What Happened?

Richard Rojas, a 26-yeqar-old Bronx resident, reportedly drove through a busy sidewalk in Times Square during the afternoon of May 19, 2017. It was found out later that Rojas was high on K2, which is a type of synthetic marijuana. He also has a history of driving while intoxicated.

Rojas plowed through the sidewalk and hit numerous people with tragic results. One of his victims included an 18-year-old named Alyssa Elsman. She was from Michigan and was visiting the area with her family. Alyssa died of her injuries, while the incident resulted in injuries to at least 22 other people.

According to the various reports, Rojas tried to flee the scene on foot after his vehicle crashed into a pole. He was, however, quickly detained by the police with the help of onlookers. Rojas allegedly told the police that he wanted to kill all the people on the sidewalk and that he had hoped that the police would kill him as well.

Rojas was arrested and charged with multiple felonies. These include a murder charge, 5 counts of aggravated vehicular assault, and 20 counts of attempted murder. Alex Ozols, a San Diego Criminal Lawyer recently let us know that this case could result in life in prison.

What’s Wrong with synthetic drugs?

While medical authorities have become increasingly aware of the benefits of medicinal marijuana, synthetic marijuana such as K2 are still considered dangerous despite their increasing popularity with drug users. Cannabis is a plant, but K2 is the synthetic variety made in a lab. It’s designed to look like marijuana but its effects are markedly more dangerous. Users reportedly feel no pain after consuming the drug, and this can often lead to dangerous and erratic behavior.

Unlike natural cannabis, there have also been reported cases of K2 overdose. This was the very same drug that NFL player Aaron Hernandez smoked while in prison before he committed suicide. The investigation into the athlete’s death indicated that the use of the K2 led to a delusional state that caused the star player to kill himself.

This dangerous drug can cause several severe side effects. These can include hallucinations, confusion, and agitation. Users may experience a racing heartbeat and palpitations, along with failure of the heart or kidney.

How can a Lawyer Help?

What adds to the dangerous nature of the drug is that it is becoming much more available to the public. People must be made more aware of how this dangerous drug is.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a driver who was under the influence of synthetic marijuana, get in touch with our drug crimes lawyers in San Diego so you can consult about your case. Our lawyers have extensive experience with drug crimes cases, and you can file a case against the driver in order to receive just compensation. Keep in mind that you will need that money to pay for expensive medical treatments for any resulting injuries.

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The video shows one woman wearing a black sweatshirt, taking a swing at another woman wearing a green top. The first woman grabs the other by the ponytail, and pulls her roughly to the ground. After that, the woman in the green top lies on the ground with her arm apparently broken. Assault and battery cases happen fast and happen out of no where.

Assault And Battery

The woman in black sweatshirt has been identified as Vanessa Ortiz, 26. She has been arrested and charged with felony battery, and she remains in San Joaquin County jail because she is ineligible for parole. The other woman in green remains unidentified, though it was released that she is 67 years old.
However, Ortiz maintains that she was attacked first by the older woman, who allegedly snatched Ortiz’s glasses off and scratched her face. The encounter started when the two women exchanged info following the fender bender incident. A witness to the brawl, Bernardo Gonzalez, corroborates Ortiz’s story and said that the older woman was the real aggressor.

What is Road Rage?

This recent brawl is just another example of what’s popularly known as “road rage”. Road rage, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is an assault of a driver or a passenger of a vehicle against other people or property. It’s distinct from aggressive driving, as the latter is merely a traffic offense instead of a criminal charge.

Road Rage Statistics

It’s been found that over the span of 7 years, road rage incidents resulted in 12,610 injuries. These incidents also led to 218 murders.

Every demographic can demonstrate road rage behavior. However, the people who are most likely to display road rage are male teenage drivers. Among those who have been the targets of aggressive road rage behavior, 50% admit to responding with similarly aggressive behavior as well.

What Should You Do?

Driving is dangerous enough without adding the risk of road rage injury. Sooner or later, you may find yourself in a situation that can lead to road rage. Your actions may have agitated another driver or passenger on the road or some other driver’s actions may have upset you.

Regardless of whose fault it was, it is important that you don’t cause the situation to escalate by retaliating or reacting. Always practice safe driving habits, and do not seek eye contact with other drivers. Don’t flip anyone the finger, and don’t honk your horn. These actions may seem harmless to you, but you can’t be sure that they won’t lead the other driver to react more violently.
If you are charged or are involved in a road rage incident, make sure you call a San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney,  for more information.

The post California Road Rage Video Goes Viral appeared first on Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego - Ozols Law Firm.

