Posts Tagged ‘New Orleans defense attorney’

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Jury Deliberation Begins in Danziger Bridge Trial

August 3rd, 2011 | Posted in Katrina, Local Issues, NOPD by bloom | No Comments »

Everything that occurs behind the closed doors of Jury deliberation remains secret, which makes imposing rules on deliberation a difficult concept, but the court’s process up until the doors close is designed to ensure just application of the law. Jurors are reminded of exactly what charges each defendant is facing and what elements of the law to consider while deliberating. The jury must return a unanimous verdict for each charge. The court also instructs the jury to elect a foreperson, who will facilitate debate amongst the jurors and communication with the court. Each juror may also receive a form suggesting proper behavior in the deliberation.

Photo Courtesy of abc15.com

The twelve jurors of the Danziger bridge trial had a similar experience to this early this morning as they began deliberations. US district judge Kirk Engelhardt instructed them on their responsibilities and the applicable elements of the law. Deliberation is expected to be lengthy for such a complicated case as this.

Four of the five defendants;Robert Faulcon, Robert Gisevius, Kenneth Bowen, and Anthony Villavaso; are charged with civil rights violations which carry heavy sentences. The same four officers face federal firearms charges forcing the jury to decide whether the death of 17 year old James Brissette was murder. A single defendant, Robert Faulcon, faces a second count for the death of 40 year old, mentally handicapped Ronald Madison. Finally, all five defendants are accused of conspiring to cover up the shooting, the only charge leveled against Officer Arthur Kaufman.

The jury must decide guilt or innocence for each individual charge for each individual officer. After the deliberation process, Judge Engelhardt will move to sentencing. Michael Hunter who last year pled guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice received eight years in prison. Coverage of the entire trial can be found at nola.com.

The legal system is a complicated mechanism filled with difficult procedures and odd idiosyncrasies. It is important to hire a legal professional if you face charges. The personal injury and criminal justice experts at Bloom Legal can fight for your case. Contact us at 504-599-9997 for a free legal consultation.

Intoxicated Driver Injures Cabbie

July 29th, 2011 | Posted in DUI/DWI, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

Early Sunday morning 21-year-old Thomas Eagan’s SUV struck a cab at the corner of Freret and Audubon before barreling through the doors of the United Methodist Campus Center on Tulane’s campus.

Photo Courtesy of uptownmessenger.com

Those involved in the accident, Eagan, the cab’s driver and three passengers, were hospitalized on Sunday. With the exception of the taxi driver, everyone has been released or is in stable condition. Our prayers are with the cab driver who remains in intensive care.

Eagan has been charged with driving while intoxicated and more serious charges may be filed depending on the health of the other driver. This is a reminder that the decision to drive drunk can have life altering consequences.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with a DUI, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free legal consultation.

LSU to Brew and Sell Beer

July 20th, 2011 | Posted in Local Issues by bloom | 1 Comment »

On Wednesday Louisiana State University made the announcement that it will be brewing and selling its own beer. The names and types of the beer are still unknown, but university spokesman Ernie Ballard has been forthcoming with other information.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Currently the logos and can designs are being finalized, and the university hopes to have the beer ready for sale in September or October, just in time for football season.

LSU’s food science department was integral in developing the product, even allowing university classes to assist in creating the brew’s recipe. Initial plans to create a microbrewery on campus have been scrapped, and the university will be partnering with local companies for brewing and distribution.

The beer will be delivered to stores by Mockler Beverage and brewed by local Tin Roof Brewing Co. The Baton Rouge area brewery already produces Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale and Perfect Tin Amber.

LSU football and LSU beer seems like a match made in heaven, but some question the wisdom of a university sponsored beer. Similar to the resistance Anheuser Busch received after creating university branded cans, some worry about the potential for underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with a DUI or an MIP, contact a New Orleans defense attorney at Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation.

Police Raid St. Charles Apartment for Marijuana Plants

July 20th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

On Monday police received a report of marijuana plants inside a St. Charles apartment, and by the end of the day had seized marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, crystal meth, and multiple grow boxes.

