1994 Cold Case Murder Solved, Gang Member Convicted

Kevin Bernard Smith Jr., 36, a gang member, was convicted of first-degree murder of Rupert “Rudy” Thompson, 73, and the attempted murder of Thompson’s then 69-year-old wife which occurred back in 1994.

On Jan. 26, 1994, Smith broke into the Thompson’sNorth Hollywoodhome at 1 a.m. During the burglary, Smith entered the victims’ bedroom and shot both Thompson and his wife in the chest with a .380 caliber handgun. He also struck Thompson over a dozen times in the head with the gun. The wife survived and is now 87 years old.

The case remained unsolved until 2010 when DNA recovered from two blood stains left at the crime scene was matched to Smith through the state DNA database.

Smith faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder, plus one life term for the attempted murder.

Criminal charges such as murder and attempted murder require the assistance of an experienced, aggressive, and intelligent criminal defense attorney.

Our Van Nuys Criminal Lawyers not only have a combined 75 years of experience but we are well known and well respected by judges and prosecutors of the San Fernando Valley Courthouses, especiallyVan Nuys Courtwhich is our home court.

As your Criminal Lawyer in Van Nuys we guarantee competent, aggressive, and effective representation.

We have dealt with all crimes ranging from murder to theft crimes to drug related crimes to DUIs to white collar crimes to federal crimes.

We can and we will help.

Free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | May 16th, 2012

Retired Detective Lazarus Sentenced to 27 Years to Life

Stephanie Ilene Lazarus, 52, has been convicted for the 1986 murder of Sherri Rasmussen, 29 in her Van Nuys townhouse. 

Lazarus was convicted of first degree murder in March 2012 and sentenced on Friday May 11, 2012 to 27 years to life in prison for murdering Rasmussen, her ex-boyfriend’s wife, in a jealous rage.

Lazarus received the maximum sentence under state law. She may be eligible for parole in 22 years.

These types of criminal charges involving homicide are very serious and can result in up to life in prison. Our Van Nuys Criminal Defense Attorneys have the experience and skill in handling cases such as murder, attempted murder, and other high profile crimes.

Our Criminal Defense Lawyers are very well known and very well respected by judges and prosecutors not only in the Van Nuys Courthouse, but many other courts throughout theSan Fernando Valleywhich is an advantage for our clients.

We have a combined 75 years of experience and we guarantee dedicated, competent, and effective representation.

Contact our Lawyers in Van Nuys if you are facing a criminal charge.

We offer free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | May 11th, 2012

Man Faces Murder Charges For Girlfriend’s Killing

James Howard Jr., 21, was charged Wednesday with murdering his 41 year old girlfriend at her Reseda apartment in February of 2012.

The woman’s family and friends were the ones who contacted the police when none of them were able to reach her for about a week.

Authorities found the woman in her bed. She had been dead for about a week. Howard allegedly used a deadly, sharp instrument in the killing.

He will face these charges in the Van Nuys Superior Court and if convicted, Howard faces up to 26 years to life in prison.

Van Nuys Court is our home court and our criminal defense attorneys at the Hedding Law Firm are well known and well respected by the judge sand prosecutors. We make appearances at theVan Nuys Court everyday and if you are facing a crime out of that court, we can help.

Our Van Nuys Lawyers handle crimes ranging from murder to batter to assault to DUIs to white collar crimes, theft crimes, drug crimes, and more.

If you are facing a criminal charge, contact us and set up a free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | May 5th, 2012

Drug Labs Found in Van Nuys Homes

Federal and local authorities arrested Alan Tamayo-Montoya, 25, suspected of serving as a runner for a drug trafficking ring.

Authorities seized more than 160 pounds of methamphetamine in homes in Van Nuys andPomonaafter taking Tamayo-Montoya into custody.

Tamayo-Montoya was taken into custody Wednesday April 11, 2012 and booked on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale.

He was held on $2 million bail.

