Fresno Criminal Lawyer Blog

The Fresno Bee recently reported that police arrested seven people in connection with alleged violent graffiti taggers.

Tagging crews are considered by some to be a gateway to gang activity; juveniles frequently participate in these groups. But juvenile crimes in Fresno have serious consequences and can have long-term ramifications. Hiring an experienced and aggressive Fresno Criminal Defense Attorney is critical to protecting the rights of young teenagers in trouble with the law.

According to police, they also seized three weapons as part of their operation. Forty officers from three agencies searched 34 locations resulting in the seven felony arrests. Three of the arrests were for probation violations, three for warrants and one for possession of a sawed off shotgun.

According to the newspaper report, it's unclear how the arrests were related to tagging. And the newspaper article doesn't state how old the defendants are.

In Los Angeles, officials there recently arrested eight members of an alleged tagging crew that authorities believe are responsible for more than 1,600 pieces of graffiti vandalism throughout Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Under California law, any organization whose primary focus is carrying out criminal activity is considered a gang and given all the focus on gang activity throughout California, it doesn't take much to fit that definition. You can be linked to a gang even for receiving mail from a known gang member.

And under the law, penalties can be enhanced for crimes committed related to gang activity and can turn sentences from months into years and years into decades, if not properly defended in court.

Tagging crews and many gangs are known for attracting young people. And that's why many teenagers are accused of committing crimes. But those arrested as a juvenile shouldn't take these charges lightly. Some consider juvenile charges no big deal, but they have long-term implications.

For one, teenagers charged with a crime can be disqualified from earning scholarships, getting into college and serving in the armed forces or even being able to get a job.

Being charged as a juvenile is much more advantageous than being charged as an adult. The criminal justice system seeks to punish defendants who are convicted, while the juvenile justice system seeks to rehabilitate teenagers in order to stop them from committing crimes in the future.

The system does this by making them participate in work camps or serve time on community service rather than being sent to prison, where they are housed with hardened criminals.

But being prosecuted as a juvenile is no sure thing just based on age alone. The state has the discretion many times to charge a teenager as an adult, depending on the circumstances. That's why hiring an experienced Fresno Criminal Defense Attorney is so important. Being able to talk with prosecutors and lobby on behalf of a defendant can mean the difference in how the case proceeds.