injuries related to street racing in the area have declined substantially.

If you have been arrested for DUI in San Diego, it is important that you obtain representation from a San Diego DUI lawyer.  Do not wait to contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry.

In the state of New York, a 12 year old passenger called 911 to report that her mother was driving under the influence.  Reports indicate that the vehicle the mother was operating was swerving down New York state highway and that the mother had a blood alcohol level that was twice the state's legal limit.

Following the girl's report, 49 year old Jamie Hicks was arrested on suspicion of DUI.  Hicks had been driving on Interstate 84, which is approximately 50 mile north of New York City.

Police say that Hicks' blood alcohol level was .18% and that she also had her 10 year old son in the vehicle while DUI.

Police Capt. Robert Nuzzo said, "This young girl made a very brave decision."  He also reported that Hicks, "was acting odd, speaking incoherently and swerving in and out of traffic."  The daughter told police a similar tale.

Arrested for suspicion of DUI in Orange County?  Contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry and discuss your arrest with an Orange County DUI attorney.

In Los Angles, it is reported that a man from Orange County is expected to endter pleas in federal court.  The man, 31 year old Luis Mijangos of Santa Ana, is accused of hacking into hundreds of computers to extort sexually explicit videos from both women and teenage girls.

At this time, Mijangos is facing a 16 count indictment and his charges include:  conspiracy, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, wiretapping and extortion.

Police say that Mijangos managed to trick 230 people into downloading a virus.  Once they had downloaded the virus, he was able to take control of their computers and laptops.  Mijangos would look through files to find compromising images of women and then send threatening emails to the victims to coerce them into sending him videos of them engaged in sex acts.  If they didn't consent, he would threaten to email their images to contacts on their mailing lists.

If you have been charged with white collar crimes, now is the time to hire an Orange County criminal defense lawyer by contacting the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry.

This past Tuesday night, it is reported that a Santa Maria police officer sustained a minor head injury after being hit by a drunk driver.  Reports indicate that at the time of the accident, the officer had been transporting an arrestee to a local police station for booking.

The police report for the incident claims that the officer was traveling eastbound on Morrison Avenue just after 10:00 PM.  While driving, he was hit by a car that had run a stop light on Pine Street and sideswiped another patrol vehicle. 

Following the accident, the officer was treated at the Marian Medical Center and released.  His vehicle suffered minor damage and the California Highway Patrol says that it is still investigating the collision.

The driver of the other vehicle, 53 year old Robert Thomas Kelly Jr., was arrested for felony DUI.

The Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry offers legal counsel to those who have been charged with DUI.  Contact us if you are facing DUI charges and would like to speak with an Orange County DUI attorney.

This week, a 35 year old woman has been charged with murder after driving under the influence and hitting another car head-on.  During the DUI accident, Tiffany Ann Holmes of Stockton managed to kill one person and left another individual with fatal injuries.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Angel Arceo, Holmes was places under arrest on Monday afternoon and was charged with two counts of murder.  Her arrest occurred 10 days after her accident on northbound Highway 99 south of Yosemite Avenue.  During the collision, she struck a couple and their 3 year old daughter.

The crash led to the death of the girl's father, 21 year old David Gomez and seriously injured the mother, 21 year old Adriana Martinez.  The young girl was also injured, but has been moved from the intensive care unit to the pediatric unit at University of California, Davis, Medical Center.

Holmes was booked into San Joaquin County Jail on the murder counts as well as charges of felony driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.  She is being held in jail without bail at this time.

Charged with DUI?  If so, contact our law office to speak with an Orange County DUI lawyer.

This week, the California Office of Traffic Safety announced that numerous law enforcement agencies in Orange County will receive $2.8 million for DUI enforcement.  The funds will also be used for other traffic safety programs in the county.

Grants provided keep key activities operational, such as strategies targeting multiple DUI offenders and DUI patrols.  These funds also expand teen education programs like Real DUI Trials for Schools and Every 15 Minutes in Orange County.

