The content in this section contains information and statements about Sitkoff & Hanrahan, LLP’s past case results and client testimonials relating to the quality of service the law firm provides. Please be advised:
– The facts and circumstances of each case differ from case to case.
– All testimonials have been published with the full consent of each client.
– The testimonials and case results provided are not necessarily representative of all clients of our law firm.
– Every case is different and each client’s case must be evaluated and handled on its own merits.
I acknowledge that I have read and understand the above information and would like to view the information.
DUI Case Results
Misdemeanor DUI, Misdemeanor Child Endangerment – VC 23152(a)(b), PC 273a(b)
Location
West Covina Court – People v. S.L.
Case Details
Client charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (0.25 BAC) with a minor in her vehicle.
Case Outcome
Convinced prosecutors to dismiss child endangerment in plea agreement to standard DUI sentence.
Felony DUI with Injury, Vehicular Manslaughter with Impairment
Location
Downey Court – People v. M.G.
VC 23153(a)(b) and VC 191.5
Case Outcome
Client arrested for felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter after being involved in a fatal collision with a pedestrian. After the investigation determined the victim was most likely attempting suicide by intentionally walking into heavy freeway traffic, we were able to negotiate a plea agreement resulting in the dismissal of all felony charges in exchange for a plea to a standard VC 23152(b) misdemeanor DUI with 3 months of DUI classes, 3 years summary probation, and no jail time or felony record. In addition, we also prevailed in the DMV hearing, which resulted in a set aside of the DMV driver’s license suspension.
Client charged out of Westminster Court with 2nd DUI and Hit and Run with pedestrian.
Hit and Run charge dismissed after negotiating Civil Compromise with Victim. 2nd DUI dismissed and reduced to Wet Reckless after challenging the reliability of the breath evidence. Client ordered complete DUI classes and pay fine – no jail time.
Client charged out of Torrance Court with DUI (BAC above.20 w/accident).
City Prosecutor agreed to dismiss DUI and reduce to Wet Reckless, despite no factual weaknesses in case, after convincing Prosecutor that Client was in process of adopting a child.
VC 23153(b) Felony DUI & PC 12022.7(a) Great Bodily Injury (GBI) Enhancement
LAX Court People v. G.B.
Case Details: Client charged with felony drunk driving with GBI enhancement, making the offense qualify as a “serious felony” per PC 1192.7(c)(8).
Outcome: Plea agreement negotiated allowing client to complete 90 days of residential treatment as a substitute for jail time.
VC 23152(a) – 2nd Offense DUI
East Los Angeles Court – People v. S.G.
Case Details: Client charged with 2nd DUI involving an accident.
Outcome: Charge dismissed and reduced to VC 23103.5 – Wet Reckless.
VC 23152(a) – DUI Involving Alcohol/Drugs VC 23152(b) – DUI With BAC Above 0.08
Inglewood Court – People v. S.C.
Case Details: Client arrested in Hawthorne for drunk driving at DUI checkpoint.
Outcome: Case dismissed and reduced to Wet Reckless – VC 23103.5. Client not required to install IID.
VC 23153(a)(b) – Felony DUI W/Injury
Metropolitan Court – People v. A.C.
Case Details: Client arrested by LAPD for felony DUI involving injuries to 2 victims.
Outcome: Felony charges dismissed and reduced to misdemeanor Wet Reckless – VC 23103.5 through plea negotiations. Client not required to install IID.
Drug Crimes Case Results
Misdemeanor Possession of Cocaine -H&S 11350(a)
Santa Barbara Court – People v. E.B.
Case Details
Client charged with 1 count of cocaine possession.
Case Outcome
Charge dismissed after successful completion of PC 1000 drug diversion program.
Misdemeanor Commercial Burglary & H&S 11377(a) – Misdemeanor Possession of Methemphetamine
Location: Harbor Justice Center – People v. D.R.
Case Details
Client charged along with 2 other co-defendants for possession of meth and commercial burglary.
Case Outcome
All charges dismissed through diversion program.
HS 11377 – Possession of LSD
Pomona Court – People v. J.B.
Case Details: Client arrested in Pomona for possession of a controlled substance.
Outcome: Case dismissed after securing PC 1000 drug diversion for client even though he was already on probation for a similar offense out of state.
Theft Crimes Case Results
PC 459.5 – Misdemeanor Shoplifting
West Justice Center – People v. A.M.
Case Details: Client arrested for shoplifting over $700 worth of merchandise at Nordstrom’s Rack in Costa Mesa.
