Celebrity DUI Arrests

March 11, 2015

From Shootings to Los Angeles DUI Arrests, Cops and Witnesses Don’t Always Get It Right

A recent shooting of an unarmed homeless man by members of the Los Angeles Police Department shows why it’s essential that anyone who is arrested for a Los Angeles DUI get good legal representation right away. Police officers can make mistakes, and eyewitnesses don’t always see or hear everything that really happened.

Nobody disputes the basic facts of a recent Los Angeles shooting. On March 1, a homeless man (later identified by the nickname of Africa) was killed during a struggle with four police officers. The man was on the ground when the shots were fired.

The police department said that the officers had already tried to subdue the man with a taser, and it hadn’t worked. Then the man had grabbed a gun from one of the officers during the arrest, and that’s when the other officers opened fire. The eyewitness claimed that he didn’t see that grab and questioned the cops’ decision to shoot an unarmed man who was already tased and on the ground.

But the whole incident was caught on a nearby surveillance camera, and CNN had a forensic expert look at the footage in slow motion. His analysis suggests that the man did indeed reach for the gun. Surveillance footage also showed that the man had been involved in a violent struggle with another homeless person earlier in the day.

So what really happened that day? Different people on the scene–all believing that they are telling the truth–will give you varying answers. It’s going to take a while to sort it all out.

The same thing can happen when somebody is arrested for DUI. No matter what the police and other bystanders think they saw, the truth may be something different–and it’s a good idea to have someone who understands all the legal ramifications available to help.

As a frequent contributor to respected media, like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and Good Morning America, Los Angeles DUI attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers understands what it takes to build successful defenses in complex DUI cases. Contact him and his team today to schedule a consultation.

February 16, 2015

Fatal Pileup Involving Bruce Jenner Features Two Suspended Licenses, But No Los Angeles DUI Charges

by Michael Kraut

The Los Angeles DUI community and others initially thought the recent horrendous Bruce Jenner crash might have involved alcohol. The investigation into the fatal accident continues to unfold, providing more details into the sequence of events.

The accident unfolded when Bruce Jenner, 69 year-old Olympic medalist and part of the Kardashian family, allegedly rear-ended two vehicles in his Cadillac Escalade. New evidence based on video captured from a bus camera recently emerged indicates that Jenner first rear ended a Lexus sedan driven by Kim Howe (69). The impact pushed the sedan into oncoming traffic, where it collided head first with a Hummer. Howe died at the scene. Jenner submitted to both field tests and DUI blood tests. The results yielded no proof of intoxication.

During the sequence of events, Jenner also rear ended the car immediately in front of the Lexus, a Toyota Prius driven by Jessica Steindorff (29). Both Howe and Steindorff had been driving with suspended licenses. According to the Los Angeles Times, investigators found proof that Jenner tried to avoid the accident with hard braking and veering to the right shoulder of the road.

Talking or texting on a handheld cellphone is illegal while driving in California. Evidence suggests that distracted driving may have played a role in the deadly sequence of events. Pagesix.com highlights photographs taken of Jenner talking on the phone while driving only days after the accident. Investigators look to phone records for proof of distracted driving when evaluating the circumstances surrounding an accident.

Chain reaction crashes like this one require intensive investigations. Evidence emerging in the continued investigation will likely clarify the cause of the accident and Jenner’s role. Publicly, Jenner holds that he did nothing wrong. Emerging evidence of negligence could lead to charges of vehicular manslaughter.

Do you or a family member need insight from a qualified Los Angeles DUI attorney? Contact Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers to set up your free consultation.

February 12, 2015

Super Bowl DUI Arrests Include Former Moesha TV Actor

by Michael Kraut

Los Angeles DUI attorneys continue to review the aftermath of DUI cases from Super Bowl Sunday, which, as we’ve reported in the past, has one of the highest rates of DUI driving in the country. (Other dangerous days, from a DUI point of view, include New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day.)

Early in the morning on Feb. 1, police arrested Marcus Paulk for driving under the influence and marijuana possession. Formerly, Paulk performed on Moesha, a television show that aired from 1996-2001. An officer conducted a traffic stop after observing Paulk’s vehicle allegedly driving too close to emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road.

The arresting officer noticed the scent of alcohol and the smell marijuana emanating from the former child star’s pockets. Paulk’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level tested at 0.109% at the time of arrest. He readily admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana before driving.