Photo Courtesy of NOLAReady

They first arrived at the apartment at 2900 St. Charles to find marijuana plants in plain sight. Officers then called the 6th District Narcotics Detectives who arrested Miguel Molina inside the residence. After further investigation detectives ascertained that Molina was storing additional narcotics in a house at 2704 Soniat St.

Between the two houses police seized a hydroponic system for growing marijuana indoors, 17 marijuana plants, 16 jars for growing psychedelic mushrooms, jars of psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana packaged for distribution, 3 vials of crystal meth and a semi-automatic hand gun.

Molina, who is responsible for the entirety of the seized property, is facing a slew of charges easily capable of putting him in jail for a very long time: possession with intent to distribute both marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms, illegal cultivation of marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms, possession of methamphetamine, and illegal possession of firearms with narcotics.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with something a simple as marijuana possession, legal representation is important. Contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free legal consultation

Man Drunkenly Wrecks “Late Show” Set

July 13th, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice by bloom | No Comments »

James Whittemore, 22, has been charged with burglary and criminal mischief after breaking into the Ed Sullivan Theater, where David Letterman hosts the “Late Show,” and causing $5,000 worth of damage. Whittemore had been drinking the night before and has no memory of even being near the CBS studio.

Photo Courtesy flickr.com

Whittemore is an actor in New York who has fallen on tough times. Nancy Hasty, a playwright who has worked with Whittemore, describes the young man as, “very, very industrious, very, very professional, very dedicated. A good kid with a bad life.” Whittemore has been troubled ever since his mother lost a long battle with alcoholism and committed suicide.

The young actor used a metal stanchion to shatter a number of the theater’s glass doors before entering where he upended bins and turned over velvet rope stands. By the end of his drunken rampage phones, printers, pictures, and fans had all been damaged. The “Late Show” set avoided any damage. It is upsetting to see such a young man with emotional and drinking problems, and we wish him the best.

If you have been arrested on criminal charges, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation.

Troopers Plan DWI Crackdown for Holiday Weekend

July 1st, 2011 | Posted in DUI/DWI, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

With Essence Fest bringing crowds to New Orleans for the weekend and the 4th of July close behind, Louisiana state troopers will be on the lookout for drunk drivers. State law enforcement will be using overtime grants to set up extra DUI checkpoints and to put more patrol cars on the road. Check out our glove box guide for tips on how to handle a DUI checkpoint or traffic stop.Photo Courtesy of asktheazduiattorney.com

Troopers will not be limiting themselves to DUI arrests this weekend. They have warned that drivers not wearing seat belts, unrestrained children, speeders, and tailgaters will also be targeted. If you are pulled over, it is important not to argue with an officer but to be respectful and argue a ticket or citation through legal channels.

Essence should draw an especially large audience this year with a star studded lineup. Usher will headline tonight, and Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, and Trey Songz will perform throughout the weekend. The large crowds and increased police presence is a recipe for DUI and public intoxication arrests.

If you or anyone you know is arrested over the 4th of July/ Essence Fest weekend, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation.

Brother and Sister Bust Father for Possession

June 29th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

The 12 year old son and 13 year old daughter of Thomas Morin, 44, were fed up with their father’s use of marijuana and alcohol, so they took it upon themselves to curb his habit.

Photo Courtesy of fox13now.com

The children called the local police station in Cottonwood Heights, Utah and reported his drug abuse. When Sgt. Scott Peck arrived at the house he asked the girl to retrieve Morin’s stash from inside the house. “Yeah, I’ll go get it,” she responded as she ran into the house. She returned with a small, approx. 23 gram, bag of marijuana.

Morin has been charged with child endangerment and possession of marijuana. It is doubtful that he will receive a heavy sentence for so small an amount of marijuana, but the court will try to ensure the children are in a safe environment with their father.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with possession, it is important to mount a legal defense. Contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free legal consultation.

