Los Angeles DUI Attorney Blog

Last Sunday, residents of the sleepy town of Danville witnessed a shocking multiple hit and run Southern California DUI rampage involving Cainan Schierholtz, the brother of Nate Schierholtz, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants. All told, the 23-year old Schierholtz allegedly hit a bicyclist, a pedestrian, and several cars and trucks before he was stopped.

Diagram of a Rampage

The insanity began around 10 in the morning on Sunday, when police officers heard a report that someone was driving DUI near Railroad Avenue and Danville Boulevard. Schierholtz by that time had probably already hit his first victim – a bicyclist on Danville Blvd. Rather than stop to help the bicyclist, Schierholtz continued forward and rammed into a pedestrian. Again, he did not stop and instead swerved into another lane and slammed into a pickup truck. Again, he didn’t stop. He pulled onto Linda Mesa Avenue and smashed into a Lexus SUV. Meanwhile, the driver of the pickup followed him onto Montair Drive.

The suspect was cornered on that dead end street and blocked by the pickup truck. He was at that point driving with his airbags deployed (but still managing somehow to move forward). But because the pickup truck blocked him, he got stuck. The pickup truck driver and local neighbors surrounded and subdued him before police got to the scene and arrested him.

Schierholtz was held on $350,000 bail and charged with multiple counts of Southern California DUI causing injury, three counts of injury hit and run, and two counts of property damage. And to top it off, the 23 year old was charged with driving without a license.

Fortunately, no one appears to have been severely injured during the rampage. But Schierholtz faces a huge legal battle. According to California Vehicle Code Sections 23153 (a) and 23153 (b), a typical count of Los Angeles DUI can be elevated to a felony if a driver under the influence causes injury to another person. Felony charges are more serious than misdemeanors. If you are convicted of a felony, for instance, you will lose your right to vote, and you may find it very difficult to get loans, find employment, and qualify for a lease on a car or an apartment.

If you are arrested for a DUI in Glendale or DUI in Pasadena and charged with injuring someone while under the influence, you will need to put together a strategically engineered defense. Depending on the circumstances, you could try to get the charges dropped altogether. In other cases, you may seek to plea bargain down the charges. For instance, in exchange for prosecutors not charging you with injury DUI in Pasadena, you might accept a lesser charge of a simple Los Angeles DUI, pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 23152 (a) or 23152(b).

In any event, chances are that you need a time tested attorney on your side to advise you and suggest a strategic way forward.

Continue reading "Southern California DUI Rampage Leaves Several Injured; San Francisco Giants Outfielder’s Brother Named as Culprit" »

Actress Heather Locklear, star of the TV series "Melrose Place," was hit with a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge Saturday; her case could be vastly complicated by her previous arrest for driving under the influence in Southern California in September 2008. According to the Deputy District Attorney for Santa Barbara, Lockley "could be facing a maximum of 90 days" in prison, if she's convicted of violating her Los Angeles DUI probation.

Play-by-play of the crash and arrest

On 4 A.M. Saturday night, a local Ventura County resident woke to the sound of a violent crash near his house. He investigated and saw a car smashed into a "no parking" sign. The driver peeled off. Concerned, the witness called the police, who investigated and connected Heather Locklear with the crash. Her black BMW had damage to its tire well that matched perfectly with damage to the "no parking" sign.

The police captain who cited Locklear did not handcuff her or take her to the station. Nevertheless, a court date has been set for May 17. (After her 2008 arrest, the 48-year-old actress was sentenced to 12 hours of road safety training, a $700 fine, and three years probation--in exchange for getting her Southern California DUI charge dropped.)

Whether a celebrity has been arrested for DUI in Burbank or for driving under the influence in Long Beach, she can be charged according to two DUI laws: California Vehicle Code Sections 23152 (a) and 23152 (b). The first statute says that if police stop you for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they can arrest you and charge you with a misdemeanor or felony. Convicted offenders face jail time, suspension of California's drivers license, points on the DMV record, and major fines and court costs. 23152 (b) defines DUI in Southern California "per se" as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) at or above 0.08%.

Although a single conviction of DUI in Burbank may only result in a misdemeanor, the charge can be elevated to a felony if this is your third DUI within 10 years or if you hurt someone.

Legal assistance for dealing with a charge of DUI in Southern California

If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI -- whether you face straightforward charges or more complicated ones like Heather Locklear now faces -- you can likely benefit from the counsel of an experienced and trial-proven attorney.

Continue reading "Heather Lockhear hit-and-run case could be complicated by her 2008 Southern California DUI" »

Online blogs and websites that cover celebrity Los Angeles DUI news have been fiercely debating the arrest of Jake Harris, the 24-year-old son of the late Captain Phil Harris, a fish boat captain who appeared on multiple seasons of Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.”

According to Washington State Troopers, Harris had been driving on a suspended license and had gotten involved in a hit and run accident prior to his arrest. After a motorist reported an out-of-control driver on interstate 5, the police ID’d Harris’ vehicle and, using aerial assistance, pulled him over. Harris was arrested at the scene and charged with hit and run as well as a DUI.