This type of charge can result in over 10 years in prison and can change a person’s life. Our Van Nuys Drug Crime Attorneys are here to do whatever we can to prevent that from happening. We are our client’s advocate! We do whatever we can to get the best possible results by strategizing a persuasive and aggressive defense approach.

If you or someone you know is facing a drug crime or any other crime out of the Van Nuys Court, get in touch with our criminal defense attorneys immediately.

With our combined 75 years of experience and our zeal for our clients, we can guarantee dedicated, competent, and effective representation.

Contact our Van Nuys Lawyers and set up a free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | April 25th, 2012

Man Pleads Guilty to Pocketing Dead Man’s Funds

Reginald Ray Peoples, 54, from Van Nuys, posed as an in-home care provider after the man’s death and cashed in nearly $20,500 in payments. He enrolled in the state’s In Home Supportive Services program for the elderly and disabled, forged his provider’s signature for two years after the man died in order to continue billing the program.

Peoples pled guilty to 33 felony counts, including grand theft and forgery on April 18, 2012.

Peoples is one of the 15 arrested in connection with similar acts.

He is facing 180 days in county jail and three years probation when he appears for sentencing on May 31st.

The main thing standing in between this man’s freedom and the jail bars is an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney.

Our Van Nuys Criminal Attorneys have a combined 75 years of experience and we are very well known and well respected lawyers in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles areas. We are dedicated to our clients and provide competent and effective representation.

Our credentials are unmatched din all of San Fernando Valley. You can see for yourself. If you are facing a crime, contact our Criminal Lawyers in Van Nuys and set up a free consultation so that you can come into the office and talk to our lead attorney face to face.

Our Van Nuys Attorneys at the Hedding Law Firm are the true advocates!

Call us at 818-986-2092.

Read More | Comments Off | April 20th, 2012

Two Men Arrested For Van Nuys Shooting That killed 25 Year Old

Tito Diaz, 43, and William Jimenez, 25, were arrested after a fatal shooting in a Van Nuys apartment.
The men alleged the shooting was an accident but the police did not buy the story and then men were taken into custody.

The shooting occurred on Easter Sunday around 8 p.m. the victim, Saul Zacarias, 25, lived with the two suspects and Diaz and Jimenez claim that they were passing around a gun when two shots were accidentally fired.

Diaz and Jimenez allegedly tried to dispose of the body by taking it down to the garage to the dumpster just in time for trash day Monday.

When the police responded the found the victim’s body in the parking garage and found the two suspects hiding under a car in the parking garage.

Diaz was arrested for murder and is being held on $1 million bail. Jimenez was booked as an accessory to the crime for allegedly trying to help dispose of the body. He is being held on $500,000 bail.

These crimes are very serious and can result in 25 years to life in prison. Our Van Nuys Criminal Attorneys have the experience in dealing with such serious, high profile crimes and we have been able to achieve excellent results for our client.

Our Lawyers in Van Nuys appear in the Van Nuys Court every single day and we are very well known and well respected by the judges and prosecutors which play an advantage for our clients.

If you are facing a crime whether it is a violent crime, theft crime, drug crime, sex crime, DUI, white collar crime, contact our Van Nuys Attorneys and set up a free face to face consultation.

Call us at 818-986-2092.

Read More | Comments Off | April 10th, 2012

Man Convicted of 9 Felony Counts in Van Nuys Superior Court

Jose Perez, 25, from Reseda was convicted Wednesday April 4, 2012 of attacking four teenage girls and an 18-year-old Northridge woman in the San Fernando Valley over a period of about a year.

The Van Nuys Superior Court jury deliberated about two hours before convicting Perez of nine felony counts, including one count of attempted forcible rape, three counts of attempted kidnapping and five counts of assault with intent to commit a felony, in addition to a misdemeanor assault charge.

The attempted rape charge involved a March 19, 2009, attack on a 10th- grade student at the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Reseda. The teen suffered three fractures to her eye socket during the attack, in which Perez tried to pull her pants down as she screamed for help.