Similar laws have been in place since 2006, but those outdated regulations only considered texting and conversing over the phone while holding the device. Since that time, smartphones have become more sophisticated and they can be used for many other purposes. This new rule covers every possible use, including checking the calendar or consulting an online map on the smartphone.

Why Is There a Need for This New Law?

There are 2 main reasons for this. One obvious reason is that holding a smartphone is very distracting, and such distractions can lead to serious accidents. The California Office of Traffic Safety maintains that 80% of all crashes result for some form of driver inattention, and that about 3,000 people die each year in the US die to driver distractions.

The most common distraction for many drivers these days is using a smartphone, and they can take away the attention, eyes, and hands of drivers from where they’re supposed to be. Experts say that driving while using the smartphone by hand is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

The other reason for the update to the law is that smartphones these days are more versatile, and you can use them in many other ways other than talking to someone or sending a text. You can go online and use it to watch videos, or it can function as a portable camera or video recorder. The law closes any possible loophole, so that you just can’t use a smartphone by hand for any reason whatsoever.

Consequences of the New Law

If you’re found guilty of breaking this law, your first offence will result in a $20 fine. Subsequent violations will cost $50. Since your violations will be public record, your insurance company may also raise your premiums because this irresponsible behavior is positive proof that you’re a great risk for them.

There are exceptions to this law, however. Emergency personnel can use their phones while they are driving their emergency vehicles. It also doesn’t cover built-in devices in the vehicle. Today, many such systems allow for drivers to engage in conversations using only voice commands. If you are arrested for this, call a San Diego Criminal Lawyer, for help.

Ozols Law Firm

8880 Rio San Diego Dr.

San Diego, CA,

92108

619 288 8357

The post Don’t Hold Your Phone while Driving in California appeared first on Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego - Ozols Law Firm.

The same day that Jakubowski robbed the gun store, he also mailed a 161-page manifesto to the Whitehouse discussing his hatred for the U.S. government. Law enforcement has released a video, which was uploaded from Jakubowski’s cell phone showing the suspect mailing the manifesto addressed to the president. The video was recovered on the suspect’s social media page following the burglary at the gun store. Authorities have noted that inside the manifesto, Jakubowski had an anti-government and anti-religion theme throughout the 161 pages.

Jakubowski sends letter to the White House

Since the Whitehouse has received the manifesto, they have been on high alert as well as providing protection to some local churches and schools in the area. While they do not believe the suspect will target any certain religion or church, they are taking extra precautions to be safe. According to Jakubowski’s stepfather, who has not been in contact with him for the past two years, he says that Jakubowski has had a problem with police and authority since age 17.

Jakubowski has been on the run for close to two weeks now. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can provide evidence that will lead to his arrest. Authorities have also noted that if you see the suspect that you should not approach him, but rather call 911 immediately as he is likely armed and dangerous.

While there are a different set of laws depending on the county and state you reside in, in the state of California burglary charges are considered to be a wobbler. Simply put, this means that an individual can be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony for committing the crime. Authorities typically base their decision on the suspect’s criminal history as well as the criminal act itself. With that being said, it is always recommended that you speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney to assess your case and potentially reduce your charges.

Criminal Threats a Possibility

While there is no specific law in California regarding a manifesto, it would however be considered criminal or terrorist threats under Penal Code 422. Under this law it states that the suspect willfully threatens to commit a crime that can result in another person dying or receiving great bodily injury. This law includes verbal, written or electronic means of communication of the manifesto. This crime can result in jail time as well as a misdemeanor or felony charges. If the suspect is charged with a misdemeanor, they can spend up to one year in jail. Felony charges on the other hand can result in a year or more in prison.

Ozols Law Firm

8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22

San Diego, CA,

92108

619 288 8357

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According to published news reports, the father and daughter tandem were riding in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro heading southbound on 25^th Street East in Palmdale. The father, 54-year-old Manuel Paniagua, was driving the car. Her daughter 17 years old Vanessa Paniagua was in the front seat.

How did the crime occur?

The investigation into the car crash was led by the Palmdale Sheriff’s Department. According to initial eyewitness accounts, the car the Paniaguas were riding was one of two cars that were speeding in the streets. It seemed to the witnesses at the scene that the two cars were racing against each other.

According to the initial reports, the Camaro lost control and it hit a traffic pole in a speed fast enough to cause the deaths of the father and daughter. On the other hand, the driver of the other car sped away from the scene of the accident, and they did not even stop to render any sort of assistance to the Paniaguas.

It is possible that the driver may face potential criminal charges, including a charge for being involved in a street race. Another charge may also result from fleeing the scene of the accident.

