The practice of the police taking DNA samples of people under arrest is comparable to fingerprinting and, therefore, legal, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday, June 3.

According to the majority of the Supreme Court justices, DNA sampling in which a swab is run on an arrested person’s cheek is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches when it is done on people arrested for serious crimes and if a suspect is detained. This conclusion was reached when the court decided that collecting and analyzing a suspects’ DNA fits within the legal booking procedure, as do fingerprinting and photographing.

Being charged of a criminal offense can be devastating, especially if you are unsure of your rights. Fortunately our lawyers at Castleberry & Elison, P.C., can help you understand your rights and help you protect your interests. Call 503-223-0011 to discuss your options and potential defense.

The Oregon Senate recently passed Senate Bill (SB) 40, putting it up for consideration in the House of Representatives. SB 40 looks to rectify the significant difference between Oregon’s current laws regarding the possession of marijuana and its related products, and marijuana’s new illegal substance classification.

SB 40 aims to make these changes in two major ways. The first is to add another penalty class for possession of marijuana, creating a middle-tier for people who are in possession of one or more ounces of marijuana, but less than four ounces. Under current law, there is no middle classification, resulting in a Class B felony charge for anyone who possesses one ounce or more of marijuana, which does not reflect marijuana’s new classification as a Schedule II controlled substance, rather than a Schedule I controlled substance. This bill would also make the penalty for possession of marijuana over four ounces a Class C felony.

Additionally, if passed by the House, SB 40 would make possession of less than one quarter ounce of hashish a Class B misdemeanor, rather than a Class B felony, as the law currently stands. It would also make the penalty for possession of a quarter ounce or more of hashish a Class C felony, rather than a Class B felony.

When facing charges for possession of marijuana or other drug charges, our lawyers at Castleberry & Elison, P.C., can help you understand your options. Call 503-223-0011 today to discuss your defense with us.

A Portland woman was arrested after crashing into a vehicle, leaving one dead and one injured, after she ran a red light.

According to investigators, 20-year-old LaShai Williams was heading west on Southeast Stark Street when she crashed into a northbound vehicle that was about to make a turn on 122^nd Avenue. A passenger identified as Billie Dee Andrea Pugh, 28, died on the scene while the driver, Brandon Paul Pugh, was rushed to the hospital for treatment of traumatic injuries.

Police arrested Williams on charges of DUII, second-degree manslaughter, and reckless driving. Williams is booked in Multnomah County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 29.

The alleged drunk driver who crashed into a vehicle and two Portland police cars on Wednesday, April 3, was arraigned in Multnomah County Court the day after his crash.

36-year-old Jeffrey Allen Fuller was arraigned for charges of attempted assault, criminal mischief, attempting to elude, drunken driving, and reckless driving after a car crash incident near Portland Police Bureau’s Central Precinct, in which two patrol cars and another vehicle was struck by Fuller. Court records state that Fuller was tasered by police before being handcuffed because he was being uncooperative with authorities. His blood alcohol content was also twice the legal limit.

Fuller was also convicted in 1994 and served one year and seven months of imprisonment on manslaughter charges after killing Cody Gene Tidwell, 14, and injuring Nikki Lee Simpson in a car crash.

Being convicted of drunk driving and other criminal charges can carry numerous penalties that affect a person’s life in the long-term. Learn how our defense lawyers at Castleberry & Elison, P.C., can help defend you when facing such charges by calling 503-223-0011.

Almost a dozen of patrol cars responded to a scene after a punk-rock princess walked in the middle of the street and screamed after being thrown out of a bar early in the morning of March 16.

Gossip frontwoman, Beth Ditto, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after she was cut off from drinking because of apparent intoxication. According to witnesses, Ditto left the bar and walked in the middle of the street where she threw her shoes and purse, and was screaming “Obama!, Obama!” Ditto’s friends tried to put her inside a car, but police appeared on the scene and arrested her.

The punk princess was booked for second-degree disorderly conduct and was later released on her own recognizance.

