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Conspiracy California | California PC 182

There are not many crimes whose mere attempt brings with them a penalty equal to that of the attempted crime, but conspiracy breaks this mold. The State of California sets forth the rules regarding the conspiracy to commit crimes and the punishments allowable by law in California Penal Code 182. While individual counties are able to set their own bail amounts and choose between specific sentences to hand down for a crime, most agree with the state – that conspiracy to commit a crime should be treated as harshly as the crime itself. This makes it essential that a person charged with conspiracy find a good lawyer, because they will face the same penalty they would’ve had they actually committed the crime.

What is Conspiracy?

The main definition of conspiracy used in California courts is when two or more people conspire to break the law. The statute, however, does not stop there. It specifies certain crimes in an effort to distinguish between punishments. The statute specifically mentions committing crimes against any judicial or executive member of the state or federal government. It also mentions conspiring to commit injurious acts upon the public health, justice system, public morals and administration of law. All of these subsections have their own specific punishments that can be handed down by a court of law.

Bail Defined

Conspiracy charges incur a wide range of bail amounts. Several counties, including Los Angeles, San Benito, and Monterey list a bail amount that the same required if the conspired crime was actually committed. Monterey County even goes further, to say that regardless of the conspired crime, bail cannot be set below ten thousand dollars. These bail schedules vary so much that, dependent on the conspired crime, a person may be able to get out on relatively low bail or may be remanded to jail until trial. Contacting your nearest Bail Hotline office can cut through the details, and hopefully allow your immediate release with only ten percent of the preset bail indicated.

Penalties and Consequences

Actual penalties for a conspiracy conviction also vary widely. Almost any conspired felony is punishable by the sentencing guidelines related to the actual commission of the felony. Conspiring to commit a crime against judicial or executive officers, however, will bring with it a conviction of at least five to nine years. Punishment for any conspired misdemeanor is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. This holds true as long as the person wasn’t conspiring to commit identity fraud, in which case the fine will jump up to twenty-five thousand dollars.

Any type of conspiracy charge should not be taken lightly, as a conviction will bring with it a punishment as severe as the commission of the conspired crime. This means a person can receive life imprisonment for simply planning to commit certain crimes. The accused will want to secure their release as quickly as possible, to be able to return to their job and family, and to secure appropriate legal counsel to begin preparing their defense.

 

Embezzlement California | California PC 503

Crimes involving the theft of property or money are often punished based upon how much that property was worth. This holds true with embezzlement as well. The State of California treats embezzlement as a type of theft, yet it does come with a separate and more specific definition.

The State of California actually sets forth what constitutes embezzlement and the sentencing guidelines related to it, while each individual county is allowed to impose the sentences in the way they see fit. Embezzlement is a serious crime in California, so anyone accused of the crime will want to contact a lawyer to ensure they know all of their options.

Embezzlement Defined

California defines several instances of embezzlement within Penal Codes 503 and 504. The basic definition of the crime is when someone fraudulently appropriates property with which they have been entrusted. The code lists several specific instances including embezzlement by officers of the state, lessees, property transporters, financial employees and debt collectors. The law goes on to mention specific instances involving clerks, agents, tenants, lodgers and those entrusted to sell another’s property who then divert the money for themselves.

Bail Defined

Embezzlement is listed in many of the California County bail schedules. These schedules list crimes along with their preset bail amount. This allows most people accused of crimes to get out of jail through the use of a bail bond agent within hours of their arrest – without ever having to see a judge. These preset amounts, however, can vary drastically between counties. It is also important to point out that California law doesn’t allow the use of feloniously obtained funds to secure bail, so the defendant is going to need to prove their bond money wasn’t gained through criminal means.

Each county lists several instances of embezzlement with differing bail amounts. Embezzlement of funds for construction, for instance, brings a twenty-five thousand dollar bail amount in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. The same crime only requires a ten thousand dollar bond in San Benito and Monterey counties.

