Tag: Darren Kavinoky

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Arrests in Kardashian Robbery May Reveal Crime Secrets, Says Kavinoky

Posted by Staff on January 9, 2017

“Now that 17 people have been arrested in connection with the Kim Kardashian West robbery in France, I suspect it will be a relatively short time before we start hearing details of the crime from the criminals accused themselves,” says criminal defense attorney Darren Kavinoky. The reported robbery attempt occurred in October of 2016 in Paris, France during Fashion Week. According to The New York Times, Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor’s office “said that investigators had identified some of the assailants using DNA found at the crime scene and security camera footage.” [1]

Known for his on-air quips and expert legal “misbehavior” analysis, Kavinoky muses, “As one of my greatest mentors taught me, when it comes to multiple defendants in a criminal prosecution, there are only two kinds of secrets: those that aren’t good enough to keep, and those that are too good to keep! It’s a common scenario for prosecutors to cut a deal with smaller players in order to get witnesses to testify against the primary wrongdoers.”

“This case also illustrates that laws differ not only from country to country, but from state to state and even courthouse to courthouse,” Kavinoky adds. “For example, it’s been widely reported that those arrested are being held for four days while they are being questioned. That would potentially offend the rights that criminal defendants have to be speedily arraigned, or brought to court to learn the charges against them and be provided with the basis for those charges.

Kavinoky further comments, “It also demonstrates something I can’t seem to remind people of often enough: the right to remain silent only helps those who choose to exercise it. Trying to talk your way out of trouble often serves to do just the opposite. Or even at its best, it now becomes a swearing contest as to whose version to believe: the officer’s, or the defendant’s. Best to avoid this problem entirely by keeping your mouth shut, except to ask for your lawyer.”

SOURCES
1. Aurelien Breeden. The New York Times. January 9, 2017. “17 Arrested in Kim Kardashian West Robbery Inquiry in France.” Retrieved via http://nyti.ms/2jkITXW.

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Utah Aims To Lower DUI Limit to .05 Percent

Posted by Staff on January 6, 2017

A state lawmaker in Utah is trying to lower the blood-alcohol content DUI limit for driving regulation DUI laws to .05 percent. 1.800.NoCuffs founding criminal defense attorney Darren Kavinoky predicts “the food, beverage and restaurant interests are so powerful” that it will be ultimately rejected. [1]

DUI Drinking Legal Limit

“The notion of lowering the legal limit for DUI charges isn’t new, and it’s a something we can expect to see more of,” says criminal defense and DUI defense lawyer Darren Kavinoky.

“In fact, the legal DUI limit for drinking and driving cases used to be .15 then was lowered to .10, and then again to .08. And when certain states resisted lowering from .10 to .08, the federal government threatened to withhold critical highway funds until and unless those states complied. So there is a great deal of legal precedent in support of this trend towards lowering the limit,” explains Kavinoky.

“That said, it’s difficult to envision going below that level, or all the way to ‘zero tolerance’ for several reasons,” Kavinoky adds. “First, studies performed by NHTSA and others suggest that people aren’t impaired for purposes of driving below .08. and especially below .05.” [View the 1.800.NoCuffs Alcohol Absorption Infographic here.]

“Next, at some point, the citizens will resist the notion that they can’t enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with dinner, and drive afterward. It just smacks into the notions of freedom of choice that this country was founded upon. Finally, the food, beverage, and restaurant interests are so powerful that I predict they will tap into those notions of freedom, and the financial impact of no longer being able to serve a significant population, that attempts to go lower still will be rejected,” forecasts Kavinoky.

Ignition Interlock Device

“The technology is available now to ensure that every driver is alcohol free, whether that be by way of steering wheels capable of testing skin for the emission of alcohol molecules through the hands, or ignition interlock devices that require the driver to blow into them to prove they are alcohol-free or the car won’t start. As much as everyone, myself included, wants to drive on roads that are safe, there are notions of individual liberty and personal freedom with which modern-day prohibitionists are certain to collide.”

SOURCES
1. AP. January 3, 2017. CBS Sacramento. Retrieved via http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/01/03/utah-considers-dropping-dui-threshold-to-05/.

