tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25419807169322549872024-02-02T07:46:27.034-06:00Behind the Bar Texas Law BlogReflections on the law, the system, and the people who make it (dis)functional.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-27908226442965347022015-08-11T14:06:00.001-05:002015-08-11T14:06:54.696-05:00A Lesson for Lawyers and the Public: How to Get, Use, and Win With The Houston Police Department Body Worn Camera Policy<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4f55; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 60px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 66px; margin: 0.6em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Body Cameras, The Police, and Criminal Cases</strong></span></h1>
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University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing would have you believe that he shot and killed Samuel DuBose in self-defense after Mr. DuBose reached for something then drove off, dragging Officer Tensing.</div>
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Police body camera footage shows that Officer Tensing and the thin-blue-line lied in their offense reports.</div>
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Texas Trooper Brian Encina would have you believe that Sandra Bland was arrested for violating a lawful order. Sandra Bland was found dead days later after being charged with assaulting a peace officer, an assault which was conveniently not on camera.</div>
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Dashboard camera footage shows that Trooper Encina violated department policy and failed to inform Ms. Bland why she was being arrested.</div>
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North Charleston, South Carolina Officer Michael T. Slager would have you believe that he shot Walter L. Scott in self-defense because he feared for his life after Mr. Scott took is Taser.</div>
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A bystander’s cell phone footage showed that Officer Slager cowardly shot Mr. Scott eight times in the back as Mr. Scott ran in fear for his life.</div>
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<u style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px;">WHAT DO THESE INSTANCES HAVE IN COMMON</u>?</h2>
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Each of these occurrences of police brutality members of our communities share many troubling facts in common. First, a driver committed a <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">minor</em> traffic violation. Second, an officer used <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">unnecessary</em> force. Third, a person who was <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">entitled</em> to due process and equal justice under the law was denied his or her constitutional rights. Fifth, the suspects <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">died </em>in police custody. Sixth, the officer <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lied</em> on his officer report or arrest affidavit. Seventh, the events were <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">caught on camera</em> and exposed the truth. This paper focuses on using Body Worn Cameras to demonstrate that an officer either lied in his offense report or violated your client’s constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.</div>
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Police unions are relatively correct in their assertion that officer involved shooting that result in civilian deaths are rare in relation to the total amount of officer-civilian interactions. However, there still remains this staggering number: 690. Six-Hundred-and-Ninety civilians have died at the hands of police officers as of August 4, 2015 according to killedbypolice.com.</div>
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Having just returned from my semi-annual Gideon’s Promise training session, I am reminded of an important fact that its founder, Jonathon Rapping stresses. For every Michael Brown, Samuel DuBose, Sandra Bland, Andrew Scott Gaynier, Ezell Ford, and Eric Garner, there are hundreds of thousands of criminally accused people being processed into jails and prisons around the country like sheep at a slaughter house.</div>
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In light of the national conversation regarding police brutality and video footage, I want to advise you of my experience involving a lying police officer, an unlawful arrest, body camera footage, and an in-trial dismissal following a successful motion to suppress. If every lawyer takes the time to learn from my recent experience, I am confident we will chip away at number of people going to jail and prison, which is a seldom seen tragedy that is destroying America right before our very eyes.</div>
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<u style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px;">WHAT THE POLICE SAY</u>:</h2>
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On July 7, 2014, my client, Jane Doe, was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked car at a public park. Her friend, John Doe, was sitting in the front passenger seat. Both front doors were wide open. Jane was eating a slice of pizza as John was smoking a blunt. According to the officers, they were doing a standard park check in a high crime and high drug park, when they noticed a small pile of loose tobacco outside John’s door. After noticing the tobacco, according to the police, they engaged in a consensual encounter, but while walking up to the car, they noticed John place ‘something’ in the ashtray, and smelt the strong odor of marijuana as soon as they exited their vehicle. The cops then detain both suspects and conduct a search of the passenger compartment of the vehicle where they find two blunts in plain view within easy reach of Jane. The officers then write that they walked around the trunk and smelt the strong odor of marijuana which gave him reason to open the trunk. An officer opens the trunk and immediately finds almost two ounces of weed in a plastic bag packaged for sale.</div>
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<u style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px;">WHAT THE BODY WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE SAYS</u>:</h2>
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One of the officers noted at the very end of his offense report that he was wearing and used a body worn camera. The body camera footage reflects that the officers are driving down a dead-end driveway with two rows of parking spaces late in the evening while the park was full of visitors. The park their marked patrol car directly in front of the car my client was in, effectively boxing the car and its occupants in. The Mobile Data Terminal states that the officers initiated a self-initiated law enforcement activity. The body camera is not turned on until both suspects have been taken out of the car and are cuffed. The cop wearing the body camera then searches the passenger compartment of this darkly tinted car. First, he finds an empty plastic bag on John’s seat. Next, he finds a roach in the passenger side of the ashtray leaning towards John. Then, he finds a roach deep inside the passenger side of the cluttered center console. The officer then searches Jane’s purse, which was in the rear passenger side seat, where he finds nothing linking Jane to the crime. Next, he walks around the rear of the car and does not mention anything about the smell of marijuana coming from the trunk. He then searches Jane’s seat, where he finds nothing linking Jane to the marijuana. Finally, the officer takes the key out of the ignition and opens the trunk. About 10 seconds later he remarks that it smells like weed. Although conveniently not on camera, the officer the opens up a men’s shoe box where he finds a many small plastic bags full of marijuana inside a large plastic bag. Once the officer finds this weed, he says, “Oh fuck yeah!”</div>
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The cop then asks Jane whose car it is, she says its John’s. The cop then asks a few questions and realizes that Jane is sober as a gopher. The cop then turns his body camera off. The cop then speaks to the obviously high John, and turns his body camera on. The cop then talks to Jane, and turns his camera off. The cop then talks to John, and turns the camera on. The cop then turns his camera off before transporting Jane and John to jail.</div>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_9865" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 515px;"><a href="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BODYCAM.jpg" style="color: #9b7b4d; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Viuve Body Worn Camera Used By HPD" class=" wp-image-9865" height="491" src="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BODYCAM.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="515" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Viuve Body Worn Camera Used By HPD</figcaption></figure><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4f55; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 38px; margin: 0.6em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<u style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px;">WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE</u>:</h2>
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First, I learned that the police officers lied about the nature of their encounter. Clearly, based on the video, there was nothing consensual about the encounter as the State argued at the motion to suppress. Under <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">State v. Garcia-Cantu</em>, 253 S.W.3d 236 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008), a police-citizen encounter implicates fourth amendment protections in a totality of circumstances test where the officer makes a show of authority that a reasonable person would not feel free to ignore. In <em style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Garcia-Cantu</em>, the officer boxed in the suspect by paring his patrol car about 10 feet away from the suspect’s car on a dead-end street and shining his spotlight on the suspect vehicle. In my case, the cops parked their car about 10 feet in front of the front bumper of the car my client was in, a car that was reversed back up to the curb, in a dead-end parking lot, before both officers exited their vehicle with their hands on their guns, walked to each side of the car and made authoritative orders. Without the body camera footage, it was unlikely that I would have filed a motion to suppress based on what my client told me, and what the offense report said. It was even less likely that I would win the motion to suppress.</div>
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Second, I learned that the officers lied in their offense report about two blunts being in plain view and easily within my client’s reach. The blunt in the ashtray was within my clients reach, but it’s arguable whether it was in plain view, considering the officers could not see it before they entered the car. The blunt at the bottom passenger side of the cluttered center console was clearly not in plain view, nor was it easily accessible by my client.</div>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_10671" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 753px;"><a href="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screenshot-5.png" style="color: #9b7b4d; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Screenshot (5)" class=" wp-image-10671" height="338" src="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screenshot-5.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="753" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Houston Police Department Body Camera Footage Shows That My Client Was Unlawfully Detained Under Garcia-Cantu</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_10672" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 712px;"><a href="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screenshot-6.png" style="color: #9b7b4d; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Houston Police Department Body Camera Footage Shows That One Blunt Was Not In Plain View" class=" wp-image-10672" height="446" src="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screenshot-6.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="712" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Houston Police Department Body Camera Footage Shows That One Blunt Was Not In Plain View</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_10673" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 739px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-10673" height="561" src="http://criminaldefenseattorneyhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screenshot-7.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="739" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville'; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HPD BodyCam Footage Shows That Second Blunt Was Not In Plain View</figcaption></figure><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Third, at no point during the video footage could we see any loose tobacco outside John’s door.</div>
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Fourth, the office claimed that he smelled the strong odor of marijuana emanating from the trunk, but not once did he note the smell, despite narrating everything else in the video, until 15 seconds after opening the trunk.</div>
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Fifth, I learned that the officer turned off his camera essentially every time he spoke to Jane, but turned it on every time he spoke to John.</div>
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<u style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20px;">HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF BODY WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE</u>:</h2>
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First and foremost, you need to get the police department’s body worn camera policy. I was the first lawyer in Texas to get the Houston Police Department Body Worn Camera Policy. A policy, even draft policy, creates the rules that officers must follow. Humans rely on rules to establish what is right and wrong. If we can get juries to understand in simple terms that the officer had a few rules to follow that are designed to protect the constitutional rights of members of our community, and that the police violated these rules, then the members of our jury will feel less comfortable with the officer’s actions because the police might just as easily violated their rights.</div>
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Getting the body camera policy was not easy, and don’t expect it to be. The first problem I ran into was that the prosecutor did not turn over the body camera footage until out first trial setting. I knew it existed because it was noted on the offense report, but I would suggest requesting body camera footage when you file for 39.14 discovery request at your first appearance.</div>
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The next problem I ran into was a Chinese wall. The State not only refused turn over the Houston Police Department Body Worn Camera Policy, but the state also refused to admit the policy existed. The state’s excuses ranged from there is no policy, it’s not a final policy, it’s a draft policy, the policy was not applicable, and you’re not entitled to the policy.</div>
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I filed the court’s standard discovery order, which the judge signed. I made oral requests, and I made written requests all to no avail. Finally as the trial was fast approaching, I filed an updated 39.14 Michael Morton Act request for “Any documents or reports related to Houston Police Department’s use of Body Worn Cameras, including, but not limited to, any HPD circular, training material, educational material, draft materials, and final policies.” On the same day, I also filed a Texas Public Information Act Request with the Houston Police Department, and a Subpoena Duces Tecum for the same information.</div>
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The prosecutor again ignored my discovery request. When confronted with why she wouldn’t turn it over, she said the policy doesn’t exist. Little did she know, I was holding the policy in my briefcase. The Houston Police Department objected to my TPIA request. Surprise. Surprise. However, the good civilian Custodian of Records at HPD complied with my subpoena. Of course, it took the additional threat that I would subpoena the Chief of Police to testify as to why his department would not turn over the policy to the public, during the public input stage, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, and I was prepared to examine him.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">WALLAH, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BODY WORN CAMERA POLICY</u>:</strong></h2>
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Once you have the body camera policy, you have to know how to use it. You have to know how you are going to get it into evidence. Once you figure that out, you get to know the policy like the back of your hand. The better you know the policy, the more clear, concise, and effective your rule-based question can be. The following is an example of my cross on the body camera policy. The purpose of this cross is to establish why body cameras are used and rules on how they are supposed to be used. Once the officer agrees to each rule, you can expose that he did not follow the rules he agreed to follow.</div>
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Policy Rule 1: Houston Police Department is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all people.</div>
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Police Rule 2: Houston Police Department uses Body Cameras to collect the best evidence of every encounter between officers and the public.</div>
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Policy Rule 3: Houston Police Department uses Body Cameras to preserve the best evidence of every encounter between officers and the public.</div>
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Policy Rule 4: Houston Police Patrol Officers assigned Body Cameras must record all law enforcement activities.</div>
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Fact 1: Body Cameras accurately reflect events.</div>
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Fact 2: Body Cameras accurately reflect interactions.</div>
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Fact 3: Body Cameras accurately reflect evidence.</div>
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Fact 4: Body Camera footage is the best evidence of what happened.</div>
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Rule 1: Before receiving your Body Camera, you had to learn how to use it.</div>
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Rule 2: You went to a two hour course to learn how to use the Body Camera.</div>
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Rule 3: You also learned the Body Camera Policy.</div>
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Rule 4: You received a copy of the Body Camera Policy.</div>
