The couple, who share two sons, divorced shortly after a disturbing incident on Christmas Day in 2009 during which Sheen allegedly threatened her. Since that time, the 34-year-old actress has reportedly found herself in and out of rehab. After being taken into police custody in Aspen, she was not only charged with drug offenses but also with third-degree assault for allegedly attacking a woman. That charge is a misdemeanor.

It is unclear as to what exactly happened that led to her arrest and the charges against her. The woman’s representative told reporters her lawyer will work to have all the charges dropped once the details of the incident comes to light. She will continue to keep custody of her twin sons regardless of what happens in regards to the charges, reports say.

Sheen’s ex-wife was booked into a county jail Colorado, but she has since been released on an $11,000 bond. As she fights the drug charges against her, she will need to put forth a robust and aggressive defense. For California residents in a similar predicament, it may be beneficial to consult with a qualified attorney. With the help of effective legal assistance, one may be able to more successfully fight the charges against them so as to secure a fair result.

Source: NY Daily News, “Brooke Mueller arrested on drug charges?,” Nina Mandell, Dec. 3, 2011

A federal jury found the 55-year-old California resident guilty of visa fraud on Nov. 22. He had been accused of lying on his own citizenship application, and of seeking visa extensions for workers that he had. His applications for the visa extensions suggested the workers he was bringing in from Thailand were going to work for a construction job, when in reality they were working in his restaurants.

The case began in 2002 when he brought in 49 workers to the United States on temporary work visas to work for a steel company. Court papers showed that only 10 of those workers worked for the steel company. The remainder reportedly worked for him in his two restaurants, one in Los Angeles and another in Long Beach. Although he supplied housing for them, the conditions were described as being poor.

Workers stated according to court papers that they were told if they tried to leave, they would be arrested and deported. The man attempted to get visa extensions for 25 of the welders in 2003, despite the fact that 20 of those welders had never worked for the steel company. When the company did not authorize the extensions, criminal charges were laid on the man.

The man was also found guilty of lying about the work that he did for a manpower company on his naturalization application in 2005, a conviction that may involve the removal of his American citizenship.

Lack of understanding on American immigration and labor laws was noted as a key reason behind the man’s actions according to the man’s criminal defense team. The man is free on bail after being convicted of two counts of visa fraud, four counts of false statements, and one count of unlawful procurement of naturalization. He awaits February sentencing and will continue to need a strong criminal defense team in order to lighten his sentencing.

Source: Associated Press, “Man guilty of visa fraud in Thai welders case,” Amy Taxin, Nov. 23, 2011

California Highway Patrol reports state that the incident ironically occurred in Grass Valley, at approximately 7:15 p.m. A CHP trooper noticed a vehicle on the shoulder near Cement Road and purportedly stopped to help. The trooper stopped behind the vehicle, and allegedly saw a woman with a marijuana pipe in her lap. The trooper also allegedly smelled a “strong odor of marijuana smoke” from inside the vehicle.

The 33-year-old female driver of the vehicle reportedly did not have a medical marijuana prescription. She showed the trooper a glass jar that held a small amount of marijuana, but a search uncovered what the officer described as “quite a bit more” according to CHP reports. Initial reports do not indicate whether or not a search warrant for the vehicle was procured, though the CHP may have considered probable cause to execute a search based on the observations she allegedly made.

The search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 3 pounds of marijuana. In addition to the marijuana, evidence of methamphetamine residue and “items used for making hashish” was also discovered. The woman was arrested on a litany of drug charges, including; suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, possession with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, transportation for sale and possession of concentrated cannabis. She was released on $50,750 bail.

The woman likely faces an extensive uphill battle, however she remains innocent until or unless proven otherwise by a court of law. A vigorous defense may challenge the factual claims of the police officer and directly attack the allegation that proof existed of her intent to sell anything. With potential penalties including jail substantial fines, the woman will need to prepare and present a meaningful defense as she fights for her continued liberty.

