THE STRESS OF THE HOLIDAYS CAN BRING OUT THE WORST IN A PERSON!
Don’t let these Felony Charges ruin your Christmas Holiday!!
On December 5th, 2015, members of the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Santa Rosa Fire Department responded to Motel 6, at 2760 Cleveland Avenue for a fire within a hotel room. A man had barricaded himself in a hotel room after vandalizing it and starting a small fire. The man, later identified as thirty-two year old Sergio Michael Johnston, was arrested for felony VANDALISM, ARSON and RESISTING ARREST. He was booked at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. No other persons were injured during the incident.
Our law firm has many years of experience in representing those who are charged with ARSON, VANDALISM and RESISTING ARREST, see below:
Under California Penal Code Section 451—“A person is guilty of ARSON when he or she willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning of, any structure, forest land, or property.” Arson, which is charged as a “FELONY is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for three, five, or eight years,” when it causes an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn such as this hotel/ motel.
Our Law Firm has represented dozens of VANDALISM related charges since 1992 with excellent results:
Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 594—VANDALISM is defined as follows: “Every person who maliciously commits any of the following acts with respect to any real or personal property not his or her own, in cases other than those specified by state law, is guilty of vandalism:”
If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is four hundred dollars ($400) or more, vandalism is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or if the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, by a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
However, If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is less than four hundred dollars ($400), vandalism is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
Finally if you are charged with RESISTING ARREST or pursuant to 148 (a) of the California Penal Code then you must call us at once since these types of charges are oftentimes very defensible:
Pursuant to California Penal Code 148 (a) (1)– Every person who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs any public officer, peace officer, or an emergency medical technician, as defined in Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797) of the Health and Safety Code, in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment, when no other punishment is prescribed, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
YOU MAY CONTACT US 24/7 AT (707) 571-8600 OR (415) 492-4507 for a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL consultation to advise you of your rights, defenses, options and alternatives to jail if applicable.
Arsonist arrested in Santa Rosa: SRPD Case 15-15907