Fortunately, no one was reportedly injured in the earlier hit and run accident, and Harris himself seems to have escaped uninjured as well, although he remains behind bars as of the publishing of this blog post. Harris’ situation does raise some interesting issues, however.

For instance, what would happen if someone drove DUI in Pasadena on the 5 Freeway and got involved in a hit and run accident that actually hurt someone else?

If you commit a hit and run DUI in Pasadena, you might be charged by prosecutors for violating California Vehicle Code Sections 23153(a) and/or 23153(b). These state laws stipulate that anyone who injures another person in a DUI crash can have his charge raised from a simple misdemeanor to a felony, which is a much more serious charge. If your BAC level is above 0.08%, and you hurt another person in a DUI crash (hit and run or not), your punishments can include forced restitution to the injured victim and/or victim’s family, a lengthy prison sentence, severe fines and court costs, hiked up insurance rates, strict probation terms, mandatory installation of an interlock ignition device, and so forth.

Obviously, defendants would like to avoid (or at the very least plead down) these charges. But without a sophisticated and experienced attorney who understands how prosecutors charge people for driving under the influence in Pasadena, you could run into serious trouble -- even if exonerating facts are on your side.

Explore Your Options

Continue reading "Southern California DUI Blogosphere Lights Up As Son of Recently Deceased “Deadliest Catch” Captain Gets Arrested For DUI in Seattle" »

On January 23rd, two individuals both driving under the influence of alcohol in Burbank collided into one another, causing minor injuries and damage. According to investigating officer, James Laforce, here is what happened:

A car traveling eastbound on Sherman Way attempted a U-turn, when an oncoming truck plowed into it, knocking the car onto a nearby curb. The truck, meanwhile, slammed into a Ford Mustang parked nearby. The truck driver -- along with his passenger -- fled the scene, but both men were apprehended and arrested shortly thereafter for trying to break into someone’s residence.

The truck driver got tagged for a felony hit and run charge; he is currently being investigated for a misdemeanor DUI charge. Meanwhile, the 20-something-year-old woman who had been driving the car got taken to hospital for minor injuries. Reports suggest that neither her, nor her passengers, suffered any life-threatening injuries. Nevertheless, the woman was hit with a felony Los Angeles DUI charge.

Laforce had this to say about the accident: “it was ugly… they are lucky they are alive.”

In this Burbank DUI instance, fortunately no one got seriously injured or killed. But what happens if someone dies in a Southern California DUI crash? What kinds of charges might a driver face?

The answer, obviously, depends on the circumstances of the accident. California Penal Code Section 191.5(a) describes the charge of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. To prove this kind of charge, prosecutors must show four key things:
1) The person drove a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher; or otherwise clearly drove under the influence of a drug;
2) The person committed a driving infraction or unlawful act -- such as a misdemeanor -- that could potentially cause someone to die;
3) The driver not only committed this unlawful act or infraction, but he or she did so with gross negligence;
4) This gross negligence led to someone’s death.

DUI murder charges (a.k.a. Watson murders) carry even stiffer penalties and harsher jail sentences than do charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Whether you’re facing a (relatively) minor misdemeanor Burbank DUI charge, or you’ve been arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence, you are entitled to a sound and competent defense. Given how much is at stake, it makes sense to invest in high quality legal representation.

Continue reading "Double Trouble: Twin felony Los Angeles DUI charges handed out after two DUI drivers crash into each other" »

A Southern California DUI crash has rocked the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Here is the story, as reported in The Daily Breeze:

#1) On January 31, a car collided with two other vehicles at the intersection of Sepulveda Blvd. and Manhattan Beach Blvd.

#2) The driver fled the scene and abandoned his vehicle at a nearby Arco Gas Station parking lot.

#3) Police called in to investigate discovered that the driver was one of their own -- a fellow Manhattan Beach officer.

#4) Instead of arresting their cohort for Southern California DUI and hit and run, the officers did not issue any report or make any arrests.

#5) News of this dereliction of duty reached the Manhattan Beach Chief of Police, Rod Uyeda, the next day.

#6) Uyeda quickly alerted the LA County Sheriff’s Department to conduct an internal investigation, and he issued a public statement to the community to reassure them that the actions of the few independently-minded police officers should not be construed as indicating that the Manhattan Beach Police Department would condone or tolerate bad behavior.

Fortunately, the two other drivers hit on January 31st suffered only minor injuries (and some property damage to their vehicles). The Southern California DUI hit and run cover up comes on the heels of a similar incident last September that took place in Torrence at the corner of Robert Road and Pacific Coast Highway. (A Torrence police sergeant drove under the influence of alcohol, hit another vehicle, and sped away from the scene.)

California Vehicle Code Sections 23153(a) and 23153(b) stipulate that it is a violation of California law to injure another person while driving under the influence of narcotics or alcohol. If you hurt another person while driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, you can be slapped with a felony charge and face life changing penalties, including jail time, high court costs and fines, drivers license suspension, forced restitution to victims of the injury, and more.