Facing disorderly conduct charges, such as those that Ditto now faces, can have many unwanted penalties. Thus, make sure your interests are protected as best as possible by speaking with the legal team from Castleberry & Elison, P.C. Call 503-223-0011 to discuss your criminal charges and find out how we can help.

A woman who was been identified as committing a series of scams was arrested after an intensified investigations by Vancouver Police Department.

Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson said 25-year-old Susan Lyghts was arrested on January 26 outside a bank where she asked people to cash forged checks for her. Lyghts’ scam was to approach people outside a bank, begging them to cash her check because her ID is either broken or missing. Deputy Marcus Mendoza also reported that Lyghts would give money to those who helped her cash these checks.

Lyghts is now facing charges of first-degree forgery, two-counts of identity theft, and possession of a forged instrument.

Being charged with a white collar crime, such as forgery, can have serious repercussions. As such, it is best to consult with a knowledgeable defense attorney of Castleberry & Elison, P.C., to understand what your legal rights and options are. Call 503-223-0011 today to discuss your situation.

32-year-old Portland man, Caleb Grotberg, pleaded not guilty on domestic violence charges after being accused of choking his girlfriend with his hair.

Grotberg was booked in Multnomah County Detention Center and held on a $25,000 bail for domestic violence-related charges filed by his 22-year-old girlfriend, including accusations of assault, menacing, and strangulation. According to his girlfriend, Grotberg was high on cocaine when he attacked her on January 7 in their home at the 3200 block of Southeast 22^nd Avenue. According to the girlfriend’s statement and court documents, at one point Grotberg tried to strangle his girlfriend with the use of his hair and later threatened that she would not “see the light of the day.”

Certain felony charges have since been dropped, but Grotberg is still scheduled for a court appearance on February 8.

Facing charges such as domestic violence can have a range of severe penalties and life-altering effects. As such, it is critical to have the support of a domestic violence lawyer from Castleberry & Elison, P.C., when defending yourself from similar charges. Call our legal team at 503-223-0011 to better understand your options and what we can do.

On Monday, October 29, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, released data regarding crime across the United States in 2011. The FBI data indicated that overall crime throughout the country declined by 3.8 percent.

In the state of Oregon, violent crime decreased, but property crimes increased in 2011. The rate of violent crime in the state declined by 0.6 percent, and was recorded at 9,586 cases in 2011. The number of property crimes in Oregon rose by 3.4 percent that same year, and was listed at 120,594 cases.

The main contribution to the rise in property crimes in Oregon came from the increase in burglaries and thefts that took place in the state during that time. The City of Portland saw a fall in the number of murders that were committed, but experienced an increase in the areas of rape and assault.

If you were charged with theft in Oregon, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side. Please contact the theft lawyers of Castleberry & Elison, P.C. by calling 503-223-0011 today.

Avvo, the nationwide legal directory and ratings organization, recently presented the attorneys of Castleberry & Elison, P.C., with the Clients’ Choice Award for 2012. The award was based on the 13 client reviews that the firm received, which gave Castleberry & Elison, P.C., an average rating of 5 stars.

This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication shown by the firm’s attorneys in defending their clients’ cases. The remarkably high average rating submitted by previous clients is a result of the personal commitment that Pete Castleberry and Emily Elison make to each client and case that they receive.

To learn more about the firm and the services they offer, contact Castleberry & Elison, P.C. today by calling 503-223-0011.

More than 20 young kids were traveling in a party bus through the streets of Portland when a tragic event took place. The 61-year-old bus driver, and the only adult chaperone on the bus, made a sharp turn, which caused an 11-year-old girl to fall out of an emergency window located in the middle of the bus.

The young girl fell to the ground, severely injuring her skull. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. After further investigation of the crime scene, it was determined that the bus driver was not permitted to operate the bus at that capacity, and that the limousine company he worked for did not possess the necessary license required in the city of Portland.

Police are investigating the tragic incident as a homicide, and criminal charges may arise from this situation. The idea of renting a party bus has become more mainstream, and Portland residents are concerned that companies without licenses will continue to operate in order to profit.