Orange County Bail Bonds - News & Blog

How To Get A Bail Bond In Fullerton

2008-01-30T10:42:00.000-08:00

Contacting someone when in need for a bail bond can be difficult. Most people don't know of a bail bond company in their area. Fastrak bail bonds has been serving the local community with professional integrity since 1996. We are here to help you!

Fastrak Bail Bonds is located approximately half a mile from the Fullerton Police Department and two blocks south of the North Justice Center. Our office is just north of Chapman on the east side of Harbor Boulevard.

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Please call us 24 hours day, 7 days a week to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. We are familiar with the Fullerton Police Department and their procedures.

For immediate assistance call us toll-free at 888-899-2245 or 714-870-7730. Our website is forbail.com

Rapper Lil Wayne Released On Bail Bond

2008-01-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

Rapper Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was arrested by DEA agents and booked in at the Yuma County Sheriff's Jail late Tuesday night.

A border patrol spokesman said that the canine unit alerted them of illegal drugs in Lil Wayne's bus at a checkpoint in southwestern Arizona. Various narcotics and drugs were seized including paraphernalia.

Attorney James Tilson, retained by Lil Wayne, said that his client is looking forward to his day in court.

Meanwhile, Lil Wayne signed autographs outside the bail bond company's office after his release. He is looking at three felony drug charges and had to post a $10,185.00 bail bond. The rapper will find out by January 25, 2008, whether or not the Yuma County Attorney's Office will file charges or not.

Bail Set For Former Prosecutor

2008-01-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

It is unbelievable sometimes the things you here in the news these days. I was reviewing several articles this morning and came across one that really caught my attention.

Beth Modica is a former prosecutor who is being accused of having sexual intercourse with two teenaged boys. She is being charged with five felony counts and roughly 30 misdeamenor counts. She is also the estranged wife of a police chief, Paul Modica. Paul Modica is the police chief for the Spring Valley Police Department. The investigation concludes that the chief of police had no knowledge of the incidents.

Modica's attorney, Gerard Damiani, objected to the amount of bail set at $75,000.00 and was asking the court to release Modica on her own recognizance. The assistant prosecutor serving on the case asked for a $25,000.00 bail bond amount, but County Court Judge Catherine Bartlett would here nothing of it, stating the seriousness of the charges.

What is a Bail Bond?

2008-01-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

In simple terms, a bail bond is cash money. It is a form of pre-trial release in which the public has the right to bail under the 8th amendment of the United States Constitution.

A bail bond also promises the court that the defendant will appear each and every time they are ordered to do so. Failure to appear as ordered without just cause will forfeit the bail bond.

Depending on the state where the bail bond was issued, the grace period for payment to the court varies. In the state of California for example, the grace period is 185 days from the date of the forfeiture. The only options to reinstate the forfeited bail bond are as follows;(1) the defendant returns to court prior to the 185 day period (2)a motion is filed with the court to show just cause for the failure to appear.

In any case, one must take caution when out on bail. Various bail laws in the state and contractual agreements with the bail bond company limit ones actions. For further information, please call us toll-free at 1-888-899-2245.

Bail Bondsman Clashes With Criminal Court System

2008-01-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

Richard Sparano, owner of AA Bail Bonds is out $50,000.00 because of the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

The bail bond agency had posted a $50,000.00 bail bond for Dr. Munir Faswala. The Milville doctor was indicted on drug charges in late 2005 and the state appellate court ruled Tuesday that the Superior Court judge should reconsider a decision not to revoke bail for the doctor.

The reason you might ask? Well, Dr. Faswala never reported to the bail bond company as required to begin with and when the bail agent located him in Buffalo, New York, while being detained by the Canadian border authority, the prosecutor's office refused to take action to detain him when the bail bondsman contacted them.

The superior court judge's argument is that Dr. Faswala had not missed any court dates between posting bail and fleeing the country! By the way, Dr. Faswala is now in Pakistan.

Our argument would be with the bail bond company. Why would you post a $50,000.00 bail bond without securing the amount of bail during the course of the transaction?

Wayne Michael Rozenberg Exonerated of Bail Bond Scam

2008-01-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

I recall hearing about this case several years ago. Where criminal defense attorneys and bail agents from San Bernardino were indicted because of a San Bernardino County investigation of illegal practices among the bail bond companies in the area.

Wayne Michael Rozenberg was among nearly 30 attorneys and bail bond employees facing the conspiracy charge. He was exonerated of the charge yesterday morning in court. Rozenberg's attorney, Richard Pintal, said his client was "factually innocent."

