Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Post By admin in  Criminal Law, DUI, DUI Checkpoint 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) joined with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Governors Highway Safety Association and local law enforcement officers to kick off this year’s holiday season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

In 2011 9,878 people were killed in drunk driving accidents, 375 of which occurred in the second half of December. Although the statistics do demonstrate a decline from previous years in 27 states, with Texas leading the nation in improvements, some other states like Colorado, Florida and New Jersey showed vast increases in drunk driving fatalities.

“Thanks to the hard work of safety advocates and law enforcement officers across the country we’re seeing declines in drunk driving deaths in many parts of the country – but there is still more work to do,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “Ultimately, personal responsibility is critical to improving roadway safety and we urge all motorists to be responsible this holiday season and never, ever drive drunk.”

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is being supported by more than $7 million in national television and radio advertising designed to raise drunk driving awareness, which premiered last summer. “High visibility enforcement efforts, like the ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ ad campaign, are a critical part of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving,” said MADD National President Jan Withers. “MADD is proud to join with NHTSA and law enforcement in urging everyone to make a sober designated driver a part of their plans this holiday season.”

NHTSA urges drivers to plan ahead this holiday season, and to arrange alternate rides if necessary. If you see a driver who appears to be impaired on the road, call local law enforcement. If you are arrested this holiday season for driving under the influence, it is important that you get in touch with a DUI defense lawyer to find out your options an ensure that you get the best outcome. Holiday DUI checkpoints will be increased across the country so if you plan on drinking,be responsible and have a designated sober driver.

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Piñatas Filled with 425 Pounds of…. Marijuana Seized

Post By admin in  Arizona, Criminal Law 

A little more than candy was found in these recently discovered piñatas. A Tucson man has been arrested after his truck was caught smuggling a shipment of piñatas filled with marijuana and methamphetamines.

According to federal authorities, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Nogales used narcotic detecting canine dogs to seize more than 425 pounds of marijuana along with another seven pounds in methamphetamines. The driver, Juan Marcelo Armstrong, 24, was coming back into the United States when CBP officers ordered him and his truck to an additional inspection.

This was just one of two drug cases at that checkpoint that Friday. Earlier, 28-year-old Pedro de Jesus Magana-Caballero was also caught with drugs after his vehicle was ordered to have additional inspection. Like Armstrong, Megana-Caballero was caught by the noses of trained narcotic detecting canines who found an oil pan filled with methamphetamines.

Both Armstrong and Magana-Caballero have been arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations while the drugs and vehicles have been processed and seized.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a drug crime, then you need to retain a criminal attorney who can make sure your rights are defended and your freedom is not unrightfully taken away. There are many avenues that a skillful criminal attorney can take to either get the charges dropped or lessened, but timing is everything in these cases.

The Phoenix drug crime defense lawyers of The Law Offices of Howard A. Snader, LLC encourage you to act now if you are facing such serious charges. Do not allow yourself to be charged with a crime that was unlawfully brought upon you and an infringement upon your rights.

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Nine charged in youth football gambling ring

Post By admin in  Criminal Law 

Criminal Defense Law FirmAccording to police reports more than $100,000 may have been wagered on pee wee football games in Deerfield Beach in South Florida. Investigations began when ESPN correspondents brought footage to the police station showing parents exchanging money openly in stands above the game. The investigation, which took 18 months to complete, revealed a intricate network of gambling within the small community.

Alleged ringleader Brandon Bivins, affectionately known as “Coach B”, was arrested for felony bookmaking and keeping a gambling house. 8 others were charged with similar offenses. According to a court affidavit Coach B ran a fake barber shop complete with cutting stations that housed a disguised passageway to a hidden gambling room. Here bets were made on professional, college level and youth games. Authorities seized over $40,000 from safes in the unused barber shop and $20,000 in cash from Bivin’s home.

The investigation highlights the lax background checks of the coaches, of whom investigations revealed six had an extensive criminal history. Local authorities are condemning the parents and coaches involved, dismissing them as being greedy criminals. Authorities are worried that betting on games could easily escalate in to violence. Lieutenant Frank Ballante of the Florida police gave warning to those betting on games, saying that it could result in, “a human being being shot over a football game and it’s not because their team lost a game or their kid didn’t score the touchdown it’s because they lost $40,000 on that play.”

Bivins was coach and president for the wildly successful Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes. At this time there is no evidence coaches manipulated the outcome of the game to alter scoring. Players did not appear to be aware of the bets.

