San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

An arrest was made in Fresno California when Kasey Kahl, an ex-Bachelorette television star allegedly gave a female club goer a bloody nose.

Kahl who was formerly linked to Vienna Girardi, claimed the incident was in fact “self defense” however was arrested on Sunday morning for being intoxicated and belligerent at Club Habano’s. The incident explained in the police report was that Kahl was attacking a fellow club goer by the name of Richard Chaney outside Club Habanos when he then went on to attack Chaney’s girlfriend, Renne Idsinga as she tried stopping the brawl. Idsinga told police that Kahl was “very intoxicated” when the reality star approached them.

The police report also describes that Chaney asked Kahl to stop the inappropriate things he was saying to them. All of a sudden Kahl strikes Chaney in the face as well as the head numerous times. According to police, Chaney and his girlfriend were both bleeding as cops made their way to the scene. Like the couple, Kahl had his own version of the story of what occurred at the club. Kahl did tell police that he did have “a lot to drink” but did not start the fight and claimed his actions were strictly out of self defense. Kahl also shared that he wants to press charges against the couple while the couple wants to press charges against Kahl.

Police stated that the former reality star was “intoxicated and belligerent” and that the he was not in the right mind to take care of himself. Kahl was arrested and booked in Fresno County jail where he was later released.

'Bachelorette' Star Accused of Bashing Woman in Drunken Nightclub Attack, TMZ.com, January 17, 2012

Kasey Kahl Arrested for Drunk and Disorderly Conduct, People.com, January 17, 2012,

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San Diego shooting causes four fatalities in the Coronado area.

Authorities arrived at the 1020 Park Place condo structure at around 2:20 a.m. in Coronado after receiving a call about reported gunshots. An adult male victim was found lying in the doorway of the building with a gunshot wound was found by officers when they arrived to the complex. It was confirmed by the officers that the adult male had no signs of life.

A sheriff’s SWAT team was called in by the Coronado police department. The team used a robot to go into the first floor of the building in order to spot out if an active shooter was inside. The SWAT team followed the robot continuing to search the first, second and third floors of the building.

Upon the search, three more bodies were found those of two men and one woman. All four victims had gunshot wounds. Two of the victims were identified as 25-year-old David Reis who was an F-18 pilot and his sister Karen who was a former student and volleyball player at UCSD. David’s neighbor Don Hubbard heard the gunshots saying “there were two shots…about a five-second pause and then five more”. The third victim was Reis’s roommate Bob Reeves who was a fellow Navy pilot. The last victim identified was a 31 year old Chula Vista resident where his relation to the other three victims is unclear. It is said that the Reis siblings were in downtown San Diego at a bar when they met someone new and brought him back to the condo to party with their roommate.

Details Surface About 4 Dead In Coronado Shooting, 10news.com, January 2, 2012

4 bodies found in Coronado condo, fox5sandiego.com, January 1, 2012

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San Diego man accused for killing his ex-wife pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justin Meltzer pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon for supposedly threatening neighbors with a gun, as well as counts of murder and use of a firearm. Meltzer is looking at 61 years to life in prison if convicted. The accused was arraigned Thursday morning in the hospital after undergoing surgery. The 42-year-old alleged shooter was arrested Friday evening at his home on Larkspur Drive in Alpine. Officers took action following reports of a man pointing a gun to the head of a woman who was identified as 40 year-old Deborah Meltzer. Carlos Campbell, Deputy District Attorney, reported that “a witness heard screaming, heard a fire alarm, approached where he heard it, which was the defendant’s house. [The witness saw the victim near the door of the defendant’s residence; handcuffed with a dog leash attached to handcuffs…She was screaming. She was asking for help. She was saying he has a gun, he’s going to shoot me”.

After an exchange of gunfire, the victim was hauled into the home with the man at which time the defendant was shot in the leg. Campbell also reported that “Sherriff’s deputies did respond, they attempted to save her. They were unsuccessful, firing shots. He then dragged the victim into the house. At that time sheriff’s deputies did hear several rounds. They went inside and found her with I believe seven shots from a 9 mm in her chest”.

Dawn Beebee, Justin Meltzer’s San Diego criminal defense attorney, argued for no bail due to the fact that Meltzer does not have a previous criminal record. Despite her argument, Judge William McGrath set the defendant’s bail at $2 million. The suspected shooter remains in the hospital in recovery under 24-hour surveillance by San Diego County sheriff’s deputies.

