Archive for the ‘Los Angeles Criminal attorney’ Category

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Former Teacher to be Arraigned Wednesday

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

LOS ANGELES – Former LAUSD elementary teacher Mark Berndt is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on nearly two dozen counts of sexually molesting 23 boys and girls between 2005 and 2010, the District Attorney’s office announced today.

Berndt, 61, is scheduled to be arraigned after 8:30 a.m. at Metropolitan Superior Court, 1945 S. Hill St., Department 69, said Deputy District Attorney Ana Maria Lopez.

Berndt, who was arrested Monday at his Torrance residence by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives, is being held on $2.3 million bail.

Berndt, who taught for more than 30 years at Miramonte Elementary School in the Florence area, was charged in case VA123401 with 23 counts of lewd act on a child under 14 years of age involving 23 victims. All of the alleged victims are between the ages of 7 to 10 years old and all but two of the victims are girls.

The Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau launched an intensive investigation in late 2010 after a film processing company contacted police about photos depicting children in a classroom with their eyes blindfolded and tape covering their mouths. An investigation is ongoing.

If convicted, Berndt faces up to life in prison.

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Jury Convicts Driver of Murder in New Year 2011 Crash

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A Culver City man was convicted of two counts of murder today in the deaths a year ago of a husband and wife who were killed when the defendant allegedly ran a red light and crashed into their car.

Deputy District Attorney Kennes Ma said the jury deliberated about 40 minutes before convicting 28-year-old Alberto Molina of two counts of second-degree murder and one count of felony hit and run. Sentencing was scheduled for March 15. Molina faces a 30-year-to-life term in prison.

Demetria Dorsey, 50, and her 54-year-old husband, Kelvin, were killed around 11:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2010. Authorities said Mrs. Dorsey was driving a blue Infinity near Florence Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard.

Molina’s car, authorities said, ran a red light and slammed into the Infinity, flipping it on its roof. Molina got out of his car and attempted to get away, but was arrested by Los Angeles police.

Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Marcus ordered Molina held without bail. He had been in custody in lieu of bail pending the verdict.

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Former Redondo Beach Police Officer Charged with Revealing a Search Warrant

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A former Redondo Beach police officer pleaded not guilty today to charges that he warned another police officer seen entering a suspected drug house that it was about to be raided by police, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Christopher Sabosky, 33 (dob 9-28-78), was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Upinder Kalra and pleaded not guilty to the one felony count each of conspiracy to commit a crime and revealing warrant information before the search warrant was served.

On Dec. 16, 2010, officers from the Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and El Segundo Police Departments were preparing to execute search warrants at a suspected drug house on Sheldon Street in El Segundo. Officers conducting surveillance noted the driver of a GMC Yukon entering the house about 1:30 p.m. and radioed information that the truck was registered to Jeff Grau, a Torrance Police Department officer.

Before officers could enter the residence, the complaint alleges Sabosky texted Grau, who was a friend of his, that police were about to search the house. Sabosky also allegedly called Grau as Grau was fleeing the scene. The complaint also alleges that Sabosky tried to influence another officer into not detaining his friend.

Sabosky, who was fired Jan. 24 by Redondo Beach Police Department, surrendered today to court after a felony complaint for arrest warrant was filed Friday by Deputy District Attorney James Garrison with the Justice System Integrity Division.

Sabosky was released on his own recognizance. He returns to court Feb. 14 in Department 33 to set a date for his preliminary hearing.

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Owners of Los Angeles Toy Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in International Scheme to Launder Money for Drug Traffickers

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

LOS ANGELES – The two owners of a local toy manufacturing company were sentenced today to over three years in federal prison for their roles in a cash “structuring” scheme that prosecutors say was linked to the “Black Market Peso Exchange” that allows drug cartels to launder the proceeds of their narcotics trafficking.

The business owners were sentenced along with their company, Angel Toy Company (ATC), which manufactured plush toys while developing an international reputation for laundering money generated by drug trafficking, according to court documents.

The co-owners sentenced today were:

• Meichun Cheng Huang, 58, of Irvine, ATC’s vice president in charge of sales, who was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison; and, Huang’s sister,

• Ling Yu, 53, of Arcadia, the president of ATC, who also was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

Huang and Yu were sentenced by United States District Judge S. James Otero, who remanded both defendants into custody. In addition to the prison terms, Judge Otero ordered each defendant to pay a $20,000 fine.

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“Silverware Bandit” Sentenced to More than 200 Years

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A man convicted for a string of break-ins at the homes of more than half a dozen elderly women in the areas of west Los Angeles and Santa Monica was sentenced today to 210 years to life in state prison.

Jeffery Wayne Langford, 56, was convicted on Feb. 15, 2011, of eight counts of first-degree burglary, six counts of first-degree residential robbery, three counts of criminal threats, two counts each of cutting a utility line and false imprisonment of an elder, and one count of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

Deputy District Attorney Belle Chen of the Elder Abuse Section prosecuted the case. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney imposed Langford’s sentence at a morning hearing.

The crimes involved seven victims, ranging in age from 75 to 93, and took place between June and August 2008. Two incidents were in the City of Santa Monica and the rest were in the west Los Angeles area.

All of Langford’s victims were elderly women who lived alone in single story homes. In each of the burglaries, the defendant climbed through a window, roused the victims and demanded money, jewelry or silver. The latter demand earned Langford the designation of “The Silverware Bandit.”

