 Balboa Park, San Diego's larges urban park, offers 1200 acres of green space, museums, gardens, walking paths, and of course, the world famous San Diego Zoo. Bordering the San Diego Neighborhoods of Hillcrest, North Park, South Park and Downtown San Diego, Balboa Park is centrally located, and a frequent attraction for people all around San Diego, California, the USA and the World, with the park drawing an estimated 12-15 million visitors per year! The park also plays host to a number of special events, including concerts, races, festivals, parades, speakers, and fairs, including EarthFair, Pride, and more. While most who visit the park for its natural beauty, cultural institutions, and family fun are not looking for trouble, many San Diegans and visitors alike find themselves in some trouble in Balboa Park. Violent crimes, theft crimes, drug crimes, vandalism, and even homicides have taken place at Balboa Park.
Balboa Park is patrolled by the San Diego Police Department's Central Division, but often involve security or guest services from the park or one of its facilities as the initial witnesses or reporters of a crime. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office prosecutes felony level offenses, and the San Diego City Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor offenses arising out of Balboa Park and nearby areas, with all criminal matters going to the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego's Central Courthouse, located at 1100 Union Street. Some Examples of Balboa Park Criminal Cases: 1. Aaron has a gift card which has been altered to go to a fraudulent credit card account. Without putting money on the card, Aaron is able to use the card to make purchases, with someone else left to foot the bill. He purchases two passes to go to the San Diego Zoo with his girlfriend. The transaction is approved, but the cashier notices that the last four numbers on the receipt do not match the last four numbers on the gift card, a signal she has been taught to look out for. She alerts security, providing Aaron's description, and he and his girlfriend are arrested for possession of a stolen access card. Aaron remains silent, and contacts his San Diego Theft Crimes Defense Lawyer who will fight for him in court, urging that there is insufficient evidence Aaron knew the card was fraudulent. 2. Mary is a college student looking to earn some extra money. On campus, she has access to marijuana and other drugs, and remembered that in her high school days, she and her peers used to hand around Balboa Park, and occasionally would run into people who sold her marijuana. She decides to buy an ounce of marijuana, bag it up into grams and sell to groups she sees in the park. After a few weeks, one of her customers asks to purchase MDMA, which Mary can also get easily from her friends and sell for a markup. Mary purchases several MDMA pills and returns to the park, where she is arrested by undercover officers, who find the drugs, and confront her about text messages about drug sales. Mary is charged with possession for sale of a controlled substance, a permanent felony. Despite strong evidence, Mary's San Diego Drug Crimes Defense Attorney is able to persuade the prosecuting agency to reduce Mary's charges to a misdemeanor, provided that she completes drug treatment and community service. Mary's misdemeanor can be expunged in time for her job hunt post-graduation. 3. Leaving an event where wine was provided, George gets into an automobile accident at a very low speed, only causing minor damage to another vehicle. Although no one is injured, Dan, the other driver is irate, and begins yelling at George, even pushing him. George gets back in his car and speeds away, feeling threatened. Dan gets George's license plate number and calls the police to report a drunk driver and hit and run. The police come to George's home the next day, but he is not home and they leave a card. Rather than call the police, George meets with his San Diego DUI Lawyer. George's lawyer sends a letter of representation, declining to give a statement, to the investigating officer, who needs more evidence to be able to charge or arrest George. George is not arrested or charged with DUI or Hit and Run, but learned a valuable lesson about drinking and driving. IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN SAN DIEGO, CONTACT US NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION WITH AN EXPERIENCED, PASSIONATE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY. 619-550-4422 By Nicholas Loncar www.iDefendSanDiego.com 619-550-4422
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