The other crimes involved a 15-year-old girl in Reseda in May 2009, a 14- year-old girl in Reseda in November 2009, an April 2010 attack on a 14-year- old girl, and an 18-year-old woman walking home in Northridge on April 28, 2010.

He is facing up to life in prison, with sentencing set for June 13th.

If you or someone you know is facing a crime out of the Van Nuys Court fortunately for you Van Nuys Court is our home court and our Criminal Attorneys are well known and well respected by the judges and prosecutors. We have handled thousands and thousands of criminal cases at the Van Nuys Court and we are there on a daily basis.

Our Van Nuys Lawyers have a combined 75 years of experience and we guarantee our dedicated, competent, and aggressive representation when it comes to criminal charges.

Contact us at 818-986-2092 and set up a free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | April 6th, 2012

26 Year Old Convicted of First Degree Murder of His Mother

A 26-year-old man was convicted of first-degree murder today for stabbing his mother to death nearly three years ago in the Reseda apartment where they lived.

Bryan Garcia-Munguia, 26, was convicted of first degree murder on Tuesday March 27, 2012.
Saida Munguia, 40, was killed on May 31, 2009 by her son. She was stabbed to death and her body was found in her apartment the following day by family members.

Bryan was arrested June 1, 2009.

He now faces 26 years to life behind bars when he is sentenced May 4th at the Van Nuys Courthouse.

If you are facing a criminal charge and are scheduled to appear at the Van Nuys Court, our Van Nuys Attorneys are the ones you need to call!

Van Nuys Court is our home court and we are there on a daily basis. Our Criminal Lawyers are well known and well respected by the Van Nuys Court judges and prosecutors which is an advantage to our clients.

We guarantee our dedication, competence, and persistence!

If you are facing a criminal charge in Van Nuys, contact our Van Nuys Attorneys at 818-986-2092 and set up a free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | March 28th, 2012

Reseda Dispensary Raided; Owner Charged With Possession

Annie Bishop, 37, owner of Natures Answer Medical Marijuana dispensary in Reseda, was arrested on Wednesday March 21, 2012 on suspicion of possession for sales of marijuana.

Police raided the dispensary and a home and found a total of $17,000 in cash, marijuana, and an unregistered handgun.

She was being held on $50,000 bail, but was released the same day.

Bishop will make her appearance in the Van Nuys Courthouse. The Van Nuys Court is where we make appearances on a daily basis. Our Van Nuys Criminal Lawyers are well known and well respected by the judges and prosecutors of the Van Nuys Court which is an advantage for our clients.

Our criminal lawyers in Van Nuys have a combined 75 years of experience and we are very well versed and well experienced in the area of criminal practice.

If you (or someone you know) are facing a criminal charge and are scheduled to appear in the Van Nuys Court, contact our Van Nuys Criminal Lawyers at 818-986-2092 and set up a free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | March 23rd, 2012

Store Owner Charged With Smuggling Unpasteurized Products

Miguel Catillejo, the owner of Atresanias Tipicas Mexicanas on Van Nuys Boulevard, in Pacoima, is facing criminal charges involving the smuggling of unpasteurized dairy products from Mexico and selling them to customers.

Castillejo was charged with violating 8 different health codes for selling illegal food products, exposing people to harmful bacteria.

The harmful bacteria in unpasteurized dairy products can cause serious illness to consumers and unborn babies, cause miscarriage, diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, swollen neck glands, and blood stream infections.

If convicted, Catillejo, 54, faces up to $8,000 in fines and more than two years and nine months in county jail.

He is scheduled to be arraigned, most likely out of the Van Nuys Courthouse, due to the location of alleged crime, April 11.

Our Van Nuys Attorneys are the Van Nuys Courthouse on a daily basis. We handle criminal cases out of Van Nuys Court every day and we are well known and well respected by the judges and prosecutors which plays an advantage for our clients.


If you are facing a criminal charge, state or federal, and are scheduled to appear at the Van Nuys Court, contact our Van Nuys Lawyers at 818-986-2092 and set up a free face to face consultation.

Read More | Comments Off | March 16th, 2012

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