In one instance, defendant attempted to choke a victim who tried to stab him with a screwdriver he had placed on her bed. Langford went on to burglarize her home. In another instance, Langford disabled a victim’s medical alert monitor, so she would be unable to call for help.

Prior to this case, the defendant had seven prior “strikes,” alleged in an amended complaint, including convictions in 1982 and 1976 for residential burglary.

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Dance Instructor Convicted of Rape Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A salsa dance instructor who worked as a choreographer on the FOX television show “So You Think You Can Dance” was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison for raping one female victim and assaulting another with intent to rape.

Judge Kathleen Kennedy, who denied a defense motion for a new trial, ordered Alex Da Silva, 43, to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Deputy District Attorney Martha Carrillo with the Sex Crimes Division prosecuted the case.

Judge Kennedy said it was clear Da Silva “does not respect women” and “believes he is entitled to do whatever he wants when he wants.”

A jury in September convicted Da Silva of raping a 22-year-old woman in August 2002 and assaulting a 25-year-old woman in March 2009 with intent to commit rape. The victims were either dancers or aspiring dancers who met him through his dance instruction classes.

The jury was hung on four counts involving two additional female victims and Judge Kennedy today dismissed those charges.

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New Charges Added in Hollywood Arson Case

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County prosecutors today added 63 additional counts of arson against the 24-year-old man suspected of setting nearly 50 fires that terrorized Los Angeles residents over the New Year’s weekend, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Harry Burkhart is scheduled to appear for arraignment this afternoon in case No. BA392381 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Department 30, 210 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. Prosecutors will ask that his $2.8 million bail be raised to reflect the additional charges.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney of the Target Crimes Division said prosecutors amended the complaint to bring the total number of arson charges to 100 after reviewing new evidence from an ongoing investigation. The complaint alleges an accelerant was used.

Burkhart is now charged with 75 counts of arson of property, 19 counts arson of an inhabited structure, two counts of arson of an uninhabited structure, two counts of attempt to burn and two counts of possession of flammable material. The charges involve 49 arson fires in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and Los Angeles between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported. But property damage to homes and automobiles was in the millions of dollars. Most of the fires were started in automobiles. In many cases, flames spread to structures.

Burkhart, who travels on a German passport but purportedly was born in Chechnya, was staying with his mother in Hollywood. She currently is in federal custody on fraud-related crimes. Her immigration/extradition cases are pending in federal court.

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Former CHP Officer Convicted of Murdering Husband

Friday, January 27th, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A former CHP officer was found guilty today of fatally shooting her husband in the head nearly three years ago shortly after they left a Compton restaurant, the District Attorney’s office announced.

The jury of eight men and four women deliberated a day before finding Tomiekia Johnson, 32, guilty of the first-degree murder of her 31-year-old husband, Marcus Lemons, of Feb. 21, 2009. The jury also found true the special allegations of personal discharge of a firearm and discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury.

Johnson, who has been out on bail during the trial, collapsed under the defense table as the verdict was being read. Paramedics were called and she was taken out of the court room handcuffed to a gurney. Judge Robert J. Perry remanded her into custody.

Deputy District Attorneys Natalie Adomian and Stephanie Sparagna with the Justice System Integrity Division prosecuted the case.

Lemons was fatally shot as he was sitting in the passenger side of Johnson’s BMW near a 91 Freeway off-ramp about 11 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2009. She then drove the car to her parents home in Compton and had her mother call police.

Johnson is facing 50 years to life in prison when she returns to court March 9 for sentencing.

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Ex-Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty To Having Sex with Inmate

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

LOS ANGELES – A former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc has pleaded guilty to a charge of having unlawful sexual relations with a male inmate.

Renee Noelle Gutierrez, 42, of Redondo Beach, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon in United States District Court to a felony charge of sexual abuse of a ward.

At the time of the offense in April 2010, Gutierrez was a prison dorm supervisor responsible for more than 500 inmates. After the illegal sexual conduct was uncovered, but prior to being indicted by a federal grand jury last August, Gutierrez resigned her position.

Gutierrez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26 by United States District Judge John F. Walter. As a result of the guilty plea, Gutierrez faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

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Federal Enforcement Actions Directed At Marijuana Stores Continue with Four New Property Forfeiture Lawsuits and Warning Letters

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

LOS ANGELES – As part of a continuing, coordinated effort against commercial marijuana operations in California that started last fall, federal prosecutors over the past week have filed four asset forfeiture lawsuits against properties housing marijuana storefronts in Los Angeles and Orange counties and have sent warning letters to property owners and operators of illegal marijuana stores in several Southland cities.

Three asset forfeiture complaints against buildings in Costa Mesa where marijuana stores are currently operating were filed this morning in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Prosecutors this morning also sent letters to marijuana store operators and to the owners of properties where nearly two dozen marijuana stores currently operate in Costa Mesa.

The three forfeiture actions filed today allege that the owners knowingly allowed marijuana stores to operate. The Costa Mesa buildings named in the forfeiture lawsuits house:

•three marijuana stores currently operating at 440 Fair Drive, where the owner of the building has been “cited numerous times by Costa Mesa officials for allowing the operation of marijuana dispensaries,” according to the lawsuit;

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