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Dylann Roof Will Call No Witnesses For Sentencing

Posted by Staff on December 28, 2016

The criminal case against Dylann Roof is captivating the nation and, according to an ABC report, Roof says he will not call any witnesses during the sentencing phase of the death penalty case against him. [1] Roof is representing himself in the case wherein Roof was found guilty of killing multiple parishioners of the Charleston, South Carolina church.

Witnesses

The purpose of calling witnesses on behalf of the defense in the sentencing phase of a trial is to plead for a lesser punishment. In the case where the death penalty is in play, calling witnesses could help to spare the life of the convicted.

An alternative to the death penalty is a life sentence, in which the person convicted spends the remaining years of his or her life in prison.

Darren Kavinoky, founding attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs, says, “This is also an excellent illustration of how capital cases (i.e., cases involving the death penalty) are unique. Whether those criminal cases are in state court or federal court, they are broken up into two separate and distinct phases: the so-called ‘guilt phase,’ where the jury is tasked with deciding whether the government has proved each and every element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt; and the ‘penalty phase,’ where the choices are life in prison without the possibility of parole, or death.”

Roof continues to assert his right to represent himself.

SOURCES
1. Emily Shapiro. December 28, 2016. ABC News. “Dylann Roof Says He Won’t Call Witnesses During Sentencing in Federal Death Penalty Case.” Retrieved via http://abcnews.go.com/US/dylann-roof-call-witnesses-sentencing-federal-death-penalty/story?id=44429348.

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Deadly 2016: From Celebrity Deaths to DUIs

Posted by Staff on December 27, 2016

It was a deadly 2016. From the litany of celebrities lost to deaths on the road from DUI, the past twelve calendar months leave a dark cloud of loss over the memory of 2016. “Who died in 2016” is now a popular search term as the public digests all of the lives the year has taken.

From notables in government to greats in the entertainment industry and sports, 2016 buried people who defined generations. Janet Reno, Tom Hayden, Alan Thicke, Prince, John Glenn, Carrie Fisher, George Michael, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Florence Henderson, Leonard Cohen, Arnold Palmer, Jose Fernandez, W.P. Kinsella, Gene Wilder, Garry Marshall, Elie Weisel, Christina Grimmie, Gordie Howe, Muhammad Ali, Morley Safer, Doris Roberts, Will Smith, Patty Duke, Merle Haggard, Garry Shandling, Frank Sinatra Jr., First Lady Nancy Reagan, Harper Lee, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Glen Frey, and David Bowie are just a few of the accomplished individuals who passed away in 2016. [3]

On top of all of that, CBS News reports that 2016 may go down as the deadliest year on record for DUI as well. [1] The report cites this statistic from NHTSA, “Every day, 28 people in the United States die in an alcohol-related vehicle crash—that’s one person every 53 minutes.” [2] Despite campaigns to educate the public on the dangers and consequences of drunk driving, the rates of DUIs are going up according to this CBS report.

Deadly 2016

NHTSA administrator, Dr. Mark R. Rosekind says in an interview with Kris Van Cleave, “We’re seeing these increases that we have not seen in fifty years. It’s tragic.”

SOURCES
1. Kris Van Cleave. December 26, 2016. CBS News. “M2016 feared as deadliest year for drunk driving.” Retrieved via http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/2016-feared-as-deadliest-year-for-drunk-driving/.
2. NHTSA. Retrieved on December 27, 2016 via .

3. CNN. Retrieved on December 27, 2016 via http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/world/gallery/people-we-lost-2016/index.html.

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Mom Hands Child Sippy Cup of Wine When Pulled Over for DUI

Posted by Staff on December 27, 2016

If you are pulled over for a DUI, don’t complicate your arrest. Alcohol is a known substance that “reduces the function of the brain, impairing thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination.” [1] In Goshen, Ohio, a mom admitted to handing her sippy cup full of wine to her 5-year-old child in the backseat of the car after she was pulled over for a DUI. [2] This is an example of impaired thinking that can complicate matters if you are pulled over for DUI. Elizabeth Louise Floyd, age 27, was booked in Hamilton County on December 23, 2016. [3]

DUI Arrests

Floyd’s case is an example of how people panic when they are pulled over and they know they have been drinking. While the best way to avoid being arrested for DUI is not to drink and drive, our attorneys also understand the fear and panic of being pulled over. Making a rash impulsive decision to hand alcohol to a child is ill-advised as it can complicate your case and add to the charges filed against you.

