Violent Crimes

Published on: December 26, 2017

Domestic Violence in the News: Most Notable Stories of 2017

By most accounts, 2017 has been a particularly turbulent year. From political upheaval at home to nuclear threats abroad; from devastating hurricanes to fires; from mass shootings to Harvey Weinstein (and dozens more exposed and felled by #metoo); it seems like one headline continues to outdo the next.

Amid all the upheaval, this year has also seen some important news stories about domestic violence, some of which even tie in to recent high-profile stories (for example, the church shooting in Sutherland Springs). Let’s look at a few of the most notable domestic violence news stories for 2017 and see what we can learn from them.

Red Sox Pitcher Steven Wright Arrested for Domestic Violence

Published on: July 5, 2017

Powerful Resources to Deal with the Problem of Domestic Violence

by Michael Kraut

As someone recently accused of domestic violence charges, you’re no doubt acutely aware of the challenges faced by victims. Whether you stand falsely accused of hitting a spouse or partner, or whether you took an action against someone you love that you profoundly regret, it’s important to empathize. After all, finding a resolution to your family crisis—and your criminal case—requires understanding the situation first.

Unfortunately, those accused of domestic violence—as well as those victimized by violent acts—often look only to the courts to sort things out. Sometimes, sadly, punitive intervention is necessary. But wouldn’t it be better if everyone involved could have their needs met and society provided more (and better) resources to families in trouble?

After all, the end goals we’re all seeking are the same:

Published on: April 16, 2017

Dealing with Social Media After Domestic Violence Charges

by Michael Kraut

Social media has become an integral part of our lives and our culture. While it has its benefits—it’s fun to stay connected to family and friends—there’s also a downside. Facts get distorted, ugly rumors spread quickly and some unfortunate person’s life can get turned inside out in a matter of hours.

So what happens when you get charged with domestic violence? How do you respond if your accuser takes the story public? Your answer may depend on the truth of the charges against you and what impact the social media statements will have on your personal and professional life.

NOTE: Before you respond in any way, speak with a qualified Los Angeles domestic violence defense attorney as soon as possible. Even seemingly minor mistakes with respect to how you handle the situation online can have profound implications for your ability to fight the charges.

Published on: June 20, 2016

DUI Driver Charged With Manslaughter After Accident Leads to Death of Unborn Baby

by Michael Kraut

Under a pilot program that became law in 2010, those convicted of DUI in Los Angeles County must use an ignition interlock device on any vehicles they drive for at least five months after a DUI arrest.

Why these draconian rules? Advocates of IID laws are pointing to a recent incident in Miami, Florida, to make the case that tough rules prevent recidivism and save lives.

Jessica Crane, 39, had racked up multiple driving violations before she plowed into a pregnant mother and her two children in Miami in early May. She had also allegedly lost her license 14 times because of failure to pay her fines. According to the Miami Herald, Crane should have been using an ignition interlock device on any vehicle that she drove. But her 2008 Infiniti didn’t have one, so Crane allegedly drove while under the influence and ended up killing an unborn baby. (Her BAC measured 0.22 almost three hours after the crash.)
Continue reading

Published on: June 18, 2014

Awful Situation: While Allegedly DUI, Daughter Runs Over Her Own Father in the Driveway, Killing Him

by Michael Kraut

We see (and report on) so many disturbing Los Angeles DUI cases. Unfortunately, these events often seem to blend together.

Whether you’ve been following this blog for several weeks or many years, you’ve probably noticed a recurring theme: people often make dumb/dangerous decisions to drive DUI and then compound their woes by doing other dumb/dangerous “stuff” after the fact, such as leaving the scene of an accident, spitting in the face of a police officer, etc.

A really distressing case out of Riverside presents a dramatic, deeply disturbing portrait of what can “go wrong” during a DUI. According to witnesses, 37-year-old Soukvilay Barton had been fighting with family members at her Riverside home on the 14000 block of Bush Avenue last Friday evening. In a fog of anger, Ms. Barton hopped into her BMW convertible and attempted to leave the home. Her father, 69-year-old Bounmy Rajsombath, did not want her to get in the car, because she had been drinking. He ran to the driveway to stop her from backing out of the garage, but she did so anyway and struck her father. Barton immediately stopped the car as soon as she realized she injured her dad and collapsed sobbing. Emergency workers rushed Rajsombath to Riverside Community Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police arrested Barton, meanwhile, for DUI and escorted her to the Riverside Police’s Magnolia Station. Reports suggest that she could face enhanced charges, such as DUI manslaughter, in connection with the death of her father.

According to sergeant Dan Reeves, who investigated the tragedy, Rajsombath spent his final moments pleading with his daughter not to drive DUI, before she hit and killed him. The situation speaks to the often forgotten fact that DUIs can tear families asunder, sometimes literally. Obviously, this young woman did not want to hurt or kill her father, but a single bad decision or momentary lapse of reason can lead to lifetimes of agony and remorse, both for the offender (and for the offender’s family) and for the victim (and the victim’s family).

Depending on the nature of a DUI manslaughter, prosecutors can ask for enhanced charges, such as “gross negligence” – a special kind of negligence beyond standard carelessness – that can lead to extra jail time and more penalties.