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Rule 5: Before being issued your Body Camera, you had to pass a test to demonstrate you knew how to operate the Body Camera.</div>
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Rule 6: Before being issued your Body Camera, you have to pass a test to demonstrate you knew the Body Camera Policy.</div>
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Rule 7: You passed your test.</div>
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Rule 8: On the date of this arrest, you knew how to operate your Body Camera.</div>
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Rule 9: On the date of this arrest, you knew the Body Camera Policy.</div>
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Rule 10: The Body Camera Policy lists rules that you must follow when using your Body Camera.</div>
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Rule 11: Officers are responsible for the Body Camera.</div>
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Rule 12: Officers must check the Body Camera at the beginning of their shift to make sure it is working properly.</div>
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Rule 13: Officers must check at the beginning of their shift to make sure the Body Camera has a sufficient charge.</div>
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Rule 14: Officers must notify their supervisor any time a recording may be evidentiary.</div>
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Rule 15: Officers must document the existence of a Body Camera video in their incident report.</div>
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Rule 16: Officers must immediately report any malfunctioning equipment to a supervisor.</div>
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There a rules in the policy that state when you must activate your Body Camera.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 1: If an officer discovers his camera is defective, the officer must immediately notify his supervisor.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 2: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they arrive on the scene for any call for service.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 3: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they self-initiate law enforcement activity. (See squad car’s MDT to determine if and when officer began self-initiated law enforcement activity.)</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 4: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they initiate a traffic stop.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 5: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they initiate a pedestrian stop.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 6: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they are flagged down to take law enforcement action.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 7: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they detain a person.</div>
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Operation Rule/Activation 8: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they attempt to detain a person.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 9: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they arrest a person.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 10: Officers must begin recording with their Body Camera when they when they are likely to arrest a person or take any other law enforcement action.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 11: Officers must record all searches of people.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 12: Officers must record all searches of vehicles.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 13: Officers must record all searches of buildings.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 14: Officers must record all searches of places.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 15: Officers must record all pursuits.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 16: Officers must record all transports of detainees of the opposite sex.</div>
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Operation/Activation Rule 17: You may only violate these rules, per the policy, if it is immediately necessary to ensure your safety or the safety of others.</div>
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There are rules in the policy that state when you are allowed to turn the body camera off.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 1: Officers must ensure that Body Worn Cameras are recording during the entire potential law enforcement activity.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 2: The Body Camera must record until the incident is over.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 3: An incident is over when all arrests have been made and the arrestees have been transported from the scene.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 4: An incident is over after all witnesses and victims have been interviewed.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 5: An incident is over after the officer has left the scene.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 6: An incident is over after the citizen contact is complete.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 7: An incident is over, if an arrestee is of the opposite gender, once the arrestee has arrived at jail.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 8: If an officer is flagged down by a citizen, the officer must record the interaction, but may stop recording only if the citizen wishes to share confidential information.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 9: Officers may stop recording when conferring with other personnel regarding the handling of a situation.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 10: <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline;">Officers may stop recording at the scenes of extended incidents.</span></div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 11: Officers may stop recording when no law enforcement action is occurring.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 12: Any time and officer stop recording, he must audibly note the reason for termination.</div>
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Operation/Deactivation Rule 13: Any time an officer stops recording for any reason, the officer must turn the camera back on immediately when the circumstance that caused the officer to stop recording has passed.</div>
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Recording/Documentation Rule 1: The recording of a criminal incident shall be treated as evidence.</div>
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Recording/Documentation Rule 2: Officers must record a chain of evidence/custody for all evidence.</div>
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Recording/Documentation Rule 3: Officers must not alter, tamper, or destroy evidence. (Break into three questions).</div>
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Recording/Documentation Rule 4: Officers must note in their offense report if he recorded an incident.</div>
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Recording/Documentation Rule 5: Officers must note on all relevant forms involving the incident that there is body camera footage.</div>
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Recording/Documentation Rule 6: All recordings in criminal cases must be retained for the period set by the statute of limitations.</div>
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The aforementioned questions serve several purposes. First, they establish that the officer was trained in how to use the Body Camera. Second, they establish that the officer was trained in the Body Camera Policy, and knew how to follow the policy. Third, they establish the officer knew the rules on the date of your client’s arrest. Fourth, they establish that the officer knew when to turn on the camera. Fourth, they establish that the officer knew when to turn the camera off. Fifth, they establish that the officer knew how upload and store the Body Camera video. Fifth, they set you up for a spoliation instruction. Sixth, most importantly, you are committing the officer to his testimony.</div>
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The officer must agree to each of these rules. If the officer does not agree to each of these rules, you can impeach him and at least try to get the actual policy into evidence. After getting the officer to agree to each of these rules, apply the facts of your case to the rules he agreed that he was supposed to follow. There is a good chance that the officer did not follow his own rules, which is good for you. First, hopefully you asked the jurors in some manner during voir dire if they expect officers to follow their own rules, policy, and procedure. Second, you can use the testimony to support your theme of a rush to judgment, bad police work, your client’s rights were violated, or any other. Third, these questions will help you seek to get a spoliation instruction.</div>
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In my case, the officer broke several rules. The officer began recording later than he was supposed to. He stopped recording sooner than he was supposed to. He never audibly noted why he turned off the camera. He only recorded his interaction with John, but not Jane. He did not record the transportation of Jane to jail. The video came in three disks. It was clear that the officer wanted John to rat on Jane once he realized Jane was sober and John was not. It was clear that the officer chose not to record the entire law enforcement activity and that he therefore tampered with evidence.</div>
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Ultimately, the Body Camera video helped me win my motion to suppress by establishing that my client was sober and there were no affirmative links. The judge disagreed that my client was detained, but body camera video enabled me to lay an accurate record for appeal. I would have loved to have heard what the jurors thought about the way in which the body camera was used, but I am more than happy to get a victory before that point.</div>
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We, as lawyers, need to use Body Camera footage to our advantage in every case possible. More often than not, body camera footage isn’t going to show that an officer killed someone. But in the same token, body camera footage will show that a cop lied in his offense report or that he violated the defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, or that he treated your client like trash. Take the time to carefully review your body camera footage. This technology will help us identify the bad cops, get more dismissals, win more motions to suppress, and hear more not guilty verdicts.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-43288202125275926832015-07-27T17:48:00.000-05:002015-07-27T17:48:00.041-05:00DRUG DWIs: YES YOU CAN GET A DWI IF YOU ARE HIGH ON DRUGS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD_vInnsoQSIMeo3lVyuz6hngsERYCA6gaKYKQJ0N83uGUFz_lwJ4y0LetSinq14RdwuMZ3zmg6ltE57_HC1CGhSHrRvBorC4DwhX9oUsqL4G96ier8wJ9ocZW9QOfIaJ13zloY6hR78/s1600/Screenshot+%2528684%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD_vInnsoQSIMeo3lVyuz6hngsERYCA6gaKYKQJ0N83uGUFz_lwJ4y0LetSinq14RdwuMZ3zmg6ltE57_HC1CGhSHrRvBorC4DwhX9oUsqL4G96ier8wJ9ocZW9QOfIaJ13zloY6hR78/s320/Screenshot+%2528684%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appearing on TV following a big WIN</td></tr>
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DWI: DRUGS<o:p></o:p></div>
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Driving While Intoxicated is one
of the most prosecuted crimes in the State of Texas. Most people think that you can only be
charged with DWI if you have been drinking alcohol. Well, those people are wrong. You can actually be charged with DWI if you
are intoxicated on literally any substance, including, marijuana, ecstasy,
mushrooms, mescaline, Adderall, cocaine, LSD, meth, amphetamines, caffeine, tree
bark (yes, tree bark a.k.a. DMT), Molly, MDMA, ephedrine, mescaline, Ritalin,
acid, and many, many more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But wait, how can I be arrested
for DWI if I don’t have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher? A person can be convicted of DWI if he has a
BAC of over .08, he has experienced the normal loss or his mental faculties, or
he has experienced the normal loss of his physical facilities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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At the moment, most officers do
not have the knowledge, experience, and skill to determine whether someone is
intoxicated on a drug, which is why if the police determine something has you intoxicated
and they have ruled out alcohol, but they cannot determine exactly what messed
you up, you will be arrested and taken to jail to meet with a drug recognition “expert,”
or “DREs,” and have your blood drawn.
The good news is that these drug recognition “experts” are not really
experts. They went to a two week class,
and believe they are qualified to be doctors. At best, drug recognition “experts” are drug
recognition “evaluators,” “eye witnesses,” “estimators,” and paper pushers. These people are not doctors, and if I have
anything to do with it, the judge will not allow the DREs to be called experts
at your trial.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Think about this. What happens when people smoke
marijuana? They are cautious. Many actually become safer drivers. What happens people take Adderall, or other “study
drugs?” The get focus of a puma and
reaction speeds of a cheetah. Science
has even showed that the use of amphetamines improves driving abilities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of the day, DWI’s are
serious business that can seriously affect your life. You need a Texas Drug DWI Trial Lawyer that
focuses his practice on drug crimes and drug DWIs. Trust me, the cost of hiring
the wrong DWI drug lawyer will way outweigh the cost of hiring the right DWI
drug lawyer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Stay tuned for more to follow.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-60812950273031215222015-07-24T11:06:00.000-05:002015-07-24T11:06:48.325-05:00Your Right To Remain Silent - A Guest Blog Post By Austin-Georgetown Attorney Terrance Marsh<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What does the Right to Remain Silent
really mean?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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How many times have you heard someone say "I'm going to
plead the Fifth." If you've heard that before, they're referring to our
U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments
to our U.S. Constitution. These rights protect us from the government (police
are part of the government). Our right to remain silent is written in the Fifth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. There are many rights packed into the 5th
Amendment. Here are the exact words:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand
Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia,
when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be
subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; <b><u>nor
shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself,</u></b>
nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor
shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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- <i>5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is the right to remain silent
important?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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The part referring to the right to remain silent is in bold,
and underlined above. The right to remain silent is so important because it
protects you from being forced to say things, write things, or confessing when
being questioned by police. It is a shield between you and the government
(police are part of the government)!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Being compelled in a criminal case as a witness against
yourself is the fancy way of saying that the government can't force you to
testify against yourself or self incriminate. Being forced to testify against
yourself pretty much explains itself. <b>If you are charged with a crime, the
government or the prosecutor can't force you to testify. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Over time the Courts have said that our Fifth Amendment
right to remain silent includes contact and questioning with police. Police are
allowed to go up to you and talk to you on the street, or in your car. <b>However,
you don't have to answer the questions police ask you other than identify
yourself. Your right to remain silent includes all police questioning -
including confessions. </b>Never confess to anything and especially don't put
anything in writing when the police question you. I'm a big fan of examples so
let's use an example.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Police Questioning and The Right to
Remain Silent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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A few months ago I had a client named John who was arrested
because police suspected him of dealing drugs. Police picked John up with a <a href="http://www.georgetowncriminaldefenselawyer.com/texas-criminal-defense-blog/search-warrant-vs-warrant-of-arrest/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Warrant of Arrest</span></a> at his home and brought him to the
station for questioning. Police read him is <b>Miranda Warnings</b>. If you've
ever seen an episode of Cops or Law and Order you've heard this a millions
times:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can
and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an
attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do
you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind,
do you wish to speak to me?”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4a1xoXPGMnebPktNqq8X-WRdUYGwe3hyphenhyphenK_bT_qZfhxYSZ7CWbf0Y3ptYDw0mKADcmQs84VijAxW5UFholhFd6JjyV0GCTEyDkFkbjtvEQKlWcuzvWqFJ-WTYyG4HczKNHX48qTDPubI/s1600/The+Meaning+of+the+Right+to+Remain+Silent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4a1xoXPGMnebPktNqq8X-WRdUYGwe3hyphenhyphenK_bT_qZfhxYSZ7CWbf0Y3ptYDw0mKADcmQs84VijAxW5UFholhFd6JjyV0GCTEyDkFkbjtvEQKlWcuzvWqFJ-WTYyG4HczKNHX48qTDPubI/s320/The+Meaning+of+the+Right+to+Remain+Silent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The moment the police went to John's house, knocked on the
door, and began asking John questions other than his name, his 5th Amendment
right to remain silent had kicked in. Why?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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John's right to remain silent kicked in because the police
asked John questions after he identified himself. John could have told police
"I don't want to talk to you or answer any questions" and that would
have been perfectly legal. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what I would
have advised John to do if I was sitting next to him. The police are allowed to
ask as many questions as they'd like and as many as you'll keep answering.