Some counties indicate specific instances of this charge, which incur a different bail. San Benito and Monterey Counties, for example, additionally list embezzlement of over $950 by a caretaker as an offense requiring a twenty thousand dollar bond.

Possible Penalties 

Penalties for embezzlement will vary widely, dependent upon the circumstances of a case. The law states that the penalties for embezzlement will be the same as theft of the amount or property type of for what was embezzled. This means a person can be sentenced under simple larceny guidelines, or they could be sentenced under grand theft auto guidelines. Because of these rules, embezzlement can be treated as a misdemeanor or felony, making it a ‘wobbler.’ In cases where a person embezzles money from the state, country or any other type of municipality, however, the crime is automatically charged as a felony.

The statutes involving embezzlement are complex and far-reaching. California takes the fraudulent appropriation of another person’s property seriously, and the crime is punished as such. If you, or someone you love, has been arrested for this crime – contact an expert at Bail Hotline, who can walk you through the process of proving any bond monies are legitimate. This step is required in order for you to be released on bail, so that you may return to your job and family and have access to an attorney specializing in this field.

Vehicle Theft California | Ca Vehicle Code 10850

Vehicle theft is a serious crime in the state of California, and the severity of these laws leave no doubt that stealing cars is going to cost you money and jail time. California Penal Codes 10850 and 10851 handle vehicle thefts, which are somewhat separate from grand theft. Even if stealing a car doesn’t fall under grand theft auto, it is imperative for a person accused of vehicle theft to get a good lawyer, because the consequences of a conviction are very harsh.

Though the State of California defines what constitutes vehicle theft and the punishments that may be given upon conviction, each individual county is responsible for choosing their own bail amount related to the crime, as well as selecting between and enforcing the preset sentences provided by the State.

Definition of Vehicular Theft

VC 10850 defines vehicular theft as the taking of another’s vehicle without their consent, with the intent to at least temporarily deny the owner of the possession of their vehicle. This basically means anyone who takes another person’s vehicle without their consent, even if they plan on returning it, has committed vehicular theft.

Anyone who is an accomplice or party to this crime is also considered to have violated the statute. The law is simple and straightforward, though it does have a separate subsection relating to the theft of emergency vehicles or vehicles modified for use by disabled persons; a charge dealt with more severely.

Bail Bond Amounts

Bail amounts will vary between counties due to the fact that each county’s Superior Court sets forth their individual bail schedules. This list of crimes also gives their corresponding preset bail amounts. By using the bail schedule, the bail agency in many cases can get the accused out of jail within hours without first having to see a judge, for a mere fraction of the face amount of the bail.

This charge, however, may require a PC 1275 hearing to determine the legitimacy of the funds used to post the defendant’s bail, so be sure to check with Bail Hotline to determine whether this code applies and, if so, how to prove to the court that your bond is posted with legal money.

Los Angeles and Santa Clara Counties both set bail for vehicle theft at $5,000 for people arrested of vehicular theft. San Benito County often refers to temporary vehicle theft as ‘joyriding’ and has this bail amount set for ten thousand dollars. A person in that county with a prior felony conviction, however, will face a $40,000 amount.

Penalties and Consequences

Fines and jail time related to a vehicular theft conviction can vary. Strictly speaking, vehicular theft is considered a ‘wobbler,’ which means it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony. A person charged with a misdemeanor will face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to five thousand dollars. A person could be charged with a felony if they steal an emergency vehicle or vehicle modified for a disabled person, have been convicted of a similar felony before or steal a vehicle worth a certain amount of money. A conviction under these terms will bring a term in prison of two, three or four years and a fine that can reach up to $10,000.

Vehicular theft is punished severely by the State of California upon conviction. Anyone accused of this crime will want a bond posted as soon as possible in order to prepare a defense. A conviction of this magnitude could potentially rob a person of his or her freedom for years, so it is imperative to find help from someone who knows exactly how the California legal system works.