Police Raid Sports Vue Bar, 43 Arrested

June 10th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, Local Issues, NOPD by bloom | No Comments »

The officers made a “soft entrance” into the bar by entering in plain clothes and only announcing themselves after the lights had been raised and the music turned off. Between 10:45 pm when they entered the bar and 3:45 am when they left, the NOPD made forty-three arrests for everything from probation violations to traffic warrants and recovered 62 ounces of marijuana.

Photo Courtesy of gotime.com

As the number of complaints from nearby residents grew, claiming that patrons carried guns and dealt drugs, that cars were illegally parking on the neutral ground, and that the bar’s noise was disrupting, police realized that Sports Vue was becoming a problem in the neighborhood. Their suspicions proved correct. Inside the bar were 29 fugitives and 18 parole violators.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana is up in arms claiming that the raid was heavy handed. The police made every customer present ID in order to ascertain whether they were of legal drinking age, but this was just a pretext to check for outstanding warrants as most of the customers were obviously older than 21. Whether this was a violation of civil liberties will be decided in the court system.

Until then, the police may conduct more raids in the near future. NOPD spokeswoman Remi Braden said, “other establishments in other neighborhoods have also received similar complaints,” and that they will face police raids similar to the one Wednesday night.

If you or anyone you know is arrested in a raid such as this, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997. We specialize in criminal defense and offer free legal consultations.

Rapper BG Indicted on Gun Charges

May 23rd, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice by bloom | No Comments »

Local rapper BG a.k.a. Baby Gangster has been a fixture in the New Orleans rap community since he signed with Cash Money Records at the age of 13. Now 30 years old, BG, whose legal name is Christopher Dorsey, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on gun and obstruction of justice charges.

Photo Courtesy of roxwell.com

In late 2009 Dorsey and two other men, Demounde Pollard and Jerod Fedison, were arrested for driving a stolen rental car with three loaded weapons hidden inside. As a convicted felon, Dorsey cannot legally have any weapons in his possession. Since that time Dorsey has released the acclaimed album Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood, but his legal troubles persisted.

Dorsey and Fedison both understood how they would benefit if Pollard, who was only 17 with a clean criminal record at the time of the arrest, would take ownership of the guns. They discussed this in recorded phone calls from within the Orleans Parish Jail. Fedison was also recorded telling Dorsey to post bond for Pollard and make the teenager sell drugs to pay the debt.

Pollard eventually signed an affidavit claiming responsibility for the weapons, but as a part of his plea deal, confessed that this was false.

If you or anyone you know faces criminal charges, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997, for a free case evaluation.

Supreme Court Cripples the Fourth Amendment

May 19th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure, was weakened this week when the Supreme Court ruled on Kentucky v. King. The ruling supported the Kentucky Police’s decision to kick in the door of Scott King despite a suspicious probable cause.

Photo Courtesy of laapush.org

Police had pursued and lost a drug suspect in the vicinity of King’s residence, and when they smelled marijuana coming from his apartment, they demanded entry. After knocking loudly the police heard movement from inside the apartment and fearing the occupant was destroying evidence broke the door down.

King challenged the officers’ right to break into his house without a warrant, but the Supreme Court decided that since the attempted “destruction of evidence” was a result of their legal request to enter, the forced entry was justified. Civil libertarians are outraged over this new precedent that is so susceptible to abuse. They theorize that law enforcement can easily “smell” marijuana and “hear” an attempt to destroy evidence to break into any residence. Online petitions have begun to pop up in defense of the fourth amendment.

While abuse of this ruling is possible, the fear that police will be ignoring the fourth amendment entirely is unfounded. The fact police were in the process of chasing a drug suspect played a major role in the decision, so while this is certainly an injury to the fourth amendment, it is not a fatal wound.

If you feel that law enforcement conducted an illegal search of your property, legal representation can help protect your rights. Bloom Legal, a New Orleans law firm specializing in criminal defense, can be contacted at 504-599-9997 for a free case consultation.

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