Recent Blog Posts in July 2010

In Muskogee, police say that they have arrested a piano and voice teacher that showed pornographic material to a 13 year old student.  The teacher, 43 year old Michael George Dunn, was charged this past Thursday with two felony counts of lewd molestation.  Following his arrest, he was jailed under a $100,000 bond.

 For the past 21 years, Dunn has worked as a piano and vocal lessons teacher for adults and juveniles.  He was charged after he forced a child to view pornography.  Court documents state that Dunn used his desktop computer to show the 13 year old graphic images and talked to the child about homosexuality.

If he is convicted of his sex crime charges, he could be sentenced with 3 to 20 years of prison for each offense.  Dunn was investigated by authorities after a parent told police about a possible crime committed against her son.

People who have been charged with sex crimes in Phoenix need help from a Phoenix criminal defense attorney.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today to get the representation you deserve. 

In Phoenix, police say that the leader of a human-smuggling operation was sentenced with seven years imprisonment last week.  Attorney General Terry Goddard announced that 28 year old Rosalio Palacios, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was sentenced on Friday.

In addition to having to serve time in prison, Palacios was also ordered to pay a $46,000 fine.  Palacios pled guilty to felony charges of:  participating in a criminal syndicate, illegal control of an enterprise, human smuggling, illegal use of a wire/electronic communication, and fraudulent schemes and practices.

According to reports, Palacios was the ring leader of a crime ring that engaged in human smuggling.  The organization managed to smuggle thousands of illegal immigrants into Phoenix from Mexico.  The immigrants were then sent to drop houses for $1,800 per person.

If you have been charged with serious felonies or white collar crimes in Phoenix, now is the time to contact the Knowles Law Firm and get help from a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer.

Police in Phoenix report that after an altercation two men had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.  Both men were outside of an apartment complex on the 300 block of west Dunlap when the fight occurred.

According to police, the two Hispanic men had been confronted by four black men, who may have tried to rob them.  During the alleged robbery, both men were shot.  Despite their gunshot wounds, both men are expected to survive.

When asked about the incident, Lt. Chuck Williams said, "Based on our preliminary investigation it looks like it's a robbery, tried to take some car keys…beyond that we have no idea of understanding what has happened here."

He also said that some of the people they have interviewed in relation to the case have not been cooperative.  Therefore, officers have no descriptions of the four suspects at this time.

Have you been charged with robbery in Phoenix?  If so, know that a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer from our firm can help you fight your charges.  Contact us today to learn more.

This week, a former student from Arizona State University has filed a lawsuit against the state Board of Regents.  She claims that she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity on campus nearly two years ago.  When she reported the incident, she said that it was not properly investigated by the school.

At this time, the woman is seeking an unspecified amount of damage.  However, in her suit against Arizona State University, she claims that the University's police department and disciplinary office failed to follow sexual harassment guidelines.  These guidelines are outlined by Title XI and combat gender discrimination in education.

According to the plaintiff, while attending a costume theme party in 2008, she was sexually assaulted by two members of the Sigma Chi fraternity.  The ASU Police Department has reports from the incident that say the woman reported the assault a day after it happened and that she was intoxicated when receiving treatment from Tempe St. Luke's Hospital.

ASU said that it would not comment on the pending litigation as it is the University's policy.

Charged with a sex crime in Phoenix?  If so, you should contact our law firm and seek immediate assistance from a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer.

This week in Phoenix, a man that stood accused of leading police on a massive car chase has pled guilty to numerous criminal offenses.  During the police chase, two news helicopters were trying to cover the news story and ended up crashing into one another, causing an explosion which killed pilot-reporter Craig Smith, cameraman Rick Krolak, pilot-reporter Scott Bowerbank and cameraman Jim Cox.

