PEOPLE vs. ISLAS (Sam Spital)

Commentary by Samuel Spital:

‎”On October 18, 2012, the California Court of Appeal in the case of PEOPLE vs. ISLAS, (Case # B233087
https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B233087.PDF), affirmed and in part modified the Decision of the Los Angeles Superior Court, holding there was sufficient evidence to convict the defendant on charges of burglary due to entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime and felony false imprisonment due to an express or implied threat of harm. Contrary to the defense argument, the absence of a weapon, lack of any physical contact nor express threat of harm did not vitiate the conviction. The Deputy District Attorney as part of his case in chief presented a gang expert who testified the defendant had visible gang tattoos and this was enough to cause the victims to fear their personal safety [by indelibly marking in their brain terror and do what I say] as ‘I am a gang member.'”

SAM SPITAL, CRIMINAL LAWYER

https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B233087.PDF