Many people assume that fame and celebrity encourage positive outcomes in court; however, the truth is that the factors affecting each DUI case are different for everyone. Securing legal advice is the best course of action to evaluate your circumstances.

An officer needs probable cause before stopping you, and you must engage in some sort of traffic violation. Driving erratically or within dangerous proximity to a parked vehicle (Paulk’s case) could lead to a traffic stop. Additionally, failure to make a complete stop or inoperable lights on your vehicle creates suspicion and justifies traffic stops.

When stopped, it is important to remember that all tests administered are voluntary. If you refuse to take an alcohol-screening test, make it clear that you prefer a blood test. On-site breathalyzer and field sobriety test results are unreliable, and they may serve as evidence against you.

Respond strategically to your arrest and charges by calling a former Senior Deputy D.A. and highly successful Los Angeles DUI defense attorney with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today for a complimentary consultation.

January 12, 2015

Tim Jennings of the Chicago Bears Nabbed for DUI While Speeding

by Michael Kraut

The Los Angeles DUI community (and the rest of the country) may be focused on the NFL playoffs, but football fans have been temporarily distracted by yet another NFL DUI arrest.

Police say that Tim Jennings, a member of the Chicago Bears, had been speeding while DUI – he allegedly had been zipping along at 99 mph on a 65 mph highway in Georgia. The trooper that pulled him over said that Jennings had alcohol on his breath and that his eyes were a little red. Jennings admitted to the officer that he had consumed alcohol but had waited nearly ten hours before getting behind the wheel.

Jennings refused both a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer. The officer reported that the football star laughed through questioning and told him that he had been speeding to attend a parent-teacher conference.

In California, excessive speeding can lead to more complicated DUI charges. Calfornia law defines the crime of “driving recklessly” but leaves some ambiguity about what actually constitutes recklessness. Driving 20 to 30 mph over the speed limit will likely net you a “driving recklessly” charge, which can lead to harsher sentences, more jail time and longer license suspension.

Research confirms intuition: speeding is very dangerous. For every ten miles per hour increase after 55 mph, the average vehicle requires an additional hundred feet to make an emergency stop. Jennings, for instance, would have needed a football field’s extra space to avoid an accident.

Fleeing the scene of a DUI hit-and-run accident — especially after causing damage to property or hurting someone else — can result in a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. But even if police stopped you for a standard misdemeanor DUI, you could face diverse punishments, including jail time, mandatory installation of an interlock ignition device in your car, spikes in your insurance premiums, loss of your license and intense probationary terms.

Respond strategically to your arrest and charges by calling a former Senior Deputy D.A. and highly successful Los Angeles DUI defense attorney with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today for a complimentary consultation.

January 7, 2015

Actress Jennifer Lopez Survives a Scary Collision with DUI Driver in Malibu – Driver Faces Charges

by Michael Kraut

This blog spills plenty of virtual ink about celebrities arrested for Los Angeles DUI. But celebrities can be victims in DUI crashes as well.

Consider, for instance, the harrowing recent ordeal of Jennifer Lopez, who survived a collision with an allegedly DUI driver in Malibu in September… with her children in the vehicle.

Prosecutors just charged 53-year-old Robert John Reitz, a Las Vegas man, with slamming her Rolls Royce from behind with his pick-up truck at a stoplight. Prosecutors hit him with a variety of counts, including driving nearly two times the limit for DUI in California (0.08% BAC, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 23152). A conviction could lead to a $1,000 fine as well as six months behind bars. Lopez was not driving the Rolls Royce at the time; Leah Remini, another actress, was behind the wheel.

Although the crash occurred back in September, it took over three months before Reitz’s arraignment.

Lopez’s situation highlights an important aspect of DUI cases that’s rarely discussed, and that’s that DUI cases can take a long time to play out in the courts. That waiting can feel interminable for defendants (and their families).

Especially if you stand accused of complex charges that involve significant property damage or accusations that you hurt another person, your legal “fireworks” could last for months if not longer. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone. To prepare effectively and strategically, call a qualified Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today to get insight into your potential options. In addition to having served as a prosecutor of DUI crimes for nearly a decade and a half, Mr. Kraut maintains excellent relationships with diverse stakeholders in the Los Angeles DUI discussion, including prosecutors, judges and police officers.