If you are pulled over for a driving under the influence, remain calm. As Founding Attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs Darren Kavinoky, always says, “The right to remain silent only helps you if you choose to exercise it.”

Be polite but let an experienced DUI attorney answer the questions for you. If you are looking for information on how to fight a DUI, download our free “California Legal Guide” eBook here.

SOURCES
1. NHTSA. Retrieved on December 27, 2016 via .

2. Staff. December 27, 2016. Via Tribune Media Wire on q13fox.com. “Mom pulled over for DUI handed wine ‘sippy cup’ to 5-year-old in backseat, police say.” Retrieved via http://q13fox.com/2016/12/27/mom-pulled-over-for-dui-handed-wine-sippy-cup-to-5-year-old-in-backseat-police-say/.

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Mistrial For Sheriff Lee Baca Not A “Get Out Of Jail Free Card”

Posted by Staff on December 22, 2016

According to KABC in Los Angeles, the former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca trial ends in mistrial today. The article states, “Baca, 74, was facing trial for conspiracy and obstruction of justice for allegedly interfering with an FBI investigation into civil rights abuses and corruption in the Los Angeles County jails.” [1]

Sheriff Lee Baca

Of the mistrial, Founding Attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs Darren Kavinoky says, “A deadlocked jury doesn’t mean a ‘Get out of jail free card’ for Mr. Baca; prosecutors have the discretion to have a do-over, to settle the case, or to dismiss.”

“This is a window period where a great criminal defense lawyer is worth his or her weight in gold, and truly impact the outcome,” says criminal defense attorney Darren Kavinoky.

According to the LA Times, “Jurors said they were split 11 to 1 in favor of an acquittal.” [2]

Tweets on the breaking news today about the mistrial declared in Sheriff Lee Baca’s case:

Jurors say they are hopelessly deadlocked in Lee Baca’s obstruction trial; judge must decide what action to take https://t.co/KjI8eYU32Q

— L.A. Times: L.A. Now (@LANow) December 22, 2016

#BREAKINGNEWS: Mistrial declared in ex-Sheriff Lee Baca’s corruption casehttps://t.co/O416u16h80

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 22, 2016

SOURCES
1. Staff. December 22, 2016. KABC. Retrieved via http://abc7.com/news/mistrial-declared-in-ex-sheriff-lee-bacas-corruption-case/1669080/.

2. Victoria Kim and Joel Rubin. December 22, 2016. LA Times. Retrieved via http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sheriff-lee-baca-trial-20161221-story.html.

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Toddler In Arkansas Innocent Victim of Road Rage

Posted by Staff on December 19, 2016

A three-year-old is the latest victim of gun violence in what the Little Rock Police Department are dubbing an incident of “road rage.” [1]

The police are offering a $20,000 reward for information about the shooting.

$20,000 reward for the arrest & conviction of the individual(s) involved in this homicide. pic.twitter.com/o8p6W77Hi3

— Little Rock Police (@LRpolice) December 18, 2016

Mental Health

Of the tragic incident, Founding Attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs Darren Kavinoky says, “It’s a sadly consistent element of the holiday season that with more crowds, more lines, and more expense, we see more road rage and shootings.”

“What a great time of year for people to practice yoga, meditation, or something as simple as counting to 10, rather than pulling out a gun to solve what they believe is their problem,” adds Kavinoky. “The real problem often lies between our ears and the fact that we as a society love to carry guns with us everywhere we go.”

“If we can deal with the real issues,” Kavinoky concludees, “rather than merely the symptoms, perhaps we can break the cycle of violence that resembles rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”

Violent Crime in the United States

SOURCES
1. Staff. December 19, 2016. ABC 13 News Now. Retrieved via http://www.13newsnow.com/news/local/lrpd-respond-to-jc-penney-shooting-3-year-old-in-serious-condition/373032105.

