After being arrested for drinking and driving (DUI) in Malibu in May 2011, Rick Springfield has agreed to reduced charges of reckless driving. The misdemeanor charge mentions the possibility of alcohol impairment as part of the plea, but the former superstar was not formally charged with DUI. According to a DUI attorney, reduced pleas can satisfy the court and the defendant. 

Arrest

The singer, who struck gold with his 1981 song, “Jessie’s Girl,” registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .10 percent in Laguna in May 2011. He allegedly threatened law enforcement personnel at the scene although authorities downplayed the incident. 

Sentence

The no contest plea means he will serve 36 months of unsupervised probation. He does not need to report to a probation officer. However, he will need to complete a 90-day alcohol education program. He also does not need to serve time in custody although he would serve time if had plead guilty to DUI. 

Precautions

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), alcohol or drugs contribute to about 33 percent of all vehicle-related deaths nationally. In order to keep safe while driving, the CDCP recommends that individuals always designate a driver. If someone insists on drinking and driving, take their keys. If there is no designated driver, call a friend or use public transportation. 

Conclusion

A rash of celebrity arrests for DUI have highlighted this public safety issue for the general population. As in the case with Springfield, charges can be reduced so that the offender does not have to serve any time in custody. Every case is different, and judges assess each situation on its own merits. 

Please see the following article for additional information on this story: http://music.yahoo.com/news/rick-springfield-pleads-no-contest-dui-case-191524396.html. Additional information was obtained at the following link: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20058965-10391704.html. 

Author bio: Lisa Simon Thompson has been interested in writing since she began jotting notes in her diary as a young girl. She obtained her B.A. in Elementary Education and minored in English. She now spends her time with her children and writing online articles.

Law enforcement personnel in the District of Columbia report that a pre-teen child has killed a two-year-old girl who also lived in the home. The name of the young man has not been released due to his age. Although he is a juvenile, the 12-year-old young man will be charged with second-degree murder. 

The juvenile’s father attempted CPR to resuscitate the toddler. After his unsuccessful attempts, he called emergency personnel. Although they transported her to a local medical facility, she did not survive. The little girl was a foster child who stayed with the family.  An autopsy has established blunt force trauma as the cause of death. 

You can find more information on this story at the following link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/06/12-year-old-charged-with-murder-in-death-2-year-old-foster-child-police-say/. 

This tragic case could result in the loss of two children for this grieving family. A toddler has died, and a young man faces years in prison. This incident raises the question of the age of accountability and understanding for children who commit such egregious crimes. At the same time, one must wonder what role, if any, media violence or the child’s own background played in this heartbreaking loss. In any case, balancing justice for the death of his little girl with the needs of an immature boy will prove to be difficult. 

Author bio: Lisa Simon Thompson has been interested in writing since she began jotting notes in her diary as a young girl. She obtained her B.A. in Elementary Education and minored in English. She now spends her time with her children and writing online articles.

  After colliding with a tractor trailer and driving off erratically, Kerry Kennedy was determined by state police to be driving under the influence of a substance. While there have obviously been conflicting reports about the nature of this incident, personally I believe the signs seem to indicate that she was at the very least under the influence of Ambien. 
  
 This sleep medication has been known to cause behavior like sleepwalking and sleep-driving. If that were the case, then Kerry Kennedy might have been simply driving around without really even knowing she was doing it. However, her attorney is attempting to spin the situation to seem as though she was at no fault whatsoever for the incident. Even going so far as to suggest that she was under the influence of nothing at all. 
  
 I believe that state troopers can identify suspicious behavior for those that are possibly DUI suspects. With the particular incident in question, hitting a tractor trailer and then erratically driving away until a flat caused the stopping of the vehicle, it seems evident that there was more involved than what the attorney would like to suggest. Of course, this is much like any well known or recognizable person getting into trouble. This will become an instance of a slap on the wrist for the damages. This could have been much more dangerous and life threatening for other motorists sharing the interstate with Kerry Kennedy. Find all the details at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-17/kerry-kennedy-charges/56269472/1. 
  
 Benjamin Gilbert spent 3 years as a statistic analyst for a firm based out of Pittsburgh. During this time he became familiar with both corporate and commercial law.

Many people are intimidated when they are pulled over by law enforcement for drinking and driving. Others are not aware of their legal rights in this situation. We will teach you about your rights regarding probable cause, Miranda rights, sobriety testing and the right to a DUI attorney.

Probable Cause

In order to stop you for drinking and driving, police have to have probable cause to stop you based on your behavior. If police do not have probable cause, your case may be thrown out of court. Each state has different probable cause laws so consult a DWI lawyer in your state if you find yourself in this situation.

Miranda Rights

Per a Supreme Court case, police officers are legally required to read suspects their constitutional rights before they ask you to answer any questions. One of these rights is the Fifth Amendment which allows you to remain silent. If you are stopped for drinking and driving, do not answer any questions. Instead, ask to speak to an attorney.