December 24, 2014

Authority and Alcohol: People in High Positions Can Get Los Angeles DUIs, Too

by Michael Kraut

Although stories about celebrities facing Los Angeles DUI charges are reported every day, average citizens often act surprised when people in authority face similar charges. The attorneys at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers have seen plenty of people in positions of authority deal with DUI charges and want to set the record straight on the prevalence of this problem.

Oklahoma Senator Charged

Republican senator Bryce Marlatt was recently charged with a subcategory of DUI known as actual physical control, or APC. APC indicates the vehicle was actually moving when the suspect was pulled over for the DUI. Woodward, OK, police found Marlatt asleep in his moving car. When asked how many beers he had, Marlatt replied, “None – I had what you call a bourbon and Coke.” He also said he had consumed “no more than anybody else” when asked further about his alcohol consumption.

Senator Marlatt’s attorney claims that Marlatt had been having sleep problems and that he took a prescription sleep aid before getting behind the wheel last Monday night. He had imbibed a mixed drink and had been concerned about the effects of the mixture, so allegedly pulled over to sleep off the aid and the alcohol. However, the charges of APC indicate Marlatt’s vehicle may have been moving without his knowledge.

Auto President Faces DUI

Another authority figure recently charged with a DUI is Robert Butler, president of the Butler Automotive Group in Indianapolis. Allegedly, Butler had been driving DUI on Interstate 465 and hit a vehicle parked on the emergency shoulder. The accident caused “serious leg injuries” to 25-year-old Latin McKinney, according to The Indy Channel. McKinney and his sister had apparently been trying to jump-start McKinney’s stalled car on the emergency shoulder.

Butler admitted he had four glasses of wine while watching a ball game in downtown Indianapolis before getting on the interstate. Police measured his blood alcohol level at twice the legal limit. However, Butler pleaded not guilty to DUI charges even after admitting he’d been drinking.

Designing and executing an effective defense against DUI charges (even simple ones) is not intuitive. Fortunately, you can trust the seasoned, highly successful Michael Kraut. Call a DUI lawyer in Los Angeles with nearly two decades of experience.

December 5, 2014

Cleveland Browns’ Fans Hearts Skip a Beat After Johnny Manziel’s Bodyguard Arrested for DUI

by Michael Kraut

One of the peculiar aspects of Los Angeles DUI cases is that arrests and convictions can touch dozens, even hundreds, of people and organizations.

In other words, a single bad decision made by one driver at a single point in time can propagate and create problems – even huge crises – for many other people. For instance, when a star football player gets in trouble with the law, not only can he and his family suffer legal and monetary consequences, but people not connected with the accident – teammates, fans, people who depend on a football team’s revenue to power local businesses – can also be indirectly impacted.

Consider that concept in light of a recent story out of Cleveland. Browns QB Johnny Manziel’s bodyguard recently got arrested for DUI while driving Manziel’s vehicle. The arrest might not have made national news, had Manziel and his friends not just recently been involved in an altercation with an aggressive fan, who approached the star and his entourage with an attitude that allegedly was “very aggressive” and “very intoxicated.”

Per the quarterback’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, “Johnny and his roommate had been out to dinner earlier in the evening with Johnny’s mother, who was staying with him this week. There was no entourage. Johnny and his roommate were trying to get on the apartment elevator at his home, when they were accosted by a very aggressive man and his associates. It was an unfortunate situation.”

Under certain circumstances, an associate or friend or spouse or a relative can make a mistake — or engage in aggressive or dangerous behavior behind the wheel — that can redound to affect you and your family. To understand your rights and develop an appropriate legal response, connect with an experienced Los Angeles DUI criminal defense attorney, like Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. In addition to serving for nearly 20 years as both as Deputy District Attorney and a defense lawyer, Mr. Kraut regularly appears as a commentator on shows like Good Morning America and newspapers like the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

December 1, 2014

Jionni LaValle, Husband of Jersey Shore’s Snooki, Arrested for DUI

by Michael Kraut

Getting arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles – especially if you are a celebrity – can lead to horrendous brand management problems as well as legal issues like potential jail time, forced probation, and mandatory fines and fees… not to mention indirect hassles like hikes in insurance rates and driver’s license suspension.

It can also lead to a cascade of internet traffic.

For instance, Jionni LaValle, the 27-year-old husband of Jersey Shore’s “Snooki” (a.k.a. Nicole Polizzi) found himself in handcuffs a few months ago after police pulled him over on his honeymoon on Interstate 80. Authorities hit him with multiple charges, including careless driving, unsafe lane changes and DUI.