Outcome: Case dismissed after securing diversion for client.
PC 487(a) – Felony Grand Theft Shoplifting
LAX Court – People v. S.L.
Case Details: Client arrested in Culver City for shoplifting over $1,200 in merchandise from Macy’s.
Outcome: Case dismissed after formal diversion.
PC 487(a) – Grand Theft (Prefile Investigation)
Los Angeles Police Dept. – People v. J.G.
Case Details: Client contacted by LAPD detective in connection with theft of property valued over $1,000..
Outcome: Convinced detective to drop investigation after contacting victim and working our restitution agreement.
PC 470(a) Felony Forgery & PC 530.5(a) Identity Theft
Brawley Court People v. A.F.
Case Details: Client charged with 5 felony counts of forgery and ID theft while on probation for a prior conviction out of a different county.
Outcome: Plea deal negotiated which resulted in client pleading to 1 felony count of ID theft with a misdemeanor reduction after successful completion of 2 years of formal probation. No jail time.
Client charged out of Santa Ana Court with Embezzling approximately $2,000.00 from employer.
Convinced Judge and Prosecutor to allow Client to complete diversion program. Case dismissed after Client successfully completed program.
1st Degree Residential Burglary, PC 459
Location: LAX Court – People v. R.M.
Case Details
While intoxicated at a party in Bel Air, client broke into a neighbor’s home and took a garage door opener and TV remote control.
Case Outcome
Charge reduced to misdemeanor PC 602(k) – Trespassing.
Felony Elder Abuse, Felony Grand Theft – PC 368(d), PC 487(a)
Location: Hesperia Police Dept. – Prefile Investigation – J.C.
Case Details
Client accused of defrauding $50,000 from an elderly victim.
Case Outcome
Case rejected by DA’s office after presentation of proof that our client earned the money by providing construction work to alleged victim’s home. A detail detectives blatantly ignored.
Petty Theft – PC 484(a)
Location: Van Nuys Court – People v. N.S.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested at a Macy’s store in Sherman Oaks for stealing approximately $605 worth of merchandise. After several months of negotiations, our legal team successfully convinced the prosecutor to agree to reduce the Petty Theft charge down to Trespassing.
Shoplifting – PC 459.5
Location: LAX Court – People v. N.L.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested at a Target store in Culver City after being detained by store security attempting to steal approximately $100 worth of merchandise. Case dismissed after our office negotiated a diversion program with the deputy district attorney.
Hit and Run Case Results
Hit and Run
Location: Client charged out of Harbor Court
Case Outcome
Case dismissed after reaching Civil Compromise with Victim.
Misdemeanor Hit & Run In OC
Location: Client charged out of Harbor Court with Hit and Run.
Case Outcome
Case dismissed after reaching Civil Compromise with Victim.
Misdemeanor Hit and Run – VC 20002(a)
Location: LAX Court – People v. H.R.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested on warrant for VC 20002(a) misdemeanor Hit & Run collision, which occurred several months prior to her arrest date. City prosecutor suspected our client fled to avoid a DUI arrest. After successfully arguing that our client left the scene due to the victim’s hostile behavior towards her and that it placed her in reasonable fear for her safety, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the case after our client completed 14 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and avoided criminal activity for 6 months.
Hit and Run
Location: Client charged out of Harbor Court with Hit and Run.
Case Outcome
Case dismissed after reaching Civil Compromise with Victim.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit And Run
Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach) – People v. J.G.
Client retained our firm after receiving a letter from the Orange County District Attorney’s office notifying him to appear in court for arraignment on a Hit and Run charge. After locating the victim, we successfully convinced her to agree to a Civil Compromise, resulting in the complete dismissal of the charge.
VC 20002(a) Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Pasadena Court People v. C.C.
Case Details: Client charged with leaving the scene of a traffic accident involving his vehicle and another.
Outcome: Case dismissed by way of civil compromise over Pasadena city prosecutor’s objections.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Los Angeles Police Dept. – People v. A.A.
Case Details: Client investigated by LAPD for Hit and Run in Downtown LA.
Outcome: No charges filed due to insufficient evidence.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Torrance Police Dept. – People v. L.H.
Case Details: Client investigated by Torrance Police for Hit and Run involving 2 parked vehicles.
Outcome: After speaking with detective on our client’s behalf, we convinced the detective to drop the investigation in exchange for our client’s insurance information.
Client charged out of Bellflower Court with Hit and Run (Victim was off duty police officer).