Sobriety Testing

A DUI attorney will advise you to submit to any breath, blood or urine testing because if you don't you may face stiff legal penalties. These laws vary from state to state. You can also request an independent test in addition to the testing the police department does.

Right to an Attorney

The most important right in a DWI situation is the right to an attorney. Attorneys advise not to answer any questions until your lawyer is present. You should tell law enforcement you will not answer questions until your lawyer is present. At this point, you should be allowed to contact your lawyer. Continue to remain silent until your attorney arrives and can advise you of the best course of action.

Conclusion

When stopped for DWI, take note of whether the officers had probable cause, read you your Miranda rights and allowed you to have independent blood tests done. Most importantly, make sure you have a lawyer at the scene or at the police station as soon as possible to advise you on how to proceed.

I have been a legal writer for three years.

Anthony Scolaro pleaded guilty almost two years ago to securities fraud.   At the time, Scolaro was a portfolio manager for Diamondback Capital Management LLC.  He was charged with having acted on an illegal tip that Axcan Pharma, Inc was to be purchased by TBQ Capital.  He ended up buying up tens of thousands of shares, making almost $1.1 million in the process.  After his arrest, Scolaro has cooperated with the FBI in their investigation of Diamondback Capital Management, LLC.

Scolaro made a grave error in participating in insider trading. The whole economy is based on a system of buying and selling stock, and illegally taking advantage of that system can end up hurting a lot of people.  This is why the consequences of securities fraud can range from incredibly hefty fines to upwards of 20 years in prison.  Scolaro immediately tried to rectify the situation, whether it was because he wanted to finally do the right thing, or whether he merely wanted to lower his sentence, is known to only him.  Scolaro has paid a total of $203,000 in order to settle the insider-trading lawsuit levied against him by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, he should be forced to pay the remainder of what he made off the illegal tip in fines to the government.  His help to the FBI has proven to be invaluable, but he should also face a few years in prison at the least for his crimes.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30 2012.

To read more about Scolaro and his participation in securities fraud, head here.

Byron Evans graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2004. He is now working as a freelance copywriter in San Diego, CA.

A large brawl broke out in a Los Angeles Jail, resulting in the hospitalization of seven inmates and a total of 78 inmates being involved with the brawl. The brawl was reportedly started due to racial tensions and security guards took 15 minutes to break up the fight. The guards ultimately had to resort to the use of pepper spray and sting balls to quell the violence. Some of the injuries were caused by the pepper spray. 

Violence in prison is not a new concept. Although violent behaviors is ultimately what caused the imprisonment of many inmates, some psychologists feel that the prison system itself teaches criminals to be violent. Some inmates immediately get in a fight to prove their aggressive nature before other inmates try to victimize them. Other psychologists have theorized that prisons harden criminals and provide a resource for inmates to learn more successful methods to accomplish crimes without being detected. This most recent brawl seems to have taken a substantial amount of time to be ended. Although the fight began with a fight of four people, it quickly grew exponentially in size. Guards may have been able to realize the tensions before actual violence broke out. However, with budget cuts across all federal programs, there may not have been enough manpower for a guard to personalize witness the escalation before the encounter became violent. Hopefully this event will not lead to pointless lawsuits by the aggressors who claim that the jail system owes them money for their pepper spray induced wounds. Read more about this story here. 

Samantha Kemp received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business and in Spanish at Hendrix College. She received her law degree at the University  of Arkansas School of Law. She has written on several topics, including law, personal finance, business, society, relationships, entertainment and more.

In June 2011, an Anchorage, Alaska man, Byron Syvinski, punched a seven year-old girl unconscious when she refused to give him her bike, which he then stole after she hit the ground. Syvinski claimed to be high on bath salts at the time, but tests following his arrest revealed no such contamination. 

Syvinski, found guilty on July 26th, now faces 41 one years in jail. He will be sentenced October 26.

Indeed, Syvinski faces 41 years of jail time, but one must wonder if he'll serve 41 days once his fellow inmates discover his crimes. If there's one thing gen-pop doesn't appreciate it's big, tough guys who hurt children. 

I can't imagine they'll laud him for stealing a little girl's bike, either.

So, we wish a pleasant journey to Byron Syvinski. His stay in state custody is sure to be short and wholly unpleasant. No protective custody, please, warden. Let's see how strong our man Byron is when he's not hopped up on mythical drugs du jour, his opponent isn't in pigtails, and the getaway vehicle doesn't have handlebar streamers and a banana seat.

For more on this story, click here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/26/man-guilty-punching-7-year-old-in-head-stealing-her-bike/

Bio: Ryan Lake always has an eye on crime and pop culture and is usually appalled by both.

Rather than to allow the Nevada Secretary of States' Security Division to arrest her, Elizabeth DeMaria dove off her suite's 35th floor balcony of the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. DeMaria, aka Lisa Victoria, was about to be arrested for failure to appear at May 10th bond check-in hearing.  What is baffling security fraud attorneys is that she hadn't even been sentenced yet.  Why did she do this now? 

