San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Today actor Keanu Reeves, famous for starring in “The Matrix” movies, went to court. A paparazzi photographer is attempting to sue Reeves, claiming that the actor knocked him down when he pulled his Porsche out of a parking spot in March of 2007.

Plaintiff Alison Silva filed a lawsuit against Reeves last November, alleging that the injuries he sustained during the incident diminished his job prospects and his ability to earn a living. During today’s proceedings, Silva’s attorney told the jury that his client’s current medical expenses are about $40,000, but that future surgery and health care could add another additional $50,000.

Reeve’s defense attorney countered that Silva’s story is inconsistent and that he has told at least five different versions of the incident. In one version, he told someone he did not know what happened. Both Silva and Reeves will testify in court tomorrow.

Opening Statements Given in Civil Suit against Keanu Reeves, MyFoxLA.com, October 27, 2008

Civil trial of Keanu Reeves begins in LA, Associated Press, October 27, 2008

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Even more entertaining than reading about a celebrity crime is reading the lame excuses that celebrities give after they get busted. truTV rounded up some doozies. Here are a few of our faves.

Shelley Morrison, famous of playing Karen’s straight-talking maid Rosario on “Will & Grace,” was caught stealing jewelry from a department store. According to Morrison, “sometimes the mind has a mini earthquake.” Minor earthquake? We’re curious what constitutes a major earthquake of the mind.

When film actress Winona Ryder was caught stealing $5,560 worth of goods from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, California, she tried a different tactic. After denying her role in the store theft, she later claimed, “my director directed me to shoplift for a role I was preparing.” Hmm… a likely story.

Police found Gary Dourdan, former star of “CSI,” asleep at the wheel of his car after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. When questioned about the cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin discovered in his car, Dourdan said the drugs weren’t his. One would think that someone who appeared on a TV crime investigator show would know better…

Lamest Celebrity Excuses, truTV.com

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The Brit Awards have dropped pop singer George Michael from their 2009 line-up after Michael was arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana in August. Michael was to receive the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, but the awards ceremony organizers have decided to search for a new award recipient.

After his August drug arrest, Michael was released with a warning. Michael also made headlines several times in 2006 and 2007 for other drug-related incidents. He was found asleep behind the wheel of his car and discovered with cannabis in two separate instances. Both times he received a warning.

Michael has been open about his drug use in the past and even smoked a joint while recording a TV interview last year.

George Michael cut from Brits following drug arrest, PinkNews.co.uk, October 13, 2008

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They may have looked cute and innocent as kids, but TruTV.com has a photo gallery featuring child stars behind bars. Here’s a rundown of who’s doing time and what crimes they’ve committed.

Tatum O’Neal was arrested earlier this summer after attempting to buy cocaine. Her alibi? “I was doing research for a movie role.” Tatum was charged with a misdemeanor, criminal possession of a controlled substance and later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Guess her acting skills aren’t as convincing as she thought.

Next is Danny Donaduce from The Partridge Family. Danny was arrested several times for possession of cocaine and once for beating up a transvestite hooker. Another star child turned criminal is Gary Coleman, who was arrested and pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace after punching a fan.

And, of course, the list would be incomplete without mention of Lindsay Lohan, who was arrested last year for drunk driving and cocaine possession, or Macaulay Culkin, who was arrested for possession of marijuana and controlled substances without a prescription. Who would have thought that of cute little Macaulay?

Child Stars Behind Bars, truTV.com

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In San Diego, California, a study examining victims and suspects of violent crimes has revealed that about half of last year’s San Diego homicides with known motives were connected to gang violence. One hundred and five homicides occurred in San Diego County last year. Of those, 88 had a known motive and 41 were attributed to gang activity.

The study was released last week by the San Diego Association of Governments. The study also found that San Diego homicide victims tended to be older than in past years. In fact, 42% were between 25 and 39. The reason behind this trend is unknown.

In addition, the SANDAG study found that a quarter of female rape victims were under 18 and 85% of homicide victims were male. Children and younger teens were suspected in a third of the San Diego County robberies last year.

