Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell

Did you have a rough weekend? Had too much to drink at a graduation party, and got slapped with a DUI? Had a heated argument with your spouse, and got hit with a domestic violence charge? Heading home after a night relaxing with some friends, and got caught with just a little baggie of marijuana?

Whether it’s a serious felony or more minor misdemeanor charge, having the best legal representation on your side—Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell—will give you incredible peace of mind.

No matter what the charges are against you, you need a criminal defense lawyer in Upland, California who won’t be fazed by any challenging situation. Immediately after your arrest, contact a lawyer who will aptly advise and represent you through every stage of the legal process—Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell. Just call 909-920-0908 to get started—it really is that easy.

Having a knowledgeable, experienced criminal defense lawyer to give you legal advice tailored precisely to your particular situation, and having someone to faithfully and tenaciously represent you in court if it becomes necessary, are absolutely invaluable.

Attorney Howell is the best criminal defense lawyer in the entire Upland, California area. He specializes in cases dealing with:

• Assault and battery
• Burglary
• Child abuse
• Drug charges
• DUI
• Elder abuse
• Embezzlement
• Forgery
• Fraud
• Guns and other weapons
• Sexual assault
• Juvenile and adult crime

He also has extensive experience in expungement cases. No matter what your situation, if you need your record wiped clean, contact the most responsible, tenacious lawyer in Southern California—Torrence L. Howell.

Whether you are a juvenile or adult, and whether the alleged crime is a felony or misdemeanor, you can count on criminal defense attorney Torrence L. Howell to treat your case with the focused attention it deserves. He will expertly craft the best legal defense possible, so you can rest assured that your innocence will be unequivocally proven or you’ll receive the lightest possible sentence.

He will gladly answer any questions you may have about the legal process and what to do after you’re arrested to decrease your chances of being convicted of a crime, whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony charge. He knows every bit of California’s law like the back of his hand, and he will expertly craft your defense so it’s absolutely air tight. With decades of experience dealing with cases that are likely very similar to yours, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands with Upland, California’s best criminal defense lawyer, Torrence L. Howell.

Call 909-920-0908 today to set up a free case evaluation with Attorney Howell. It’s fast, easy and completely confidential.

If you’re dealing with a felony or misdemeanor charge, know that you’re not alone. Here are the top 20 most frequent felony charges in the US.

1. Drug abuse violations are the most common felony charges in the US. This includes cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, narcotics, and prescription medication abuse.
2. Property crimes are lumped into this one—arson, theft, burglary, arson, etc.
3. Driving while intoxicated or DUI is an extremely common charge, and many state law enforcement agencies spend millions of dollars every year trying to prevent people from driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, and medication the inhibits driving. However, lots of law enforcement personnel incorrectly administer blood alcohol and field sobriety tests, so those who have been charged with DUI may be able to have the case against them dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge.
4. Larceny, also known as theft, is alone the 4^th top felony crime.
5. Assault charges are also frequently brought in the US.
6. A disorderly conduct charge encompasses any crime that poses a danger to society. Examples of behavior that may result in a felony disorderly conduct charge include fighting in public, protesting disruptively, disturbing an assembly, and public misconduct. Interacting with police sometimes leads to disorderly conduct charges if any physical conduct such as pushing, fighting, spitting, or anything else occurs.
7. Those who break liquor laws, such as selling alcohol to minors, are sometimes surprised to find that they’re being charged with a felony.
8. Violent crimes are still a major issue in this country, including forcible rape, murder, robbery, assault, and manslaughter.
9. Public drunkenness is still a felony crime in many states.

These next three crimes are in the violent crime category, though they each stand out on their own:

10. Aggravated assault
11. Burglary
12. Vandalism
13. Fraud, including internet fraud, is becoming more common nationwide.
14. Weapons violations, including carrying a concealed weapon and owning a gun without a license.
15. Curfew and loitering law violations exist in many areas to temper gang activity and for other reasons.
16. Robbery is a frequent felony charge. It’s defined as theft with direct contact with the victim.
17. Domestic violence and child abuse are pressing issues in every American city.
18. Stolen property crimes are often felony charges, including just possessing stolen property.
19. Motor vehicle theft is a rampant problem in many American cities.
20. Lastly, forgery and counterfeiting charges are the 20^th most common crime in the US today. 