Some of the Orange County grants include:  $291,500 to Santa Ana for DUI enforcement and awareness program, $275,000 for the Orange County Medical Emergency Data System and $307,116 to Anaheim for the "Avoid the 26" DUI Campaign.

Throughout the state of California, a total of $67 million was awarded to agencies.  The funds come from federal sources and will be administered by the Office of Traffic Safety.

The Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry provides representation to those who have been charged with DUI in Orange County.  If you have been charged with drunk driving, contact us to set up a consultation with an Orange County DUI attorney!

In San Diego, a man from Encanto pled guilty last week Wednesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.  The man, 52 year old Bruce Michael Hanson, allegedly drove while under the influence and killed a woman who was exiting her car to go to work in Chollas View.

Now that he has pled guilty, Hanson will face a sentence of up to 15 years in state prison.  He is expected to be sentenced by Judge Eugenia Eyherabide on September 10th.

According to police, Hanson admitted that he ran over the victim, 35 year old Alejandra Vazquez.  The incident occurred on February 19^th at 2:15 AM near Interstate 805 ramp at Market Street.  Police say that Vazquez's mother witnessed the hit and run and that Hanson had been driving at a rate of 40 - 45 MPH when he hit the victim.

Prosecutors say Hanson then fled the scene and tried to get rid of his car.  He even disposed of his license plates and got a haircut before he was placed under arrest the day after the accident.  A witness reported an abandoned vehicle after seeing a news story about the hit and run.  The vehicle's identification number led officers to Hanson.

Charged with DUI in San Diego?  If so, discuss your case with a San Diego DUI lawyer by contacting the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry today!

This month, it was announced that a very strong Scottish beer would be making its way to the U.S. market.  At least 400 bottled of Tactical Nuclear Penguin are expected to be sold in New York and California in Whole Foods stores.  Unlike other beers, this imported brew has an alcohol percentage of 32%.

In November, the beer was launched by BrewDog in Scotland.  Following its release, many criticized the beverage because it contributed to Scotland's "epidemic of alcoholism".

For awhile, Tactical Nuclear Penguin was in fact the world's strongest beer, but Germany then released Schrosch Bock which has a 40% concentration.  Feeling the need to compete, BrewDog released Sink the Bismarck!, which has a 41% concentration and can only be purchased directly through the company.

According to BrewDog, their beer gets its name from the brewing process.  The beer is put into containers and transported to the cold store of a local ice cream factory where it is housed for 21 days in chilly temperatures.  As the beer got colder and colder, BrewDog Chief Engineer Steven Sutherland decanted it until only ice was left in the containers.  BrewDog says this process not only creates more intense flavors, but also a higher alcohol concentration.

Remember, if you plan to buy a few bottles of Tactical Nuclear Penguin, do not drink and drive.  Driving under the influence is a serious offense in the state of California that can result in tough penalties.  If you have been charged with DUI, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry and speak with an Orange County DUI attorney now!

Last week Wednesday, a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff's Department was sentenced with three years of probation. 30 year old Mark Wayne Hewlett was sentenced after he pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol charges. 

In exchange for probation, Hewlett agreed to plead guilty to three misdemeanor counts in a deal offered by an Orange County Superior Court Commissioner.  Aside from having to serve probation time, Hewlett will have to attend a three month alcohol program, pay over $1,000 in fines and attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) victim panel.

If he completes the programs, a tentative third charge of possession of a controlled substance may be dismissed by prosecutors.

On December 13, 2009, Hewlett was driving home from a friend's house while under the influence of alcohol.  At 1:45 AM, he lost control of his car in Villa Park and winded up crashing into the front yard of Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell.  Following the crash, he was arrested for DUI.

If you have been charged with DUI in Orange County, discuss your case with an Orange County DUI lawyer by contacting the Law Offices of Virginia L. Landry!