Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: I received a letter from the Office of the City attorney.

Penal Code 653m. (a) Every person who, with intent to annoy, telephones or makes contact by means of an electronic communication device with

another and addresses to or about the other person any obscene

language or addresses to the other person any threat to inflict

injury to the person or property of the person addressed or any

member of his or her family, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing in

this subdivision shall apply to telephone calls or electronic

contacts made in good faith.

Get represented and have this reduced to an infraction. Contact me directly.

Re: I received a letter from the Office of the City attorney.

Sounds like you're being charged with a misdemeanor crime, making harassing phone calls.

The standard advice is remain silent and contact your attorney. Talk to the police or prosecutors at your own peril. People generally convict themselves by trying to be 'helpful'.

Feel free to contact me if you decide you need legal counsel to help keep you out of jail.

Re: I received a letter from the Office of the City attorney.

As the others have said, it is important to have a lawyer at the City Attorney hearing. If things go well, there will be no further criminal prosecution, you will not end up with a conviction, and the matter will end. If you say the wrong thing(s) at the hearing, criminal charges could be filed against you and you would then be cited to court for a misdemeanor prosecution which could end with a conviction. So it is much better to be prepared in advance. My office is a stone's throw from the Santa Monica City Attorney's office (it has been for 34 years) and I'd be happy to help you with this matter. If you'd like to talk to me further about it, please don't hesitate to call. Steve Mandell