Criminal Threats California | California PC 422

Most crimes are taken quite seriously in the State of California.  What most people don’t know is that the mere threats of criminal acts are taken just as seriously. Criminal threats are viewed as crimes in and of themselves. Making some types of threats can lead to imprisonment sometimes equivalent to actually committing several of these crimes.

Although individual counties are the entities that set bail and choose between specific punishments for people convicted of criminal threats, it is the State of California that sets forth the definition and sentencing guidelines. One thing is for sure: anyone accused of criminal threats should seek a lawyer immediately to avoid serious consequences.

What Constitutes a Criminal Threat?

California defines several instances that constitute a criminal threat. One example of a criminal threat occurs when a person makes a threat against another person, that they will commit a crime causing great bodily harm or death to that person or their immediate family. This threat can be made by any medium (such as phone or email) and must be made in a way that causes the threatened person to live in constant fear for their safety or the lives of their family.

California Penal Code 422 also states that making a known false bomb report constitutes criminal threat. It goes on to say that mailing a fake bomb, or other type of fake weapon of mass destruction, also constitutes criminal threat. The final instance of criminal threat mentioned in the code is when a person posts any type of information about an academic researcher, with the express purpose of causing another to either commit or threaten to commit a crime of violence against that researcher or their immediate family.

Bail Amounts

Each California County’s superior court sets forth a bail schedule that lists crimes and a preset bail amount for each. Using this bail schedule, one of Bail Hotline’s twenty-five locations throughout California can arrange for your release within only a few hours time, charging just a ten percent fee of the face bail amount.

Each county’s bail schedule usually differs in set amounts for various crimes, but most California counties are in agreement on the preset bail for criminal threats. Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties both list the bail for criminal threats at $50,000. Monterey and San Benito counties actually have some variance in preset bail for this charge, dependent upon whom the threat is made.

Penalties and Consequences

The punishments for most criminal threats are also similar. A threat of great bodily harm to a person or their family carries the same penalty as disseminating information on an academic researcher with the intent of inciting others to cause them harm – a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of one-thousand dollars.

California Penal Code 422 doesn’t speak to the sentencing of a person who sends a fake weapon of mass destruction or makes a false bomb threat. The incarceration penalties for these crimes are handled differently than other criminal threats. The code simply states that a person who commits these crimes must reimburse the government for emergency response costs related to the crime. If convicted, a person must also reimburse any private or public entity that incurred costs due to their emergency response. Finally, the convicted must also reimburse anyone else, individual or organization, for any costs incurred due to the false threat.

A criminal threat is considered a serious crime within the State of California. Putting a person in fear of their life is considered by some to be tantamount to terrorism. It is for this reason that severe penalties exist for the crime. Anyone accused of making criminal threats should call a bail agent to post a bond on the preset bail schedule, rather than waiting to stand in court and risk the bail amount being raised by a stern judge. 

Invasion of Privacy | California PC 630

 Technology has made leaps and bounds in just the past few years. Things that may not have seemed possible at the dawning of the new millennium are now achievable and happening on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, this has given criminals an abundance of new tools to work with to invade another’s privacy.

California takes invasion of privacy very seriously. The state actually defines invasion of privacy and sets the sentencing parameters when a person is convicted, however bail and the choice of punishment is largely left to each individual county. Regardless in which California County you may have been arrested, Bail Hotline has a location nearby and will help you determine if you are eligible for a quick release per the local bail schedule.

The Law Defined

California’s laws are very in-depth and cover a great number of instances that are considered an invasion of privacy. The statute specifically outlaws: the unauthorized tapping or connecting to any communication, recording or using amplifying devices to eavesdrop, intercepting any phone call, recording any phone call without the consent of all parties and in many cases even criminalizes the act of assisting a person in committing any of these infractions. These crimes are covered in subsections of the main invasion of privacy law, but the punishments are nearly identical in all cases.

