Branch Offices

Noteworthy cases include:

People v. Bryan Chang
The victim in this case was the mother of the 28-year-old defendant. The motive for the murder was the victim’s failure to provide the defendant with a new car of his choice and additional money to spend while he attended school in Los Angeles. On January 25th, 2010, the victim was found dead in her home after her co-workers called the Sheriff’s Department to conduct a welfare check. The victim had been bludgeoned to death and partially dismembered. The murder weapon was a hammer. Parts of her body were found in her refrigerator. The investigation revealed that the defendant used his mother’s credit cards in the days preceding the discovery of the murder. Bryan Chang was arrested on January 27th and evidence was collected from his person. A forensic examination revealed the victim’s blood under his nails and in his ear. The defendant entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. After almost four years, the defendant entered a plea of guilty to first-degree murder but reserved his right to jury trial in the sanity portion of the trial. After three weeks of evidence the jury deliberated for three days and returned a finding that the defendant was sane at the time he committed the murder. The nearly four-year delay was prompted by the defendant’s contention he was insane both at the time of the murder and following his arrest. Ultimately Deputy DA Rachel Solov was able to overcome that contention and achieve justice for the victim.

People v. Michael Vilkin
Defendant Vilkin shot and killed the victim, John Upton, over a property dispute. The victim had been a prominent advocate for Romanian orphans and had been profiled by 60 Minutes, the weekly news show. The defendant owned a parcel of land that was located next to the residence the victim was leasing. An easement along the leased property leads to the defendant’s lot. The ownership of the trees and plants along this easement had been an issue of contention between the parties in the week’s leading up to this day. On the day of the murder the defendant brought day laborers to trim trees located along the easement. In addition to them he brought along a .44 caliber semi-automatic he carried in its gun case. The victim seeing the workers trimming the trees approached them and asked if he should move his cars. He was polite and reserved during that conversation. The victim then saw the defendant standing at the entrance of his lot and began to walk toward him. The defendant fired two shots from the weapon. One bullet struck the victim in the abdomen and the other in the head. The defendant claimed it was self-defense. Because of the victim’s past notoriety the trial was covered in its entirety. Deputy DA David Uyar demonstrated professionalism throughout the proceedings, including the cross examination of the defendant. The jury rendered a verdict of first-degree murder with the personal use of a firearm.

People v. Jay Rafail
Back in 1992, the defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of lewd act on a child. The defendant was sentenced to six years in state prison and released in 1995. In 1999, he became an instructor at a karate studio where he began to molest a 9-year-old boy. He then started a paint ball club and began to molest other boys in that group. He plied the young boys with alcohol and drugs and exposed them to pornographic material. The first of the victims disclosed to law enforcement and as a young adult. Eventually the investigation led to other young men disclosing their experiences with the defendant. Deputy DA Laurie Hauf patiently cobbled together her case and presented it to a jury. The victims bravely testified about molests that occurred and the resulting effects it had in their lives. The jury convicted the defendant of 25 felony counts of lewd acts on children. Those convictions along with the allegations led the trial judge to impose a term of 1,380 years-to-life, ensuring that this predator will no longer threaten the community.