For help understanding how to deal with your case, call an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today for sympathetic and sound assistance.
Continue reading

Published on: May 8, 2013

The Jodi Arias’ Saga: Los Angeles Crime Story of the Century?

by Michael Kraut

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (and if so, lucky you), you’ve been bombarded by breaking news in the Jodi Arais trial. The verdict is in: the woman who killed her boyfriend in 2008 after a day of sex — shooting him in the face, stabbing him 27 times, and finally slitting his throat from ear to ear — was found guilty by an Arizona jury of first degree murder.

It’s a case that’s fascinated tabloid-obsessed housewives and hardened Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys alike. And Ms. Arias now faces life behind bars… and possibly even the death penalty.

A Wild Affair

Published on: March 11, 2013

Yuck. Were Your Los Angeles Sex Crime Charges as Disturbing as This Teacher’s?

by Michael Kraut

Whether you were arrested in a Manhattan Beach bathroom on lewd conduct charges or charged with some other sex crime in Los Angeles, you nevertheless still think of yourself as a pretty decent guy (or girl) who made a misjudgment.

You almost certainly resent being categorized among other more serious sex offenders. To that end, you want to do everything possible, legally speaking, to prevent the “sex offender” label from following you around forever, a la the scarlet letter A on Hester Prinne’s chest.

That drive makes sense. After all, consider this Southern California lewd conduct case (that’s equal parts sad and disturbing) as an object lesson.

Published on: July 26, 2012

Hopefully Your Los Angeles Lewd Conduct Story Is Not As Sad As This Situation (Police Officer Gives 15-Year-Old an Unwanted “Sex Exam”)

by Michael Kraut

If you’re charged and convicted of a sex crime or lewd conduct in Los Angeles, not only can you face jail time and penalties, but you can also be forever “tarred and feathered” with the sex offender label.

That said, not all lewd conduct charges are equal – not by a long shot. Some cases — like the case of the recently widely publicized case of the Southland teacher who abused a whole classroom of elementary school children for months — are horrendous in their implications. But other lewd conduct cases — like those of the 19 men busted in a sting at a Manhattan Beach restroom users (which we blogged about a few months ago) — are not in the same league, much less the same ballpark.

And still other cases are just really sad and disappointing.

Published on: July 6, 2011

What Can Los Angeles Criminal Defendants Learn from Shocking Casey Anthony Verdict?

by Michael Kraut

On Tuesday, a shocking “not guilty” verdict was handed down in the “Trial of the Century” murder trial of Casey Anthony, stunning the Los Angeles violent criminal defense community along with the rest of the world.

In case you have been living in a cable news vacuum (in which case, good for you), here’s a quick recap. In 2008, the defendant, Casey Anthony, allegedly killed her two-year-old daughter, Caylee, and then went out partying right afterwards.

Motivated by the particularly grisly inhuman-ness of the alleged crime, prosecutors sought to convict Ms. Anthony on a capital murder charge. This could have resulted in her execution, had she been convicted. But the jury found her not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter (although she was convicted for several lesser offenses).

Published on: June 6, 2011

Long Beach DUI Romantic Tragedy… Well, It Would Have Been, But it Took Place In Pittsburgh

by Michael Kraut

What makes a story about driving under the influence in Long Beach noteworthy? A quick search on Google news reveals that the most popular Burbank DUI, Pasadena DUI, Glendale DUI, and Los Angeles DUI stories involve celebrities, scary or grisly cases, or people doing stunt-like acts while DUI, such as driving lawnmowers, jet skis, or electric unicycles.

Sometimes, the ages of the participants – as well as their dramatic situations – influence newsworthiness. For instance, last week, police arrested 20-year-old Andrew Magill of Arona, Pennsylvania for driving under the influence, after his 16-year-old wife leapt from his car. Early reports did not specify why the 16-year-old leapt from the vehicle at Central Highway and Buttermilk Hollow Road at 6:15 A.M. last Tuesday. But the fall resulted in a potentially serious head injury and a DUI charge for her husband. Apparently, police are not expected to file domestic dispute charges.

This near tragedy (or, possibly, semi-tragedy) clearly illustrates that there is a fine, almost minuscule line between conventional Long Beach DUI — which is generally charged as a misdemeanor pursuant to CVC 23152 (a) or 22152 (b) — and Long Beach injury DUI, which would be charged according to CVC 23153 (a) or 23153 (b).

If all those letters and numbers confused you, we are talking about the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor – between a mild sentence and more than a year behind bars!

Even if you have the world’s best Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, your challenges become exponentially greater if you have to fight a felony count (or multiple felony counts) instead of just a simple misdemeanor.

This isn’t to say that all hope is lost. Indeed, Long Beach’s Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers (444 West Ocean, Suite 800 Long Beach, California 90802 Phone: (562) 531-7454) can provide immediate, strategic assistance developing and moving your defense forward. Mr. Kraut is often called upon to analyze Long Beach DUI news stories for KTLA News, the New York Times, Fox News, and other major media sources. He served for nearly a decade-and-a-half as a prosecutor for the city before “switching sides” to represent defendants.