Luckily, John didn't answer very many of the questions police asked. More
importantly, the police didn't question John further or try to get a confession
out of him. John kept his mouth shut, and because of that his <a href="http://www.georgetowncriminaldefenselawyer.com/georgetown-texas-criminal-defense/drug-crimes-lawyer/"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">felony drug charge</span></a> was dropped down to a
misdemeanor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
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The true meaning of the right to remain silent is for people
to be free from government (police) questioning. Never answer questions from
police unless the question is to identify yourself. Miranda Warnings are given
to you by police so that you are aware it's your right not to speak with
police. Knowing the meaning of the right to remain silent can help protect you
from past or future criminal charges that police investigate. Always follow the
law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But just remember, don't make the cops' job easier than it
has to be and if nothing else, don't do their jobs for them. <b>Remember the
meaning of our right to remain silent.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-21289598659408717042015-07-22T14:46:00.001-05:002015-07-22T14:46:23.281-05:00HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROSTITUTION CASE DISMISSEDYa'll ready for some flim-flam, poppycock, malarkey hogwash? Get this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgtguDCkFTL1u7X1ZKZLglWMA-fJabe-rK8GRwt0o1WnmgNZ3pvLBL4a_pRGBctaG8h5GvpmQjcugNM9EfqG5b7l2F-wwkS-9_jyc-5oXoqP9NEoT_zsOJZSro-I1JR0-Kux7Ib8ttSU/s1600/Screenshot+%2528684%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgtguDCkFTL1u7X1ZKZLglWMA-fJabe-rK8GRwt0o1WnmgNZ3pvLBL4a_pRGBctaG8h5GvpmQjcugNM9EfqG5b7l2F-wwkS-9_jyc-5oXoqP9NEoT_zsOJZSro-I1JR0-Kux7Ib8ttSU/s320/Screenshot+%2528684%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My client is a pretty, young Hispanic lady who enjoys having sex for money, allegedly. She is working at a 'cantina' one night, racking up notches on her belt, allegedly, when two brutes walk in the door in their finest boots (okay this part is made up, although this is a real thing).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrOv_OAzBwh8KMjdafsMIFknPfHsAY7RQz02qBDxvoXYlRYGMhF74GF6WTMyt8P3m_Ut9_13261Bf4IDR0wk9oxMbw0vAqDfs3nOzWtkXD19RdvQpJQo0n2ddaJEnMGxtf8NfbdhaZR8/s1600/mexican+dancing+boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrOv_OAzBwh8KMjdafsMIFknPfHsAY7RQz02qBDxvoXYlRYGMhF74GF6WTMyt8P3m_Ut9_13261Bf4IDR0wk9oxMbw0vAqDfs3nOzWtkXD19RdvQpJQo0n2ddaJEnMGxtf8NfbdhaZR8/s320/mexican+dancing+boots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The two gentlemen offer to buy my client a cerveza. They then try to get her to agree to have sex with them for money. Little does my client know that these men are clandestine operatives of the police force, and on this particular night, the FBI, Harris County Sheriff, HPD, ICE, and several other 'law enforcement' organizations are about to execute a big human trafficking bust. In layman's terms, the two guys were VICE cops. Cops that live in the underworld with their head above water. </div>
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Yeah. Right.</div>
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These cops and the prosecutors that work for them want you and I to believe that they don't drink the beer they buy, and instead empty the bottles in the urinal. The weird thing is that I never hear the bottles being emptied.</div>
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So let's jump to the chase. My client ends up getting busted along with several other girls and alleged pimps. She is charged with prostitution and her case is assigned to the human trafficking division. They are a group that, at best, gives tough love in exchange for favorable testimony.</div>
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The Harris County District Attorney Office Human Trafficking Division is also that group that runs SAFE (Survivors Acquiring Freedom and Empowerment) Court, which is a pretrial intervention court program for girls with prostitution charges that are between the ages of 17-25, arrested in Harris County, and charged with prostitution, for starters. The Harris County Human Trafficking Division knows next to nothing about their own program. They are rude and lazy.</div>
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I told the ADA from the get-go that my client is not a victim of human trafficking, she was not forced to have sex, and she was not forced to have sex for money. The human trafficking game involves lots of disbelief. The ADA does not believe my client. I try to not believe my client at first. I want her to be consistent. I become convinced. The ADA still does not believe. </div>
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Let's talk about what going to court looks like. My client shows up on time for her docket (her docket time, not mine). She then waits. I show up, and we wait. We wait and wait and wait. What are we waiting on? We are waiting on the human trafficking prosecutor. Where is she? She tells me she is running from court to court. Of course, I frequently see her having conversations with her girlfriends in the hallway.</div>
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This going on for hours every month. Not only that, but the ADAs are kicking my client back to the home court prosecutor and then back to the human trafficking division.</div>
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Finally, FINALLY, after 6 months they finally get my client into an evaluation to see if she will be accepted into SAFE Court. My client shows up and does what she is supposed to do.</div>
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At the next setting, the ADA shows up THREE HOURS LATE. In the interim, I let her know that I am waiting. She tells me she is on her way. An hourish later I email her to let her know I am still waiting, and it's incredibly rude to me and my client to make us wait all this time every single month.</div>
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She shows up sits down and makes a giant shitshow. She tells me my client didn't show up to her meeting, which she did.</div>
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Next month the ADA shows up and says my client wasn't approved for the SAFE Court program, and she was.</div>
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The next month, the ADA drops off a dismissal form and leaves without saying anything.</div>
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I am pretty sure she dismissed the case because she wanted to save her ass after I made a stink and the coordinator and probation were backing me up.</div>
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I guess we will never know. Case Dismissed.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-66797163848844283362015-07-22T13:00:00.000-05:002015-07-22T13:00:05.867-05:00Possession of Marijuana Jury Selection in TexasHouston, we have a problem.<br />
<br />
The problem is that tons of people are arrested annually in Texas for the crime of Possession of Marijuana, but very few people are choosing to go to trial.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a TV appearance after winning a Motion to Suppress and Not Guilty in a Possession of Marijuana Case</td></tr>
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There are many reasons why one might not take a Possession of Marijuana case to trial:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Defendant just doesn't care about his future life and job prospects.</li>
<li>Defendant was offered Pre-Trial Diversion, is actually guilty, will admit to being guilty, will apologize, and will successfully complete a probation program.</li>
<li>Defendant was offered First Chance Program in Harris County and will do the above.</li>
<li>Defendant is afraid of a conviction or doing time.</li>
</ol>
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There are also many reasons why one might take a Possession of Marijuana case to trial:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Defendant is innocent.</li>
<li>Defendant is not guilty (there is a difference).</li>
<li>Prosecutor cannot prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt.</li>
<li>Defendant was illegally searched and seized.</li>
<li>Defendant thinks jury will 'nullify' based on the charge.</li>
</ol>
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These are just a few reasons why a person might take or not take their case to trial. I am of the personal opinion that just about every Possession of Marijuana case needs to be set for trial. If we set all these case for trial, we will break the system and there will be few charges for Possession of Marijuana.</div>
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So, let's say you decide to take your weed case to trial. Great. What happens next? Well, first you will decide whether you want to go to the judge or to the jury for punishment. This is your decision, but I will help you make it. What determines you punishment 'election' is basically the judges reputation and the facts of your case. I will almost always recommend going with the jury for punishment in the event you are elected.</div>
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Next, we will do jury selection, or voir dire. Prosecutors love to get up and teach the jury a lesson in French and philosophy about how 'voir dire' means 'to tell the truth' in French, and that jury selection is really 'deselection.' Before the DA gets to talk to the jury, the judge will, and the judge will tell the jury panel (the venire) all about himself, his court, and some basic Constitutional rights, such as the presumption of innocence, your right to not testify, the burden of proof, and the useless 'one witness rule.'</div>
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Next, the prosecutor will do his or her best to ask questions and get answers. The problem is that they are more like middle school algebra teachers than people with personality, generally.</div>
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Next it is my turn to ask the jury questions. I always like to start by letting the jury panel know a little about myself, because we get to know so much about them. I think the jury finds it welcoming that I am a human too, with good and bad things going on in my life. It really makes them comfortable about sharing more personal feelings and opinions. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Slide Makes the Jury All Warm and Fuzzy and Talkative</td></tr>
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It's worth noting, that many criminal defense attorneys do not use PowerPoints for their jury selection. I use them because (a) that's how people learn best and (b) it helps keep me on track without using notes.</div>
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I immediately tell them why WE are at court. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS the jury was dragged into court by the government because you and I disagree with the government's allegation that you possessed a usable quantity of marijuana on a given day in a given location.</div>
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I will then tell the jury why THEY are in court. The jury is in court to decide the truth. There is no arguing with these two points.</div>
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From there, we may do an example or ask a question to get the jurors talking. We want to get them thinking about situations where everybody else was doing something, but they chose not to do it, for example. Or maybe about a time where they were near someone who was in possession of something, but they were not in possession of that same property.</div>
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Once we get the brain juices flowing, we talk about your constitutional rights as a defendant. The goal here is to find jurors to challenge for cause. In any criminal trial, the court, prosecution, and defendant are able to strike any number of jurors if they are unable able to follow the law and give the defendant (and somehow the state) a fair and impartial trial. In other words, they are biased and can't overcome their bias. I am usually able to identify a few jurors that the judge or DA didn't identify who cannot give my client a fair trial.</div>
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Next, we break down the law that applies. So, for a Possession of Marijuana case, I want the jurors to explain to each other what it means to knowingly or intentionally do something. I want the jurors to explore what it means to exercise possession, which means care, custody, control, or management over an object. </div>
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Throughout jury selection, I am also using my proposed jury charge to get ideas of how the jury might rule on specific jury charges such as destruction of evidence, 38.23 motions to suppress, and so on.</div>
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Finally, after making our challenges for cause, I sit down with you and my co-counsel (which you will usually get free of charge) and determine who we want to strike. In a misdemeanor case, both sides can 'strike' or get rid of 3 jurors for any reason or no reason at all. Well, actually, the State cannot strike a juror for race or gender based reasons. I will talk about challenges to this conduct (Batson Challenges) in a future blog post. <br /></div>
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In my last three juries, I got the exact jury I wanted. I also got the exact result I wanted.</div>
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Until next time, </div>
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Take Your Case To Trial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com04306 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006, USA29.734044 -95.392964-22.624001500000002 -178.0101515 82.0920895 -12.775776500000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-76848978766876161222015-07-21T16:11:00.001-05:002015-07-21T16:11:23.428-05:00POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA NOT GUILTY... SORT OF... CASE DISMISSED MID-TRIAL This is a week late, at least.<br />
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Where to start...<br />
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Maybe I should start off by saying, thank you. </div>
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Thank you to the Harris County District Attorney and minions for not dismissing a case that never should have been charged in the first place.</div>
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Thank you. Harris County Court 14 and Judge Fields for hauling my client to court for 11 trial settings.</div>
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Thank you to the court for finally allowing me to try my case on the one year anniversary of my client's wrongful arrest.</div>
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Thank you to my client for sticking with me, even though she was incredibly frustrated and could not understand why I could get the case dismissed. </div>
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Thank you to Judge Fields for following the law and granting my motion to suppress.</div>
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For those of you that have read some of my prior posts, this is my possession of marijauna case involving an overzealous cop and his failure to follow the HPD bodycam policy.</div>
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Let's recap: My client was sitting in the driver seat of a parked car at a park in Acres Homes. Her friend was sitting in the passenger seat. Both doors were wide open. The cops, which a Juror referred to as "Officer Handlebars" due to his <strike>ridiculous</strike> stylish mustache, were conducting a "park check." In other words, they were out to do warrantless searches that frequently violate the Fourth Amendment. Park searches are a treasure trove of constitutional violations, and I wish lawyers did more to challenge them. Needless to say, if you have been arrested for drugs or weapons in a public park, CALL ME.<br />
<br />
So the cops allegedly see a pile of loose tobacco outside the passenger door. The cops then park their cop car right in front of the car my client was in, and boxing her in. The cops then see the codefendant reach towards the center console and place something there. The cops then exit the car and when they get right up next to the car they smell the week. One cop puts my client in handcuffs while she is still sitting in the car. The cop then forces her to stand against his front bumper in the searing July heat. The cops then search the car and find a joint in the codefendant's side of the ashtray leaning towards the codefendant (the joint they saw the codefendant place). They then claim to have found a second joint in plain view. Well, the bodycam (which the police did not want me to have) showed that the second blunt was deep inside the codefendant's side of the center console. The cop then searches my client's purse, without PC, and finds nothing linking her to the marijuana. The cop then searches the seat where my client was sitting and finds nothing linking her to the marijuana. Finally, the cop searches the trunk. Funny thing is that he says in the offense report that he could smell weed form outside the vehicle, but his body camera reflects otherwise. The body camera shows the cop opening the trunk and then saying "smells like weed in here" 15 seconds later, and then saying "oh fuck yeah" when he finds the weed. The cop then asks my client whose car it is and she says it is the codefendants. The cop then turns off his body camera every time he talks to my client, including when she denied it was hers, and the turns it on when he talks to the obviously and admittedly high codefendant to get him to rat on my client. Didn't work.<br />
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Nine months later we have a out first trial setting. Two trial settings later, I finally get the body camera footage. Thank the good lord for that.<br />
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At the 10th trial setting, my client was told she did not have to show up unless we were called to trial. Of course, we were called for trial, weather was horrible and she showed up 2 hours later, not one hour as she told the judge she would. Lo and behold, we were given the best looking, most diverse, youngest jury panel in the history of Harris County. It was so defense friendly, the judge wanted to take a picture with them. OF course, though, because my client was late (DONT BE LATE), the jury was sent home.<br />
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We finally went to trial, picked a jury, got the jury we wanted, gave my opening then the cop got on the stand and I filed my motion to suppress. Judge Fields disagreed with why all of the marijuana should be suppressed (I was right), but he suppressed all of the weed anyways under affirmative links (not permissible at a motion to suppress, but ok). All that matters is that I got the not guilty. Also, being on TV was pretty cool. Make sure to check back and read the next few posts that will go more in depth about my jury selection method and the Houston Police Department Body Worn Camera Policy (PS I'm the first in the county to have it).</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-16729994473898990342015-06-24T16:09:00.000-05:002015-06-24T16:09:00.079-05:00Picking a Jury in Harris County on Resisting Arrest Charges as a Second Chair<div style="text-align: justify;">
The adage is that you win trial in jury selection.</div>
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I meandering into Harris County Court 14 the other day expecting to pick a jury for my client's case. It was the ninth trial setting, after all. Instead, the court chose to go with an a resisting arrest case on its first trial setting. </div>
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No Rhyme. No Reason.</div>
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I just so happened to know the lawyer who was defending the young Puerto Rican accused of resisting arrest. The poor kid was jumped by a cop and sent to the hospital for some stitches and bruised ribs before he was booked in jail. Of note, the 5'5 cop who was clearly inflicted by Napoleon Syndrome, was working an extra job at twin peaks. Knowing the lawyer, and having helped him before in a DWI trial, I helped him pick the jury.</div>