Floyd Tidwell, the former San Bernardino County Sheriff was also a party to this investigation and was sentenced early on in November of 2004. Danial Blayne Tidwell, owner of Boone's Bail Bonds and son of the former sheriff is due in court on February 22, 2008, for his arraignment. He is one of approximately 15 people who originally fought the allegations and did not take a plea agreement.

O.J. Simpson Jailed And Bail Bond Revoked

2008-01-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

After reviewing several articles this morning on O.J. Simpson, I find no just cause for the revocation of his bail bond.

Unfortunately, we see this to many times in the industry. The bail bond company gets cold feet and for no apparent reason they surrender the defendant. Yes, you may surrender a defendant for any reason with the return of premium monies, at least in the state California, but ultimately reflects the business practice and to some degree the ethical conduct of the bail agent.

Yale Galanter, Mr. Simpson's attorney, should have a good argument against the prosecution in the upcoming appearance.

In conclusion, the bail bondsman involved in the transaction admitted to not being paid on the bail bond. Mr. Pereira's motive for the surrender of the audio tape and Mr. Simpson is strictly money driven. I am sure if Mr. Pereira was paid on the bail bond during the process of Mr. Simpson's release, things would be a little different.

Orange County Sheriff Arrests Suspected Child Predator

2008-01-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

Early Tuesday morning, FBI's SAFE team executed an arrest warrant and apprehended J. Randall Ismay at his Laguna Niguel residence.

SAFE is multi-agency federal Task Force designed to combat on-line sexual predators. The Orange County SAFE team is made up of agents from the FBI, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Ismay, a 58 year old male, is a convicted sex offender and was taken into custody early yesterday. His bail bond was set at $100,000.00.

Investigators portrayed a 14 year old male and Ismay proceeded in distributing child pornography over the internet while chatting with the undercover officer. Additional charges may also be added after a forensic exam.

Bail Bond Revoked For Tow Truck Operator

2008-01-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Vincent Cardinalli Sr. was taken into custody this past Tuesday and his bail bond was revoked. Prosecutors filed new charges stemming from an alleged scheme to extort false towing and storage fees.

Cardinalli faces 25 years to life because of previous felony convictions. He has been out on bail since June, since Santa Clara County authorities charged him and his son, Paul S. Greer, with multiple counts of attempted grand theft, perjury, and conspiracy.

The authorities claim that the both of them carried out an extensive scheme to victimize hundreds of vehicle owners in Santa Clara, San Benito, and neighboring counties.

Judge Hector Ramon also increased Paul Greer's bail bond amount from $250,000.00 to $350,000.00, but allowed him to remain free after he posted the higher bail bond amount.

Greer and Cardinalli have both previously denied wrong doing and intend to fight the charges.

Westfield High School Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse Out On Bail Bond

2008-01-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Shannon Kay Hrozek, 42, an English teacher at Westfield High School is being accused of having sex with a student.

Court documents reveal that Hrozek was caught by the school's assistant principle performing oral sex on a 16 year old male student. The Harris County Attorney's Office filed sexual assault of a child charges this last Monday against Hrozek. She was being held in the Harris County Jail, but subsequently posted a $50,000.00 bail bond and was released.

She is the third Spring ISD teacher in the last four months that has been charged with having sex with a student.

Attorney Gary Zerola Out On $100,000 Bail Bond

2008-01-07T15:24:00.000-08:00

Gary Zerola was named one of People magazine's most eligible bachelors. A prominent criminal defense attorney in Boston, who worked as a state prosecutor on child abuse and domestic violence cases prior to venturing into his own practice.

Zerola was also well known in his philanthropic circles as an advocate for foster children and he was regularly mentioned in newspapers. He graduated from Suffolk University, where he earned degrees in law and public administration.

Unfortunately, these days Zerola awaits back-to-back trials for the alleged rape of two women. In the 2004 case, Zerola stands accused of repeatedly raping a woman in his apartment. In the 2006 case, he is accused of raping the woman after she turned down his sexual advances.

It looks like Zerola's attorney, Janice Bassil, has her work cut out for her.

Man Posts a $500,000.00 Bail Bond After Arraignment

2008-01-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

Willard Thompson of Chula Vista is accused of four counts of first-degree sexual assault and many counts of risk of injury to a minor.

Thompson waived extradition and turned himself in on the warrant. The warrant was sealed by the Superior Court in Manchester and the police could not comment on the case because of the sealed warrant.

Thompson is scheduled to return to court January 11, 2008. He is to abide by the bail laws of the state and any additional conditions set by the judge while out on the bail bond.

