Anaheim, CA – Sometimes the first reaction to a news story about a shocking crime is anger. Even when a report doesn't involve anyone we know personally, we feel outrage that anyone could do something so awful. However, it is important to remember a few basic facts. First, our legal system considers everyone who has been charged with a crime to be innocent until they are proven guilty. We want to be so certain of the outcomes at trial that we give the accused an advantage out of the box. The other thing that is important to remember is that an initial report about a suspected crime is generally built up on official statements and matters of public record. The accused generally does not share their side of the story until they have hired an attorney or until the case goes to trial.
Loi Vu, 40, and Tracy Trang Le, 35, were arrested on Tuesday evening on suspicion of felony child endangerment and false imprisonment. Child Protective Services enlisted the help of the Anaheim Police Department after receiving reports that the couple had been keeping their autistic son in a large dog cage. Officers on the scene did find a cage with a mattress inside their home.
The boy, who is 11, is unable to communicate and, according to a department statement, occasionally had violent outbursts. The parents allegedly put the boy in the cage to control him. However, the boy and his siblings, who have been placed in protective custody, appeared to be well cared for and otherwise healthy. The investigation is still ongoing.
In cases like this one it is important to remember that the news isn't always able to get the full story. This isn't meant to excuse criminal behavior, only that sometimes stories are more complicated than they might seem initially which is why the process of an investigation and trial can be so time-consuming, according to our Orange County criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti. Before any verdict is issued, we want to be absolutely certain of a suspect's guilt or innocence. This is why it's so important to have a criminal lawyer on your side when you've been charged with a crime.
At the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti, our skilled, knowledgeable attorneys have been defending clients against felony and misdemeanor charges for over 16 years. They know the strategies that work for having charges reduced or dismissed in state and federal court. Our firm is committed to giving all of our clients the best possible defense. We want to know your side of the story so that we can help you craft a successful defense strategy.
Over the years we've become a fixture in the legal scene in Southern California; and in that time we've built up a strong working relationship with local judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies. This allows us to provide our clients with a more effective defense or negotiate plea deals.
When you've been charged with a crime, you'll have a lot of questions, and our staff will be available to answer them 24/7. We've handled every kind of criminal case and we aren't afraid to take on difficult cases. We have offices in Newport Beach, Irvine, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana and are proud to offer foreign language assistance to better serve our diverse local community.
Sources:
Bloom, Tracy and Eric Spillman. "Anaheim Parents Arrested, Accused of Keeping 11-Year-Old Song With Autism in Dog Kennel." http://ktla.com/2014/07/02/parents-arrested-after-11-year-old-autistic-boy-found-living-in-cage-anaheim-police/. KTLA 5. July 2, 2014.