If you’re dealing with a felony charge, if it’s one of the ones listed here or a less common one, contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell at 909-920-0908 for a free consultation. Attorney Howell is an experienced criminal defense lawyer with many years of experience defending complex cases. Whatever you do, don’t lose hope! Call to discuss the specifics of your case and develop a solid game plan. You’ll feel so much better.

There are many reasons that you might end up getting arrested—perhaps you participated in a protest, were falsely or truthfully accused of a crime, or violated your probation terms. Whatever the reason you’re being taken to jail, it’s essential that you know how to conduct yourself to achieve the best possible outcome.

Be polite and respectful to the cops, even if they’re not being nice to you

You know the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Don’t forget that it applies in jail—though it can be hard to remember during such a stressful situation.

The reason treating the cops well is recommended is that they can make life much more difficult for you if you get on their bad side. They can delay procedures as you make it through the justice system and a few hours in jail can easily turn into days. They could wait to fingerprint you, delay transporting you from the precinct to the courthouse, and they could say that they don’t have time to do your paperwork before leaving for the day, making it so you have to stay overnight instead of a few hours.

If you’re courteous with all the cops, you’ll find that while your time in jail still won’t be pleasant, it’ll likely at least be shorter.

Here are some straight-shooting rules for your interactions with cops:

1. Refrain from swearing and yelling.
2. Take deep breaths and try to respond, not react, to their questions.
3. Don’t let how they treat you be how you treat them. No retaliation. It’s incredibly hard, but so beneficial.

Zip those lips

Don’t answer any questions that you don’t have to because cops can record conversations and can use them as evidence out of context. They can also lie, manipulate, and trick you into saying what they want to hear. As respectfully and calmly as you can, just say that it’s not personal, but you’d prefer having your attorney present. It may seem to defeat the point mentioned above, but it’s a way to protect yourself and your case from being negatively impacted.

An important exception: answer all questions they need to process you, including name, address, and sometimes a social security number. Refusing to answer these questions will only delay your process further.

Read the room

When you’re in a jail holding area, you’ll likely be stuck in with a handful up to hundred of people. Try to read what the vibe is when you go in and don’t mess it up.

If possible, make friends

That means that if you notice that someone looks friendly and might appreciate half of your baloney sandwich, extend the offer. Maybe you’ll start chatting about your exploits and make a new friend. Making friends is advantageous because they could bring updates on what’s going on outside if they came in after you (in the case of a protest), offer protection from violent or mentally unstable other people, and maybe if it’s crowded, you can take turns sitting down.

But don’t push it.

If people seem to be mostly off to themselves, not interested in talking, go along with it. Don’t rock the boat, especially because there could be hardened criminals, drunk people, or psychologically emotionally unstable people who are going to be locked up for a long time in there—you don’t want to risk pissing them off.

Call an attorney ASAP

The best attorney in Southern California is Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell. He is an experienced, driven criminal defense attorney who will do everything possible to represent your case well and either prove your innocence or secure the lightest possible penalty. Call 909-920-0908 for an initial consultation today.

What should you do if you see the police’s flashing lights behind your car? It can be a stressful situation, and it’s helpful to know what to do in advance, so you’ll be prepared in case it happens.

What the law says

In California, there are two charges that could potentially apply to you if you’re pulled over for drunk driving.

One is 23152(a) and the other is 23152(b) of the California Vehicle Code. The (a) charge applies if someone is driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two. This charge isn’t tied to a particular blood alcohol level. Anyone that’s driving badly and has alchohol or drugs in his or her system is subject to this DUI (driving under the influence) charge.

The (b) charge is tied to a specific blood alcohol level—in the state of California, it’s .08% or higher. This charge doesn’t necessarily involve any bad driving—for example, you could be pulled over because your headlights aren’t working properly, and if the police officer smells alcohol on your breath and checks your levels, you could be charged with DUI.

Consequences of these DUI charges

Both of these charges carry equal weight in terms of punishments and points on your permanent record. It’s possible to be charged with both DUI counts, but they will eventually be combined and just one DUI charge will appear on your record.

California’s implied consent law

There’s a state law that indicates that if you apply for a driver’s license, you implicitly give your consent to submit to chemical tests if you are arrested for driving under the influence.

What to do?

Now, when you get pulled over, it’s important that you stay as calm as you can and pull over to the side of the road slowly and safely. When you’re pulled over during a traffic stop, you’re considered “detained”—which means that you’re not free to go, but you’re not in custody. Since you’re not in official police custody, the officer is not required to read you your Miranda rights, but they do apply. Your Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination also applies, though police officers won’t ever advise you of these rights during a traffic stop. It’s solely up to you to be proactive about protecting yourself.