Despite Victim’s unwillingness to accept Civil Compromise, Judge agreed to dismiss charges anyway through deferred entry of judgment.
Misdemeanor Hit and Run – VC 20002(a)
Location: Manhattan Beach – People v. N.S.
Case Outcome
*Client was contacted by a Manhattan Beach police detective after backing into a parked vehicle and leaving the scene without providing insurance or her contact information. The client retained our office after providing the detective with a full confession. After speaking with the detective and providing our client’s insurance information, our office convinced the detective to drop the case despite our client’s previous admission of guilt.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Baldwin Park Police Dept. – People v. M.H.
Case Details: Client was contacted by a Baldwin Park police detective after leaving the scene of a collision with another vehicle. Baldwin Park Police were able to locate our client through his license plate number, which captured in a photo taken by the victim.
Outcome: Case rejected by DA’s Office due to insufficient evidence.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Pasadena Court – People v. J.M.
Case Details: Client arrested for Hit & Run in South Pasadena after leaving the scene of an accident with a parked car.
Outcome: After reaching a Civil Compromise with the victim, the pretrial judge agreed to dismiss all charges against our client over the objections of the city prosecutor.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Glendale Court – People v. K.B.
Case Details: Client charged with Hit & Run after colliding with a parked car and leaving accident scene.
Outcome: Case dismissed by judge after reaching a Civil Compromise with the victim’s attorney.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Torrance Police Dept. – People v. M.D.
Case Details: Client was contacted by a Torrance police detective after leaving the scene of a collision with another vehicle and only leaving a “Sorry” note.
Outcome: Investigation dropped by detective and no charges filed due to insufficent evidence.
VC 20002(a) – Misdemeanor Hit & Run
Los Angeles Police Dept. – People v. N.G.
Case Details: Client involved in vehicle vs. pedestrian accident in West Los Angeles. Our defense team was retained after she received notice in the mail from a detective investigating the incident.
Outcome: No charges filed after convincing detective to allow the matter to be resolved between the victim and our client’s auto insurance.
Sex Crime Case Results
PC 647.6 – Misdemeanor Child Annoyance
Location: Van Nuys Court – People v. T.G.
Case Outcome
*While employed as a campus security guard at a local high school, our client was found to have been engaged in a texting relationship with a 17 year old student. LAPD began to investigate, resulting in a detective contacting our client. After speaking with the detective on our client’s behalf and providing the detective with the text transcripts revealing no sexually explicit nor suggestive conversations, he agreed to submit the matter to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office with a recommendation for an “office hearing” review of the case. After the hearing, the hearing officer decided to reject the criminal filing, resulting in no charges and no criminal record.
Lewd act with minor under 14, 6 counts of PC 288(a)
Location: Client charged out of Riverside Court
Case Outcome
All 6 counts dismissed after preliminary hearing.
Location: Ventura Court
Case Details
*Client charged out of Ventura Court with Furnishing minor with controlled substance, Oral copulation of a person under 18, Unlawful sexual intercourse, and Sodomy of a person under 16.
Felony Lewd Act Upon A Child – PC 288(a)
Location: Criminal Courts Building (CCB) – People v. N.L.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested and charged after the 14 year old victim and her father filed a crime report with LAPD. After arranging for a forensic psychologist to thoroughly evaluate our client and identifying a number of factual weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, a plea agreement was agreed upon, which resulted in the felony sex crime being dismissed in exchange for a plea to PC 242 misdemeanor battery and PC 236 felony false imprisonment. Our client received 5 years probation, fines, and sex offender counseling. Most importantly, no registration as a sex offender under PC 290.
PC 647(a) – Misdemeanor Lewd Act in Public
Location: Long Beach Court – People v. G.K.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested by Long Beach police after an undercover detective observed our client masturbating in a public restroom. Our client’s profession as a medical doctor further complicated matters. After months of negotiations with the Long Beach city prosecutors, a plea agreement was negotiated resulting in a dismissal of the sex crimein exchange for a plea to PC 602 trespassing. Most importantly, no registration as sex offender under PC 290.
Location: Ventura Court
Case Details
*Client charged out of Ventura Court with Furnishing minor with controlled substance, Oral copulation of a person under 18, Unlawful sexual intercourse, and Sodomy of a person under 16.
Case Outcome
Negotiated plea agreement resulted in NO registration as sex offender after defendant’s release from custody.
