In the News | Orange County Criminal Defense Blog

Michael L. Guisti has accepted yet another case that is making headlines across two states. His client, Kristie Jane Koepplin of Peoria, Arizona, is a registered nurse who is being blamed for the death of a San Clemente man. Read the rest »

The headlines surrounding actor Jussie Smollett shed light on the difficulties surrounding an accusation of fraud. Smollett’s case triggered a firestorm of reactions from celebrities and the public, initially due to outrage over the assault, quickly followed by shock and more outrage when accusations that the assault had been orchestrated by Smollett himself surfaced. What actually occurred remains uncertain, but the actor has already experienced life-changing consequences, and his reputation may be permanently destroyed. Read the rest »

The Chula Vista Police Department is investigating the recent death of 29-year-old Jason Watts. Back in October 2018, Watts died after being subjected to a Taser in a confrontation outside of a 7-11, NBC San Diego reports. Unfortunately, this is just one of several cases being investigated in California.

Police departments present the weapon as a non-lethal alternative to guns and other firearms for subduing potential criminals. But, with 49 related deaths being reported in just the last year alone, is it as “safe” as they claim? Read the rest »

Yikes. Last October, Forensic Magazine reported the latest development in a string of DNA contamination cases by Utah-based forensics lab, Sorenson Forensic. Labs like Sorenson help police forces compare DNA obtained in a crime scene (or evidence kit) against a state database of DNA samples from convicted offenders and arrestees (depending on the state you reside in). This is called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). A “hit” in CODIS could result in the linking of perpetrators and multiple crimes. Read the rest »

Just a few years ago, the Internet was filled with kids shoving spoonfuls of cinnamon into their mouths. Now, some have switched cinnamon out for Tide pods. Many outlandish trends are emerging in this digital age, and a truly dangerous one has erupted—swatting.

So, what is swatting? Read the rest »

What would you do to protect your child?

That question, no doubt, crossed the mind of Virginia parent Sarah Sims. Her daughter was being bullied by other children at school. Sims contacted the school, located in Norfolk, but never got a response. Read the rest »

You don’t have to watch TV shows to hear about grand political scandals. Orange County jail troubles seem to be popping out of everywhere lately. In the latest addition to the never-ending saga, public defender Scott Sanders recently sat down with OC Weekly to discuss one of the biggest criminal justice scandals in OC history. Read the rest »

The OC Register recently chronicled the role that excessive force plays in Orange County and Southern California jails. The issue mostly relates to how jailers hold the inmates.

The technique is called “chicken winging.” It’s slang that refers to a hold in which the prisoner’s arms are held behind his back and pushed up towards the shoulders. This method can cause severe pain, sprain ligaments, and even break bones. Read the rest »

Tina Wu, sister of Danny Pham, with her attorney Michael Guisti, talks with the media in Santa Ana, California, on Monday, July 24, 2017. Danny Pham, who was serving a 180-day sentence for car theft, was killed in his jail cell on July 3.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Danny Pham was a skinny, 27-year-old cosmetology student who grew up in Westminster, California.

Described as “just a sweet kid,” Danny had a good family, direction, goals. Then he messed up. He took a car that wasn’t his and went “joyriding” one night. He was caught, pled guilty, and surrendered to serve six months in the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.

Danny Pham is dead. Read the rest »

OC Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Guisti answers questions following the press conference announcement of files being charged against Angela Diaz. Ms. Diaz was charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, perjury, forgery, grand theft, falsely reporting crimes to APD, and framing her husband’s ex-fiancée, causing the victim, Guisti’s client Michelle Hadley, to serve jail time after being arrested and charged.

The announcement was made at the OCDA’s Office in Santa Ana on Monday January 9, 2017 at 11am. For more information, read the full story of the Michelle Hadley Craigslist Case on our site and stay tuned to our Facebook account for the latest news and updates.