Posts by Jeff Greco

It is absolutely natural to want to reassure friends and family members that you’re innocent after you’ve been arrested. Unfortunately, doing so can be a big legal mistake.  It turns out anything you say to your family members and friends, or on social media, can still be used against you.  The Prosecution Can Force Friends…

In California, sentences are enhanced and become more serious any time any criminal activity can be proven to be proven to be gang activity as well. It’s important to understand how the law might define gang activity in Los Angeles. Gang activity is covered by the Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention (STEP) Act. It defines…

Some warrants cannot simply be “cleared.” If you’re a suspect in a felony case, for example, and police have a warrant out for your arrest, then chances are that warrant is not going away until you are apprehended, and the charges are dealt with.  Nevertheless, there are exceptions. Warrants may be withdrawn if prosecutors and…

As the holiday shopping season is in full swing, we thought we might take a moment to discuss shoplifting laws. It’s more than possible to accidentally make a move that gets you accused of shoplifting, especially in the era of self-checkouts.  And right now, shopkeepers are on high alert as US retail theft is said…

In California, verbal abuse can sometimes be charged as a crime. While the law doesn’t cover every single instance of true emotional abuse, it does cover some specific types of emotional abuse.  The way the law handles emotional abuse changes depending whether we’re talking about an adult victim or a child victim.  Emotional Damage to…

The 10-20-Life law refers to laws which allow judges to enhance your sentence in a felony case if it is found that you used a firearm during the course of committing that crime. You may also hear it referred to as the “use a gun and you’re done” law.  The numbers refer to the number…

Carjacking has been in the news lately thanks to a Los Angeles landscaper who had their pick up truck stolen during a police chase. While most of these cases don’t generate as much news as the landscape case did, it’s still a very common occurrence in the city of Los Angeles.  If you’re being charged…

Breathalyzer test results are one of the most common pieces of evidence used in a Los Angeles DWI case, but they aren’t foolproof. You might not be guilty, and a competent defense lawyer can often help you fight these test results.  One court even recently tossed every breath case in Washington state when four judges…

90% to 95% of cases are plea bargained in Los Angeles County. There are quite a few reasons for this, though one of them is that overburdened public defenders tend to push plea bargains through rather than taking cases all the way to trial.   Another reason is that prosecutors tend to try to coerce people…

What should you do if a loved one is accused of a crime? While you may feel shocked, horrified, and afraid, there are quite a few steps you can take at this grim time. Help Your Loved One Find a Lawyer Some defendants are too shocked and horrified themselves to ask for a lawyer or…