Criminal defense law firm PhoenixHave you been involved in a youth sports gambling ring? If so, you are likely to suffer serious criminal penalties for exploiting children for financial gain. Howard Snader is a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer at The Law Offices of Howard A. Snader, LLC who has successfully defended those arrested for illegal gambling activity and will work tirelessly to ensure that your reputation as a great role model is untarnished. Whether you are a respected coach, a loving parent or a spectator, Mr. Snader will mount an aggressive defense to keep you out of jail.

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Types of Domestic Violence

Post By admin in  Arizona, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence 

Domestic Violence Defense attorneyDomestic Violence in Phoenix

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, battering or intimate partner violence, occurs between people in an intimate relationship. Though every 9 seconds a woman is beaten, assaulted and verbally abused, women are not the only victims of abuse. Domestic violence against men and women takes many forms, the most common being emotional, psychological, physical and sexual.  Domestic crimes are not taken lightly in the State of Arizona, as more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends everyday.

Types of Domestic Violence

Emotional and Psychological:

  • Insults, name-calling, yelling
  • witholding money as a form of punishment
  • threats of physical abuse and retaliation, violence against children or getting custody of children
  • isolating from social contacts
  • telling the victim about own sexual affairs
  • humiliation in front of family members, friends and others

Physical:

  • Pushing, pulling, jerking
  • Kicking, hitting, punching, shoving
  • Slaping, biting, shaking, squeezing
  • Strangling, choking
  • threatening with objects to perpetrate violence
  • threatening with weapons (knives, guns, bats, brass knuckles)

Sexual:

  • Using sex as a reward or punishment
  • Forcing sexual contact, forcing intercourse
  • rape, including between spouses
  • using blackmail in sexual relations

Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background, or religion. It occurs in same-sex relationships, between spouses, and an intimate couple. If you are accused, arrested, or think you may be accused of any of the violent actions listed above, you may need the help of a skilled and aggressive domestic violence attorney. The Law Offices of Howard A. Snader, LLC have helped many at-fault partners avoid criminal charges. In fact, due to Mr. Snader’s extensive knowledge of the criminal system in Arizona and domestic crime litigation, many of the charges have been reduced to misdemeanor assaults or disorderly conduct.

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Probation VS. Parole

Post By admin in  Criminal Law 

Although the terms Probation and Parole are often defined similarly by the public, their actual meanings represent a very different ideal. While both represent an individual released into society, the circumstances of their release is where the differences lie.

Probation is allowed in some cases in place of prison time. A strict set of rules and guidelines are required to assist the individual to rehabilitation.

Common Probation requirements include:

  • Checking in with an assigned probation officer
  • Attending drug/alcohol rehabilitation
  • Attending counseling services
  • Apply for employment and/or keep a job

Parole is allowed in most cases when the prisoner has already served correctional time and requests an early release. This usually can be requested after serving 1/3 of prison time.

An indivual on Parole has many requuirments attached including things like:

  • Checking in with an assigned parole officer
  • Maintaining a job
  • Committing no more crimes
  • Attending drug/alcohol rehabilitation
  • Not associating with any other convicted crimes

 

If you wish to receive further help on this matter, consulting with a criminal lawyer in Phoenix is highly advised.

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Former Rep. Daniel Patterson Acquitted of Domestic Violence Charges

Post By admin in  Arizona, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence 

Former Rep. Daniel Patterson was acquitted of domestic violence charges on Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona. Patterson was charged in February after an argument between he and his girlfriend turned physically violent. Police said Patterson claimed that his girlfriend hit him 20 times in the head and chest, and she alleged that he pulled her out of the car.

The domestic violence allegations prompted an ethics inquiry by the House, which also looked at his behavior in the Legislature. The House of Ethics Committee recommended that the independent (former Democrat) be expelled for ethical reasons, which include bullying fellow legislators at the Capitol and exhibiting rude behavior at committee meetings. Patterson resigned in April following the House’s recommendation for expulsion.

Patterson said on Wednesday that the prosecution was a “political witch hunt” and called the outside investigation a “piece of garbage” filled with anonymous allegations.

If you have been arrested or think you may be accused of a domestic crime, contact a Phoenix domestic violence attorney to defend your rights. Often, domestic violence charges are either dropped or reduced to misdemeanor assault or disorderly conduct.

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