Man Accused Of Killing Ex-Wife Pleads Not Guilty, 10news.com, December 29, 2011

Alpine man pleads not guilty to killing ex-wife, fox5sandiego.com, December 29, 2011

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San Diego Man accused of stabbing a man riding the trolley then carjacking an elderly man’s vehicle is being ordered to stand trial.

Gregory Charles Davis, 54, is being charged with attempted murder, carjacking, elder abuse, and two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run. Davis is accused for stabbing a fellow trolley rider as well as carjacking a 75-year-old man’s car near Old Town on September 26. Davis pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity following his preliminary hearing at the downtown courthouse. Preceding the trial, the defendant is to be examined by a psychiatrist and psychologist that is court-appointed. If the defendant is convicted of these charges he faces 15 years to life but if he is also found insane he could be sent to a state mental hospital.

Witness Kirstie Moss testified that Davis appeared to be frantic in the back of the trolley when he headed down the aisle, yelled something unintelligible and then stabbed victim James Novae in the neck. The victim had to have emergency throat surgery due to the life threatening wound. Another witness who was on the trolley during the incident testified that Davis seemed to be acting a bit strange and did not seem to be mentally secure when he attacked Novae.

According to prosecutor Christopher Moon, after exiting the trolley the defendant allegedly went up to an elderly man demanding the keys to his Buick. Davis then struck the man and recklessly drove away causing two hit-and-run accidents. The stolen Buick was spotted heading south along Interstate 805. Officers used a service dog to search an open brush area which the carjacker had been spotted after pulling over on the freeway. At around 4 p.m. Davis was taken into custody.

Carjacking Suspect Ordered To Stand Trial, 10news.com, December 19, 2011

Insanity trial ordered trolley stabbing case, fox5sandiego.com, December 20, 2011

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Chula Vista suspected mall robbers were taken into custody Thursday.

In the Chula Vista shopping mall, three people were arrested and taken into custody for armed robbery. The robbery occurred Thursday evening at the Footaction USA, a store in the Chula Vista mall located on Brodway and H Street. According to Chula Vista Police Lt. Daniel Hardman, it was reported that two males went into the store armed and ordered the employees to the back and then commanded that they give them cash and shoes. The alleged robbers tried to exit the store through the back door but were unable to immediately get out so during this confusion, an employee slipped out unseen to contact the authorities.

The suspects, identified as 24 year-old Lukmond Muhammad and 23 year-old Anthony Bolden, were spotted by officers arriving to the scene. Muhammad and Bolden were seen running from the south parking lot onto Fifth Avenue where they then split up as they entered a residential area. Police tracked down Muhammad who was then arrested and then used canine units and a helicopter to look for Bolden but were unable to find him. Muhammad’s 21 year-old wife, Patria, was also arrested for being an accomplice as the getaway driver. Police recovered all stolen property. Chula Vista police Capt. Gary Wedge reported that “based on information, evidence we have we believe she was well aware of what was going on”.

Bolden was arrested and taken into custody Friday afternoon at his San Diego home. The authorities also searched Muhammad’s residence and found evidence that connects the two suspects to another 10 armed robberies throughout San Diego County. Chula Vista police Lt. Lon Turner said “some items were items of clothing that may be involved in helping us identify other potential robberies”.

Suspected Mall Store Robbers In Custody, 10news.com, December 16, 2011

Mall heist suspect nabbed by police dog, signonsandiego.com, December 16, 2011

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San Diego County narcotics task force seized over 200,000 marijuana plants in the year 2011.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s San Diego Field Division’s acting special agent, Bill Sherman, more than 65,000 of the marijuana plants were obtained from public lands. These plants were taken with the help of the U.S Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and tribal partners on reservations. Sherman reported that these agencies worked together to make sure that these public lands were free of marijuana plants so the land could be safe for the use of the public. He also noted that between the times of January and November, the agencies together made a total of 100 arrests, seized 71 weapons and obtained more than $1.2 million in assets which include cash, vehicles and real estate.

Sherman also said “it’s a sign we’re driving them out of San Diego County with our continued efforts. The fact that we’re arresting more people associated with outdoor grows has really been a deterrent”. Tommy LaNier, director of the National Marijuana Initiative said that “major prosecutions on the federal and state side have had a significant impact on marijuana traffickers. The trends from our focused operations that we continue to do will have an effect both on the outdoor marijuana as it relates to public lands, but also the medical marijuana as it relates to those that are producing medical marijuana in the outdoors as well”.