Corresponding Bail

A charge of invasion of privacy will bring a different bail amount depending on the county of arrest, and the bail schedule set forth by its Superior Court. These schedules list crimes that are committed within the county’s jurisdiction and the preset bail amounts linked to each crime. The bail schedule allows a person to get out of jail before seeing a judge, most often by using bail bond agencies that can secure a quick release for a fraction of the full “face amount.”

A person arrested for unlawful invasion of privacy using an electronic device in Alameda County will face a five thousand dollar bail amount.
Unfortunately, many counties do not specifically list invasion of privacy in their schedules, but this doesn’t mean there isn’t a bail amount. Most counties have a list in their schedule for “crimes not listed.” The bail amounts of these crimes are based on the maximum incarceration time possible for the crime. Invasion of privacy is a wobbler, meaning it can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. If charged as a misdemeanor, a conviction cannot lead to more than one year in jail. In Riverside County, this would calculate to a bail set at $5,000 because the maximum jail time is under three years.

Penalties and Consequences

Anyone charged with misdemeanor invasion of privacy will face a $2,500 fine, one year in jail, or a combination of the fine and jail time. A person who was previously convicted of this crime, however, will face the same amount of jail time plus a fine increase of up to $10,000. There are a few instances where a person can be charged with a felony: if a person unlawfully connects or taps into any communication going out over any line, cable, telephone, telegraph or other instrument, tries to read, obtain or communicate that information or assists in any of the aforementioned, they can be charged with a serious felony. A conviction of this magnitude will lead to either sixteen months, two years or three years in a state institution. The choice of these three sentences is up to the judge.

Invasion of privacy laws are taken very seriously in California. If a person even records their own phone conversation without the knowledge of the other party, they may be breaking the law. It is important for anyone arrested for this crime to contact a bail bond agency for quick release, and then contact a good lawyer. Many people may see eavesdropping and invading another’s privacy as a game, but the government definitely does not.

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Santa Clara County’s Bail Schedule

 Knowing the ins-and-outs of the criminal justice system can benefit everybody regardless of their lifestyle. This is severely evident by the fact that there have been 297 people convicted of crimes, imprisoned and then later exonerated after work from The Innocence Project proved their innocence. There have even been people released from death row after this work. This goes to show that even innocent people should know the inner workings of the law.

One thing that everyone should know is that it isn’t necessary to wait in jail to receive bail from a judge. If you’ve been arrested in Santa Clara County, contact either the San Jose or Martinez Bail Hotline locations to find out if you’re bail-eligible without stepping a foot into a courtroom.

What is a Bail Schedule?

Santa Clara County’s bail schedule was decided upon by the county’s superior court. The schedule has a long list of offenses that a person may be charged with, and a preset bail amount related to each of those charges. The bail amounts may seem high, due to the fact that America has some of the highest bail amounts in the civilized world. However, bail bond agencies in California can actually secure a person’s release with only a fee of 10% of their preset bail amount. This can also preempt a judge from raising your bail amount after considering the facts of the specific case.

Specific Bail Amounts

Santa Clara County’s 2012 bail schedule lists numerous crimes and, as to be expected, some of them are so heinous that the County considers them unbailable; first and second degree murder are two of these. Then there are other crimes that do have a preset bail amount, but that amount is so high that it is obvious the county doesn’t want the accused back on the streets. Possessing or using weapons of mass destruction, for instance, will garner a person a one million dollar bail amount. These crimes are extreme examples of how harsh bail amounts can be, but there are many with relatively low bail in exchange for your freedom while awaiting trial.

Vandalism is one crime for which bail isn’t excessively high. It’s set at one-thousand dollars, which means a person could actually get out of jail with only $100 using a bail bond agent. A person who impersonates a peace officer in Santa Clara County faces a bail amount a bit more severe, requiring a $5,000 bail amount, as does someone who unjustifiably abandons his or her spouse. Just because these crimes don’t require a million dollar bail amount, does not mean they are not taken seriously within the county. Santa Clara County takes crime very seriously. It actually has one of the most inclusive and specific bail schedules in the entire state of California.