Elizabeth was out of jail on bond for theft and fraud charges related to her connections to The Vegas Channel, a local media company.  Miss DeMaria allegedly defrauded and stole $200,000 from nine victims who believed they were investing in the media company.  Records show the money was deposited into her account for Luxury Lifestyles Las Vegas rather than going to The Vegas Channel. Records further showed Miss DeMaria had withdrawn $125,000 for personal use.

When the Security Division officers arrived at the MGM Grand, they proceeded to the 35th floor suite of Miss DeMaria.  Upon knocking and announcing themselves, they heard a woman's voice, but no one came to the door.  As they burst through the door into the suite, Elizabeth DeMaria threw her laptop computer over the balcony railing and then dove over the side plunging 35 stories to her death.  Las Vegas police were called and responded immediately.

A search of Elizabeth DeMaria's suite produced a brooch and a white stone ring.  The laptop was recovered and is being inspected by the Las Vegas evidence technicians for signs of illegal and fraudulent activities and/or materials.  A passport in the name of Lisa Victoria, which was the name she used to check in with, was found amidst the deceased's belongings at the MGM suite.  She had been a guest at the MGM since May 10th, the day she failed to appear at her scheduled court date.

Various papers and documents were found scattered across the bed.  According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, those documents all pertained to Doug Gillespie, Clark County Sheriff and Ross Miller, Nevada Secretary of State.  Exactly what type of documents and what they referred to has not been released.

Details concerning Miss DeMaria's final arrangements have not been released at this time.  No information is available on what Elizabeth DeMaria's demise means for the nine victims seeking justice and to recover their investments.

Recently the FBI conducted a sweep aimed at child prostitution in fifty-seven cities. Operation Cross Country 6 arrested one-hundred and four alleged pimps, and recused seventy-nine children. The sting involved over two-thousand and five-hundred local, state, and federal officers, the ages of the children rescued was from thirteen to seventeen. Predators stalk their victims physically and psychologically. Once they gain control of their victims, the children have to depend on their pimps for survival. Cut off from the outside world, their pimps have more and more control of the children, driving them deeper into the web of crime.
        We do not like to think child prostitution is a problem in the United States, maybe Thailand or occasionally in the big cities, like New York or Los Angles.  In 2003, the FBI started Operation Cross Country to counter act the spread of child prostitution. These raids continue to drive the point home that child prostitution is an All-American problem.
        Predators often kidnapped their victims from various places. Befriending a child online is another way they lure children into their trap. The FBI constantly fights against exploitation of children, but they cannot do it alone. Parents can help the fight by taking an interest in their children’s activities. The FBI offers these tips on their website. Monitor you children's online activities. If they start to receive gifts from someone you do not know, turn the computer monitor off when you enter their room, or becomes withdrawn from the family, might have a problem.
       The first step in confronting the problem is to have a talk with your child to explain the dangers online and possible consequences. If the problem persists, talk to your local law enforcement officers. It is always better to be safe, than sorry.   Stay involved in your children's lives. Know their friends and their activities. When they go out with friends, have a code word they can use in text or on the phone to tell you they need you to come and get them.
  The various law enforcements agencies do all they can to stop child prostitution, but they need our help. Together we can reduce the number of children, which fall prey to this horrible crime.

Canyon View High School graduates got one final lesson before they said goodbye to their alma mater for their next step in life. As they took a final trip as new alumni of the high school to Disneyland, they were not even on their way before numerous officers of the local police department were on the scene and questioning one of the drivers they had become suspicious of.

Their suspicions of drug use were confirmed when police dogs became involved in the search as well. It did not take them long to find a two different pills confirmed to be illegal narcotics without a prescription and two bags of powder. 30 year old Brandon Gillman soon found himself arrested and placed in custody on charges of Driving Under the Influence and possession charges for the drugs he had on him.

The sad part of all of this is that this was someone that was going to take these students hundreds of miles in this bus. His intent to use the drugs was clear as he had already been using them prior to arriving to pick up the students. It is one thing to take your own life into your hands, and quite another to risk the lives of so many others.

This is actually worth further charges or more severe sentencing in my opinion. These students were not aware of the situation and trusted in the ability of the drivers that they had hired from the company providing the buses. Even though many of these were then technically adults, the possibility of endangering such a large amount of youth at one time needs to be met with serious consequences.

Honestly the main point is not that he was even in possession of the illegal drugs, or that he was using them, as there are likely thousands of cases like this every month in the country. However, the lengthy trip with unknowing and trusting teens in tow that did not have an opportunity to avoid potential calamity is the main offense.

What will happen to Gillman is yet to be seen, but it is a fair reminder that DUI offenses do not specifically pertain to alcohol use and operation of a motor vehicle. Illegal substances and drugs are equal pieces of the equation, and equally punishable by law for those driving under the influence.  For more information about this story, click here.