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I knew nothing about the case until about 15 minutes before jury selection, but what I did know was my obligation as a second chair. For any new lawyers that may stumble upon my blog, a second chair is a lawyer who assists another lawyer during trial. Sometime second chairs take the role of observer and whisperer of ideas. Other times, second chairs may have the opportunity to conduct examinations and arguments. I have second chaired murders and sexual assaults to DWIs and simple assaults. </div>
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No matter what, when second chairing, you have to be actively participating by seeing what there is to be seen, hearing what there is to be heard, and sharing your observations and ideas with the first chair.</div>
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In this particular resisting trial, my job was to determine who in the jury panel was ineligible to serve on the jury due to a bias or prejudice I identified two issues early on. First, officer credibility. Second, how might an officer act after he worked a long shift on the job for HPD, then immediately worked a second shift as security. The first chair, Paul Kendall, had the rest set up perfectly. </div>
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I took tabs on who could not serve on the jury, and the judge agreed that I got them all correct.</div>
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As Paul was about to finish his voir dire, he asked me if there was anything else he needs to cover. I said, "Yes, ask the jury how an officer might feel after working his main job then going directly to his extra job. Ask the jury what might effect the cop's judgment." He asked and the answers followed. In fact, the first juror to speak said the exact word I was looking for, "cranky." It was all gravy from there.</div>
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We got the 6 jurors we wanted on the panel. Hell, we even got the guy who was previously convicted of resisting arrest on jury!</div>
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It certainly helped that Napoleon Dynamite testified it was as if his commands (to leave the parking lot) fell on deaf ears, because, well, the client was partially deaf.</div>
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Two Words: Not Guilty. </div>
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Congrats, Paul.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-19131950107441634702015-06-21T18:13:00.001-05:002015-06-21T19:19:12.092-05:00When You Try To Help A Cop And...He is a total jerk.<br />
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I was driving down a dark highway in Cypress when I noticed a bunch of flashing emergency lights. I slowed down, but I couldn't tell if the center lane was open, and I have bright Xenon headlights. As I get close to the flashing lights I see some flashlights. It was two cops. They were telling me to turn around.<br />
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I kindly say, "Officer, I think the Sheriff's car in the center lane needs to be parked in the lane like the others, not parallel. I could not see the car at all."<br />
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Cop replies, "We're just a a bunch of dumb ass cops. Get the hell out of here!"<br />
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What prick.<br />
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All I was trying to do was keep the officer's safe, their cars safe, and the public safe.<br />
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Cops, if you can't handle the stress of your job, make the world a safer place and quite.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-68540334332076848932015-06-18T09:57:00.001-05:002015-06-18T09:57:14.351-05:00Assault Family Violence Case Dismissed<div style="text-align: justify;">
While I'm in the groove, I might as well share my latest dismissal with you. I don't want to get into the details, but the allegations are that it starts with your typical booze-filled evening and ends with a few hits to the face of the driver. While the car was moving.</div>
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The complainant, which is the legally accurate term for a "victim," pulls off the highways. Client allegedly take the car keys and chunks them over a fence. Complainant flags down officers who slap cuffs on my client and throw her in the slammer, and leave her there for WAY TOO LONG.</div>
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So, this is your typical misdemeanor assault case. There are some relatively bad allegations, o independent witnesses, no eye witnesses, and bad presumptively bad police work. </div>
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What does a criminal defense lawyer do in this scenario. First, I have a thorough interview with my client at my office, which sometimes includes a scene reenactment so I can see first hand, as good as possible, what went down. Next, I get and review the offense report. I don't just skim it an make a recommendation like many lawyers. I go through with a fine tomb comb. No mistake, error, or misstatement is to small to matter, at least not as a starting point. Next, I reach out to the complainant and attempt to speak to him or her. </div>
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If possible, I will get a sworn affidavit recounting the events. Why go through the trouble of getting a sworn affidavit? Well, the rules of evidence determine how a case can be tried. A sworn affidavit is made under oath and threat of perjury. That means that if the person lies under oath when giving the affidavit, that person may be subject to criminal charges for perjury. The promise to tell the truth and threat of criminal charges makes the document more credible. Finally, if the witness gets on the stand and testifies differently, I am able to impeach the witness. What does it mean to impeach a witness? Impeaching a witness is attacking the credibility of a witness. Being able to properly impeach a witness is a very important skill that most lawyers do not actually know how to do. Properly. I do plenty more than this when preparing for a case, but I will leave it here for now.</div>
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The good news is that my client's case was dismissed, and she can move on with her life, which includes getting an expunction and clearing her record.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-68554898946791090702015-06-17T13:11:00.001-05:002015-06-18T10:12:12.198-05:00The Ballad of Marijuana Defendant<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The Dope Defense Attorney</div>
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This case has become unreal. Just unreal. My client was charged with <b>possession of marijuana.</b> I don't want to give away too much here because I know the prosecutor, who I believe to be lovely and reasonable in her soul, has at the very least looked up body cameras in the local news. In fact, I think she was kind of impressed that <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Report-Houston-officers-call-body-cameras-a-6284653.php" target="_blank">I was quoted in the Houston Chronicle about this particular case</a>. </div>
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Note: The Pic Is Not Me Or My Client</div>
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Credit where credit is due. She researched the matter, and dare I say me (although I doubt it), and then tried to get any reference to the article excluded from trial through a motion in limine. </div>
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So, just why has this case become unreal. Harris County Court 14 works in a peculiar way. Clients only have three or four court dates, spread out over about 6-9 months before their first trial setting. Personally, I like this set up. Your client doesn't get pointlessly dragged into court, and I don't find going to court every month for the same case a useful exercise for attorneys either. In theory, there should be more cases being dismissed in Court 14, and also more cases going to trial due to the scheduling. The problem is that cases are not actually being dismissed at the rate they should be.</div>
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Well I can tell you what, a whole ton of cases are set for trial in that Honorable Court everyday. While I'm not important enough for court staff to read my blog, I still take a risk by saying that showing up for trial TEN TIMES is inexcusable. It is a war of attrition to get the defendant to plead guilty by tearing away at their finances, will power, and soul. </div>
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My client is innocent and she will not plead guilty for something she did not do. Hell, there are defendants who may be guilty that want to go to trial, but feel like the government can't make there case, and that is their constitutional right.</div>
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Back to the topic. At my client's 9th trial setting, yes ninth, my client was told to return the next day (third day in a row), only if the judge called her case to trial. In other words, she didn't have to be at court like the rest of the defendants. So, I showed up in her stead. Judge Fields, who is truly a likable and well thought judge, calls my client's case to trial.</div>
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Ok, so I don't announce that I am ready. I don't have witnesses and I don't have my co-counsel with me at that exact moment. The was kind enough to say, "Counselor, you are great. You know what you are doing and know the facts of your case very well. You don't need co-counsel. You don't even need to go get your file." As flattering as his statement may be, commercial pilots don't fly solo, and neither do I. He reaffirms that my case is going to trial, so I run outside and call my client. Like the rest of Houston, she had trouble getting downtown in the tail end of a tropical storm. Too much trouble.</div>
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Meanwhile, we have a GREAT jury panel. I am talking about young and diverse. It was a beautiful thing. Two hours later, the judge tells the jury to go home. Judge Fields even proclaimed he had never seen such a good looking jury for the defense and jokingly said he wanted to take a picture with them. The times, they are a changing. However, My client finally arrives and Judge Fields graciously and justly did not revoke my client's bond because she had been on time the previous 9 trial settings. </div>
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I was so ready to try this case. Witnesses would have been great, but I won a good couple of battles during pretrial motions, not least including getting a spoliation instruction granted, should I present evidence warranting the instruction, which was likely to happen. I saw Mike DeGuerin in the elevator and got some words of advice from that legend, and I had some great attorney''s helping me at trial. The stars were aligning. It's a shame my client wasn't on time. </div>
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Lesson learned, don't give your client's the chance to mess things up, because they will, and at the worse of times.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQLP9ufoaVVKjq0-69XbtIuIPp2ooOzosSCeZiBZztMZf0Yx4al0hlhVhdH97ATel3X84qMWOTfC-jzmr7LWf8sGoyt77KtPWJZz-OpRme3tcNHEeZtO1tpWZpR9pUKOmov3SO9DdcaA/s1600/BIZ+CARD+BACK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQLP9ufoaVVKjq0-69XbtIuIPp2ooOzosSCeZiBZztMZf0Yx4al0hlhVhdH97ATel3X84qMWOTfC-jzmr7LWf8sGoyt77KtPWJZz-OpRme3tcNHEeZtO1tpWZpR9pUKOmov3SO9DdcaA/s320/BIZ+CARD+BACK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-19259402104597483182015-06-16T09:19:00.001-05:002015-06-16T09:19:17.243-05:00The Life of Young Criminal Defense LawyerIt sucks. Sometimes. Well, most of the time. One second you are driving to court in a tropical storm in you 1999 Miata, roof somewhat secured. The next millisecond, your roof flies off, your arms nearly goes with with it, and you are surprised at how well your car handles under those conditions.<br />
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Before (sorta)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7NN1X_RhDWlYGBfCP6qttm3t7RuuiixmgXZMG2CJLIgYSZ68Fn6OTxJUy_gTZ5PDddtDKu5pl-LQNrPSnG4VFNkio4wLJAD-0tDnfKHvtr5OhfmKHUSM3xZ-tAowKS17QwaEgpL1JA4/s1600/IMAG0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7NN1X_RhDWlYGBfCP6qttm3t7RuuiixmgXZMG2CJLIgYSZ68Fn6OTxJUy_gTZ5PDddtDKu5pl-LQNrPSnG4VFNkio4wLJAD-0tDnfKHvtr5OhfmKHUSM3xZ-tAowKS17QwaEgpL1JA4/s320/IMAG0041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After</div>
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"1999 Mazda Miata?! Yeah right! You're a lawyer! You're rich!" No. No, I am, not. You see, I try to charge prices that are fair for me and fair for my clients. The prices I try to charge won't make me rich. The problem with this game is that my potential clients are always lying to me about their ability to pay, and there is always some asshole skeezbag baby lawyer or older lawyer undercutting me.<br />
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It's a fucking race to the bottom 'round here. <br />
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Let's talk about one of those skeezbag lawyers for a second. This particular young lawyer does not appear to do any of his own work. Anytime he has a question, he asks it on the listserve. It's as if he has no idea what he's doing, and even worse, he has no idea how to find the answers for himself and be a real fucking lawyer. The sad thing, the sad thing is that all the numbnuts on the listserve are praising him as some sort of great lawyer.<br />
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Let me ask you this, my friends. How in the WORLD does this baby lawyer who just started his own practice have so many fucking clients?! Not just clients, but client's already in jail? Clients just getting out of jail? Felony clients? There is only ONE fucking way, and its that he's up to some shady shit, other than wearing fucking jeans to court every day. Not even nice jeans. This guy has an inside man. Someone inside jail and prison getting him clients. FTMF.<br />
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For the record, I think he has been licensed two years but just started criminal defense. Also, I used to smash his fiance.<br />
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So, back to what I intended to write about. The type of shit that directly effects me, other than the undercutting skeezbags in the profession. But before I get there, it's sad that your success rate doesn't necessarily determine your income.<br />
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So, I represent a girl charged with prostitution. Apparently every girl between 17-25 who is charged with prostitution is assigned a special SAFE court prosecutor. My particular girl was a suspected victim of human trafficking. So the big problem with SAFE court is that it exists only in Court 7, but the girls are not all assigned to court 7. In fact, probably 90% of the girls are assigned to the other 14 Harris County Courts. But wait, there's more. It get's worse. There is only one prosecutor that handles all these cases. Mind you, that Houston is the human trafficking capital of the United States, and one of the prostitution capitals of the world. ONE FUCKING PROSECUTOR. But wait, there's more! The courts on on different floors, and the elevators in the courthouse are horrible.<br />
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So if that nonsense isn't enough NO ONE KNOWS FUCKING ANYTHING ABOUT SAFE COURT. The normal prosecutors know absolutely nothing. But, I mean, of course the ACT like the know everything! All they know how to do is hand you a blue pamphlete and misdirect you. Let's continue. The court coordinators know nothing. The probation officers know nothing. The judges probably know nothing. <br />
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So let's think about this. There is one prosecutor, 14 courts, 5 floors of courts, and dozens of clients each day. The OBVIOUS SIMPLE SOLUTION is assign all girls charged with prostitution to the freaking prostitution court. But that would be to easy. Well, let's think about this. Maybe the prosecutor would go to the oldest case first. Nope, can't do that.<br />
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So, my client was charged 6 months ago. We have been to court 6 times. Each time, has been a pain in the ass. First the case with with human trafficking. Then it was transferred to the proseuctors of the court it was actually in. And back and forth over and over again. So finally, my girl gets in to the SAFE program which requires her to take an eligibility interview. <br />
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So, I arrange the interview, my client shows up on time and does what she needs to do. Which brings us to my last court setting on this case. I am not stupid or niave. I don't show up early. So I show up when I show up, around 9 930. My client shows up at 8 when she is supposed to. I arrive and check in to see if the human trafficking prostitutor had arrived. Naturally, she hadn't, so I email her. Or at least the prosecutor from the last 5 times. You see, these pains in the ass at the district attorney rotate all the fucking time. So there was a new prosecutor on the case. Does anyone care to tell me that? No. Does any one care to let me know how my client did at the interview? No.<br />
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So when I find out who the new prostitutor is, I email her. I kindly let her know we're in court waiting, and to email me when she arrives. She tells me she is in court 4, and will be up soon. I email back saying thank you. An hour and a half later I email her again. <br />
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This is the exact email. <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I really can't wait two-three hours every time I have a "human trafficking" case. This case is six months old and its been played like a yo-yo. I have literally waited over 10 hours just for prosecutors to show up to court. This is beyond disrespectful to both me and my client. </span></blockquote>
This email is not an exaggeration. Meanwhile, I am across the hall doing some recognizance for an upcoming trial. When I cross the hall to go back to the court where my alleged prostitute is, I see the human trafficking prosecutor talking to one of her 'girlfriends' all casual and shit in the hallway, while I have been WAITING FOR OVER TWO FUCKING HOURS!<br />
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She walks into court a few MINUTES later and sits at counsel table. Defense counsel table. She plops down in a big leather chair, then swings around, turning AWAY from me. So I say "good morning, can we please get to work on this case?" She swings around like like a bat out of hell and at the top of her lungs, like all female prosecutors, says, "That was the nastiest, rudest thing any defense lawyer has ever said to me! You don't know me. You have never done any work with me. You are completely ridiclous.....blah blah blah." The second I open my mouth to defense myself to say I have been waiting over two hours she bitches about her job. I suggest that she be a little repsectful and try to resolve old cases first. At this point gaggle of geese co-prosecutors who are the normal prosecutors in this particular court jump in and gang up on me. <br />
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They were so effective that a defense attorney jumped in and started patronizing me. To her I said, "You are a court appointed lawyer, basically one of them. Don't talk to me." She said no I'm not and tried to talk me down for 10 minutes. I looked this prosecutor up. She is one of the top 20 attorneys in the county.. in the sense that she is plea mill lawyer of the day extraordinare. To her credit, when I showed her the nasty rude email I sent to dea prostitutor she spoke to the the prostitutor.<br />
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So, finally to the business. The prostitutor tells me, "You're client did not go to the interview. She didn't do what she's supposed to do. She's not getting in the program." To which I called out her lie and said, "See, I was right, you have not worked on this case at all." She steps outside comes back a few minutes later, without appolizing for lying, which is the least she could do and also the least likely thing she could do, and tells me ok your client has her orientation on whatever date.<br />
