Former NBA Star Jayson Williams Sentenced To Five Years In Prison In Fatal Shooting Case

Posted on: February 26, 2010 at 10:18 p.m.

Los Angeles violent crimes defense attorney teams work with individuals who committed aggravated offense as well as those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. While some defendants may have committed premeditated crimes, others simply acted out emotion or some other "unplanned" attitude. A Los Angeles violent crimes defense attorney can help you sort through your issues and get you the legal representation you need.

NBA star Jayson Williams was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting a limo driver in 2002, ending an eight-year legal battle by tearfully apologizing to the victim's family.

The long legal battle began in 2002 after Williams shot and killed Costas Christofi, a limo driver, on February14, 2002. Williams and several of his friends were driven from a local restaurant in Hunterdon County to Williams’ mansion by 55-year-old Christofi. Williams showed his friends his gun collection in his bedroom and while he showed them a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun, Williams said that he failed to check the safety mechanism and only inspected one of the barrels before snapping it shut. The gun then fired and the bullet struck Christofi in the chest, leaving him dead.

Witnesses at the scene said that Williams tried covering up what had happened by placing the gun in Christofi’s hands and telling witnesses to lie about what happened that night.

Last month, Williams pleading guilty to aggravated assault in the death of Christofi.

Judge Edward Coleman sentenced Williams to five years in prison with the potential for Williams to be released as early as summer 2011.

In court Tuesday, a tearful Williams turned and apologized to Andrea Adams, Christofi's sister, saying, "There's not a day I wake up that I don't feel sorry for what I did to Mr. Christofi and that I put you through this."

Williams paid Christofi's family more than $2 million in 2003 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.

Williams had been free on bail since being charged in 2002, but was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs to begin serving his sentence.

Williams, who turned 42 on Monday, played nine seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets before a leg injury forced him to retire in 2000. He was in the second year of a six-year, $86 million contract when he retired.

This long and arduous trial has taken an emotional toll on all of those involved and Williams now stands to serve a minimum of 18 months in prison. If you have been charged of a Los Angeles violent crime, you need a professional and knowledgeable Los Angeles violent crimes defense attorney team on your side. The Los Angeles violent crime defense attorney team at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP has more than 50 years of courtroom experience and will fight on your behalf to protect your rights in court.

Be sure to contact the Los Angeles violent crimes defense attorney team immediately at 1-877-781-1570 after you have been arrested or charged with a Los Angeles violent crime. You can also visit our website at www.keglawyers.com for more information on Los Angeles violent crimes and how we can help you in your time of need.

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Los Angeles Violent Crime and Self Defense

Posted on: January 19, 2010 at 12:08 a.m.

Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys representing people charged with violent crimes often explore the possibility of using "self defense" as a way to defend their client. A Los Angeles violent crime defense requires an intimate knowledge of the law as well as a keen ability to craft a unique criminal defense.

One such individual who needs a Los Angeles violent crime defense is Swedish rapper David Jassy. In Jassy's particular Los Angeles violent crime defense, he is accused of killing a pedestrian who slapped his SUV while the pedestrian was in the crosswalk. The Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer said David Jassy, a 35-year-old songwriter and producer from Stockholm, got out of his rented vehicle and assaulted pedestrian John Osnes, a 55-year-old jazz pianist, because he feared for the safety of himself, his girlfriend and the SUV.

Jassy allegedly punched the man until he fell and hit his head on the ground. Jassy is alleged to have then driven his SUV over Osnes, thus fleeing the scene of the crime (which is also illegal). Building a Los Angeles violent crime defense in such a case can be difficult because while witnesses to admit that Osnes hit Jassy's SUV, they claim he retreated to the sidewalk when Jassy got out of the car.