With the use of a bail bond agent and the county’s bail schedule, it is possible to get out of jail within just a few hours and refrain from missing any work. Time outside of jail is every defendant’s friend, whether or not they are guilty. Quickly securing your freedom will ensure you have the most time possible to contact a lawyer and prepare your defense, and return to the family that depends upon you.

 

False Imprisonment | California PC 236

 False imprisonment is a serious crime in California, with multiple factors that are considered once a person is charged with this offense. All counties within California have the right to decide upon their own bail amounts to garner a release once charged with the crime, however, the state of California actually lays out what constitutes this charge and provides the sentencing guidelines that the counties must abide by when enforcing penalties. 

What is False Imprisonment?

False imprisonment has a very simple definition in the State of California: unlawfully violating another person’s personal liberty; accomplished by confining, detaining or restraining a person without their consent. This crime can be made even more serious if the accused used violence, menace, fraud or deceit during the commission of the crime. Menace basically means that a person threatened harm upon another person in an effort to violate their personal liberty. There are defenses to a charge of false imprisonment, but only a good lawyer can argue the case, so it is imperative that a person charged with this crime get out of jail as quickly as possible to prepare their defense.

Bail Amounts

The bail amounts related to false imprisonment are going to vary depending on what county a person is arrested in, and under what specific circumstances. Call the closest of Bail Hotline’s twenty-five branch offices, and speak with a bail agent to find out the preset bail amount provided in any given county’s bail schedule

San Diego County’s bail schedule, for example, sets a bail amount of $10,000 for those accused of this crime. Los Angeles County, on the other hand, sets bail at $50,000, while Santa Clara County only sets it at five thousand dollars. All of these bail schedules have specific instances where a person can be given a higher bail amount depending on circumstances related to the false imprisonment charge.

Consequences and Penalties

False imprisonment is known as a ‘wobbler,’ meaning it can be charged either as a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor charge will only bring a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to a year in jail. False imprisonment is considered a felony if menace, violence, fraud or deceit was used, in which case a person faces sixteen months, two years or three years respectively in a state prison. If these methods were used against an elderly person or dependent, then the punishment jumps up to two, three or four more years. In any case, these penalties are severe and not to be taken casually.

False imprisonment, especially certain forms of the crime, is a serious offense in California that can lead to very damaging consequences. Anyone accused of this crime is in for quite a legal battle if they want the charges set aside or significantly reduced. Taking the charge lightly will likely incur the severest punishment possible in the state of California, so obtaining your release from jail as quickly as possible to begin preparing your defense is ideal.

Crimes Against Elders | California PC 368

 

Not many crimes against elders are committed within California, and the United States in general, generate such an emotional response as those against the elderly. Elderly people are very susceptible due to the fact that they might be confused, mentally incompetent, physically impaired or just generally unable to protect themselves.

Crimes against elders encompass several different statutes and can make the punishments for certain crimes far worse than they would’ve been had they been committed against, say a thirty-five year old citizen. Anyone charged with a crime against an elderly person will definitely need legal representation, because the State of California does not look kindly upon those who are so convicted.

Laws to Protect the Elderly

there are several crimes against elders that can land a person in jail, or even increase the charges for what some may see as minor crimes. California Penal Code 368 states that it is illegal to knowingly cause or put an elderly person in a situation, whether that situation is likely to produce great bodily harm or not, where the elder person would be subject to mental or physical suffering, unjustifiable pain, injury or danger in general. It also states that crimes such as theft, embezzlement and false imprisonment will be charged more severely if they are committed against an elderly person. This applies to the general public and caretakers equally.

Bail Amounts Can Vary

Each county in California is able to set their own bail amounts, so they can differ drastically. General crimes against elders, for example, will warrant a twenty-five thousand dollar bail amount on the bail schedules of San Diego and Santa Clara Counties – while the same crime in Los Angeles County will incur a fifty thousand dollar bail. Some counties apply more similar bail for these crimes; Santa Clara and San Diego Counties, for instance, have set bail amounts of ten thousand dollars to those who steal from the elderly. Because the preset bail amount varies depending on the charge and the county, it is best to contact your closest Bail Hotline if you find yourself bailing out a friend or loved one charged with these crimes.