The illegal cultivation of these marijuana plants also have had harmful side effects to the environment by taking place of natural vegetation, releasing harmful pesticides, and have redirected streams and public water sources from their natural state. The ones who grow these plants are using fertilizer that is deadly to animals which are clearing out native plants and wild animals out of their natural habitat.

200K Pot Plants Seized In County In 2011, 10news.com, December 8, 2011

San Diego's Marijuana Seizures Are Down, sandiego6.com, December 9, 2011

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San Diego twins were arrested Tuesday for selling stolen items on Craigslist

The twin brothers Juan and Julio Villanueva had reportedly stolen more than $100,000 in property and tried selling the items on Craigslist. According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department the men stole items such as sports memorabilia, high end appliances including Viking and Thermador ovens, microwaves, dishwashers and trash compactors. Sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Montion noted that the appliances stolen between November 17 and 19 had been recovered however only $34,000 worth of items were recovered and the rest lost. The two brothers had the appliances located at two residents located in the 1600 block of Wilt Road in Fallbrook.

Two detectives posed as husband and wife responding to the Craigslist add and met up with their Julio Villanueva who used a false identity. The detectives recognized 36 stolen appliances held in Villanueva’s garage. Both brothers were then arrested on suspicion of theft and conspiracy to sell stolen property. They were then booked into the Vista Detention Facility. Montion reported that a computer was recovered from one of the residents in which the internet search history showed searches for homes for sale with “high-end stainless appliances” in North County as well as in Riverside County.

One of the undercover detectives reported that the twins “were definitely not amateurs. They knew what they wanted. We believe there are many more victims”. Juan Villanueva’s bail was set at $210,000 while his twin brother’s bail was set at $215,000 for also being held on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine.

Twins Arrested In Craigslist Stolen Goods Bust, 10news.com, November 29, 2011

Twins accused of trying to sell stolen loot online, fox5sandiego.com, November 29, 2011

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San Diego teens accused of kidnapping and rape had their hearings rescheduled for December 12.

The two teenage boys are being tried as adults for the Rancho Penasquitos rapes of two young teen girls. According to Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick, the 16 year-old boys, Leonel Contreras and William Steven Rodriguez are each possibly facing up to 325 years to life behind bars if convicted of all of their charges. They are charged with 16 counts of kidnapping, forcible rape and sodomy by force.

The two teenage victims had gone for a walk during a family party on September 3 at around 8:15 p.m. Patrick told a judge at the defendant’s September arraignment that the two boys walked past the young girls with hooded jackets on and demanded they go to an isolated area across the street. The teenage victims complied and were then ordered to remove their clothes. The girls were assaulted for about 30 to 40 minutes until family members started to call their names looking for them.

The defendants then threatened the victims saying “don’t scream, I don’t want to have to hurt you”. The boys then took off on their bicycles that had been hidden away in some bushes nearby. The girls had never met the accused boys prior to the assault. The defendant’s are each being tried as adults and are looking at 25 years to life for each of the 13 charges out of 16 therefore if convicted could face up to 325 years in prison.

Hearing Rescheduled For Teens Accused Of Kidnapping, Rape, 10news.com, November 15, 2011

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Two San Diego men were arrested in connection to the La Mesa Carl’s Jr. robbery.

The robbery occurred at the Carl’s Jr. in La Mesa on the 8000 block of Parkway Drive jus off of Fletcher Parkway. Two men entered the fast food restaurant, occupied by one customer and several employees around 9 p.m. The armed men commanded the employees to lie on the ground and ordered the cooks to crawl to the front. The robbers stole both a safe and $900 cash then fled the scene. Although the faces of the robbers were partly covered, the employees were able to give a somewhat detailed description of the men to the police.

Not long after the robbery, an officer who was supervising an intersection near the Carl’s Jr. spotted a car occupying two men that matched the description of the robbers. The officer proceeded to pursue the car until it finally pulled over on Adobe Falls Road and Waring Road in Mission Valley. The occupants of the car were identified as 31 year-old Antonio Arnold and 30 year-old Mario Deangelo.

The two were arrested on spot without incident. Authorities searched the home of one of the suspects and were able to recover some of the stolen cash and located one of the weapons used. Police are investigating to see if they are in connection to any of the past 10 business robberies that have occurred in La Mesa in the past month however they do not think it is likely that either one of them are responsible for any of the previous robberies.

2 Men Arrested In Connection To La Mesa Armed Robbery, 10news.com, November 14, 2011

La Mesa Carl's Jr. Robbed at Gunpoint, sandiego6.com, November 14, 2011

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San Diego man who killed both of his parents with a machete was sentenced on Thursday.