The Spanish Inquisition begins…

Most police officers will immediately begin asking incriminating questions like, “have you been drinking, and how much? “do you feel drunk?” “did you notice that your breath smells like alcohol?” You don’t have to answer any of these questions. It’s completely optional.

You are required to provide your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance, but answering questions isn’t required.

Field Sobriety Tests are Extremely Subjective

The officer will likely then ask you to do some field sobriety tests, which are also optional. California law does not require people who are stopped by police to perform these tests. Consider politely declining doing them because they are very subjectively interpreted, and any little deviation from perfection is often considered a sign of intoxication. As calmly as you can, explain that the law doesn’t require you to do them.

Next Up: Chemical Tests

Then the police officer will move on to the chemical test part. The first stage is a roadside breath test called a PAS (preliminary alcohol screening). If you’re currently on probation for a DUI conviction or if you’re under 21, you will be required to do this test.

But if you’re not on probation and you’re over 21, consider refusing the test. If the test shows that your blood alcohol level is over .08%, the officer will have enough probable cause to be able to arrest you.

If the officer doesn’t have field sobriety test or chemical test results, he or she will have a much harder time coming up with a probable cause to be able to arrest you.

If an officer arrests you without having a firm probable cause, any subsequent chemical tests may be excluded by the court in your trial.

If you are arrested, then the law requires that you submit to a chemical test. You may choose between breath and blood. Breath tests have a larger margin of error that may work in your favor in court, but breath is impossible to preserve. Blood, on the other hand, may be retested by an independent laboratory if you fear the government messed up the test.

Whatever you do, make sure you respect the 10-day window!!!

If you are arrested and the chemical test has indicated your blood alcohol level to be above the legal limit, or the officer suspects that the blood test will come back as .08% or above, your driver’s license will be revoked immediately. You’ll receive a temporary 30-day license, and after 30 days, your license will be suspended for 4 months by the DMV.

Warning: you’ll only have 10 days from the date of your arrest to request a hearing with the DMV to challenge the automatic suspension of your license. If you miss that window, you’re completely out of luck. You’ll just have to wait to drive again in 4 months.

As soon as possible after you’re arrested, make sure you call the best lawyer in the Upland, California area—Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell. Your case will be given top priority, and Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell will do everything in his power to defend you. He can represent you in all DUI court proceedings, including DMV suspension hearings, so make sure you call 909-920-0908 immediately if you’ve been arrested for DUI in Southern California.

Sexual abuse allegations have doubled in less than a decade in California, according to a recent article by the Daily Bulletin. Accusations are increasing throughout the nation, but in this state, the problem seems to be continually getting worse.

It’s possible that there actually hasn’t been an increase in crime, but instead, there’s been an increase in reporting. American culture is experiencing a shift where reporting sexual crime is less stigmatized, especially as anonymous reporting online becomes easier. Teens frequently realize that sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior shouldn’t be kept secret, so they’re reporting it to parents, school administrators, and the police.

328 investigations have been opened by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing into new applicants and existing credentialed teachers for sexual crimes allegedly committed against children last year, which is more than double the amount of the 2008-2009 school year, according to a commission report.

The media and the public in general have been paying attention to sexual crime cases more intensely than ever before. Victor Rodriguez, head of the D.A.’s sex crimes division, said that it’s possible that increased attention could lead to more accusations, even if more crimes aren’t occurring.

Terry Abbott, a former US Department of Education chief of staff and CEO of DriveWest communications, said that the more widespread access to technology and the changes in school culture may explain the increase in allegations.

Now that just about everyone has access to cell phones and texting is the preferred mode of communication for many teens, it makes private chats between teachers and students that much more common. Secret chats can quickly become inappropriate when no one is around to overhear.

School culture in some areas often condones sexual behavior between older teens and teachers. Abbott recommends having harsh punishments enforced on teachers who cross the line and strict rules on outside, personal communication with students.

Sexual abuse allegations can destroy a teacher’s reputation and even his or her entire career. If you’ve been accused, it’s essential that you get excellent legal representation. Call expert criminal defense firm Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell at 909-920-0908 or email torrence@torrencelhowelllaw.com to schedule a free consultation today.