Gangs blamed in half of San Diego homicides, San Diego Union-Tribune, October 9, 2008

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In California, a woman accused of bombing the San Diego federal courthouse earlier this year could not explain to investigators why the explosion occurred. Rachelle Carlock, 31, blamed Ella Louise “Weezy” Sanders, 57, who is also charged in the bombing case. When pressed for a motive, Carlock reportedly said, “I don’t know why I did it. I really don’t.”

The two women will appear in court this week, facing charges of conspiracy, using a weapon of mass destruction, and other counts. They could face life in prison if convicted.

Eric Robinson, 43, who admitted to driving the getaway car following the bombing of the San Diego federal courthouse, faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison. His hearing is scheduled for January.

The defense attorney for one of the accused said the case is less complex than it may appear because, “there are some serious cognitive deficits that led to this case.”

Bombing suspect can't cite a motive, SignonSanDiego.com, October 5, 2008

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This weekend, newspapers around the world reported on the verdict in the latest O.J. Simpson saga. As the Mercury News reported, “this latest verdict was seen by many as a sad epilogue: Either Simpson is getting what he deserves or can’t figure out how to stay out of trouble. Or both.”

Thirteen years ago, the famous football player was acquitted in a highly publicized murder trial for the death of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend Ron Goldman. Now O.J. Simpson has been convicted on 12 criminal counts, including kidnapping, armed robbery and burglary.

Simpson’s co-defendant was also found guilty on all counts. The pair had brought a gun when they visited a memorabilia collector in a Vegas hotel and attempted to get Simpson’s stuff back.

Several of the criminal defense attorneys who were involved in Simpson’s original case thirteen years ago were contacted for comment on this new verdict and declined.

O.J. Simpson Goes Down Bigtime, TMZ.com, October 4, 2008

'Mixed emotions' over O.J. Simpson verdict, 13 years after L.A. murder trial, Mercury News, October 4, 2008

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On Saturday morning, a Mesa College student was stabbed to death on the San Diego State University campus during a street fight. Three other students were wounded as a result of the violent incident.

San Diego police have identified the stabbing victim as 22-year-old Luis Felipe Watson Dos Santos, who died at the scene of the crime. Lt. Kevin Rooney, a San Diego police homicide detective, said that the four students had left a party just after 2am and were walking near Peterson Gym Drive when an argument sprang up between those four students and another group of four men.

The deadly assault has been described as an isolated incident, and campus police have not found a fraternity connection to the fight, according to a spokesperson for San Diego State University.

Student dies in fight at SDSU, SignOnSanDiego.com, October 5, 2008

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According to TMZ.com, the LA County District Attorney has rejected a domestic violence case against actor Chad Stansbury, the ex boyfriend of supermodel Angie Everhart.

Back in August, Everhart told police that Stansbury had choked her during an argument, then fled the scene. Stansbury was then arrested and booked on suspicion of domestic violence.

Stansbury is now off the book, because the D.A. concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute. Everhart has reportedly started dating Joe Pesci again.

Officials: No Breath in Supermodel Choking Case, TMZ.com, October 1, 2008

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San Diego police are investigating allegations that a Scripps Ranch High School math teacher deliberately choked a student. School administrators put Peter Burrell on paid leave two weeks after the choking incident.

The conflict came as the result of a disagreement over seating arrangements and quickly escalated when Burrell reportedly picked the student up by his backpack and shirt, walked him outside the classroom, and started choking him. The school district said it handles its policy on punishing students on a case-by-case basis, but it does not allow corporal punishment.

The mother of Lammar Mainor, 15, was told by school officials that there were no school police to respond to the violent incident due to budget cuts. She then filed a report with San Diego police on September 16 after taking her son to see his pediatrician. The doctor’s report states that Mainor suffered from swelling around the trachea.

According to the district attorney’s office, Burrell may face battery charges.

Math Teacher Accused Of Choking Student, www.10News.com, September 30, 2008

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