Guides published by Greg Thomas Hill

Court Incorrectly Grants Certificate of Rehabilitation By Not Evaluating Recent Drug Offense

May 14, 2013

Mitchell Zeigler was convicted in 1989 of two felony counts of transportation or sale of narcotics (Health and Safety Code 11352) in Santa Clara County. He was granted probation, but violated it ...

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Conviction for Attempted Criminal Threat (PC 422) Proper Although Neighbor’s Fears May Have Been Unreasonable

May 14, 2013

Ben Chandler, Jr., and his female neighbor had problems with each other. His female neighbor, Ms. Lopez, then went to court and received a civil restraining order against Chandler. The two lived...

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Sentence Set Aside When Federal Judge Makes Mistake

Mar 08, 2013

Chino prison guard Robert McGowan was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for violations of federal laws prohibiting a prison guard from depriving an inmate of his constitutional right t...

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Drug Diversion Programs – Prop 36 Versus PC 1000

Mar 07, 2013

If you or a loved one face charges for possession of an illegal drug, a common response is, prison will not solve the problem; treatment and education would be better. Our legislature in Sacramento ...

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Restitution Award in DUI Case Reversed and Vacated Because Trial Court’s Calculation Not Rational

Mar 06, 2013

Monetary restitution awards in some criminal cases are a mere a drop in the bucket, or sadly insufficient toward paying a victim of crime for damages suffered. For example, a rape victim may receive $1...

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A Principal in Disturbing the Peace May Be Sentenced to 25- Year-To-Life for Attempted Murder That Follows

Mar 05, 2013

In 2008, inside a Stockton grocery store, Eduardo Liesa, a member of the Sureo street gang, allegedly made rude comments and threw gang signs to two Norteo gang members. The two gangs were rival gangs....

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Is Expungement Worth It?

Mar 04, 2013

In todays economic hard times, our firm receives numerous inquiries about clearing ones criminal record. The concern expressed is almost always that a prospective employer may reject a job applicant wh...

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

Mar 04, 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 Psyc...

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Plea Bargaining By The Judge Is Illegal – Not an Indicated Sentence

Mar 01, 2013

It is not uncommon for our clients to encounter a prosecutor who seems to stop plea bargaining, or plea bargain at all in the face of new information. The prosecutor may not seem to read the polic...

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Conviction Reversed for District Attorney Withholding Evidence

Feb 28, 2013

On January 10, 2012, the United States Supreme Court reversed a murder conviction in Smith v. Cain (2012 DJDAR 296). The opinion held that a Louisiana district attorney violated his duty to produce mat...

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Greg Thomas Hill's Legal Guides (302)

Court Incorrectly Grants Certificate of Rehabilitation By Not Evaluating Recent Drug Offense

Conviction for Attempted Criminal Threat (PC 422) Proper Although Neighbor’s Fears May Have Been Unreasonable

Sentence Set Aside When Federal Judge Makes Mistake

Drug Diversion Programs – Prop 36 Versus PC 1000

Restitution Award in DUI Case Reversed and Vacated Because Trial Court’s Calculation Not Rational

A Principal in Disturbing the Peace May Be Sentenced to 25- Year-To-Life for Attempted Murder That Follows

Is Expungement Worth It?

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

Plea Bargaining By The Judge Is Illegal – Not an Indicated Sentence

Conviction Reversed for District Attorney Withholding Evidence