Los Angeles Celebrity BurglariesPosted on: October 31, 2009 at 3:57 a.m.Los Angeles burglary defense attorneys work tirelessly to defend people who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. At Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, our defense attorneys have a long track record of successfully defending burglary charges in Los Angeles area courts. Recently, the Los Angeles Police Department has arrested six people in connection with the burglary of the homes of several high-profile actors and actresses. Video surveillance footage from the homes of actresses Lindsay Lohan and Audrina Patridge led to the arrest of four teenage girls, one teenage boy, and a 27 year-old man. Rachel Lee, Diana Tamayo, Courtney Ames, Alexis Neiers and Nicholas Frank Prugo are all between the ages of 18 and 19 and most were classmates at Indian Hills High School in Agoura. Police allege that the girls targeted famous people that they had seen on television, watching appearances of them before deciding which items they wanted and which homes they would break into. They would then track the celebrity’s movements and schedules through paparazzi photos and news of upcoming appearances. The group would pick a time to break into the celebrity’s home when they were scheduled to be either out of town or at an event. According to police, the group usually focused on jewelry and clothing. For the most part, Tamayo, Ames, Neiers and Prugo kept the items they had stolen, but Ray Lopez, a 27 year-old bar tender, is accused of helping them sell some of the stolen goods. Los Angeles police reported that the burglaries took place between October of 2008 and September of this year at the homes of Lohan and Patridge, actresses Paris Hilton and Rachel Bilson and actor Orlando Bloom. While the four girls were arrested last week, the Los Angeles County District Attorney has yet to file formal charges against them. A burglary is a criminal offense taken very seriously in Los Angeles. Because burglary combines theft and the illegal entering of another person’s home, it is generally considered a felony criminal offense and is often punished with several years in jail. Certain burglary offenses are also often considered a “Strike" under California’s “Three Strikes" laws, entitling the defendant to harsher punishments with each felony conviction and possible life in prison after the conviction of a third eligible felony criminal offense. There are, however, different kinds of burglary, some more serious than others. First Degree Burglary is the illegal entering of a private residence (or attached rooms) with the intention of stealing something. First Degree Burglary also refers to the illegal entering of a boat, aircraft, trailer, warehouse or railroad car and is punishable by anywhere from two to six years in a state prison. Second Degree Burglary, which can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense, generally pertains to the illegal entrance of businesses and cars, or any place not covered in First Degree Burglary. It is most often the charge in shoplifting crimes. In the case of First Degree Burglary, the theft of property from the building does not actually need to have occurred. All the prosecution has to prove is that the defendant intended to steal something. If you have been charged with a burglary, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today. Our attorneys have a combined five decades of courtroom experience in defending against burglary charges and we will fight for you. Tagged as: burglary, los angeles burglary defense attorney Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin LLP has been recognized as one of the best U.S. law firms, based on the experience, professionalism, and ethics of its criminal defense lawyers and attorneys. We aggressively defend clients in all Southern California courtrooms on state and federal charges, including DUI, DMV, misdemeanor, felony, juvenile cases, in the following communities and courthouses. |
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