On Tuesday, Christopher Jermaine Jones pled guilty to four counts of aggravated assault.  Prosecutors say that in 2007, Jones tried to run over police with a stolen vehicle. Jones also pled guilty to auto theft, unlawful flight and failing to stay at the scene of the accident.  He is expected to receive sentencing on September 30^th.

People who have been charged with crimes in Phoenix, whether misdemeanors or felonies, need to hire a Phoenix criminal defense attorney immediately.  If you have been charged with a criminal offense, contact the Knowles Law Firm now!

This Thursday, a man who was wanted for the rape of a child was deported back to Mexico after being arrested in Phoenix.

US Marshalls say that 29 year old Miguel Manuel Hernandez-Beltran was arrested in Phoenix last month.  Police were on the lookout for Hernandez-Beltran after they were made aware that he molested his 7 year old nephew 15 times in 2005.  The molestation occurred in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico.

After reports were made to Mexico authorities, it is believed that Hernandez-Beltran illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas.  He eventually made his way to Phoenix.

One June 28^th, Hernandez-Beltran was ordered to be removed by an immigration judge.  He will be sent back to the Republic of Mexico where authorities are waiting to charge him with sex crimes.

If you have been charged with a sex crime involving a minor in the city of Phoenix, it is important that you hire a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today!

Police report that a 19 year old boy by the name of Sonny Dwayne Thompson remains in the Muskogee County Detention Facility without bond.  Thompson was arrested and charged Friday with 11 sex related felonies.  His alleged victims were five boys ages 6 to 14.

Some of the sex crimes Thompson was charged with include:  forcible oral sodomy, lewd molestation, first-degree rape, indecent proposal to a child under 16 and rape by instrumentation.  Most of the charges are alleged to have occurred between June 1 and June 25.

When questioned by police, one of the young boys said that Thompson had befriended him and took him to his house where other boys were spending the night on June 25^th.  Many of the crimes allegedly took place on that evening.

Police seized Thompson's laptop and his cell phone.  They said that the 19 year old had child pornography on his phone which contained images of the victims.

When people have been charged with sex crimes, especially crimes involving children, they are facing some of the toughest legal penalties, which is why they need to obtain representation from a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer.  If you have been charged with sex crimes, contact the Knowles Law Firm now!

This week, four Mexican citizens were convicted of drug crimes in Phoenix.  The men were charged with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine.  After a trial in the U.S. District Court in Phoenix, all were convicted by a federal jury. 

According to prosecutors, two members of the small crime ring were also convicted for felons in possession of a firearm charges. 

The drug crime charges carry a minimum sentence of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison.  Additionally, the man may be asked to pay up to $4 million in monetary finds.  The firearm charges could result in five years to life in prison as well as $250,000 in fines.   All are expected to be sentenced in October.

The four men were caught when they tried to sell methamphetamine to undercover agents in August of 2009.

Were you arrested for a felony offense, such as possession of a firearm, in Phoenix?  If so, discuss your case with a Phoenix criminal defense attorney by contacting the Knowles Law Firm.

On Tuesday, a Towson title agency officer was indicted for charges of mortgage fraud.  According to authorities, 45 year old Anthony Weis of Phoenix ran a scheme that led to him accumulating $3.4 million.

Weis was charged with 16 counts of fraud and if he is convicted he will face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  He will also face a $1 million fine for each of the counts.

Police say that while Weis was the president of Maple Leaf Title, he convinced lender to wire funding for real estate closings.  In return, the company was supposed to use the funds to pay mortgage holders.  Instead of making payments, Weis transferred $3.4 million out of the Maple Leaf escrow account and used it for his own personal needs.

Property owners then received notices that they were late on their payments from the entities holding mortgages or liens on their properties.  However, the notices took several months before sellers were alerted.  During the time lag, police say that Wies was able to replenish the funds in the escrow account with new real estate settlements.

Were you charged with a white collar crime, like fraud?  If you answered "yes", get the legal representation you need to fight your charges by hiring a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer from the Knowles Law Firm.  Contact our legal team now!