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It sucks being a young criminal defense attorney at times. It doesn't matter if your dismissal rate is way above average. It doesn't matter if you win all your trials and hearings such as I have. It doesn't matter if your clients are all happy. One day I will figure it out.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-87031483395806566702015-05-27T10:23:00.000-05:002015-05-27T17:34:25.290-05:00FIFA! CORRUPT? THE FEDS, RICO, RATS, SNITCHES, AND INDICTMENTS<div style="text-align: center;">
FIFA IS CORRUPT! </div>
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14 INDICTMENTS UNSEALED!</div>
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WHO REMAINS?</div>
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Ideas:<br />
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<li>How does the U.S. D.O.J. have jurisdiction?</li>
<li>What is RICO?</li>
<li>Do we know who all the rats are?</li>
<li>Rackateering</li>
<li>Wirefraud</li>
<li>Money Laundering</li>
<li>Indictment against Daryan signed by Loretta Lynch</li>
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Finally. It has happened. The American Feds have indicted and arrested 14 FIFA officials. IN SWITZERLAND!</div>
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My bet is that Sepp Blatter has been indicted. The only reason he was not arrested and the indictment unsealed is because he is a Swiss national, and Switzerland does not extradite its own citizens. </div>
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My other bet is that the rats and snitches, such as Chuck Blazer, are ratting on Sepp Blatter so that theu can live out the rest of their lives in Trump Tower where they hide their stashes of cash.</div>
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I have another hunch. I have a feeling that Sunil Gulati, the President of U.S. Soccer.</div>
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"These defendants took the soccer enterprise and turned it into a criminal enterprise." </div>
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As a criminal defense lawyer that practices soccer law, I am familiar with FIFA. I will write more soon.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-67039313097969418332015-05-14T16:06:00.002-05:002015-05-14T16:08:49.855-05:00Unlawful Carrying Of A Weapon Motion To Suppress Post-Rodriguez <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was almost there. I was so close that I could feel it. I could touch it. I could see it. I could see the Montgomery County Judge saying, "Motion To Suppress Granted," and the State of Texas saying "Judge we will file this Motion to Dismiss." However, it wasn't to be. It wasn't to be because we worked the case us so good that the Montgomery County prosecutor dismissed both cases in exchange for my client forfeiting his handgun.</div>
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For the record, I would not have taken that deal under the circumstances, that's how confident I was in the facts of the case, my legal research, and that I would not let the government steal my gun (if I had one). However, as a client-centered lawyer, my job, my obligation is to inform my clients about the procedure, the potential courses of action, and the potential consequences of each course of action. In this case, the dismissals were all he wanted.</div>
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So, let's rewind to May of 2014, in a little speed-trap of a town called Patton Village. My client was driving a car his mother bought him for graduation north on highway 59 to visit his mother in Mississippi. He was traveling in the left lane, allegedly, without passing other vehicles. A Patton Village Cop followed him for, according to the cop, three miles. The cop turns on his dashboard camera as the cars approach the Liberty County Line (where liberty goes to die). In the video, you can see that my client's car is getting further from the white car in the right hand lane, and closer to the semi in front of him, thus appearing to be passing traffic and nullifying the reason for the stop.</div>
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The officer turns on his overhead emergency lights and pulls my client over. My client turns on his signal and makes safe lane changes until he comes to a safe stop on the shoulder, at which point he turns on his hazard lights. The Patton Village Cop calls in my client's Mississippi license plate number, exits his vehicle and goes to the driver door. The cop talks to my African American client for a full minute with his window down. My client gives the cop his license, insurance and registration, just as he's supposed to, and the cop orders my client out of the car. The cop waits for a another cop to arrive (not in the offense report as it should be) then returns to the squad car and runs my client's driver license. </div>
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About 15 minutes later, the cop learns that there are no arrest warrants for my client, he has no criminal history, he has only been pulled over once before, and that his car is coming back as stolen. The cop places my client under arrest and puts him in the back of the squad car. My client tells the officer that there must be a mistake, I mean, after all, the his registration and insurance are for that car, they have his name on it along with his mother's name, who shares the same last name and is registered to her address in Mississippi which is the address on my client's driver's license.</div>
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The officer agrees to call my client's mother. To be fair, he could have been a real big jerk and not done that, but on the other side of the token, the evidence before him was that the car was not stolen. His story made sense. So, the cop calls my client's mother who answers. The cop says hes in a stolen car. She asks what he's driving. She cuts him off, "is it a black 2006 chevy hhr?" Indeed it was. She assures the cop that the car was not stolen. The cop sayd he would let her son go in a few moments.</div>
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The cop then tells my client he is letting him go, but requests consent to search his vehicle. My client exercises his Fourth Amendment right to deny the officer consent to search. At this point, under a new Supreme Court Case called <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/13-9972_p8k0.pdf" target="_blank">Rodriguez v. United States,</a> the cop had a duty to let my client go. Instead, the cop called a K9 to search the outside of my client's car. The K9 arrives 15 minutes later (after more than an hour had already passed where the officer could have called the K9, or actually just searched the car since he had probable cause to believe a crime had been committed). The K9 made two hits, and the cops recovered some weed and pistol.</div>
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We argued that the fruit of the search, were fruits of the poisonous tree, and must be suppressed. In layman's terms, the cops illegally searched my client's car.</div>
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So quick rundown on searches and seizures. A cop can search a person or a place if there is a valid search warrant. IF there is not a valid search warrant, the search is presumed to be unlawful. An officer can search for contraband if he has probable cause.<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">" Probable cause is exists where facts and circumstances are sufficiently strong to justify a prudent and cautious person's belief that certain facts (that a person committed a crime) are probably true. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> Probable cause to search exists if the cop sees the person commit the crime, the contraband is in plain view, the officer's smells the weed... so on and so forth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Here, the cop did not see and dope in plain view. The law holds that an officer must diligently pursue all reasonable avenues to confirm or dispel a belief, and that they must execute the ordinary tasks of a traffic stop in a diligent manner. So, an officer may not prolong a traffic stop to call a dog or conduct a search without probable cause. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">What are the ordinary tasks of a traffic stop, you may ask? Investigating and issuing a ticket, running a warrant check to see if the driver if the driver is wanted for arrest, and do a license plate check to see if the car is stolen. In this case, the officer did a reasonable diligent job in doing the above, and he did a pretty great job at investigating once the car was stolen. However, once he determined the car was stolen, he did not have the right to detain my client any longer, unless he had developed a reasonable suspicion to believe my client was engaged in or was about to be engaged in criminal activity. FYI, all you officers out there, a HUNCH IS NOT ENOUGH TO DETAIN A MOTORIST!!! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">In this case, the officer did not have an articulable reasonable suspicion to continue detaining my client and it was his right, as it is yours, dear reader, to DENY CONSENT TO SEARCH his vehicle. My client did not make incriminating statement, there was nothing in plain view, the car was not stolen, he was not a known drug dealer, he did not come from a known drug house, he was not intoxicated, his story made sense, he was calm, cooperative, honest, did not attempt to flee... I could continue, but you get the point.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">There are a litany of cases that define what a cop can and cannot do in regard to a traffic stop. Rodriguez is great because it affirms absent a reasonable suspicion, the extension of a traffic stop a.k.a. prolonged detention is an unreasonable seizure, and that calling a K9 is not an ordinary or traditional aspect of a traffic stop.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">If you have been arrested you need to hire a lawyer who loves to investigate unlawful searches and seizures. You need a lawyer who can read an offense report and smell something fishy. You need a lawyer who enjoys researching to protect your liberties. </span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-11270944101401754582015-05-06T17:11:00.002-05:002015-05-06T17:11:41.612-05:00HOW DO YOU DEFEND THOSE PEOPLE? REFLECTIONS ON THE CONSTITUTION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I just returned from a trip to our nation's capitol. I went to D.C. for the Anti-Defamation League Glass Leadership Institute Summit. The Anti-Defamation League is a nongovernmental organization that fights against hate and for civil rights. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The trip was amazing. I attended several panels, asked pressing questions of the associate director of the FBI for terrorism, and someone in a similar position in the White House. I met Senator Cory Booker and saw John McCain speak. I also had the opportunity to do a lot of walking and a lot of touring. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I saw four things that were extremely moving: The Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and the flag that inspired the Star-Spangled Banner.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Over the course of my weekend in D.C. I was asked many times, "How do you do it? How do you defend criminals? How do you defend people you know are guilty?" In fact, I have been asked these questions ever since I began practicing criminal law. Those four pieces of American History are the lights that guide me to represent those accused among us. My response to these questions is always that if my client is not free, if my client is not guaranteed all of his rights under the Constitution, if my client if not treated how you would expect to be treated if you were in his position, you are not free, you will not have those rights and protections, and you will be treated no better than him.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Clarence Darrow said it best, if you are not free, I am not free.</span><br />
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One of my clients will be charged with Intoxicated Manslaughter. One of my mentors asked me if I'll take the case, and I told him that I'm not sure if I can because a childhood friend of mine was recently killed by a drunk driver. My mentor, Eric Davis, stopped me in my tracks and reminded me what I told all my new friends this weekend: It is so important to protect the Constitution, and my client trusts me with his life, and I owe it to him, and everyone out there, to repay that trust.</div>
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God Bless America</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-14176217398007406812015-04-30T10:15:00.002-05:002015-04-30T10:15:15.874-05:00#BaltimoreRiots #BaltimoreProtests #FreddieGray Baltmore Protests <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_1QKkr9bFy77BQyWBuuXQ3xTaKJ3AdIbKSPCQnbfTE_U6hASAfjbrYmpvkv3_GzGd7IJH5NkqKlMSfzFaRI5kRklQNtT4Zyc91tU4O4qB-VZt6QXflFeZhzdJ-Vhm4xAWnB8uL1_jik/s1600/houstonassaultlawyerredglowlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_1QKkr9bFy77BQyWBuuXQ3xTaKJ3AdIbKSPCQnbfTE_U6hASAfjbrYmpvkv3_GzGd7IJH5NkqKlMSfzFaRI5kRklQNtT4Zyc91tU4O4qB-VZt6QXflFeZhzdJ-Vhm4xAWnB8uL1_jik/s1600/houstonassaultlawyerredglowlogo.png" height="76" width="320" /></a></div>
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The shit has hit the fan once again. This time it happened in Baltimore.</div>
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In case you live under a rock, there have been days and days of protests and a day or two of riots in Baltimore, Maryland, A.K.A. Charm City. The civil unrest (the right has figured out long ago it is all about terms and coded language, and I believe the same holds true in court) was "sparked" by the death of Freddie Gray. Freddie Gray died after the police arrested him. Why did they arrest him? We are still not sure why. The allegation is that the police saw Mr. Gray, made eye contact with him, and that he ran. They then allegedly found a knife on his person. </div>
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The fact of the matter is that running alone does not create probable cause to detain someone. </div>
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Luckily, some bystanders were recording the incident on cell phone video. The video shows Freddie Gray's legs limp, while he screams in agony. At some point, his spinal chord became severed. He died a week later. One theory is that his injury occurred while being arrested, another theory is that his injury occurred while he was unbuckled in the paddy wagon. There is no doubt that he suffered his injuries in police custody.</div>
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It was only after his death that the protests turned into riots. We have seen this time and time again.</div>
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The sad thing is that most white people only care that property is destroyed. </div>
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The fact of the matter is that the problems run much deeper than the death of Freddie Gray. Yes, police brutality, excessive force, not following proper procedure to ensure the safety of members of the community are a huge problem, but that is not all. All of these problems can be directly linked to the war on drugs, poor educational systems, and lack of job opportunities. These are the systematic remnants of Jim Crow, which is the systematic remnant of slavery. The ghettos of Baltimore, Ferguson, Houston, Dallas, and any city in the country are there because a group of people want them to be there so that they can profit from the subjugation of others. </div>
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This country needs strong criminal defense lawyers. This country needs strong public defenders. This country needs to stop the war on drugs. This country needs to pay good teacher good money to teach in the ghetto. This country needs soccer in the ghetto. This country needs to invest in the ghetto.</div>
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Freddie Gray's death was the boiling point. It was not the cause for the protests.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-23469598375850866402015-04-26T14:49:00.000-05:002015-04-26T14:49:26.614-05:00DWI Second Plead to a First Is Good Result For My Client<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_1QKkr9bFy77BQyWBuuXQ3xTaKJ3AdIbKSPCQnbfTE_U6hASAfjbrYmpvkv3_GzGd7IJH5NkqKlMSfzFaRI5kRklQNtT4Zyc91tU4O4qB-VZt6QXflFeZhzdJ-Vhm4xAWnB8uL1_jik/s1600/houstonassaultlawyerredglowlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_1QKkr9bFy77BQyWBuuXQ3xTaKJ3AdIbKSPCQnbfTE_U6hASAfjbrYmpvkv3_GzGd7IJH5NkqKlMSfzFaRI5kRklQNtT4Zyc91tU4O4qB-VZt6QXflFeZhzdJ-Vhm4xAWnB8uL1_jik/s1600/houstonassaultlawyerredglowlogo.png" height="76" width="320" /></a></div>
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My Motto is "Client Centered | Trial Ready." I am trial ready in the sense that I build every case from day one to take it to trial. I prepare every case from day one to take it to trial. Every interaction I have with my client, the prosecutor and witnesses is with an eye towards trial. I am not afraid to try a case. I am client centered in the sense that my ultimate goal is to empower my clients to make the decision they think is best for themselves I don't push clients to do one thing or another and I certainly don't force an issue. </div>
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I won my first trial. I got a not guilty on a felony sex case. A few months after that big win I got a call from a guy I will call Martin, who was referred to me by the guy I got a not guilty for, John. Bobby was charged with his second DWI. He spent 60 days in jail on his first DWI and wouldn't be willing to lose his job and do time in the slammer again. He hired me because he wanted a trial.</div>
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This case was in the notorious Montgomery County. If you didn't know, virtually every cop car has a dash camera. The camera turns on automatically when an officer illuminates his lights, and your field sobriety tests will be recorded. In this particular case, my client was pulled over because his license plate light was not working. </div>
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Word to the Wise: You can get pulled over for virtually anything that is wrong with your car. This means make sure your inspection stickers and registration stickers are up to date, and that all of your lights and signals are working.</div>
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So my client get's pulled over, and does excellent on the field sobriety tests. The only problems with my client's performance appears to be as a result of his poor understanding of English. After the trooper placed my client under arrest for DWI, the trooper decides to play the DIC 24 on his computer. The DIC 24 is a document that warns people arrested for DWI that they can either consent to a breath or blood test, or if they refuse, their license will be automatically suspended. </div>
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My client requested that the DIC 24 be played in Spanish. The cop played it in English. My client then consented, even though he didn't have a license in the first place, which begs the question, why would he even consent if he had understsood the DIC 24 warnings?</div>
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I researched the issue and advised my client that we would have a good shot on a motion to suppress. A motion to suppress is a request to the court to exclude the results of a search. Here, the search would have been his breath results because my client's consent was not freely, knowingly, and voluntarily given. The problem here is that there is a totality of the circumstances test. In other words, do all of the facts and circumstances demonstrate that my client did not understand the DIC 24?</div>
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I felt confident that we would win. The prosecutor knew that I had a good chance. Normally, I wouldn't tell the prosecutor that I was thinking about doing a motion to suppress. I told the prosecutor in this case for two reasons: (1) the remote possibility of a dismissal and (2) to improve my bargaining power since my client began to change his position on trial.</div>