Before creating a unique Los Angeles violent crime defense, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney must first sit down with his client, review the police file, interview witnesses, review the crime scene, analyze the facts and possibly even hire private investigators. Creating an effective criminal defense means that the attorney must know the law, the courts, the prosecutors, etc. In this instance, the case happened in Hollywood and involved a celebrity, meaning that getting a fair jury trial could be quite difficult. If people are familiar with Jassy's music, they could be biased for or against him, which can complicate any criminal trial. In addition, since Jassy is from another country, this could also be used against him.

A Los Angeles violent crime is any criminal act that involves the use or threat of violence. In most cases, violence is used as a means to an end, especially during crimes such as rape and robbery. During the commission of a violent crime, the offender may or may not use a weapon. If the offender uses a weapon while committing a violent crime, the offense will usually be classified as felony.

If you have been accused of a Los Angeles violent crime and require the skill of a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, contact the criminal defense firm of Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin today by calling 877-781-1570.

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Los Angeles Violent Crime - Murder

Posted on: December 31, 2009 at 5:05 a.m.

When a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney represents someone accused of a Los Angeles violent crime, they must invest a great deal of time into researching all of the circumstances. Anyone accused of a Los Angeles violent crime needs a criminal defense attorney who understands the law, understands circumstantial evidence, understands how police gather evidence and so forth.

For example, an East Los Angeles man has been charged with a Los Angeles violent crime in the recent murder of a 24 year-old woman. Doris Salguero, 24, was found dead in the backseat of her car and investigators in the case believe Fredy Hernandez, 30, stabbed her to death with an ice pick after seeing her at a holiday party more than a week ago. Police believe Hernandez wanted to rekindle his relationship with Salguero and when she refused, he attacked her. Hernandez is facing 26 years to life in prison if convicted of this Los Angeles violent crime.

Murder is possibly the most serious Los Angeles violent crime anyone can be accused of. The taking of another person’s life, whether intentionally or by accident, is prosecuted and punished vigorously with literally your own life on the line since a conviction for certain types of murder can send you to a California state prison for life. Do not forget that California is also one of 35 states that still, on occasion, hands down the death penalty in murder cases.

In regard to Los Angeles violent crime, there are five different types of murder (also called homicide): first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter and lawful killing. Lawful killing occurs in very limited instances and is typically not punished by jail or prison time as most other forms of homicide are. One example of lawful killing is when a Los Angeles police officer shoots and kills a suspect under certain conditions while on duty. Both first- and second-degree murder involve the willful and deliberate taking of another person’s life. The difference between them is that first-degree murder is generally thought to involve premeditation while second-degree does not. First-degree murder also involves the much more severe punishment of either 25 years to life in prison or the death penalty while second-degree murder generally is punishable by 15 years to life in prison. Voluntary manslaughter is similar to second-degree murder in that it does not involve premeditation. Volunatary manslaughter, however, is the killing of another person “in the heat of passion” in response to legally acceptable provocation such as the defense of yourself or a child, for example.

Voluntary manslaughter is punishable by anywhere from three to 11 years in a California state prison. Involuntary manslaughter in Los Angeles is defined as the loss of life through recklessness or extreme negligence, such as a death resulting from street racing. Involuntary manslaughter is typically assessed between two and four years of prison time in the case of a conviction.

Murder charges of any type are not to be taken lightly. If you have been charged with a Los Angeles violent crime, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today. Our attorneys have a combined 50 years of courtroom experience, and when your whole future is on the line, you need an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney by your side.

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Violent Crimes in Los Angeles

Posted on: November 17, 2009 at 9:30 p.m.

Violent crimes in Los Angeles are very serious criminal offenses that can easily land you in jail or state prison for several years. As a category of crimes, violent crimes can mean so many different, individual crimes. Some of the most commonly committed violent crimes are murder, attempted murder, domestic abuse, sexual assault, forcible rape, terrorism, armed robbery and assault. Typically, Los Angeles violent crimes use physical force as a means to an end: the defendant is said to want something and is accused of using violent means to obtain it. Los Angeles violent crimes can vary in that many are committed with some sort of weapon while many others are not. The relationships involved in violent crimes can also vary widely to include people romantically involved, family or friends, acquaintances or complete strangers.