Attempted Kidnapping to Commit Sexual Assault on a Child – PC 664/207(b)
Location: Long Beach Court – People v. C.H.:
Also Charged with: PC 646.9(a) – Stalking, PC 314.1 – Indecent Exposure, and PC 647.6 – Attempt to Molest a Child
Case Details
Client faced life in prison if convicted of Attempted Kidnapping to Commit Sexual Assault on a Child. Prosecutor’s 5 year state prison offer rejected and case proceeded to jury trial.
Case Outcome
Jury acquitted client on 3 out of 4 counts, which included the offense that carried the life sentence. Client convicted of indecent exposure, serving just under 1 year out of 3 year sentence.
Misdemeanor Solicitation – PC 647(b)
Location: Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach) – People v. A.D.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested after visiting “massage parlor” and soliciting an undercover police officer for sex. Due to our client’s profession as a pediatrician, a conviction for this offense could have ended his career. After instructing our client to attend counseling and then submitting his proof of progress to the deputy district attorney, we convinced her to agree to dismiss the charge against our client after he completed an HIV awareness class, submitted a DNA sample, and avoided criminal activity for 90 days.
PC 261 – Rape & PC 243.5 – Sexual Battery
LAPD Sex Crime Investigation v.R.B.
Client contacted by LAPD sex crime detective in connection with a sexual assault and rape allegation made by client’s employee. After throughly investigating the matter and presenting the factual inconsistencies in the accuser’s statement to police, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute our client and rejected the case against him.
PC 245(a)(1) Felony Assault By Means Likely To Produce Great Bodily Injury & PC 243.4(e)(1) Misdemeanor Sexual Battery & PC 602.5(b) Misdemeanor Aggravated Trespass
LAX Court People v. C.M.
Case Details: Client charged with allegedly sexually assaulting victim in her home by use of force.
Outcome: After successfully identifying factual weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case and the alleged victim’s credibility through cross examination at the preliminary hearing, plea agreement negotiated resulting in dismissal of 2 out of the 3 charges with client’s release from custody with time served after 90 day psychological evaluation. No sex offender registration pursuant to PC 290.
PC 288(a) Felony Lewd Act With A Minor Under 12 Years Old
Torrance Court People v. M.P.
Case Details: Client charged with 2 felony counts of child molestation after being accused by 2 separate victims.
Outcome: Case dismissed by deputy district attorney before preliminary hearing.
PC 647.6(a)(1) – Misdemeanor Child Annoyance
Fullerton Court – People v. L.R.
Case Details: Client arrested for sex crime allegation in Orange County after 16 y/o niece accused him of sexual assault.
Outcome: Negotiated split plea agreement with prosecutor to a reduced charge of simple assault and dismissal of both sex offenses after 3 years leaving. NO registration as a sex offender.
PC 647(b) – Prostitution
LAX Court – People v. A.D.
Case Details: Client charged with prostitution after being arrested through LAPD sting operation.
Outcome: Charge dismissed after obtaining judicial diversion from Judge.
Violent Crimes Case Results
Misdemeanor Battery – PC 242
Location: Westminster Court – People v. E.R.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested in Huntington Beach after throwing eggs at a bystander from a moving car. Case dismissed after the victim requested the charges to be dropped after our defense team reached out to him.
Misdemeanor Assault & Battery – PC 240 & PC 242
Location: Bellflower Court – People v. H.B.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested for Assault and Battery after engaging in a fist fight with another individual. Our office immediately reached out to the victim regarding a Civil Compromise agreement, which we successfully negotiated. As a result of our securing the victim’s cooperation, including his personal appearance in court requesting the charges to be dropped, the case dismissed after a year pursuant to the diversionary sentence our defense team negotiated.
Misdemeanor Domestic Battery – PC 243(e)1
Location: West Justice Center – People v. J.K.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested after her boyfriend called Huntington Beach Police department following an argument. Over the objections of the alleged victim, our client was arrested on a Domestic Battery charge after admitting to throwing food at her boyfriend. Case rejected by prosecutors and arrest record replaced with “detention” record.
Felony Spousal Abuse – PC 273.5(a)
Location: LAX Court – People v. A.B.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested on felony Domestic Violence charge after being accused of physically assaulting her estranged husband and leaving scratches on his arms. Case dismissed and arrest record converted to detention following successful City Attorney office hearing.
Felony Spousal Abuse – PC 273.5(a)
Location: LAX Court – People v. A.M.
Case Outcome
*Client arrested for felony Spousal/Cohabitant Abuse after his wife called Santa Monica Police to report him for being “verbally abusive.” Case rejected by Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office and arrest record modified to “detention only.”