How Something You Didn't Do Can Lead to Criminal Charges in Orange County

Most criminal cases require the prosecution to prove that the defendant has done something or tried to do something illegal. For example, in a murder case the prosecutor will argue that the defendant intentionally killed another person. However, there are a number of circumstances in which someone can be charged with a crime for something they allegedly neglected to do.

Hit and Run

One of the most well known crimes involving negligence is hit-and-run. After a car accident, the driver is required to stop and exchange insurance information and provide assistance to an injured party. Right now, the Huntington Beach Police Department is looking for the driver of a Dodge Challenger that struck an 85-year-old woman while backing up in a restaurant parking lot. Surveillance video from the scene shows both the passenger and the driver getting out of the vehicle briefly before driving off, but neither offers to help the woman, who suffered a head injury.

Negligent Employers

Meanwhile, the company Bumble Bee Foods and two of its employees are facing criminal charges after the death of one of their employees in a workplace accident in their Santa Fe Springs facility. Jose Melena, was killed in 2012 while doing maintenance work on an oven when other workers turned it on without realizing Melena was inside. Bumble Bee Foods could be fined up $1.5 million, and Angel Rodriguez, 63, and Saul Florez, 42, could go to prison for three years if a jury determines that they neglected to implement safety measures to ensure that machinery could not be activated while employees were inside.

Child Endangerment

Parents can face criminal charges if they are accused of failing to provide proper care for their children. A woman from Rancho Cucamonga was recently charged with child endangerment, when she allegedly left her 4-year-old daughter home alone while on a trip to San Diego. After her arrest, Bing Chen, 28, reportedly told investigators that she had not found anyone to look after the girl and that she had left food and instructions on when to go to bed. The child has been placed in protective services.

In each of these cases, someone has been accused of failing to take proper action to ensure the safety of others. For something to be criminally negligent it needs to either cause injury or place someone in extreme risk. As with any other crime, a conviction on these types of charges can have an extremely negative impact on your life.

I've practiced law in Southern California since 1999, and in that time I've helped hundreds of clients fight all kinds of criminal charges. Whether you've been charged with DUI, murder, theft, fraud, sexual assault, or domestic violence, my firm can help you prepare a successful defense in state or federal court.

I know how difficult it can be to fight criminal charges, which is why I never give up on my clients. Once I've taken on a case, I always see it through. Your life won't stand still when you've been charged with a crime, but a skilled defense attorney can help you shoulder the burden of your legal troubles while you try and keep the rest of your life on track.

I have offices in Irvine, Newport Beach, and Garden Grove, and my staff is ready to help you with any questions or concerns 24/7. We even offer assistance in Chinese, Spanish, and other languages in order to better serve our diverse local community.

So if you need help fighting any criminal charge in Southern California, I hope you'll call my firm at (714) 530-9690 for a free consultation.