Guides published by Greg Thomas Hill

Court May Not Involuntarily Commit a Mentally Retarded Person Without A Showing That Violence is Related to Retardation

May 23, 2013

On March 15, 2011, the Santa Clara County District Attorney filed a petition under Welfare Institutions Code 6500, asking the court to commit Ronald Cuevas to involuntary treatment at California...

See Full Guide

Defendant’s 6th Amendment Right to Cross-Examination Not Violated When Confidential Informant Test

May 22, 2013

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants a criminal defendant the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him. This right includes the right to physically face those who testi...

See Full Guide

Sex Crime- Defendant Has Right at Trial to Present Evidence of Alleged Victim’s Prior False Sexual Assault Claims

May 22, 2013

It is often true in sex crime cases that the person on trial is often not defendant, but the victim. This can have the effect of discouraging a victim from coming forward to report a crime. Prosec...

See Full Guide

Resentencing of a Three Strikes Sentence Often Involves Difficult Document Gathering Challenges

May 22, 2013

About four months ago, California voters approved Proposition 36 (Prop 36) to amend the provisions of the states Three Strikes Law (Penal Code 667(b) to (j) and 1170.12). The amendment also prov...

See Full Guide

Conviction Upheld for Possession of an Assault Weapon Although AK-47 Disassembled

May 21, 2013

The Robert-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 punishes persons who manufacture or possess an assault weapon, including a semiautomatic rifle. The statute, at Penal Code 30500, et. seq., doe...

See Full Guide

Enhanced Sentence Upheld on Appeal for Sex Crime Defendant Who Already Was A Penal Code § 290 Registrant

May 21, 2013

Under California Penal Code 290, a person who is convicted of specified sex offenses must register with local police on an annual basis and notify local law enforcement of any change in residence...

See Full Guide

Second-Time DUI Offender’s Prison Sentence Upheld On Appeal

May 21, 2013

Recently, Governor Jerry Brown announced that he would ask that federal oversight of California prisons end. He stated that prison conditions had dramatically improved. The rhetoric was short on s...

See Full Guide

What Are the Defenses to Possession of Child Pornography (Penal Code § 311)?

May 20, 2013

We have all read about it in the paper. Peter Frampton was arrested for possession of child pornography. NBA basketball play Chris The Birdman Andersen, formerly of the Denver Nuggets, was investi...

See Full Guide

17 Year Old May Be Charged As An Adult With Federal Second Degree Murder Based on Lay Testimo

May 20, 2013

Under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act, 8 U.S.C. 5032, a federal district court may transfer a juvenile proceeding for adult prosecution when the juvenile is fifteen years old or older and is...

See Full Guide

Unruly Defendant Removed From Courtroom Is Not Entitled to Have Audio or Video Feed to Hear or See Continued Testimony in Trial

May 20, 2013

In June, 2011, Torrance Judge James Brandlin removed Defendant Carlton Mayham from his courtroom during trial after Mayham repeatedly yelled, You are all trying to f..k me over! The outbursts cont...

See Full Guide

Greg Thomas Hill's Legal Guides (302)

Court May Not Involuntarily Commit a Mentally Retarded Person Without A Showing That Violence is Related to Retardation

Defendant’s 6th Amendment Right to Cross-Examination Not Violated When Confidential Informant Test

Sex Crime- Defendant Has Right at Trial to Present Evidence of Alleged Victim’s Prior False Sexual Assault Claims

Resentencing of a Three Strikes Sentence Often Involves Difficult Document Gathering Challenges

Conviction Upheld for Possession of an Assault Weapon Although AK-47 Disassembled

Enhanced Sentence Upheld on Appeal for Sex Crime Defendant Who Already Was A Penal Code § 290 Registrant

Second-Time DUI Offender’s Prison Sentence Upheld On Appeal

What Are the Defenses to Possession of Child Pornography (Penal Code § 311)?

17 Year Old May Be Charged As An Adult With Federal Second Degree Murder Based on Lay Testimo

Unruly Defendant Removed From Courtroom Is Not Entitled to Have Audio or Video Feed to Hear or See Continued Testimony in Trial