What are the Consequences to Street Racing?

While the driver of the other car may face criminal charges, it is also entirely possible that the surviving relatives of the other car may also lodge a civil suit of wrongful death against the other driver. Much depends on what the final results of the police will show regarding the accident. However, the case involves several unusual circumstances that could have further lasting criminal consequences into the future.

Here, the other driver engaged may have engaged in illegal behavior, for engaging in a street race and for leaving the scene of the accident. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime. Please make sure to call us at Ozols Law Firm for more information.

Ozols Law Firm

8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22

San Diego, CA, 92108

619 288 8357

The post Street Race Leads to Father-Daughter Fatalities appeared first on Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego - Ozols Law Firm.

Federal vs State Courts

In Federal Court there is a system where someone goes to something called pre-trial services before court. Pre-trial services assesses the defendant and sees what kind of a risk they pose to the community. In state court it is up to the judge to make a split-second decision after hearing only small details about the client. What they want to do is have this type of program in California State Court. It is crazy to think that if one commits a federal crime then they are much more likely to have a reasonable bail rate set then if they commit a state crime.

Criminal Cases Getting Rejected

The problem we see all to often is one that needs to stop immediately. A classic example is domestic violence in San Diego. People are arrested for domestic violence all the time when there was very little or even no contact involved. The police in San Diego have been wrongfully booking people in on felonies making their bail around $50,000. Now that causes the individual to pay $5000 to get out of jail. When they go to court, the case is never filed against the defendant because there is no evidence. All we are doing in situations like this is making the bail companies more and more money. They are now writing bonds at lower and lower rates to compete with others and taking bonds at times for no money down. It is crazy to think about that but that is where all the money is going.

The new system would attempt to correct the old broken one by making it a situation where bail does not necessarily need to exist. This would be a situation where other options can be taken or equity can be put fourth. The current bail system is broken, it favors the rich and hurts the poor. It needs to be fixed.

Ozols Law Firm – Criminal Defense Lawyers

At Ozols Law Firm we have been practicing criminal defense for several years. We know what to do with a new case that comes in the door and we know how to get the best result. We treat every client like family and we care about our client’s cases. If you have an issue in the county of San Diego feel free to give us a call.

Ozols Law Firm

8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22

San Diego, CA,

92108

The post California Proposes New Bail Rules appeared first on Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego - Ozols Law Firm.

According to news networks, the dispatcher who received the 911 call was told on at different times throughout the conversation that the suspect (Tamir Rice) was “probably a juvenile” and also noted that his gun was “probably fake”. This information literally could have been the difference of life or death for this young man. Because these officers were only notified that the suspect was said to have a weapon, they acted as though their life was in immediate danger and responded to this call with brute force. Within minutes of arriving to the scene, officer William Cunningham (trainee at the time) shot Tamir Rice twice. This left the young man in critical condition leading to his death the next day.

Police Dispatcher did not give up the information

Due to the fact that the dispatcher failed to mention anything about the young man having a potential fake weapon as well as being a juvenile led to the death of Tamir Rice. Failing to mention such pertinent information to the police responding to the scene is complexly ludicrous and potentially a crime in itself. If in fact the dispatcher had mentioned every piece of information to the officers, this case could have ended completely different, possibly even sparing Tamir’s life.

Will the dispatcher get jail time?

Since this new information was leaked, we have learned that the dispatcher was only suspended for 8 days without pay. The fact that the company believes 8 days without pay makes up for the fact that this young man lost his life to negligence is absolutely appalling. This type of carelessness should be ground for termination if not jail time. The police should make a statement by showing other employees that careless work will result in serious punishment. The only thing 8 days without pay teaches anyone is that assisting in a murder will get you a small break from work. It’s highly unlikely that this type of “punishment” would deter other employees from making the same mistake in the future.

If you have a criminal defense issue in the city of San Diego, Ozols Law Firm is here to help.

Ozols Law Firm

8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22

San Diego, CA, 92108

619 288 8357

The post Tamir Rice Case to be Re-Evaluated appeared first on Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego - Ozols Law Firm.

After police investigated the couple and their social media pages, they discovered that both Torres and Norton were active white supremacists that openly posted about attending rallies as well as being apart of the skinhead’s nation. In addition, the police also found racial comments geared towards African Americans posted on their accounts as well.