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Fake News Criminal Twist From Pizzagate to Assault Weapons

Posted by Staff on December 16, 2016

The recent fake news about the Comet Ping Pong “Pizzagate” incident allegedly born out of a political smear campaign [1], ended with a man waving an assault weapon in the establishment demanding to know if a pedophile ring is being run out of the restaurant’s basement. It isn’t. The entire story about the pizza place and conspiracy theory, now dubbed Pizzagate, is a product of the “fake news” now circulating the internet. The accused Pizzagate gunman, Edgar Maddison Welch, pled not guilty today to charges that include both federal crimes and “local gun charges.” [2]

Fake News

Fake news can be motivated by pushing a political agenda, put out to benefit the finances of an entity, click bait, or even started by a private citizen’s social media post, who may not understand the importance of fact checking, sourcing, or the power and viral potential of a Tweet. [3] But what impact does fake news have on a society that believes stories that appear in their social media feeds? It remains to be seen if fake news sources can be held liable for spreading false information, but a report from the Washingtonian says there may be potential legal options for Comet Ping Pong. [4]

And what will likely happen to the accused gunman Edgar Maddison Welch in the case? I asked criminal defense lawyer Darren Kavinoky, the Founding Attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs to weigh in on the Welch’s situation.

Mental Health

“This is a case that screams ‘mental health issues,’” Kavinoky says. “Sadly, in the adult criminal justice system, where the focus is on punishment (rather than rehabilitation), and the few resources are already stretched perilously thin, the likelihood of this clearly troubled person receiving adequate treatment is slim. This focus on the symptoms, rather than the underlying causes for this highly dangerous behavior, is surely contributing to the recidivism rate that is so outrageous. It’s estimated that more than two-thirds of those who go to prison are returned to custody, and until we are willing to admit we’ve been doing it wrong, it’s analogous to rearranging deck chairs on a ship called the Titanic. You can feng shui those chairs all you like, but until and unless you deal with the iceberg problem, the ship is going down.”

Kavinoky adds, “It’s also noteworthy that there was no attempt to secure pretrial release. Detention or bail hearings are unusual in the criminal justice system, in that they are the one place that the criminal defendant does not enjoy the presumption of innocence. Instead, when considering bail, the judge presumes the defendant is guilty of the offense, and fixes bail in an amount necessary to secure their appearance, keeping in mind two key issues: flight risk and danger to the community. Here, the criminal defense lawyer didn’t even raise the issue. That is likely a wise tactical move at this point, and may foreshadow a defense tied to the defendant’s mental health (or lack thereof).”

SOURCES
1. Kate Samuelson. December 5, 2016. Time. “What to Know About Pizzagate, the Fake News Story With Real Consequences.” Retrieved via http://time.com/4590255/pizzagate-fake-news-what-to-know/.

2. Ben Nuckols. December 16, 2016. AP/ABC7. “Accused Pizzagate gunman in Comet Ping Pong pleads not guilty.” Retrieved via http://wjla.com/news/local/accused-pizzagate-gunman-in-comet-ping-pong-case-to-appear-in-court.

3. Sapna Maheshwari. November 20, 2016. NYTimes.com. “How Fake News Goes Viral: A Case Study.” Retrieved via http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/business/media/how-fake-news-spreads.html?_r=0.

4. Benjamin Freed. December 9, 2016. Washingtonian. “Comet Ping Pong Has Legal Options, But They Won’t Make “Pizzagate” Go Away.” Retrieved via https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/12/09/comet-ping-pong-has-legal-options-but-they-wont-make-pizzagate-go-away-entirely/.

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Dylann Roof Found Guilty and Faces Death Penalty: Darren Kavinoky Explains the Findings

Posted by Staff on December 15, 2016

According to a CNN report, Dylann Roof has been found guilty of all charges including 9 murder charges in the Charleston church shooting and faces the death penalty. The accused, Dylann Roof, elected to represent himself at trial. [1]

Darren Kavinoky, founding attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs, weighs in on the ruling in the Dylann Roof case and what lies ahead for him in the sentencing phase of the case which is scheduled for January of 2017. Says Kavinoky, “This is also an excellent illustration of how capital cases (i.e., cases involving the death penalty) are unique. Whether those criminal cases are in state court or federal court, they are broken up into two separate and distinct phases: the so-called ‘guilt phase,’ where the jury is tasked with deciding whether the government has proved each and every element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt; and the ‘penalty phase,’ where the choices are life in prison without the possibility of parole, or death.”

