George I. Kita Criminal Law Blog

Cecilio & Kapono singer facing child molestation charges in Los Angeles

Famed Hawaii singer Cecilio Rodriguez, 66, of the musical duo Cecilio & Kapono is facing two charges of Lewd & Lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 years of age.  He faces two counts of California Penal Code section 288 (a) out of the Compton Courthouse.  He has a preliminary hearing setting date is set for... Read More

Population down at California Youth Authority

The California Youth Authority, which is called the Division of Juvenile Justice, is quickly becoming a thing of the past.  At one time, it had a population of approximately 10,000 children housed there.  The current population as of September 2011 is 1,166 youth wards housed at all five DJJ facilities.   SYCRCC housed 116 children.  O.H. Close house 246, N.A. Chaderjian housed 391, Ventura 344, Pine Grove 72.... Read More

What is the Emergency Response Command Post?

When there is an allegation of child abuse or child neglect, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Emergency Response Command Post (ERCP) has the responsibility to help place children referred to the ERCP.  When placement is needed after business hours, in the evenings, weekends and holidays, children are brought to ERCP.  Many children can be placed within four hours but for many others,... Read More

Jury awards $1 million verdict against Los Angeles Unified School District.

School officials went to far when it used a 12 year old 7th grader to purchase drugs from a 8th grade student at Porter Middle School in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. Presumably the intention was to have the seller prosecuted for possession for sales of marijuana under Health & Safety Code section 11359, a felony punishable up to three years in state prison and to have the student... Read More

It is not official, and it may be just a rumor but many probation employees state that Probation Chief Donald Blevins may be stepping down soon.  While the rumors have spread like wild fire, Blevins has not issued any public statement denying the rumors. Blevins' handling of budget cuts and balancing his departments budget has put him at odds with the Local 685 over staff layoffs, and hiring.

Probation Union votes "No Confidence" in Chief Blevins

Two and a... Read More

Thanks to the efforts of the Northern California Innocence Project, a man who was convicted by a jury based on very questionable evidence was set free.  On September 30, 2011, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Filer overturned the murder conviction of Obie Anthony who has spent 17 years in custody for a homicide that occurred outside a South Los Angeles brothel.  The Court made a finding that the star... Read More

A local Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney noticed that there is a lot of scrutiny these days of the workers compensations claims filed by the LA County Probation Department Employees.  The County of Los Angeles is carefully reviewing what it perceives is the high rate of workers compensation claims made by employees of the Los Angeles County Probation Department.  A... Read More

The Los Angles County Fire Department is seeking to partner with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to provide low risk inmates for the Inmate Fire Camp Program.  A local  Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer  believes this is a very important program that benefits both the inmates and the community.  Its a win win situation.  Since 1981, the LA County... Read More

October 12, 2011 Highway Sign Dedication at Dorothy Kirby

Arnold C. Garcia, who was the first LA County Probation officer to lose his life in the line of duty, will be honored with a Highway Sign Dedication on October 12, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Dorothy Kirby Center located at 1500 S. McDonnell Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90022.  Mr. Garcia was a long time LA County Probation Officer that dedicated his life toward improving the quality of life of troubled youth.... Read More

One hundred sixty four employees at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar received layoff notices on September 12, 2011.  This figure includes 148 Detention Services Officers and 16 Group Supervisors. Layoff has been mitigated for one Detention Services Officer (DSO) who will be hired as a Medical Case Worker II at Mental Health effective September 26, 2011.  

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs... Read More