47 year-old Dennis Gluck was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison for the killing of his elderly parents in their Carlsbad home. The married couple, Harry and Jean Gluck, was hacked up with a machete by their son. The bodies were discovered in a bedroom of their home on January 18, 2009 and had died from “chop” wounds inflicted upon them with a machete. According to the authorities, Gluck had always shown hostile behavior towards his parents. The defendant escaped to Mexico after murdering his parents but was arrested a month later in Ensenada and charged with second-degree murder.

Gluck was kept from standing trial for two years due to a mental illness however in August he was able to proceed with a trial because treatment and medications helped his condition improve. Gluck appeared to be vacant and inexpressive during his sentencing. Gluck’s brothers spoke at his sentencing and expressed their dissatisfaction with the state’s mental health system. Mitch Gluck said “even though Dennis bears some of the responsibility for what has happened, I’m also aware of how inadequate the mental health system is, much less than criminal system”. According to both Mitch and Richard Gluck, Dennis started showing signs of mental illness in his 20’s.

This isn’t Gluck’s first run in with the law. Some years before the murder of his parents, Gluck was arrested for assaulting a person with a machete at a homeless camp in Oceanside. During his sentencing, Gluck’s brothers did not ask Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz to be lenient on him. Richard Gluck’s ending statement was “we stand before him and this court with nothing but love and forgiveness in our hearts. Dennis, you are and always will be our brother and we love you”.

Man who hacked parents to death sentenced, fox5sandiego.com, Nov. 3, 2011

Man Who Killed Parents With Machete Sentenced, 10news.com, Nov. 4, 2011

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San Diego man is accused of molesting three young children who are enrolled in his wife’s home day-care in Southcrest.

53 year-old Hector Herrera is being accused of molesting three related children who attend his wife’s home day-care service. Judge Melinda Lasater ruled Monday after hearing all the evidence presented at the accuser’s preliminary hearing that Herrera must stand trial on four felony charges for the molestations. The defendant is being charged with three counts of child molestation and one count of oral copulation on a child under 10. Deputy District Attorney Harrison Kennedy says that if convicted, Herrera faces 60 years to life behind bars.

According to SDPD Lt. Rudy Tai, a 4 year old girl who attended the Shining Stars Daycare in the 3900 Block of Boston Avenue told her mother about being molested by Herrera in early May. The young girls two older brothers who are ages 6 and 8 also told their mother that they were touched inappropriately by Herrera. The accused was arrested by the San Diego authorities on May 18 of this year.

The defendant’s wife, and owner of the Shining Stars Daycare, said she did not know of her husband’s alleged crimes. Her day care was also temporarily shut down for an investigation being conducted by the Community Care Licensing Division of the state Department of Social Service. The San Diego criminal is to be back in court on Monday October 31 for arraignment in Superior Court.

Man Accused In Day Care Molestations To Stand Trial, 10news.com, October 17, 2011

Man Accused of Molesting Children In Wife’s Home Day-Care; Bail Set at $500,000, sandiego6news.com, May 20, 2011

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San Diego Man was found guilty for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old relative.

30-year-old, Imshay Segrest, was sentenced on Friday to 12 years in state prison for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old relative. The victim was attacked in her Serra Mesa home and is mentally disabled having a mental capacity of an 8 or 9 year-old. Segrest was charged for commiting a forcible lewd act on a child and was later found guilty. According to Judge Amalia Meza, the defendant was sentenced to an aggravated term because his actions brought long lasting trauma to the young girl.

The judge stated “What he did was a very frightening act on a child who was disabled. You can’t victimize people like that”. The defendant has had previous trouble with the law, according to Deputy District Attorney Nicole Rooney he has been in trouble with using drugs, carrying a concealed weapon, associating with gang members, and leading police on chases. The defendant has been sent to prison twice for felony evasion in 2003 and 2004 and for possession of cocaine in 2003. At the time he committed the sexual assault, Segrest was on probation.
Segrest’s mother, Patricia, asked the judge to be lenient on him because he had a rough childhood.

According to Patricia she was hooked to crack cocaine when her son was growing up. She said to the judge “my son Imshay is not a bad person. He made a mistake. I do believe in second chances”. Segrest’s San Diego criminal defense attorney, Charles Luckman, said claimed that the defendant was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he attacked the girl.

Man Sentenced In Sex Assault On Mentally Disabled Relative, 10news.com, October 7, 2011

Man gets prison for molesting disabled child, fox5sandiego.com, October 7, 2011

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