Kavinoky adds, “In this case, the evidence of guilt was so overwhelming that the defense tactic of abbreviating the trial was the best tactical move they could have made to maintain credibility with the jurors. The defense lawyers in this case appear to be focused on the one thing they may yet achieve: saving his life.”

Death Penalty

On the issue of the death penalty, which is a possible outcome for Roof, Kavinoky says, “Many who take issue with the death penalty focus on the challenges of a heavily-burdened, often-broken and sometimes demonstrably wrong judicial system. For example, since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, there have been over 150 exonerations from death row. In each one of those 150+ cases where the criminal defendant had a date with the executioner, every single safeguard in the system broke down. This is, of course, unrelated to the nearly 2,000 people who have been exonerated from over 10,000 wrongfully served years in prison.”

“Dylann Roof does not fall into that category, and the obviousness of his guilt left his defense team with the only possible option remaining: to try to save his life,” explains Kavinoky. “Whether they will be successful or not is too soon to tell. Stay tuned, but please tell me what you think. Should it be ‘an eye for an eye?’ Or do we believe so much in the sanctity of life that we need to be an example, even in the face of evil? Would you feel differently if it were one of your relatives who was victimized? Isn’t the depiction of Lady Justice as being blindfolded a metaphor to disregard that natural emotional pull towards revenge?”

“It’s as if there’s a two-sided coin being flipped, one side reading ‘justice’ and the other ‘mercy.’ Which do you choose?” asks Kavinoky.

SOURCES
1. Nick Valencia, Catherine E. Shoichet and Keith O’Shea. December 15, 2016. CNN. “Dylann Roof trial: Jury returns guilty verdict on all charges.” Retrieved via http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/us/dylann-roof-murder-trial/index.html

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Criminal Case Assistance

Criminal Defense attorney Darren Kavinoky is the founding attorney of 1.800.NoCuffs. The California law firm has decades of experience fighting DUI and cases of criminal charges.

Simi Valley Arrest Highlights California Hate Crimes Law

Posted by Staff on December 12, 2016

A Simi Valley arrest over the weekend highlights California hate crimes law as 2016 comes to a close. According to a CBS Local report, John Matteson was arrested for suspicion of a hate crime in Simi Valley, California. [1] Matteson was arrested in connection to a stabbing incident outside of a mosque on Erringer Road in the town most known for the Ronald Reagan Library.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s website lists Matteson’s age at 29 and bail at $25,000.00. He is charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor. “Code:PC Sec:422 Level:Felony Criminal Threats Code:PC Sec:422.7 Level:Felony Violation Of Civil Rights Code:PC Sec:415(1) Level:Misdemeanor Disturbing The Peace By Fighting.” [10]

California Penal Code Section 422.7 states:
“Except in the case of a person punished under Section 422.6, any hate crime that is not made punishable by imprisonment in the state prison shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine, if the crime is committed against the person or property of another for the purpose of intimidating or interfering with that other person’s free exercise or enjoyment of any right secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States under any of the following circumstances, which shall be charged in the accusatory pleading:
(a) The crime against the person of another either includes the present ability to commit a violent injury or causes actual physical injury.
(b) The crime against property causes damage in excess of nine hundred fifty dollars ($950).
(c) The person charged with a crime under this section has been convicted previously of a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 422.6, or has been convicted previously of a conspiracy to commit a crime described in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 422.6.” [11]

If, as initial reports allege, this crime was motivated by hate, then it may be subject to California Penal Code Section 422.6, which states in section (a) that, ”No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States in whole or in part because of one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics of the victim listed in subdivision (a) of Section 422.55.” (Section 422.55 explained below.) [9]

Simi Valley is a town with a historically low crime rate, which is why this case is raising community eyebrows. “The crime rate in Simi Valley, CA is 57% lower than the average of the whole of the state of California, and when compared with the national average, is 54% lower than. When looking at violent crimes, Simi Valley, CA has 68% lower than violent crime rate than California average, while remaining 63% lower than the national average. In property crime, Simi Valley, CA is 55% lower than the average of California and is 52% lower than the national average.” [4]