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Did it work? You bet!</div>
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The offer was originally 75 days in jail on a DWI second, and a $2000 fine. In other words, my client's next DWI arrest would be a felony. My client ended up taking a plea deal on a DWI 1st, credit for time served, meaning that there would be no jail time, and a $1000 fine.</div>
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My client was happy, and that's what client centered lawyering is all about. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-36180940571370026142015-04-24T11:16:00.000-05:002015-04-24T11:16:07.414-05:00Federal Human Trafficking "Tencha" Case Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well over a year ago, just weeks after I have been sworn into practice law by Judge David Hittner, I was asked by a family friend who practices criminal law to help him write a brief for a federal sex trafficking case.</div>
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I jumped at the opportunity to make a few bucks and get some writing experience, in federal court, nonetheless. </div>
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<a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Case-against-accused-sex-trafficker-began-10-6197564.php" target="_blank">This case was about</a> a massive <a href="http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Woman-arrested-in-Houston-trafficking-case-worked-4894493.php" target="_blank">human trafficking</a> and sex <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/04/14/matriarch-of-teenage-prostitution-and-human-trafficking-conspiracy-on-trial-in-texas/" target="_blank">slavery ring in Housto</a>n. The ring was allegedly led by a family matriarch known as "Tencha." She owned some property off Telephone road and her bars and restaurants as brothels. Girls would be lured to America by promise of work and freedom, but instead they found themselves as indentured servants never able to pay off their debts, and forced to have sex with Johns to make payments. The way this works is that guys show up to the bars, pay a door fee, then they pay exorbitant money for a few beers, then pay for a room fee, then pay for a condom, then pay for sex with the girl. It is really horrible stuff. It really makes you wonder what would happen to the human trafficking trade if prostitution were legalized.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, a massive federal task force conducted a 10 year investigation into this brothel. Can you imagine, they let this shit go on for 10 years? What a joke. Finally, they do a bust and arrest everyone at the scene. Three of the girls who were arrested hire Ellis Munoz, who hires me to write a brief.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The government held our clients in federal custody because the government felt they were material witnesses. In other words, they were victims of human trafficking and slavery that could help make the government's case. Our stance was that they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, or just not material.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I wrote a nice long brief explaining the law and why our girls, who just wanted to go back to Mexico, were not material witnesses. There was a hearing held in the magistrate's courtroom. The hearing was basically depositions to find out who the material witnesses were. At this point, none of the 24 defendants had plead. So there were 24 defendants in orange and green jumpsuits, and their high-powered lawyers. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Then there was Ellis and I. Examinations were conducted. I was new and awkward and stupid, so I hurried off too lunch. Little did I know, the magistrate made her recommendation that the our girls were not material witnesses. The federal government fought very hard to make sure they were.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The recommendation, army of lawyers, and defendants moved to Judge Hittner's courtroom. I was stupid and went to lunch. Judge Hittner looked at Ellis and said something along the lines of "whoever wrote this did an excellent job." JUDGE HITTNER, THE JUDGE WHO SWORE ME IN AND SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME IN FRONT OF HIS COURT SAID THAT ABOUT MY WORK AND I WASN'T THERE TO HEAR IT, AND HE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT WAS ME.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, my motion was granted and the girls were allowed to get their live's back. My first federal case, my first federal victory. Come to think of it, that was my first case period. Ellis and I have worked together since then, including winning a <b>NOT GUILTY VERDICT</b> in my first trial on a felony <b>solicitation of a minor</b> case in Montgomery County, and motion to suppress that we also won. I'm undefeated with him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Tencha case went to the jury yesterday. It should be interesting to see what happens.</div>
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<br /></div>
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READ MY MOTION HERE</div>
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS HOUSTON DIVISION </div>
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</div>
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA § </div>
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Plaintiff § CRIMINAL DOCKET 4:13-CR-628 § HONORABLE NANCY JOHNSON VS § </div>
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§ § HORTENCIA MEDELES-ARGUELLO § Defendant § </div>
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</div>
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MATERIAL WITNESSES’ RESPONSE TO DEFENDANT’S MOTION REQUESTING DEPOSITION OF MATERIAL WITNESSES </div>
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TO THE HONORABLE NANCY JOHNSON: </div>
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The Defendant’s Motion Requesting Deposition of Material Witnesses should be denied </div>
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because the Defendant failed to demonstrate that the Material Witnesses’ testimony will be </div>
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favorable and material to her defense. Moreover, the anticipated deposition testimony is </div>
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cumulative, and the witnesses will respectfully invoke their Fifth Amendment privilege against </div>
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self-incrimination to any and all incriminating questions. Should this Honorable Court allow the </div>
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depositions, the Material Witnesses hereby request an inquiry into, and screening of, the proposed </div>
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deposition questions. In support of their position, the Material Witnesses represented by the </div>
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undersigned counsel would show: </div>
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PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND RELEVANT FACTS </div>
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1. On October 9, 2013, the United States indicted Hortencia Medeles-Arguello </div>
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(“Defendant"), and thirteen co-conspirators, on one count of Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, </div>
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2 </div>
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one count of Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens, four counts of Money Laundering and </div>
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one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. </div>
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2. On October 10, 2013, a joint task force composed of several law enforcement agencies </div>
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executed a search warrant at Nuevo Amanecer, 5618 Telephone Rd., Houston, Texas. </div>
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Nuevo Amanecer was once known as Las Palmas Club and/or Las Palmas II. Although </div>
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that address was once owned by the Defendant, it had not been under her ownership for </div>
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approximately one year before the raid. Las Palmas Club ceased to exist in November </div>
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2012. </div>
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3. The task force decided to detain dozens of people found inside Nuevo Amanecer on </div>
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October 10, 2013. The arrested individuals were detained subject to removal proceedings </div>
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by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, </div>
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Enforcement Removal Operations. </div>
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4. The federal agencies interrogated all of the arrestees. None of the arrestees were </div>
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represented by counsel. None of the arrestees were advised of their Miranda rights. None </div>
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of the interrogations were conducted under oath or affirmation of perjury. These </div>
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interrogations form the basis of the Defendant's Motion to which this response addresses. </div>
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5. On October 11, 2013, the Government filed an Affidavit in Support of Detention of </div>
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Material Witnesses. (See, Affidavit in Support of Detention of Material Witnesses). The </div>
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Government determined that based on the aforementioned interviews, in which the </div>
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arrestees were denied due process, that the "aliens can provide testimony that will be </div>
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material to the prosecution of this case. Specifically, the aliens can provide testimony </div>
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related to Sex Trafficking, other illegal activities, and the day to day activities occurring at </div>
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Las Palmas II.” </div>
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3 </div>
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6. The Government continued, and requested twenty-five aliens to be detained as "Material </div>
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Witnesses" pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3144, and order the United </div>
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States Marshal to detain them so that depositions may be taken within thirty (30) days of </div>
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the order. This Honorable Court granted the order, as well as an extension of that order. </div>
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7. The undersigned counsel was hired to represent six Material Witnesses: (1) Maria Hilda </div>
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Duran Nava; (2) Angelica Lopez Leon; (3) Ana Karin Gutierrez Texis; (4) Elizabeth Martin </div>
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Matias; (5) Maria Esther Casemiro-Deroteo; and (6) Natividad Hernandez Cerino. Ms. </div>
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Matias has been released from being a Material Witness. </div>
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8. On November 27, 2013, at this Court's order, the Defendant submitted a Motion Requesting </div>
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Deposition of Material Witnesses. (See, Defendant's Motion Requesting Deposition of </div>
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Material Witnesses). </div>
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9. The Defendant’s Motion includes summaries of the information the witnesses could testify </div>
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about. The summaries are based on the recorded interviews of the Material Witnesses </div>
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conducted by law enforcement after the October 10, 2013, raid of Nuevo Amanecero. The </div>
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summaries strongly indicate that the Material Witnesses can provide no information that is </div>
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favorable or material for the Defendant. (See, Defendant's Motion Requesting Deposition </div>
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of Material Witnesses, P.5-9). </div>
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10. The Defendant's Motion requests this Court to order the deposition of thirteen witnesses, </div>
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including those represented by the undersigned counsel. (See above, paragraph 7). </div>
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11. On November 20, 2013, counsel for the Material Witnesses informed the Court that the </div>
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Material Witnesses will invoke their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. </div>
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12. Eight (8) of the material witnesses have been released. </div>
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4 </div>
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Material Witnesses Maria Casemiro-Doroteo and Nohemi Homan will be deposed on Friday, </div>
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December 6, 2013. </div>
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ARGUMENT </div>
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I. THE DEFENDANT FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MATERIAL WITNESSES’ TESTIMONY IS RELEVANT, FAVORABLE AND MATERIAL TO HER DEFENSE. </div>
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This Honorable Court should deny the Defendant's Motion Requesting Deposition of </div>
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Material Witnesses Maria Hilda Duran Nava, Angelica Lopez Leon, Ana Karin Gutierrez Texis, </div>
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Elizabeth Martin Matias, Maria Esther Casemiro-Deroteo, and Natividad Hernandez Cerino. The </div>
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Defendant's Motion should be denied because she failed to demonstrate that the designated </div>
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witnesses can offer testimony that is relevant, not cumulative, favorable and material to her </div>
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defense. </div>
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A. THE MATERIAL WITNESSES’ TESTIMONY FAILS TO REBUT THE GOVERNMENT’S ALLEGATIONS. </div>
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The testimony of aliens who are not alleged to have any connection to a crime or </div>
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conspiracy, and who cannot rebut the allegations against the defendant is inadmissible. U.S. v. </div>
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Castellanos-Machorro, 512 F.2d 1181, 1184 (9th Cir. 1975). In Castellanos-Machorro, a husband </div>
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and wife were convicted of transporting, concealing, and conspiracy to transport and conceal </div>
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aliens. Id. at 1182. A Border Patrol agent, the five aliens they were accused of smuggling, and </div>
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four former co-conspirators who drove the aliens and personally interacted with the defendants </div>
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testified against the defendants. Id. (Emphasis added.)The defendants appealed, arguing that they </div>
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were denied due process because they should have been allowed to interview 88 of the 288 aliens </div>
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who we were detained and deported after being found traveling away from, or in the vicinity of </div>
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the hotel managed by the defendants. Id. </div>
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5 </div>
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The circuit court held that the defendants were not denied due process. Id. at 1184. The </div>
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court rationed that because there was no claim the released aliens had any connection to the </div>
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conspiracy, or any transaction that formed the basis of the indictment, that their testimony was not </div>
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“conceivably exculpatory.” Id. at 1183. The court continued, stating that the defendant-wife failed </div>
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to offer a "persuasive basis" for concluding that the released aliens' testimony would be admissible. </div>
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Id. (Emphasis added). The court reasoned that the aliens' proffered testimony—that the defendant</div>
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wife did not smuggle them—even if true, would not be admissible because it "would not in any </div>
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way impeach" the testimony of the witnesses who personally dealt with the defendant and her </div>
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conspiracy. Id. 1183-84. (Emphasis added). </div>
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Here, the Defendant failed to offer a persuasive basis for concluding the testimony of the </div>
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Material Witnesses will be admissible. Like the deported aliens in Castellanos-Machorro, these </div>
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aliens had no personal interaction with the Defendant, or transactions that formed the basis of her </div>
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indictment. Because the Material Witnesses had no contact with the Defendant, any testimony </div>
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they might provide would not in any way impeach the sixteen Grand Jury witnesses. (See, </div>
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Criminal Indictment, P. 8-9). </div>
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The only alleged connection between the Material Witnesses and the Defendant is that they </div>
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were present in a building last owned by the Defendant a year before the raid. Like the 288 </div>
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deported aliens in Castellanos-Macharro, the Material Witnesses here can only testify that the </div>
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Defendant did not smuggle them, force them to prostitute, harbor them, traffic them for sex, aid </div>
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them in laundering money, or any related conspiracy. Like the deported aliens in Castellanos</div>
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Macharro, such testimony is only possible simply because they had little or no connection to Las </div>
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Palmas or the Defendant, and not because they possess exculpatory knowledge. Like the aliens in </div>
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6 </div>
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Castellanos-Machorro, the Material Witnesses’ testimony is irrelevant, immaterial, and in no way </div>
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rebuts or impeaches the government’s witnesses, as required under Castellanos-Machorro. </div>
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B. THE MATERIAL WITNESSES’ TESTIMONY IS NEITHER FAVORABLE NOR CONSEQUENTIAL FOR THE DEFENDANT. </div>
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The Defendant counterintuitively claims, without citing any authority, that she does not </div>