Man Held On Bail In Santa Claus Case

2008-01-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

Steven Craig Vaughn, the band director for Brookland High School had bail set at $250,000.00 last week for dressing like Santa Claus and threatened to shoot the school's superintendent.

If Steven Vaughn is released on a bail bond, the judge has ordered him to report daily to a psychiatrist and a probation officer.

Police report that Vaughn drove to the superintendent's home and burst into the home and brandished a .22 caliber handgun. The superintendent fought with Vaughn and was able to knock the weapon out of his hands with the help of his son.

Vaughn also said, "I didn't have a chance to bring you your Christmas present earlier, so I brought it to you."

Vaughn still remains in the Craighead County Jail, official said.

Former NCAA Wrestling Champion, Actor, and Bail Bondsman Dies

2008-01-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

Talmadge Layne "Tab" Thacker, 45, died last Thursday night. As a wrestler for North Carolina State, he won the 1984 NCAA wrestling championship. He also acted in several movies including "Wildcats" and the "Police Academy" films.

After his retirement from acting, Thacker operated Heavyweight Bail Bonds in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

Thacker is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his six children.

Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Martin Tankleff's Case is Dropped By District Attorney

2008-01-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Last week we posted to our blog about Martin Tankleff who was accused of killing his parents in 1988. He was released on a $1,000,000.00 bail bond and reported to court this morning only to find out that the Suffolk County District Attorney will officially drop the new indictment charging him with the murder of his parents on January 18, 2008.

Martin Tankleff was convicted in 1990 for the murders and spent over 17 years in prison. An appeals court overturned the verdict several weeks ago because of new evidence uncovered by private investigators.

Thomas Spota, Suffolk County's district attorney, said the double jeopardy laws prevent him from retrying Martin Tankleff, but will ask Governor Eliot Spitzer to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Jerry Steureman, the business partner of Seymour Tankleff at the time of the murders.

Martin Tankleff Released on $1 Million Bail Bond

2007-12-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

Martin Tankleff was freed after serving 17 years in prison and posting a $1 million bail bond this past week. Tankleff was sentenced in 1990 for the killing of his parents, Seymour Tankleff and Arlene Tankleff in their Belle Terre house in 1988.

An appeal court last Friday overturned the 1990 conviction based on new evidence that suggests someone else might have killed the couple.

Martin Tankleff's defense lawyers have insisted for years that Seymour Tankleff's business partner, Jerry Steuerman, was behind the murders. Steuerman has always denied any involvement in the murders, but subsequently moved to California while Seymour Tankleff was still in a coma.

Prosecutors of Suffolk County are reportedly pursuing new murder charges against Martin Tankleff and disagree with the appeal courts recent decision. Meanwhile, Martin Tankleff's attorneys are continuing to collect new information on the case.

Rapper Yung Joc A Fugitive After Posting Bail Bond

2007-12-28T09:50:00.000-08:00

Judge Michael John Ryan issued an arrest warrant and set bail at $100,000.00 for rapper Yung Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson. The arrest warrant was issued after Yung Joc had already posted a bail bond in the amount of $50,000.00 and failed to appear in court for his arraignment this past Wednesday.

Jasiel Robinson is being accused of carrying a loaded firearm with 20 rounds of ammunition in the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. He claims that he didn't know the weapon was there and was apprehended at a standard security checkpoint.

Female Student's Bail Set at $1 Million

2007-12-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

Michelle Roper, 39, a student at California State University Monterey Bay was arraigned this past Monday on suspicion of stabbing her husband to death.

Christopher Roper, 40, was found by the police with a stab wound to his chest just after 11 p.m. on Friday. Authorities believe that the suspect stabbed her husband after an argument.

Michelle Roper's bail bond was set at $1 million and she is being held at the Monterey County Jail. She is also due back in court on January 2, 2008.

Parolee Kills Four People in Drunk Driving Accident

2007-12-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

Anthony James Boles, 24, was drunk and on methamphetamines late December 14, 2007, when his SUV crossed the center lane of Highway 76 in northern San Diego county and killing two couples in the oncoming vehicle.

Judge Martin Staven set bail at $25,000.00. But if the defendant were able to post a bail bond, he would remain jailed for violating his parole. Prosecutors are considering which charges they may bring against Anthony Boles for the deaths of Luis Baez, and his wife Rubi Baez, both of Vista, and Escondido couple Jesus Desantiago and Lina Desantiago.

According to Riverside County court records, Boles has seven prior convictions, including driving under the influence. The defendant was also driving with a suspended license during the fatal head-on crash, according to California Highway Patrol.

OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE TWO COUPLES.

Three Bail Agents Arrested in Collier County Investigation

2007-12-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

A year long investigation by the Collier County Sheriff's office into the business practices of a local bail bond company resulted in the arrest of three bail agents.

Joseph Houston, the bail bond company's owner, had been arrested on similar charges in the past. He and the other two agents are being accused of soliciting business from inside the jail.

Investigators found that at least four inmates who are unlicensed were referring business to Houston's bail bond companies. In return, Houston would allow long-distance telephone calls, three-way telephone calls, and placed money in the commissary account for the inmates.

Joseph Houston's family is claiming that he is a target of racial discrimination because the businesses our owned by a black man.Emma Houston, the defendant's mother, said that she can't believe we are living in a society today with so much prejudice in Collier County.

O.C Lawyer Gets Jail Time in Bail Bond Scheme

2007-12-19T10:02:00.000-08:00

We previously posted back in October about Joseph G. Cavallo, an Orange County criminal defense attorney, and Xtreme Bail Bonds. The kickback scheme in which Cavallo pleaded guilty earlier this year was a result of Cavallo paying Xtreme Bail Bonds $50,000.00 over a two year period for referring inmates to his practice.

Last Friday, Cavallo was sentenced to six months in jail, much less compared to the three years in prison he could of faced.

Cavallo finally left the courthouse without speaking to reporters. His attorney, John D. Barnett, had argued his client should serve no time behind bars because he was less culpable than the bail agents involved.

Bail Bond Companies Indicted in San Bernardino

2007-12-18T08:54:00.001-08:00

Fifteen people were indicted last week in San Bernardino for illegal kickback schemes which involved several bail bond companies. Most defendants were indicted on December 6, 2007, by a special criminal grand jury who originally charged them back in 2004.

According to the indictment, these people worked for Boone's Bail Bonds, Arzate Bail Bonds, and the Bail Hotline. The son of the former San Bernardino County Sheriff Floyd Tidwell was involved as well!

John Barnett, a high profile Orange County attorney representing Shirley Tidwell, said that he was not surprised by the indictment and that his client would be vindicated of the charges.

Over thirty people were charged with the bail bond investigation in 2004 and many accepted plea agreements. Those who fought the charges were eventually indicted last week.

Brothers Released On Million Dollar Bail Bonds

2007-11-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Winslow Norton and Abraham Norton were released from the Alameda County Jail early this morning on federal criminal charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, distributing the drug and money laundering.

The defendants both posted a million dollar bail bond each for their release. The bail bonds are secured by the Nortons' mother's house in Berkeley.

Prosecutors say the brothers made $26 million from the operation in the first six months of 2007, owned Mercedes Benzes and established $67,000 individual retirement accounts for themselves.

They each face a total of 23 counts in a federal grand jury indictment, including 18 counts of money laundering.

Harold Rosenthal, a lawyer for Winslow Norton said they ran a bona fide dispensary, helping people with bona fide medical problems. Their principal sin seems to be making money. The penalty for making too much money is to pay a lot of taxes.

Bail Reduced For Langston Williams Jr.

2007-10-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

Langston Williams Jr., 21, was released yesterday from the Monterey County Jail on a $500,000.00 bail bond. The defendant, a Hartnell College student was able to post the bail bond through the support of his church. The money was raised by hundreds of the San Antonio Church members. Williams father, Langston Williams Sr., is the pastor at the church.

Langston Williams Jr. is being accused of stabbing his brother, Thaddaeus Williams, 18, to death during a dispute over a computer in their Salinas apartment.Williams family's motivation for his release is to attend his brother's funeral this Friday.

Williams was fortunate enough to have his bail reduced from $1,000,000.00 let alone have bail! A defendant charged with a capital crime is usually held without bail.

Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona Federally Indicted

2007-10-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona was indicted by the federal government today for abusing the Sheriff's office for financial gain.

The seven felony counts for using his elected office to “enrich” himself and offer “favors to friends who paid bribes.” Carona illegally accepted money, high-priced gifts, tickets to exclusive sporting events and loans for his wife and for his “longtime mistress,” the indictment said.

Carona's wife, Debbie Carona, and a Newport Beach attorney, Debra Hoffman, are both included in the indictment. Debra Hoffman is supposedly Mike Carona's mistress.

Carona's two top former aides, George Jaramillo, 47, and Don Haidl, 56, reached separate agreements with the government, pleading guilty to federal charges in exchange for their cooperation in building the case against Carona.

Mike Corona and his wife during a press conference denied all allegations and feel they will be vindicated.