According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, the deputy’s search of the vehicle yielded a fake FBI ID, multiple guns, an unregistered MK9 9mm semiautomatic rifle and two unregistered silencers. The officer claims that Lopez de Tirado, who is also a former Rialto police officer, had a hand grenade strapped to a holster under his arm and that all the weapons were loaded.
We’ve also found some other goings on c/- State Bar of CA . We do feel a bit sorry for any clients who have been foolish enough to cross his path !
Here’s what he says about himself on his website – the warnings are there !
SERGIO J. LOPEZ, FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER
Sergio Lopez, Esq.
With over almost 16 of hands-on experience in Criminal Law, Sergio Lopez is an aggressive, tenacious defense attorney. Mr. Lopez is a former police officer and criminal investigator turned defense attorney. He genuinely believes everyone is entitled to a zealous defense and holds the government to the highest standards when representing his clients. He has a 100% success rate in defending clients against Domestic Violence Restraining Orders sought by their significant others.
With almost 16 years of hands-on experience in Criminal Law, Sergio Lopez is an aggressive, tenacious defense attorney. Mr. Lopez is a former police officer and criminal investigator turned defense attorney. He genuinely believes everyone is entitled to a zealous defense and holds the government to the highest standards when representing his clients. He has a 100% success rate in defending clients against Domestic Violence Restraining Orders sought by their significant others.
Full report.. from Law.com
A Southern California attorney awaits arraignment Feb. 27, after a federal grand jury Feb. 15 returned a five-count indictment that alleges he was in possession of a number of illegal firearms and a fake FBI credential.
According to the criminal complaint filed earlier in the case, Sergio J. Lopez de Tirado was arrested Dec. 21 after a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy found him asleep in the passenger’s side of a pickup truck parked with its doors open blocking a driveway in the city of Norco. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, the deputy’s search of the vehicle yielded a fake FBI ID, multiple guns, an unregistered MK9 9mm semiautomatic rifle and two unregistered silencers. The officer claims that Lopez de Tirado, who is also a former Rialto police officer, had a hand grenade strapped to a holster under his arm and that all the weapons were loaded.
According to the affidavit, Lopez de Tirado was subsequently arrested and released on bail, but arrested again Jan. 30 after a California Highway Patrol officer found him and a passenger parked in a truck facing the wrong way on the shoulder of the interstate in Corona. Lopez de Tirado was taken into custody after the office found that his driver’s license was suspended. A search of the truck, which was impounded, yielded a loaded and unregistered short barrel assault-rifle-type semiautomatic weapon.
According to a spokesman for the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the federal case, Lopez de Tirado remains in federal custody. He is set to be arraigned Feb. 27 in federal court in Riverside.
Lopez de Tirado didn’t immediately respond to an email sent to the address associated with his California State Bar registration. Neither did Roger H Ponce Jr., a federal public defender in Riverside who appears on the docket associated with Lopez de Tirado’s criminal complaint.
Lopez de Tirado has faced four bar disciplinary proceedings since being admitted to practice in 2008, according to online records from the state bar. According to bar records, his disciplinary cases have involved a failure to return a client file and unearned fee, an improper conflict of interest and violations of court orders. Most recently the state bar suspended his license to practice for six months in May 2016 following a 2012 jury conviction for disobeying a court order.
Attorney Licensee Profile
Sergio J Lopez de Tirado #259288
License Status: Active
Address: 7056 Archibald Ave, Ste # 102-143, Corona, CA 92880
County: Riverside County
Phone Number: (888) 750-5105
Fax Number: Not Available
Email: sjl_pi@yahoo.com
Law School: Western State Univ COL; Fullerton CA
License Status, Disciplinary and Administrative History
Below you will find all changes of license status due to both non-disciplinary administrative matters and disciplinary actions.
| Date | License Status | Discipline | Administrative Action |
| Present | Active | ||
| 11/29/2016 | Active | ||
| 5/29/2016 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in California | Discipline w/actual suspension 11-C-16667 | |
| 4/22/2015 | Active | ||
| 2/21/2015 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in California | Discipline w/actual suspension 13-O-13886 | |
| 2/19/2015 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in California | Suspended/Child & Fam Supp noncompliance | |
| 5/1/2014 | Active | ||
| 4/1/2014 | Not Eligible To Practice Law in California | Actual Suspension Delayed 12-C-10338 | |
| 3/6/2014 | Probation with conditions 12-C-10338 | ||
| 6/12/2013 | Public reproval with/duties 12-O-11661 | ||
| 12/2/2008 | Admitted to The State Bar of California | ||
| CLA Sections: | None |
| California Lawyers Association (CLA) is an independent organization and is not part of The State Bar of California. | |
State Bar Court Cases:
Below you will find documents filed in State Bar Court cases. For additional documents, you must request them from the State Bar Court.