If you’ve been hit with a charge of driving under the influence in Los Angeles, you’re likely feeling anxious, nervous, and confused. Take proactive steps to gather yourself and begin to craft an appropriate defense to the charges against you.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Southern California DUI Accident Embroils Manhattan Beach Police Department in Scandal" »

Super Bowl Sunday is a dangerous day for Southern California DUI incidents. Statistically, only New Year’s Eve sees more Los Angeles DUIs. We’re going to take a look at Southland DUI statistics for Super Bowl Sunday.

• According to the Orange County Register, in 2009, 11 people died in DUI related accidents - more than 3 times the average for Southern California DUI deaths. Also last year, 160 DUI crashes were reported in CA - twice the daily average.

• The DUI spike is a known and serious problem. The Automobile Club of Southern California recently analyzed crash data and found that DUI crashes on Super Bowl Sunday leap 27% (220 people hurt/killed in DUI crashes vs. 174 people hurt/killed in DUI crashes on an average day in CA.)

• In Los Angeles proper, the spike is even spikier. We see a whopping 33% increase in Los Angeles DUI crashes/deaths on average for Super Bowl Sunday (72 people hurt/killed vs. 54 hurt/killed on a normal day).

Fortunately, the majority of Burbank DUI arrests and auto accidents end without injury to any party. Here in California, injury DUIs are covered by California Vehicle Code Section 23153(a) and 23153(b). Let’s dive into these two laws to get a better understanding of what they prohibit and how the mete out punishments.

According to 23153(a), a driver who would ordinarily be charged with a misdemeanor Beverly Hills DUI can be hit with a felony charge if she injures another person in an accident that can be clearly linked to her alcohol/drug use.

Section 23153(b) says that someone who drives with a BAC of 0.08% or more and who then violates California traffic laws and directly or indirectly hurts another person can be sent to prison. This section also lays out other punishments that can be imposed, such as court fines, jacked up insurance rates, and forced restitution to the victim or the family of the victim.

That being said, just because you're arrested for driving under the influence in West Hollywood (or elsewhere in Southern California, such as Long Beach or Burbank), and someone got hurt in the accident doesn’t mean that you will be slapped with a felony charge. For the prosecution to succeed with a case against someone for violating 23153(a) or 23153(b), they must show that the driver violated traffic laws, behaved negligently, and caused the accident.

For instance, if you drove DUI (BAC of 0.08% or above), but the other driver caused the accident: you can still get a misdemeanor DUI, but you won’t likely get a felony DUI. Likewise, if you drive DUI and caused an accident, but you did not violate any traffic laws or act in a negligent way then you will be susceptible to a misdemeanor charge but likely not to a felony.

To sort everything out, it helps to work hand in hand with an attorney who has lots of experience.

Continue reading "Southern California DUI Statistics for Super Bowl Sunday 2010" »

It’s a case that rivals a celebrity Los Angeles DUI escapade -- and it took place in Montana, of all places. At the center of the storm is Senator Greg Barkus (R- Montana) who, on the night of August 7th, allegedly drove a boat into a rocky coastline at speeds approaching 45 miles per hour.

Senator Barkus (along with his wife, fellow Congressman Denny Rehberg, and two staffers) were all hurt in the accident. Prosecutors have revealed that Senator Barkus’ blood sample tested at 0.16 percent nearly two hours after the crash occurred. That's twice Montana’s legal limit for driving (0.08 percent). The senator has been tagged for DUI previously. In 2004, he pled guilty to driving under the influence in the city of Polson, Montana.

If convicted of felony charges against him, the senator could face up to ten years in prison -- for each of the three charges -- and he could face tens or thousands of dollars worth of fines. He is due to appear in Flathead District Court in Montana on October 22nd for his arraignment.

As a veteran Southern California DUI defense attorney would likely have told the senator, building a rock-ribbed legal defense in a case as complex and public as this requires careful investigation. For instance, a deep analysis might lead the senator to challenge the validity of the results of his blood test. [According to a report in The Billings Gazette, the senator’s passengers did not (at the time) believe him to be intoxicated. Another report revealed that a political rival (a Democrat state representative) ran the lab where the senator's blood sample was first sent to be analyzed.]

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, blood tests often yield unclear or even biased results. Many factors can cause the test to indicate a higher BAC level than the subject actually might have had. For instance, the chemicals inside the test may have been expired or poorly preserved. The sample may have been misidentified, mishandled, mistested, misinterpreted, or stored improperly. Problems with sterility, refrigeration, and contamination can all influence results.

Of course, given that courts generally consider blood tests to be more reliable than breathalyzer and urine tests, it's almost always a good idea to retain a top notch Southern California DUI attorney to assist with your case. If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Los Angeles, connect today with Attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Law Group. Attorney Kraut is a Harvard Law School grad and a former LA District Attorney with a tremendous track record. Since he once prosecuted DUI cases for a living, he understands better than most how to shore up potentially shaky defenses and aggressively battle back.

Continue reading "Montana Senator Hit with Felony Charges For Boating Under the Influence -- Case May Merit More News Coverage than Even Many Celebrity Southern California DUI Matters" »