Source: The Union, “GV woman arrested on drug charges,” Liz Kellar, Nov. 24, 2011

Reportedly, the 33-year-old man was involved in some sort of verbal dispute with at least one other person. The officers allegedly overheard the disagreement prior to arresting the man. Unfortunately for the defendant, a condition of his existing probation was that “search terms” are applicable, thus permitting the officers to search the man when they feel it is warranted.

After searching him, the officers allegedly found methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription medicines that included hydrocodone. They also claim to have found drug paraphernalia and needles. A laptop was also recovered from the man that purportedly matched the description of one that was stolen from a business two weeks ago. The alleged discovery of these items lead to the charges of possession of narcotics for sale, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property.

The local news report on the matter did not disclose the amount of the drugs the man allegedly held on his person or the other conditions of his probation. That could prove important as small amounts of drugs are not inconsistent with personal use. While the personal consumption of narcotics is still a crime, it is a far different crime than the distribution of narcotics. As he fights the drug charges against him, it will be important for him to navigate the law in such a way as to put the facts in a light most favorable to him.

Source: The Visalia Times News, “GV man arrested on drug charges after dispute,” Nov. 19, 2011

The alleged crimes were initially reported to deputies last month. Within days authorities were called to a home in the California Valley from which the victim is said to have escaped. He was treated for injuries at a local hospital and was released.

Violent crime is taken seriously in California. As in most states, authorities in California are just as thorough in their prosecution of violent crime as they are in their investigation of it. The two men will have a difficult time beating back the charges against them. And convictions for kidnapping and assault can carry long prison sentences.

Indeed, it is vital that the men gain an adequate grasp of their legal rights and legal options. They would do well to consult with a lawyer who can help them understand where they stand in relation to the law. A criminal defense attorney can also help the men build their defense against the charges directed at them. The two men should always bear in mind that regardless of what they’ve been accused of, they are entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

Source: The KSBY, “Second suspect arrested for kidnapping, beating man in California Valley,” Shelby Rhodes, Nov. 14, 2011

The driver was convicted of several charges, they are: gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving with a blood-alcohol level content in excess of 0.08 percent, DUI causing injury and hit-and-run causing death in the accident, second-degree murder. Prior to sentencing, the judge in the California case denied the defense’s motion to reduce the murder conviction to manslaughter.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver was traveling in his 1993 Chevrolet Camaro on I-5 south of Basilone Road just after midnight when the Camaro veered out of its lane and into another before colliding with the Ford Explorer. The victim was asleep in the back of his SUV, catching some sleep before he was to begin his early-morning shift at a fish company. He was thrown from the vehicle and killed. The man’s 5-year-old son was also thrown from the vehicle but did not sustain any serious injuries.

The driver of the Camaro left the scene of the accident. He was arrested shortly thereafter near the San Onofre State Beach, according to the California Highway Patrol. When the man’s blood alcohol content was taken two hours after the accident, it was measured at 0.10 percent. Given the time that had elapsed between the crash and the measurement, it is estimated that his BAC level would have been around 0.13 or 0.14 at the time of the drunk driving accident.

This case is an example of how one bad decision can have catastrophic outcomes. Everyone deserves a fair trial for their alleged crimes. California residents should ensure they have the assistance of a qualified lawyer in their corner when they go to court. An experienced lawyer can help get the best possible outcome for the accused.

Source: The KFMB TV, “Drunken driver sentenced to prison in fatal crash,” Nov. 3, 2011

According to police, the actor failed to obey law enforcement officers as they attempted to give him instructions at a vehicle accident they were working at the time. The accident was unrelated to Musso, but his failure to obey their instructions caused them to pull him over. Officers at the scene also detected alcohol. He was then given a field sobriety test, which he allegedly failed. A subsequent Breathalyzer test came back with results that were above the legal limit for California, which is .08.

Because of Musso is under the legal age to consume alcohol, any alcohol level in his system could be troublesome for the actor. According to police, he was well over the legal limit. His bail was set at $5,000, but he was released without having to pay it because he had no outstanding warrants.