| Effective Date | Case Number | Description |
| 5/29/2016 | 11-C-16667 | Stipulation [PDF] |
| 6/1/2015 | 13-O-13886 | Order re Costs [PDF] |
| 2/21/2015 | 13-O-13886 | Stipulation [PDF] |
| 6/18/2014 | 12-C-10338 | Order re Extension of Time [PDF] |
| 6/13/2014 | 12-C-10338 | Order re Costs [PDF] |
| 6/6/2014 | 12-O-11661 | Order re Extension of Time [PDF] |
| 4/25/2014 | 12-C-10338 | Order re Costs [PDF] |
| 4/1/2014 | 12-C-10338 | Order [PDF] |
| 3/8/2014 | 12-C-10338 | Decision [PDF] [WORD] |
| 3/6/2014 | 12-C-10338 | Order Temp Stay [PDF] |
| 6/12/2013 | 12-O-11661 | Stipulation [PDF] [HTML] |
Discipline Summaries
Summaries from the California Bar Journal are based on discipline orders but are not the official records. Not all discipline actions have associated CBJ summaries. Copies of official licensee discipline records are available upon request.
May 29, 2016
SERGIO J. LOPEZ [#259288], 40, of Corona, was suspended from the practice of law for six months and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court and make restitution. He was also placed on three years’ probation and faces a two-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect May 29, 2016.
In April 2012, Lopez was convicted of disobeying a court order. Lopez saw his girlfriend after the court issued a restraining order preventing him from doing so. In addition, he failed to pay sanctions totaling $25,000 to the mother of his child or pay $11,137.50 in fees to a court-appointed expert.He was ordered to pay $36,137.50 plus interest in restitution.Lopez had a prior public reproval from 2013 for accepting compensation for representing a client from another party, and failing to promptly return client files and unearned fees. In 2014, he was suspended after he pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of unlawfully purchasing/receiving a firearm. In 2015, he was suspended again for not paying a sanction to imposing counsel by deadline in violation of a court order.February 21, 2015
SERGIO J. LOPEZ [#259288], 39, of Orange, was suspended from the practice of law for 60 days. He was also placed on one year of probation and faces a one-year suspension if he does not comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect Feb. 21, 2015. Lopez stipulated that he did not complete payment of a sanction to opposing counsel by deadline in violation of a court order. In March 2013, Lopez was ordered to pay $3,000 in sanctions to opposing counsel for discovery violations. The amount was to be paid at a rate of $500 a month and if any payments were late, the entire remaining amount was to be due plus interest. Lopez made two payments for a total of $1,000 but failed to pay the remaining amount until April 2014. Lopez had two prior records of discipline. In 2013, he received a private reproval for accepting compensation from another party to represent a client and failing to promptly return client files and unearned fees. In 2014, he was suspended after pleading no contest to one misdemeanor count of unlawfully purchasing/receiving a firearm.
March 8, 2014
SERGIO J. LOPEZ [#259288], 38, of Santa Ana was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on two years’ probation with an actual 30-day suspension and ordered to take the MPRE. The order took effect March 8, 2014.
In 2010, Lopez pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of unlawfully purchasing/receiving a firearm. When he committed the crime, Lopez was the subject of a criminal protective order which prohibited him from owning, possessing, purchasing, or attempting to purchase a firearm.On Jan. 12, 2012, Lopez met with a client he was representing in a divorce case who brought with her a gun she wanted Lopez to return to her husband. After the meeting Lopez asked his assistant to put away items in his office. The assistant placed the gun in Lopez’s briefcase which Lopez mistakenly brought with him to the courthouse the next day. Security officers discovered the gun when Lopez put the briefcase through the metal detector. Lopez was ultimately arrested.In mitigation, Lopez cooperated by entering into a stipulation with the State Bar prior to trial.Lopez had one prior record of discipline, a 2013 private reproval for accepting compensation for representing a client from another party, and failing to promptly return client files and unearned fees.