Contrary to public perception, according to Pew Research Center, crime rates overall are down. “Between 2008 and 2015 (the most recent year for which data are available), U.S. violent crime and property crime rates fell 19% and 23%, respectively, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which tallies serious crimes reported to police in more than 18,000 jurisdictions around the nation.” [2]

Hate Crimes

But what does this mean for hate crimes? Where do they rank? Hate crimes seem to vacillate from year to year with no large swing up or down when you look at FBI reports for 2015, 2014, and 2013.

The FBI tallies hate crimes year by year and the federal agency reports that in 2015, “14,997 law enforcement agencies participated in the Hate Crime Statistics Program. Of these agencies, 1,742 reported 5,850 hate crime incidents involving 6,885 offenses.” [3]

“In 2014, 15,494 law enforcement agencies participated in the Hate Crime Statistics Program. Of these agencies, 1,666 reported 5,479 hate crime incidents involving 6,418 offenses.” [5]

“The UCR Program’s Hate Crime Statistics Program included 15,016 participating law enforcement agencies in 2013. These agencies provided 1 to 12 months of data about bias-motivated crime, and of those agencies, 1,826 (12.2 percent) reported 5,928 incidents.” [6]

California Hate Crime Law

The legal definition of hate crime as defined by California Penal Code Section 422.55 is as follows:
“‘Hate crime’ means a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim:

(1) Disability.

(2) Gender.

(3) Nationality.

(4) Race or ethnicity.

(5) Religion.

(6) Sexual orientation.

(7) Association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

(b) “Hate crime” includes, but is not limited to, a violation of Section 422.6.” [8]

Enhanced Sentencing for Hate Crimes

In the state of California, “Hate Crime” law is governed by the 2016 California Rules of Court, Rule 4.427, which is “intended to assist judges in sentencing in felony hate crime cases.” [7] The rule is applicable to the following per Courts.Ca.Gov:

“(1)Felony sentencing under section 422.7;

(2)Convictions of felonies with a hate crime enhancement under section 422.75; and

(3)Convictions of felonies that qualify as hate crimes under section 422.55.” [7]

The rule states, “If one of the three factors listed in section 422.7 is pled and proved, a misdemeanor conviction that constitutes a hate crime under section 422.55 may be sentenced as a felony.” [7]

In addition, “If a hate crime enhancement is pled and proved, the punishment for a felony conviction must be enhanced under section 422.75 unless the conviction is sentenced as a felony under section 422.7.” [7]

SOURCES

1. Staff. December 12, 2016. CBS Local News. “Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Committing Hate Crime In Simi Valley.” Retrieved via http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/12/12/simi-valley-hate-crime-arrested/

2. John Gramlich. November 16, 2016. Pew Research Center. “Voters’ perceptions of crime continue to conflict with reality.” Retrieved via http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/16/voters-perceptions-of-crime-continue-to-conflict-with-reality/.

3. FBI. Hate Crime Statistics. 2015. “Incidents and Offenses.” Retrieved via .

4. December 12, 2016. AreaVibes.com. “Simi Valley CA Crime.” Retrieved via http://www.areavibes.com/simi+valley-ca/crime/.

5. FBI. Hate Crime Statistics. 2014. “Incidents and Offenses.” Retrieved via

6. FBI. Hate Crime Statistics. 2013. “Hate Crime Jurisdiction Final.” Retrieved via .

7. The State of California. “2016 California Rules of Court. Rule 4.427. Hate crimes.” Retrieved via http://www.courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index.cfm?title=four&linkid=rule4_427.

8. Findlaw.com. Retrieved on December 12, 2016 via http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-422-55.html.

9. Findlaw.com Retrieved on December 12, 2016 via http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-422-6.html.

10. Ventura County Sheriffs Website. Retrieved on December 12, 2016 via http://www.vcsd.org/pr-inmate-detail.php?booking_nbr=2001255.

11. Findlaw.com Retrieved on December 12, 2016 via http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/penal-code/pen-sect-422-7.html.

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