Last week, LaValle pled guilty into Totowa Municipal Court to DUI (he managed to get the other two charges dismissed). His sentence includes a three month driver’s license suspension, a $614 fine, and mandatory DUI education classes.

LaValle and Polizzi are parents to two young children – a two-year-old boy, Lorenzo and a two-month-old girl, Giovanna.

Snooki has had her own issues with the law. Four year ago – before she became a mom – police arrested her on the (actual) Jersey Shore for creating a public nuisance.

Whether you are a celebrity facing a complex and potentially highly embarrassing series of charges or an “ordinary citizen” who believes that police wrongfully pulled you over, you may need the help of an experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney to understand your charges and figure out what to do about them. Contact attorney Michael Kraut with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today for the effective insight you need to make forward progress.

November 18, 2014

Los Angeles DUI Lessons from Johnny Depp’s Bizarre Speech at The Hollywood Film Awards

by Michael Kraut

Perhaps police stopped you and arrested you for Los Angeles DUI last weekend, so you haven’t had a chance to contemplate the latest Hollywood tabloid stories. Or maybe you suffered an injury in a DUI crash but nevertheless still learned about actor Johnny Depp’s awkward (and possibly alcohol fueled) speech at the Hollywood Film Awards.

The world famous actor — known for iconic roles like Edward Scissorhands, Jack Sparrow, and Willy Wonka from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory — has always been known for his eccentricities. But in his speech at the HFA, he left even his fans and admirers scratching their heads. We’re going to take a closer look at what happened with Depp (or what allegedly happened) and use that as a jumping off point to discuss an often poorly understood ramification of Los Angeles DUI law.

Depp had been invited to introduce an award for a veteran record producer, but he could not get through his prepared speech without mumbling, stuttering, starting and stopping, and even cursing a few times for good measure. About 75 seconds into the speech, the network cut him off and went to commercial. Whether Depp had consumed alcohol or drugs or had gotten sick is anyone’s guess. However, the takeaway that we want to emphasize is that even famous, wealthy, articulate and smart people can often find themselves suddenly in deep trouble as a result of a single night’s alcohol or drug fueled mistake.

Depp’s public gaffe obviously will not have legal ramifications, since he didn’t hurt anybody, although it could slightly injure his brand with the public. But a driver who has one too many drinks and then gets behind the wheel and hurts someone can suddenly face an onslaught of unexpected and unwelcomed challenges, ranging from potential driver’s license suspension to mandatory jail time to forced alcohol education classes and so on.

To put the puzzle pieces of your case together, call an experienced and highly qualified Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. Michael Kraut is widely respected as a DUI news commentator, and he has been quoted by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Good Morning America, and other respected media sources for his opinion about DUI matters.

August 25, 2014

Chief Keef Skips DUI Hearing, Faces Harsh Consequences

by Michael Kraut

Attending a Los Angeles DUI hearing is a stressful and sometimes frightening prospect. However, facing the hearing officer is a better idea than avoiding the situation altogether. Rapper Chief Keef is currently learning this lesson the hard way.

The 19-year-old Chief Keef’s predicament began in March 2014, when police pulled him over on suspicion of DUI. When a potent marijuana smell prompted officers to administer a sobriety test, Keef failed and was placed under arrest. Keef sustained additional charges for failing to provide proof of insurance and driving on a suspended license.

The troubled rapper’s previous legal problems include involvement in a shooting, rehab stints, and child support disputes. Perhaps his aversion to the law is what caused him to skip his August DUI hearing. Currently, a warrant for Keef’s arrest is pending, and authorities plan to arrest and hold him on $50,000 bail.

In California, the DUI hearing is an important procedure, setting the tone for the remainder of the court process. The accused may choose a phone or “live” hearing, the latter of which gives him or her the best chance of presenting a compelling legal defense. A DUI attorney and witnesses may speak for the defendant, as well.

Missing a DUI hearing not only gives you no chance to state your case, but it also shows disrespect and disregard for the legal process. Should you choose to skip the hearing, you may be arrested and held until your arraignment. Further risking your freedom is an unwise way to begin a defense.

The Los Angeles DUI attorneys at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers understand how intimidating a DUI hearing can be; in fact, attorney Michael Kraut once acted as a prosecutor in such cases in his role as Senior Deputy District Attorney. Rather than running away from the court, contact us today to learn how we can put our knowledge of California law and experience with DUI cases to work for you.