Consequences and Penalties

Penalties for those convicted can change, once circumstances are considered, but the penalties are usually similar. Most of these crimes can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Any misdemeanor charge will only warrant a maximum of one year in jail and a fine.

A person that knowingly puts an elderly person in a dangerous situation that could likely cause great bodily harm, or who commits theft or embezzlement against them, faces 2-4 years in prison if the crime is charged as a felony. This will likely be in addition to the punishments involved with the actual crime itself. False imprisonment of an elderly person by use of menace, violence, deceit or fraud also brings a minimum of two years in prison, assuming no other charges are tacked on.

Crimes against elders are treated with the utmost importance by the California criminal justice system. Due to their general inability to protect themselves, crimes committed against them are treated more severely by the courts. Anyone charged with a crime against an elderly person will need competent legal representation if they hope to escape the harsh penalties related to these crimes. Though our legal system says you are considered innocent until proven guilty, without an attorney most people accused of crimes against the elderly will end up on the wrong end of the law.

Riverside County’s Bail Schedule

 Most people who wind up charged with a crime in the criminal justice system have no frame of reference about exactly how to handle the situation. This is most evident when a person notices that a great majority of cases are plea-bargained out as opposed to defended. In many cases, a person who is arrested believes that they must sit in jail until they are granted bail by a judge, but this is hardly the case.

Every county within California, including Riverside, has a bail schedule that allows most of those arrested for crimes to get out of jail before ever standing in a courtroom. This can be affordably expedited by contacting any one of four convenient Riverside County Bail Hotline locations, with an agent who can secure a defendant’s release for only ten percent of the preset bail amount.

Who Benefits from Bail Schedules?

Bail schedules are legal documents created and approved by the Superior Court of every California County. These schedules have a nearly all-inclusive list of crimes, with a corresponding preset bail amount for most of them. The bail schedule is actually beneficial for the county, as well; money is saved by not having to house as many accused offenders for the 2 days it usually takes them to see a judge.

Defendants can also benefit from bail schedules by getting out of jail more quickly, and being able to start preparations for their defense. Having their freedom while waiting for a court date also allows them to not miss any time at work and handle all of their obligations. These preset bail amounts are usually high, depending on the charge, but bail bond premiums in California are set at no more than ten percent of the bail face amount.

Bail for Crimes In Riverside County

Most crimes on the Riverside County Bail Schedule have preset amounts – a good thing of which to take advantage. Once a person stands before a judge, there is a chance that bail can be disallowed due to the circumstances of a case; or the bail chosen at the bench could also be much higher than the minimum shown in the schedule.

There are, of course, certain circumstances where bail cannot be posted before seeing a judge. A murder involving special circumstances or any felony where a person has threatened another with great bodily harm will lead to a person being denied bail.  One crime that stands out in the Riverside County bail schedule is the crime of assaulting the President or another government official. Though such a crime against the President would be a federal one, the preset bail amount stipulated on the schedule is still $100,000.

A person arrested for a fourth or subsequent DUI also faces a harsh bail amount, which will be a minimum of fifty thousand dollars. One surprising bail amount listed is for the charge of having a weapon on school grounds – even with the tragic consequences that could occur due to this crime, the bail is still only set at $5,000. There is even a section of Riverside County’s bail schedule that gives bail amounts for crimes that aren’t listed, based on the maximum sentence a person can receive for their crime.

It is important for anyone accused of a crime to remember that every minute spent in jail is time away from his or her obligations to work and family. It is also very difficult to prepare a decent defense from a jail cell. Anyone arrested should contact a Bail Hotline agent as soon as possible and then seek the counsel of an appropriate attorney as soon as they are released.

Download a pdf copy of Riverside County’s 2012 Bail Schedule here.

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