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need to show that the Material Witnesses possess material knowledge. (See, Defendant’s Motion </div>
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Requesting Deposition of Material Witnesses, P. 4, Para. 13). The government, however, is </div>
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justified in promptly deporting alien witnesses after making a good faith determination that the </div>
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witnesses possess no evidence favorable to the defendant in a criminal prosecution. United States </div>
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v. Romero-Cruz, 217 F.3d 374, 377 (5th Cir. 2000); See, United States v. Valenzuela-Bernal, 458 </div>
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U.S. 858, 872, 102 S.Ct. 3440, 73 L.Ed.2d 1193 (1982). Romero-Cruz defines materiality in the </div>
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context of material witnesses. Romero-Cruz, at 378. Testimony is material if it impeaches another </div>
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witness on a non-collateral matter, or there is a reasonable likelihood the witness’s testimony </div>
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would have affected the judgment of the jury. Id. </div>
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In Romero-Cruz, the appellant drove a truck from Harlingen, Texas, to near San Manuel, </div>
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Texas containing ten (10) illegal immigrants. Id. at 378. Eight (8) of the aliens were deported, </div>
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while two (2) were deposed as material witnesses. Id. One of the deported witnesses, Flores</div>
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Martinez, stated that she and one of the deposed witnesses, Delgado, were driven from the border </div>
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to Harlingen by a woman, and not the appellant. Id. This was inconstant with the deposed witness’s </div>
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testimony. Id. </div>
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The appellant claimed that the testimony of the deported aliens was favorable and material </div>
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because it would have established he did not knowingly engage in illegal conduct. Id. The court </div>
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held that the differing testimony was not material, because while Flores-Martinez’s statement may </div>
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7 </div>
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have impeached Delgado’s testimony, the statement only impeached a collateral matter, and did </div>
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not favorably aid the appellant. Id. Ultimately, the court held there was not a reasonable likelihood </div>
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that Flores-Martinez’s statement would not have affected the judgment of the jury. Id. </div>
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The detained witnesses will not be able to provide material and favorable deposition </div>
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testimony for the Defendant. The Material Witnesses are simply ignorant of the Defendant, her </div>
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business, and the allegations against her. They can neither support the government’s allegations, </div>
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nor aid the defense. Nothing the Material Witnesses can say will impeach the government’s </div>
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witnesses on non-collateral matters, nor will anything they can say have a reasonable likelihood </div>
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of affecting the jury’s judgment. Simply put, anything they can say will be inconsequential and </div>
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favor neither party. The government is justified in promptly deporting the Material Witnesses </div>
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without compelling their deposition testimony. </div>
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C. ANY ADMISSIBLE TESTIMONY IS CUMULATIVE. </div>
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Even where a deported alien’s testimony may have been favorable to the defense, the </div>
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defendant’s due process and compulsory process rights are not violated where the defendant fails </div>
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to show the testimony is not merely cumulative to the testimony of available witnesses. United </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
States v. Perez, 217 F.3d 323, 326 (5th Cir. 2000); United States v. Romero-Cruz, 201 F.3d 374, </div>
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376 (5th Cir. 2000). Moreover, the government may deport undocumented alien witnesses upon </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
a good faith showing that they do not possess information favorable to the defendant. Id. </div>
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In Perez, police received a tip that several aliens were being held hostage at a house until </div>
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the smugglers were paid for their services. Id. at 324. Law enforcement set up surveillance and, </div>
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after observing people freely come and go, executed a search warrant. Id. Twenty-four </div>
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undocumented aliens were arrested. Id. The defendant, who lived in an apartment attached to the </div>
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house, was charged with aiding and abetting the harboring of an undocumented alien. Id. at 325. </div>
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8 </div>
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The victim-daughter of the tipster disappeared after being released on bond, and several </div>
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witnesses were deported. Id. at 325-26. Of the eight (8) aliens deported before the indictment was </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
returned, six could not identify the defendant from a photo spread, and provided other relatively </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
favorable information. Id. at 236. The defendant was able to depose six material witnesses. Id. </div>
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The Court held that although the deported witnesses may have provided favorable testimony, the </div>
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defendant failed to show that their testimony was not merely cumulative. Id. at 327. </div>
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This Court named twenty-five (25) aliens found at Nuevo Amanecero as “material </div>
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witnesses.” Eight (8) of the material witnesses in total have been released from their designation </div>
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as material witnesses. The Defendant motioned to depose thirteen (13). The undersigned counsel </div>
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represents six (6) of those thirteen, one of whom has been released. Nearly all of the remaining </div>
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witnesses can testify to the same cumulative things. For example, as per the Defendant’s Motion, </div>
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most of the Material Witnesses can testify: </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That they did not work for the Defendant; </div>
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That they did not know the Defendant; </div>
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That they did not know what the Defendant did; </div>
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That they owned cell phones; </div>
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That the Defendant did not force them to buy cell phones; </div>
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That the Defendant did not take away their cell phones; </div>
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That the Defendant did not harbor them, </div>
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And that they had no interaction with the Defendant. </div>
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Two material witness, Maria Casemiro-Doroteo and Nohemi Hogan, will be deposed </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Friday, December 6, 2013. It follows that considering the circumstances of the raid, and </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
9 </div>
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happenstance of the Material Witnesses presence at Nuevo Amanecer, and in light of the precedent </div>
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set by Perez and Romero-Cruz, that all possible testimony they could offer is irrelevant and </div>
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cumulative. The Defendant has failed her burden of proving the proffered testimony is not </div>
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cumulative. The Material Witnesses have made a good faith showing that they can only provide </div>
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cumulative testimony, and, per Perez, should be deported without being deposed. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
II. THE MATERIAL WITNESSES HAVE BEEN DENIED DUE PROCESS AND ELECT TO EXERCISE THEIR FIFTH AMENDMENT PRIVILEGE AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION. </div>
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The Material Witnesses respectfully notify the Court that they will invoke their Fifth </div>
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Amendment privilege against self-incrimination to any and all incriminating questioned at any </div>
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deposition. The Material Witnesses invoke this right because “[n]o person… shall be compelled </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” U.S. Const., amend. V. (Emphasis added). </div>
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Therefore, a person may legitimately refuse to answer questions asked of her in any proceeding, </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
civil or criminal, formal or informal, where the answers might incriminate him in a future criminal </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
proceeding. United States v. Davidson, 2010 WL 3521726 (S.D. Tex., 2010), citing Lefkowitz v. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Turley, 414 U.S. 70, 77, 94 S.Ct. 316, 38 L. Ed.2d 274 (1973). </div>
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Due process is afforded to all people present in this country. Arab-American Anti</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Discrimination Committee v. Reno, 833 F.Supp. 1365, 1373, (C.D. Cal., 1995). It is irrelevant that </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
the person is here illegally. Id. The Fifth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment protect </div>
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everyone from deprivations of life, liberty and property without due process of law, regardless of </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
whether their entry into the country was unlawful, involuntary or transitory. Mathews v. Diaz, 96 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
S.Ct. 1883, 1890 (1976). The Material Witnesses respectfully request that their liberty be </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
reinstated by means of release from their detention as material witnesses. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
10 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Davidson, the defendants were charged with two counts of conspiracy to harbor and/or </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
induce aliens to come to or reside in the United States., and a tax fraud conspiracy. Davidson at </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1. 1,200 aliens were arrested and deported as a result of the investigation against the defendants. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Id. One witness, Vargas-Sanchez, voluntarily spoke with defense counsel and was able to testify </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
that the defendants did not assist his illegal entry into the country, provide him with false paper, </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
or encourage his employment. Id. The defendants motioned to depose Vargas-Sanchez. Id. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Vargas-Sanchez advised that he would assert his Fifth Amendment privilege against self</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
incrimination. Id. The Court ordered the deposition to be taken, and the witness asserted the </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
privilege. Id. at 2. The defendants objected to the assertion, but the Court held that Vargas</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sanchez properly invoked the privilege against self-incrimination, even though his testimony may </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
have been exculpatory, because any answer might have given regarding his employment, papers, </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
or entry into the country would incriminate him. Id. The Material witnesses will invoke their </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
privilege against self-incrimination to any question which may incriminate them. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
III. IF THE MATERIAL WITNESSES ARE NOT RELEASED, THEY REQUEST THE COURT TO SCREEN DEPOSITION QUESTIONS. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This Court should conduct an inquiry into the Material Witnesses’ assertion of privilege. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
See United States v. Goodwin, 625 F.2d 693, 701 (5th Cir. 1980)(“The trial judge must make a </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
proper inquiry into the legitimacy and scope of the witness’ assertion of his Fifth Amendment </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
privilege.”) The court may not accept a “blanket assertion of the privilege” without inquiry. Id. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Material Witnesses suggest that the Court conduct a hearing to determine whether their fear </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
of self-incrimination is justified and, if so, what the boundaries of his Fifth Amendment rights are </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
in relation to the testimony the parties seek. Id. The witness may not have a valid claim to a Fifth </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Amendment privilege with respect to relevant questions about which the parties will inquire. Id. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
11 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Court “must make ‘a particularized inquiry, deciding in connection with each specific </div>
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area that the questioning party wished to explore, whether or not the privilege is well-founded.’” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Id. (quoting United States v. Melchor-Moreno, 536 F.2d 1042, 1049 (5th Cir. 1976)). The Material </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Witnesses may be totally excused as a witness “only if the court finds that he could ‘legitimately </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
refuse to answer essentially all relevant questions.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Gomez-Rojas, </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
507 F.2d 1213, 1220 (5th Cir. 1975)). “Otherwise, ‘only as to genuinely threatening questions </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
should their silence (be) sustained.’” Id. (quoting Melchor-Moreno, 536 F.2d at 1049). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held that the witness’s privilege claims must </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
be judged by the standards of Hoffman v. United States, 341 U.S. 479, 486 (1951). Id. at 700. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Under Hoffman, the privilege applies where the witness has “‘reasonable cause to apprehend </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
danger from a direct answer.’” Id. (quoting Hoffman, 341 U.S. at 486). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To sustain the privilege, it need only be evident from the implications of the questions that </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
a responsive answer to the question or an explanation of why it cannot be answered might implicate </div>
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oneself. The trial judge in appraising the claim “must be governed as much by his personal </div>
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perception of the peculiarities of the case as by the facts actually in evidence.” The privilege must </div>
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be sustained if it is not “‘perfectly clear, from a careful consideration of all the circumstances in </div>
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the case, that the witness is mistaken, and that the answer(s) cannot possibly have such tendency’ </div>
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to incriminate.” Goodwin, 625 F.2d at 700-01 (internal citations to Hoffman omitted). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Consistent with prior Fifth Circuit case law, the Material Witnesses suggests that the Court </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
ask the Defense to identify the questions it intends to elicit from them and then inquire of them </div>
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12 </div>
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which questions he would object to on immunity grounds. The Court may then determine whether </div>
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the witness’s claims are valid as to relevant questions, inquiring further, ex parte, if necessary.1 </div>
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CONCLUSION </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Material Witnesses have been denied due process. They are unable to provide </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
testimony that is relevant, material and favorable for the Defendant. Nothing the Material </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Witnesses can say will impeach the government’s witnesses on non-collateral matters. Nothing </div>
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the Material Witnesses can say will affect the jury’s deliberations. Moreover, any admissible </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
testimony is merely cumulative. Should this Honorable Court permit the Defendant to depose the </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Material Witnesses, they ask the Court to screen the proposed questions to weed out incriminating </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