When California youth are faced with an underage DUI conviction, such as is the case here, they may wish to contact an experienced defense attorney who is well-versed in the law. Such a conviction could have long-term repercussions such as higher insurance rates on the one end, and jail time on the other. A qualified attorney may be able to assist the accused in a variety of ways.

Source: The Allvoices, “Former ‘Hanna Montana’ star Mitchel Musso arrested for drunk driving,” Michelle Lincaster, Oct. 18, 2011

The arrests happened last month at about 2:00 p.m. When the police arrived at the home, one of the suspects allegedly attempted to keep authorities from entering the home by forcing the door closed and locking it. Upon gaining entrance to the residence police reported one of the suspects leaving the bathroom and heading to a bedroom. In a search of the bathroom, police claim to have found three ounces of methamphetamine in the toilet. Both suspects were placed under arrest.

Two other suspects were found in the garage: one was supposedly carrying an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine while the other was carrying items that police claim to be drug paraphernalia. The first was also put under arrest whereas the second was issued a citation for suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia.

Additionally, police found a digital scale in addition to items that were believed to be used to package narcotics within the home.

Despite police claims of drug activity, it is important to keep in mind that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Here, the suspects are entitled to an aggressive and robust defense for the drug charges of which they stand accused, and they should consult with an experienced California criminal defense attorney. The attorney may be able to assist with presenting a strong and meaningful defense with an aim towards a result that is fair and reasonable.

Source: The Visalia Times Delta, “3 arrested on drug charges in Visalia,” David Castellon, Oct. 14, 2011

The 26-year-old was then taken into custody and transported to the Pasadena Recovery Center. The judge who presided over the hearing cited prison overcrowding as the main reason for initially sending the actor’s son to rehab instead of jail.

Last August, the actor’s son was arrested on heroin possession charges. At that time, he was also on probation for an earlier drug possession charge. He is expected to return to a California court sometime in mid-November for a progress report.

However, the O’Neal family’s legal woes haven’t ended there. Ryan O’Neal’s oldest son is also in trouble with the law. He recently appeared in a San Diego court to plead not guilty to drug and weapons possession charges. The 46-year-old faces six felony and misdemeanor charges related to the accident in which he was involved a few months ago. According to the prosecutor, cocaine and loaded weapons were found in his car.

Drug charges can lead to serious consequences, including prison time. When faced with these types of criminal allegations, consultation with an experienced defense attorney may make the difference between doing time and not doing time. Every person, regardless of their celebrity status, is entitled to the presumption of innocence as well as a vigorous and meaningful defense. The potential consequences in the event of a conviction mandate the allegations be confronted with a view towards reaching an equitable resolution of all outstanding criminal matters.

Source: The Mail Online, “Ryan O’Neal shuttles between California courtrooms as TWO SONS face drug related charges,” Ann Pride, Oct 08, 2011

Drug charges are serious for obvious reasons. However, charges need to be proven to ensure that the individual being charged with the crime is truly guilty. Errors and oversights are not unheard of and it is for this reason due process is safeguarded.

About 2:00 a.m. on Monday, October 3, police received a call about two men burglarizing a vehicle on Chestnut Street in Santa Cruz. Upon arrival at the reported location, the police discovered that no cars had been burglarized — a false alarm.

A 38-year-old man discovered at the scene was arrested for suspicion of a parole violation in addition to drug possession. Police also reported that the man was under the influence of a controlled substance. A second man who was seen with the suspect reportedly fled the area on his bicycle and had not been located right away. Authorities did not release the type or the amount of drugs police claim they seized from the suspect.

The man is now facing drug charges and a possible parole violation. No doubt the thought of going back to jail must be terrifying. Anyone facing drug charges or parole violations would benefit from consulting an attorney who has the knowledge and resources available to ensure a defendant receives a fair trial.

Source: The Mercury News, “Man arrested on drug charge after burglary call,” Cathy Kelly, Oct. 3, 2011