One thing that is uniform to nearly all Los Angeles violent crimes is the harshness of punishments assessed in the case of a conviction. Because violent crimes often involve the serious injury of another person, or the loss of valuable property in a violent manner, violent crimes are very often punished by long prison or jail sentences, as well as longer probation or parole sentences. Most violent crimes are also classified as felony criminal offenses, which may make certain jobs more difficult to attain. Convicted felons also face the loss of certain rights such as the right to possess a firearm. A crime such as felony domestic abuse can send you to jail or state prison for anywhere between three months and three years. Being convicted of murder in Los Angeles can mean up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Violent crimes in Los Angeles have the added factor of generally being considered “strikes” under California’s “Three Strikes” laws. These laws were designed by lawmakers to target habitual and serious criminal offenders by punishing them more severely with each crime. Certain crimes such as attempted murder, theft or assault are considered a “strike” upon conviction. If a defendant is convicted of three “strike” offenses, they are nearly always automatically sent straight to a state prison without the possibility of parole. Prior convictions on “strike” offenses also lengthen punishments. Crimes that under other circumstances would warrant probation might garner prison sentences if the defendant has a prior felony conviction under their belt.

If you have been accused of Los Angeles violent crimes, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP right away. The best defenses start as early as possible. Important factors such as how evidence was collected against you could result in your charges being dropped altogether. You do have options. Call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today to find out what they are.

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Loan Modification Agents Robbed and Beaten in Los Angeles

Posted on: October 31, 2009 at 4:06 a.m.

Los Angeles violent crime defense attorneys usually have their hands full with any criminal trial. During the current economic crisis, Los Angeles violent crime defense attorneys have had to defend crimes that are truly out of the ordinary.

For example, , two loan modification agents were victims of a violent crime, having been beaten and robbed last week by a couple and three others who had been seeking loan modifications to save their homes from foreclosure. According to law enforcement officials working on the case, the five defendants believed that Lamond Dean and Luis Garcia had taken fees from them in order to modify their home loans and done nothing to actually help them. According to reports, Dean and Garcia were lured to a Glendale location on October 20th where Daniel Weston and Gustavo Canez are said to have beaten and robbed them using both a handgun and wooden knuckles while Mary Ann Parmelee, Mario Solomon Gonzalez and Marissa Parker watched. Parmelee, Parker and Gonzalez have each been charged with two counts of torture, false imprisonment and violence by second-degree robbery. Gonzalez faces an additional count of possession of a deadly weapon as authorities claim he carried the wooden knuckles. Law enforcement reports have not indicated who used the handgun in the attack. All five are being held on $1 million bail. Dean and Garcia were treated at a local hospital and released.

As the housing and foreclosure crisis deepens, it is perhaps not surprising that people are taking desperate and even violent measures to save their homes. Los Angeles violent crime defense attorneys understand that there are mental and emotional issues which can cloud an individual’s judgment when their home is about to be taken away. However desperate these peoples’ finances are, criminal charges such as torture, violence and weapons possessions are not going to make their situations any easier. Possession of a deadly weapon charges alone in Los Angeles is generally classified as a felony criminal offense and is punishable by anywhere from four to 12 years in prison. Torture, false imprisonment and violence by robbery can vary from misdemeanor offenses to felonies depending on the case and the criminal history of the defendant. This is why having a qualified Los Angeles violent crime defense attorney is so important. With so many serious charges altogether, Parmelee, Gonzalez, Parker, Canez and Weston are very likely facing several felony offenses and the very real possibility of being sentenced to time in a California state prison. In addition, being convicted of felony criminal offenses will give them a criminal record, making it more difficult for them to find employment or housing once their punishments are completed.

If you have been charged with a violent crime, let the Los Angeles violent crime defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP defend you. Our attorneys have a combined 50 years in courtroom experience with all types of violent crimes and we will fight for you.

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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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