The Crime

While one may not consider threats a crime, as it does not physically hurt anyone, it is indeed a very serious allegation. This type of crime can hold charges ranging anywhere from aggravated assault to acts of terrorism depending on the city or state and their laws. People need to realize that acts of racism and other threats are serious crimes that as we can see from this case can get you some serious time in prison, especially if a weapon is involved. In the state of California, one can be charged with criminal threats if an individual is put in fear under penal code 422 PC. This law includes verbal, written and electronic communication forms of terrorist threats. Even if an individual is bluffing, making a death threat or inferring injury may occur to another individual is considered to have specific intent in California.

Hate Crimes in California

Hate crimes in California are in a league of their own when it comes to charging them. They can make a simple felony into something that is almost guaranteed prison. They can even potentially make a state crime into a federal crime depending on which statutes are utilized. These types of crimes are very serious and that is why it is important that we educate the public about them. Education will hopefully make them think twice before doing this in the future. In situations like this committing a crime is just not worth it. Always make sure you think twice, understand what you are about to do and consider all the possible consequences before making a decision like that.

Ozols Law Firm is a criminal defense firm based out of San Diego California. They handle all types of criminal defense cases and are leaders in proving news to national news networks. For more information visit our homepage at Ozols Law Firm.

Ozols Law Firm
8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22
San Diego, CA
92108

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What does this mean for the justice system in San Diego?

With less crime, that means that there will start to be less cases going through the system. As a criminal defense attorney, the effect can already be seen. Fewer calls and fewer consultations are going around the business. For public defenders it is the exact same thing. The end result would be more time for judges to look into cases and more time for them to read over the paperwork that has been filed.

Is the District Attorney in San Diego still prosecuting as many cases?

The San Diego District Attorney’s office is still prosecuting as many cases as they have in the past. These crime statistics are referring to arrests and not necessarily how many cases are filed. The District Attorney’s office this last week has ran into some problems of its own. Someone in their office released statistics that shows that their conviction rate on felonies that go to trial is only around 60% and it was even lower on misdemeanors. Critics of the office had said that it may be because the District Attorney’s are taking cases to trial that 1) should have been settled or 2) were just for experience.

There is a buzz going around San Diego wondering whether or not things will change but it seems like instead of acknowledging that some of these people were innocent, the office has said that they want to re-evaluate how those cases were handled, indicating that they believe a guilty person went free.

With all the changes in the justice system in San Diego it is unpredictable what the future may be. However, even with everything going on, that does not mean that the judges are taking these cases lightly. Currently we have been seeing some of the harshest sentences in years, especially for DUI cases. The penalties for cases like that keep increasing year after year with what seems to have no break in the cycle.

It is of the utmost importance to hire a lawyer at this time if you are charged with a crime. At Ozols Law Firm we offer free consultations to anyone who has been arrested and need help with their case.

Ozols Law Firm
8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22
San Diego, CA
92108

The post San Diego Crime Rate Lowest in almost 50 years appeared first on Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego - Ozols Law Firm.

Drug Smugglers Sentenced to Prison

While some drug smugglers may feel the risk of smuggling illegal drugs is worth the reward, they also need to understand the consequences that come with their actions. Each year tens of thousands of drug smugglers are arrested on trafficking charges. The majority of these offenders are caught at the border in western Texas and Southern California. Depending on the amount of drugs, the type of drug, the age of the trafficker and whether or not the smuggler had a weapon determines one’s sentence. For example, smuggling crack cocaine or meth would often land a smuggler with a much longer sentence in contrast to smuggling marijuana. The average sentence for drug a trafficker is approximately 72 months in jail or prison. However, as mentioned previously it can vary drastically depending on the case and county. Another factor to consider is whether this is a first time offense. If this is not a smuggler’s first drug trafficking offense, sentences are often twice as long. In addition, smugglers are often fined thousands to even millions of dollars on top of their imprisonment.

Hiring a San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney

It is always a smart idea to have a legal team by your side when dealing with the court system. It is also highly encouraged to have an attorney when dealing with serious drug trafficking crimes. Hiring an attorney can make all the difference in the length of one’s sentence and even the fines one would be required to pay. Criminal defense attorneys have years of schooling and experience, which can only benefit your case. These attorneys know the common proceedings in the courtroom and ways to benefit their client’s case. On top of that, most criminal defense attorneys personally know the judges and district attorneys, which can often help get a better deal in the case. While some people may think it is easier and cheaper to hire a public defender, they also need to take in to account other facts. Yes private attorneys cost money, but you need to consider the fact that “you get what you pay for”. People need to understand that public defenders are often over worked. They are often handling 100 or more cases at one time, leaving little time for your case. Private attorneys on the other hand do lower volume, which allows for a more personalized experience and higher quality work.

Ozols Law Firm
8880 Rio San Diego Dr. #22
San Diego CA,
92108

619 288 8357

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