California’s only minimum-security prison for women, Federal Correctional Institute at Dublin, is closing. FCI Dublin currently houses 605 inmates, who will now be transferred to other facilities. Bureau of Prisons Director Colette S. Peters has stated that FCI Dublin failed to meet “expected standards and the best course of action is to close the facility.”…
Based on a new law that took effect on January 1, 2024, state and local law enforcement officials will no longer be able to ask drivers, “do you know why I pulled you over?” Instead, officers will now have to state the reason for the stop at the beginning of their contact, unless the…
Former NFL player Michael Oher, whose life inspired the movie “The Blind Side,” has filed a petition in a Tennessee court alleging that a key part of the story was fabricated by the family who took him in. Oher claims that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who welcomed him into their home during high school,…
In September of last year, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) collaborated with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) to submit an amicus brief in the case of New Jersey v. Arteaga, expressing support for the defense. The central issue presented to the Appellate Division was whether…
The Fresno Bee has obtained internal documents from Fresno County that shed light on allegations of blackmail, retaliation, and discrimination within the highest echelons of local government. Paul Dictos, the Fresno County Assessor-Recorder who secured a four-year re-election in 2022, finds himself at the epicenter of these allegations. Although Dictos refrains from providing comments, the…
Don’t be fooled by these tactics! Are you facing a dilemma in choosing between two lawyers? Perhaps one of them has been celebrated by the American Academy of Civil Law Distinction, while the other has been recognized as a State Top 50 by the Academy of American Justice. However, the decision may not be as…
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented level of economic disruption, leading to widespread unemployment and financial hardship. Unfortunately, some individuals have taken advantage of these difficult circumstances for their own gain. One such case is that of Cecilia Aquino, a 32-year-old woman from Fresno who has been sentenced to over six years in prison…
Because of the various jurisdictions that are involved and the sophistication of those types of cases, online fraud is a federal crime. Because they have the capacity to deal with sophisticated criminal issues that involve multiple states, the feds will usually get involved if anything involves computers and transmits things across state lines. The following…
SB 731, authored by Democratic Senator Maria Elena Durazo, builds on existing state law and will take effect July 1, 2023. This new law expands automatic sealing to arrests for felonies. Individuals who served time on or after January 1, 2005, will now have their records automatically expunged if they have been felony-free for the…
The new year will bring several changes to how criminal justice is applied in California. Here’s what has changed: RAP LYRICS CAN NOT BE USED AS EVIDENCE Starting in the new year, courts will no longer be able to use a person’s creative expressions, such as rap lyrics, against them in most criminal proceedings. Assembly…
It is important that you contact us as soon as possible if you are facing criminal charges. Let the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Hammerschmidt Law Corporation protect your rights.
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Hammerschmidt Law Corporation's criminal defense attorneys are located in Fresno, CA and serve Central California clients, including those in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare, Merced and Stanislaus counties. We are available to represent clients in all federal courts in the United States. Attorney Advertising: This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.