Hermosa Beach, Possession of Gun by Felon, 6 Months Jail

Our client was arrested in a Hermosa Beach bank parking lot after bank patrons called to report he and his wife were arguing in a loud manner. Police arrived and asked our client if he was on probation, which he allegedly at first denied, but then admitted he was (for a possession of a controlled substance conviction two years earlier).

It merits mention that after Prop 47, this conviction would not have been a felony, but instead a misdemeanor and his possession of a firearm would not have been possession of a firearm by a felon, so it would not have been a probation violation.

This case, however, took place before Prop 47 was passed into law in November of 2016.

In this case, police then searched the client’s rental car and located an unloaded automatic handgun under his driver’s seat. They also found drug paraphernalia, which our client’s wife admitted to ownership of to the police.

Summary: Client violates formal probation when Manhattan Beach police find him in possession of a firearm (by a felon) and with drug paraphernalia. Client first uses public defender who cannot resolve the case for less than three years in county jail (under AB109). Client retains Greg Hill & Associates, who resolve the case for six months in county jail.

Before advising him that they had found the weapon, they asked him there was a gun in the car. Our client responded that he did not think there was one in the car, but if there was one, it would be in the backseat in a center console and it would be a revolver. He stated this because he had loaned the rental car to his cousin the prior night and he knew his cousin often carried a revolver with him at all times.

Police then showed him the weapon they found and asked him if he recognized it. Our client said he did not and stated that it must have been left by his cousin’s friends.

Our client was instantly arrested for violation of Penal Code § 12021(a)(1), illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.

The case was filed in Torrance and our client initially opted for a public defender. The public defender grimly reported that the best possible deal was three years. Our client was unhappy with the public defender’s interest (or lack thereof) in the case, so he came to us.

Greg Hill appeared and quickly negotiated the deal down to two years, but he thought the merits of the case suggested an even lower sentence, or even dismissal. Mr. Hill was unsatisfied with the handling District Attorney’s attention to the case, so he went to the Torrance Supervising District Attorney to see if a better deal could be reached. The Supervising District Attorney declined to undercut the handling District Attorney, so Greg Hill asked the handling judge for an indicated ruling should he plead in the open for our client.

Torrance Courthouse

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