Manhattan Beach Criminal Defense Blog

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has a list of nearly 300 deputies that have been accused of misconduct, dishonesty or violent actions. The roster derives its name from the Brady v. Maryland case, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution must alert defendants to favorable evidence.

As a member of the police force, you aim to protect residents. You want to uncover the truth during criminal investigations so you can carry out your sworn duty. However, you also know there are both fair and unjust ways of obtaining information.

As technology continues to tangle within daily life, it records more and more data that could aid police. Cell phones contain entire candid conversations, GPS tracking monitors your every location and everything you do online lurks in your browsing history. Although these details are highly valuable for investigations, new court rulings have refreshed warrant laws for the modern era.

Following the multiple sexual assault allegations continually arising against Harvey Weinstein, more people are coming forward with sexual harassment and rape accusations. One such claim involves Ed Westwick, who starred on the CW’s “Gossip Girl.”

In a recent Facebook post by actress Kristina Cohen, she outlines the night she claims Westwick raped her in the guest room of his house in 2014. She stated that she broke her silence on the incident after hearing accusations against Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.

One of the biggest scandals to come out of Hollywood this year has been the barrage of sex crime allegations against film tycoon Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein, formerly the head of film studio The Weinstein Company, faces multiple allegations ranging from sexual harassment to sexual assault. After a major exposé in the New Yorker magazine revealed several allegations of nonconsensual sexual activity against him, several dozen women have come forward with accusations against Weinstein, some of which date back at least two decades.

So far, it has proven difficult for authorities to bring criminal charges against the former executive. In one incident that occurred in New York in 2015, a model named Ambra Battilana Gutierrez told New York police that Weinstein had groped her. The Manhattan district attorney declined to bring charges against the mogul, and Weinstein reportedly reached a settlement with Gutierrez. Several of the alleged victims have settled with Weinstein or have signed affidavits refuting their accusations.