California Criminal Attorney Blog

Craig Phillip Robinson, co-star of NBC’s “The Office” was arrested in Culver City, on suspicion of possessing ecstasy and methamphetamine. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed two felony counts against Robinson for possession of a controlled substance and one count of being under the influence of a controlled substance

Robinson was arrested on June 29, 2008 and was bailed out the same day. His next court appearance is August 21, 2008 where he has to appear in person.

If convicted, Robinson may be eligible for a Prop 36 drug program or PC 1000, a drug diversion program. If Robinson is eligible for diversion, his entire case can be dismissed upon successful completion of a drug diversion program.

If Robinson is not eligible for either drug program, he is can be sent to state prison if convicted.

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Shelly Malil, an actor who has appeared in dozens of television shows but is best known for his role in 40-Year-Old-Virgin, was arrested of attempted murder charges in San Diego County. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said Malil was arrested getting off a train in Oceanside.

San Diego Prosecutor, Steven Carver said Malil appeared on the patio of the home of former girlfriend, Kendra Beebe and stabbed her multiple times while her children slept inside. Beebe lives near San Marcos, which is northern San Diego County and close to Orange County.

A friend of Beebe’s who was visiting was able to disarm Malil however, Malil took possession of a second knife where he continued his attack on Beebe. Beebe is hospitalized and is expected to survive the violent attack.

Bail was originally set at $4 Million dollars but when Malil’s attorney tried to ask the court to reduce the bail, the court instead increased it to $10 Million.

If convicted, Malil is facing life in prison for attempted murder, domestic violence charges, assault with a deadly weapon and great bodily injury charges.

In addition to attempted murder charges, Malil has also been charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon (PC 245) and Domestic Violence. Allegedly, Malil and Beebe had been in a dating relationship that recently ended. Due to their previous dating relationship, Malil can be charged and convicted of PC 273.5, spousal abuse or what is commonly referred to as domestic violence.

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Brian Burchfield, 22 of Irvine in Orange County was sentenced to 10 years in prison for crashing his truck into a car driven by Samira Bahu, killing her passenger, Ashley Knight. Burchfield, was driving under the influence of alcohol the night of November 16, 2007.

Burchfield was charged with gross vehicle manslaughter and DUI causing injury or death. Judge Carla Singer sentenced Burchfield to 10 years, 8 months in state prison for the crash that killed Knight.

According to Orange County prosecutor Eric Scarbrough, Burchfield had been drinking for several hours before the crash and had even been urged not to drive by his friends. Unfortunately, he did not heed the advice of his friends and killed Knight, a 21 year old Cal Fullerton College student and seriously injuring Bahu.

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Ronald Tran, convicted killer who tortured and strangled Linda Park, an Irvine resident was sentenced to death by Orange County Superior Court Judge William R. Froberg.

Tran, apologized to both the Parks and his own family saying he was sorry and “for bringing shame to my family.”

Linda Park was home alone when Tran and accomplice Noel Plata entered her Orange County home. Park, a 17 year old was hogtied, had her throat slashed and struck in the head all in an attempt to locate money and jewelry. After finding approximately $800.00, Tran and Plata killed Park leaving her tortured body for her father to find when he came home from work.

Tran and Plata were convicted in Orange County Superior Court in October 2007 of first-degree murder with special circumstances. The special circumstances include the murder during the commission of the robbery, burglary and torture.

Judge Froeberg handed down the death sentence telling Park "No jailhouse religious conversion can sufficiently alter the character of such an evil, callous, wanton and malignant individual, There is no excuse, justification, nor mitigation for the devastation that the defendants have inflicted on the Park family."

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Santa Ana Police arrested six people in connection to a carjack that took place August 12, 2008. Police spotted a Dodge Durango on the corner of Bristol and Glenwood Place that was stolen at gunpoint.

The occupants of the Durango, one 19 year old male, 4 teenage boys and 2 teenage girls were detained pending an investigation. The 19 year old, Jesus Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, drug violations and possession of stolen property.

The victim reported that when he was leaving Christy’s Donuts, he was confronted by two males and one female. One of the males brandished a firearm and demanded the victim drive the suspects around for a few minutes before ordering the victim out of the vehicle and to turn over his cell phone.

The suspects fled the scene and the victim was unharmed.

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Thomas Turnour, of Victorville was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a DUI crash that killed three people. Turnour, won $10 million in the California Lottery in 2001 and has settled a civil suit with the victims’ families for $2 million.

On May 5, 2005, Turnour was driving a 2005 GMC pickup about 4:30 p.m. when he hit the back of a Ford Taurus stopped at a red light, police have said. The impact pushed the Taurus into two other vehicles, collapsing the rear and front of the car. Inside were five family members on their way to visit relatives.

Killed in the gruesome crash were Guadalupe Luna, 22, Guadalupe Luna, 59, and Lucila Palafox, 39.

Turnour accepted a plea agreement where he plead guilty to three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury

This was not Turnour’s first brush with the law. In 1985, he was sent to prison for pleading guilty to possession for sale of marijuana. In 1988, he was convicted of arson where he served 2 months in jail. Also in 1988 he was convicted of misdemeanor burglary.

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Five Mexican nationals were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Anaheim for allegedly making and selling counterfeit identity and immigration documents.

Luis Rosas, 32 of Anaheim, Geraldo Reyes 40, of Fullerton, Guillermo Ramirez-Yanez, 40 of Fullerton, Jose Reyes-Garcia, 19 of Fullerton, Marcelo Macias-Alejo 37 could face up to ten years in federal prison if convicted.

The group charged $70 for counterfeit social security cards and green cards, according to officials. The men would meet their customers at a local Orange County video store, collect the money and then supply the fake documents.

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Christy Liberty Anderson, 32 of Upland plead guilty to killing her husband Craig Anderson. Anderson told police that she and her husband had had a fight over sex and when wash sleeping, she stabbed her him in the chest.

Craig Anderson woke up after he was stabbed but was then hit in the head with a flashlight before his wife slit his throat.

Initially, Anderson was charged with murder, however that charge was reduced to voluntary manslaughter after prosecutors said there was evidence that Christy Anderson suffered from battered woman’s syndrome.

Battered woman’s syndrome is used in domestic violence or spousal abuse cases where women who suffer from repeated physical abuse, verbal abuse or sexual abuse by their husbands strike out and try and harm them, sometimes even killing them.

Under the terms of the plea, Anderson will serve 21 years in state prison instead of the life sentence she would have received had she been convicted of murder.

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