A 21-year-old Mission Viejo man was arrested after officials say he brandished a knife at a local sports grill. According to The Orange County Register, police arrived on scene at the bar near Avery and Marguerite parkways near Saddleback College. A caller told police that the man was on the restaurant’s patio with a knife saying that he wanted to drink beer on the patio. Restaurant managers said the man brought his own beer and wanted to drink it. The man was charged with two misdemeanor counts of brandishing a weapon and has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces a 30-day jail sentence.
According to California Penal Code Section (a) (1): “Every person who, except in self-defense, in the presence of any other person, draws or exhibits any deadly weapon whatsoever, other than a firearm, in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, or who in any manner, unlawfully uses a deadly weapon other than a firearm in any fight or quarrel is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 30 days.”
Although brandishing a weapon is a misdemeanor offense, it can have serious consequences for the defendant including jail time, fines, and a criminal record. A knowledgeable lawyer can help defend against these charges, help defendants avoid jail time, and explore alternative sentencing options such as community service.
The experienced Mission Viejo weapon offense lawyers at the Law Offices of Jeremy Goldman have helped defend numerous clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Orange County. If you or a loved one has been accused of a crime in Orange County, please contact (800) 349-1619 for a free consultation.
An Orange County man, who spent five years in prison for a crime he did not commit, is now waiting for a chance to speak to the state Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board to see if he can receive compensation for the time he spent behind bars. The man has been waiting over a year for a hearing date, reports California Watch.
In 2005, the man was convicted of a felony after prosecutors claimed he had fired a gun at the police officers that responded to his father’s 911 call with intent to injure; his father made the call out of concern that his son was attempting suicide. In 2009, a judge found that the man was factually innocent of the charges. He was released in February 2010 and filed a claim with the California Erroneously Convicted Persons program, which pays $100 per day to those the Board finds as having been wrongfully imprisoned. If the Board rules in the man’s favor, it will owe him approximately $188,000.
However, since the Erroneously Convicted Persons program does not have deadlines, those who file claims with the program often wait years for a response. A California Watch investigation of the program found that, of the 132 claims the program has received since 2000, only 11 have been granted, while over 100 were either denied or withdrawn.
A criminal conviction is a life-altering event, with consequences that reach far beyond trial and sentencing. If you’ve been charged with a felony in California, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Orange County weapons offenses lawyers at The Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman. Call 1-800-349-1619 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Getting arrested on a California weapons charge can be scary and uncertain. There are a plethora of laws that pertain to the possession of firearms, including concealed carry, possession of firearms by convicted felons, the process of obtaining a permit or license to own a firearm, and unlawful carry and possession, to name a few. In many cases, individuals who are arrested on weapons charges in California are law abiding gun owners who may be ignorant of some of the state’s weapons laws and are not actually dangerous criminals. However, if proper steps are not taken to uphold an individual’s rights in they have been arrested on weapons charges, the consequences could be very serious.
If an individual is convicted on California weapons charges, they may face a possible prison sentence, fines, probation, and placement on The California Department of Justice’s Prohibited Armed Persons File, per article 1.5 Section 12011 of the 2008 Dangerous Weapons Control Law. Being placed in this database would ensure that the individual could not legally acquire, own, or posses a firearm.
Every American deserves to have their rights upheld in a court of law, and that includes the Second Amendment right to bear arms. If you have been arrested on weapons charges in California, you need to contact an experienced Irvine weapons charges attorney at the Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman. With extensive experience handling a variety of criminal defense cases, our lawyers will examine the details of your arrest and build a strong defensive case in order to help you receive the best possible outcome. To learn more about the Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman, call 1-800-349-1619.