questions. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Respectfully submitte</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-18985704443004431002015-04-23T14:41:00.000-05:002015-04-23T14:41:22.033-05:00Appeals Filed and Trials Postponed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What an exhausting week!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First, I was set for a possession of marijuana trial in <b>Harris County</b> on 4/20. I was so eager to try that case and hopefully get a <b>NOT GUILTY</b> on the <b>marijauna</b> holiday, but it wasn't to be. For the second time. The first time the case was set for trial it was reset because the district attorney thought that the day of trial would be a good time to turn over <b>BRADY</b> <b>bodycam</b> video. I am sure glass I did not push forward without it ;).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This time, the case was reset because the judge wanted to get a two day trial out of the way, whereas mine would only take one day Although I was disappointed to not try this case, it gave me time to finish up an <b>appeal</b>. My appeal client was sentenced to <b>life in prison</b> for <b>aggravated sexual assault of a child</b>, which is the legal term for "<b>rape</b>" in <b>Texas</b>. You'd think that a trial for this type of charge might take quite a while, but this trial only lasted two days and they sent my guy to the slammer for the long haul.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was not the trial lawyer. The trial lawyer was a guy who is infamous for being found ineffective multiple times, yet for some reason, the courts keep appointing this guy to cases (in my opinion it is because they way certain defendants locked up for life, and this guy's representation almost guarantees it). I don't want to get into the details of the case, but I'll tell you what's important.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The complainant (what you might naturally as the victim) claimed my client diddled her. The complainant also claimed that three boys raped her at a party in another county that were no-billed. Mind you, a prosecutor could indict a ham sandwich. The prosecutors sent the trial lawyer a motion in limine that indicated the girl made accusations in the other county. (P.S. This crappy notice is going to be a huge issue and a potential Brady violation if there is a writ filed.) The trial lawyer didn't read the notice/motion and didn't request a continuance to investigate the allegations to see if they were false, which would be necessary to cross-examine/impeach the complainant at trial.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You might not think her prior false allegations of abuse are all that important, but they are huge, and particularly huge in this case. Why? Because the complainant claimed my client penetrated her, and touched her elsewhere. Well, the nurse recovered my client's DNA everywhere the complainant said my client touched her, except in her vagina, AND the nurse testified that if he really did penetrate her vagina, his DNA should be there under the circumstances. PHEW! It's uncomfortable talking about this. I don't like sex offenders and pedophiles, but if I'm not protecting their rights, your rights wont be protected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the point here is that if my client did not penetrate the girl, he is not guilty of aggravated sexual assault, which brings me to my second point, the court committed error by not including a jury charge for the lesser offense of <b>indecency with a child.</b> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't know if my client is guilty, and it wouldn't effect my representation if I did or he was. I never in a million years thought I would be an <b>appellate lawyer</b> <b>in Texas</b>, but it can be fun at times. Now it is time to wait and see what happens.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0Houston, TX, USA29.7604267 -95.369802828.8787477 -96.6606963 30.6421057 -94.0789093tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-57018180151405124392015-04-12T14:22:00.000-05:002015-04-12T14:22:59.951-05:00Houston Police Department BodyCams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have a client who was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. The offense report stated that one of the Houston Police Department Officers was wearing a body camera, and that he successfully uploaded it to the mainframe. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, great! Nine months pass from the date of the arrest to the first trial setting, and I had not yet been provided the bodycam footage. It wasn't until that very morning that the police officer brought CDs containing the footage.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Can you believe that?! Well, unfortunately, you should. I filed a discovery order. Judge Fields signed the discovery order, but that didn't matter to the State, apparently.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I ask to approach on the record. I tell Judge Fields what has and has not happened. He said that since bodycams are new technologies, he will give the prosecutor a break for not turning over potential Brady evidence in a timely manner. Shocking, but not surprising. The baby ADA had the misguided judgement to tell Judge Fields that "defense counsel did not do his due diligence." For any prosecutors who might be reading this, or defense attorneys for that matter, IT IS THE PROSECUTOR'S BURDEN TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE. All you have to do, arguably, is file a discovery order and get it signed by the judge. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As far as bodycams go, apparently they are not uploaded the same way or to the same place as dashcam videos. I will trial to get some policy on the record at trial.</div>
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The case is set for trial on 4/20! How appropriate?! Hopefully we can get a two word verdict along with a side of JUSTICE! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-8359583107408613472015-04-02T16:36:00.001-05:002015-04-02T16:36:39.137-05:00Deadly Conduct Case Dismissed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
TEXAS DEADLY CONDUCT LAWYER</h2>
<div>
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We have a statute in Texas called "Deadly Conduct."<br />
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Sec. 22.05. DEADLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he recklessly engages in conduct that places another in imminent danger of serious bodily injury.</div>
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(b) A person commits an offense if he knowingly discharges a firearm at or in the direction of:</div>
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(1) one or more individuals; or</div>
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(2) a habitation, building, or vehicle and is reckless as to whether the habitation, building, or vehicle is occupied.</div>
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(c) Recklessness and danger are presumed if the actor knowingly pointed a firearm at or in the direction of another whether or not the actor believed the firearm to be loaded.</div>
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(d) For purposes of this section, "building," "habitation," and "vehicle" have the meanings assigned those terms by Section 30.01.</div>
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(e) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the third degree.</div>
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Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.</div>
</pre>
<br />
If you're acting a fool, but didn't actually hurt anyone, you might get a deadly conduct charge. In my opinion, some deadly conduct shouldn't be illegal because there is no act that harms anyone or anything.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although I do not have nearly as many trials under my belt as I would like, I consider myself a trial lawyer. As a trial lawyer, it is my duty to know my case better than my opponent. I need to out work my opponent. Moreover, I need to get extremely cozy with my case early on so that I can make a game plan for the entire case, and by that I mean: What will I tell the prosecutor about the case? What will I tell the prosecutor about my client? What will I tell the prosecutor about the complainant? What will I tell the prosecutor about the witness? What will I tell the prosecutor about the evidence? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In this particular case, my client was charged with Deadly Conduct for allegedly waving a knife around in a threatening manner while making verbal threats. One this particular day, she had delivered some groceries to an elderly lady who had trouble getting around. As my client was leaving the old lady's apartment, she had seen her kids run off with some of the neighbor's kids. The neighbor (the complainant) runs downstairs and starts yelling at my client. My client allegedly took out her knife. The complainant was sleeping with the old lady's husband. The old lady's daughter lived upstairs with the neighbor. Several witnesses say just about the exact same thing. This was some Jerry Springer shit! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The complainant called the cops. The cops never found a knife. All they found was pepper spray.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My client came to my office for a free consultation. After doing the standard client interview, I had my client draw out a scene diagram. Next, after my client left and made a down payment, I had her reenact exactly what happened, using the same space constraints as at the actual scene. Next, I "visited" the scene via Google Maps and took screen shots of the scene. Finally, I spent a significant amount of time researching the background of each witness. Lo and behold, each witness/complainant had multiple convictions for crimes of dishonesty, aka theft and fraud.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
So now that I have all this information what do I do? In this particular case, I thought it best to not show any of my cards. Let's see what the prosecutor can come up with. Will the knife show up? Will the witnesses make different statements to the state? Should I speak to the complainant? In this particular case, I chose not to speak to the complainant. Why? Because I have dealt with these types of girls before, and usually, they are only more motivated to lie, testify, and prosecute if you speak to them.<br />
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So, I show up to our third or fourth setting anticipating that we can resolve the case. The prosecutor tells me she hasn't looked at my client's 4 month old file yet. I ask to approach the judge to set the case for trial. The judge says "give her a chance" and gives us a short two week reset; a reset that requires my client to be hauled back into court.<br />
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Guess what I see on top of the file as soon as a pick it up? MOTION TO DISMISS!<br />
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I read the RIP call, and apparently the prosecutor called the complaining witness, and the complaining witness said "Nah I ain't doing that shit!" and hung up in response to the prosecutor identifying herself. There is a good chance I would have had the same attitude, but different response if I was the one that called.<br />
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I was very eager to take this case to trial in order to expose just how reckless the police and district attorney can be in charging a member of our community with a crime without conduct a half-decent investigation. However, I know my clients would prefer a dismissal any day over the stress of trial.<br />
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That was one HAPPY CLIENT!<br />
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Like me <a href="http://www.facebook.com/coryrothlawoffice" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a>page.<br />
<br />
Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/rothlawoffice" target="_blank">TWITTER</a>.<br />
<br />
Visit my <a href="http://www.houstontexasmarijuanalawyers.com/" target="_blank">MARIJUANA </a>website.<br />
<br />
Visit my <a href="http://www.druglawyershoustontexasharriscounty.com/houston-drug-charge-lawyer.html" target="_blank">DRUGS </a>website.<br />
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Visit my <a href="http://www.houstonassaultchargelawyers.com/home.html" target="_blank">ASSAULT </a>website.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-67386254901807176202015-03-24T15:40:00.000-05:002015-03-24T15:40:51.402-05:00Better Call Saul: RICO<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #003e74; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
SAUL THE SOLICITOR</h1>
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This episode was classic Slippin' Jimmy. While the previous two episodes had very little to deal with the law and ethics, RICO was chalk full of ethical dilemmas and legal issues.</div>
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Let's play softball first. I noticed several tweets about Jimmy trespassing and jumping into the garbage bin. Let's put aside the fact that Jimmy may have been trespassing, ok? The question is whether Jimmy, or any other person could have gone through that trash? The answer, YES! Why? Jimmy did a good job telling you why; you do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in stuff you put out on your curb. Read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Greenwood" target="_blank">this wikipedia</a> page about the 4th amendment case from the Supreme Court that set this precedent.</div>
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The second major issue in this case is whether Jimmy was unethical in soliciting all those senior citizens in an attempt to gather clients to sue the nursing home? The answer again, YES! Why? Because his primary motivation was to make money. </div>
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.03 Prohibited Solicitations & Payments</h1>
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<span style="border-color: transparent rgb(43, 116, 192) transparent transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 4px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0.4em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></span><span style="border-color: transparent rgb(43, 116, 192) transparent transparent; border-style: solid; border-width: 4px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0.4em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;"></span><a href="https://www.legalethicstexas.com/Ethics-Resources/Rules/Texas-Disciplinary-Rules-of-Professional-Conduct.aspx" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(114, 164, 209); color: #2b74c0; text-decoration: none;">Back to Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rule703a">(a)</a> A lawyer shall not by in-person contact, or by regulated telephone or other electronic contact as defined in paragraph (f), seek professional employment concerning a matter arising out of a particular occurrence or event, or series of occurrences or events, from a prospective client or nonclient who has not sought the lawyer's advice regarding employment or with whom the lawyer has no family or past or present attorney-client relationship when a significant motive for the lawyer's doing so is the lawyer's pecuniary gain. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, a lawyer for a qualified nonprofit organization may communicate with the organization's members for the purpose of educating the members to understand the law, to recognize legal problems, to make intelligent selection of counsel, or to use legal services. In those situations where in-person or telephone or other electronic contact is permitted by this paragraph, a lawyer shall not have such a contact with a prospective client if:</div>
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(1) the communication involves coercion, duress, fraud, overreaching, intimidation, undue influence, or harassment;</div>
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(2) the communication contains information prohibited by Rule 7.02(a); or</div>
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(3) the communication contains a false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or unfair statement or claim.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rule703b">(b)</a> A lawyer shall not pay, give, or offer to pay or give anything of value to a person not licensed to practice law for soliciting prospective clients for, or referring clients or prospective clients to, any lawyer or firm, except that a lawyer may pay reasonable fees for advertising and public relations services rendered in accordance with this Rule and may pay the usual charges of a lawyer referral service that meets the requirements of Occupational Code Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 952.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="rule703c">(c)</a> A lawyer, in order to solicit professional employment, shall not pay, give, advance, or offer to pay, give, or advance anything of value, other than actual litigation expenses and other financial assistance as permitted by Rule 1.08(d), to a prospective client or any other person; provided however, this provision does not prohibit the payment of legitimate referral fees as permitted by Rule 1.04(f) or by paragraph (b) of this Rule.</div>
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(d) A lawyer shall not enter into an agreement for, charge for, or collect a fee for professional employment obtained in violation of Rule 7.03(a), (b), or (c).</div>
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(e) A lawyer shall not participate with or accept referrals from a lawyer referral service unless the lawyer knows or reasonably believes that the lawyer referral service meets the requirements of Occupational Code Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 952.</div>
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(f) As used in paragraph (a), "regulated telephone or other electronic contact" means any electronic communication initiated by a lawyer or by any person acting on behalf of a lawyer or law firm that will result in the person contacted communicating in a live, interactive manner with any other person by telephone or other electronic means. For purposes of this Rule a website for a lawyer or law firm is not considered a communication initiated by or on behalf of that lawyer or firm.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Comment:</strong></div>
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1. In many situations, in-person, telephone, or other prohibited electronic solicitations by lawyers involve well-known opportunities for abuse of prospective clients. Traditionally, the principal concerns presented by such contacts are that they can overbear the prospective client's will, lead to hasty and ill-advised decisions concerning choice of counsel, and be very difficult to police. The approach taken by this Rule may be found in paragraph (f), which prohibits such communications if they are initiated by or on behalf of a lawyer or law firm and will result in the person contacted communicating with any person by telephone or other electronic means. Thus, forms of electronic communications are prohibited that pose comparable dangers to face-to-face solicitations, such as soliciting business in "chat rooms," or transmitting an unsolicited, interactive communication to a prospective client that, when accessed, puts the recipient in direct contact with another person. Those that do not present such opportunities for abuse, such as pre-recorded telephone messages requiring a separate return call to speak to or retain an attorney, or websites that must be accessed by an interested person and that provide relevant and truthful information concerning a lawyer or law firm, are permitted.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.3999996185303px;">2. Nonetheless, paragraphs (a) and (f) unconditionally prohibit those activities only when profit for the lawyer is a significant motive and the solicitation concerns matters arising out of a particular occurrence, event, or series of occurrences or events. The reason this outright ban is so limited is that there are circumstances where the dangers of such contacts can be reduced by less restrictive means. As long as the conditions of sub-paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) are not violated by a given contact, a lawyer may engage in in-person, telephone or other electronic solicitations when the solicitation is unrelated to a specific occurrence, event, or series of occurrences or events. Similarly, subject to the same restrictions, in-person, telephone, or other electronic solicitations are permitted where the prospective client either has a family or past or present attorney-client relationship with the lawyer or where the potential client had previously contacted the lawyer about possible employment in the matter.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-74831175621496657032015-03-20T14:43:00.000-05:002015-03-20T14:43:59.252-05:00Lawyer Shopping Advice: You Get What You Pay For<br />
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I am absolutely raging right now, but not in the "let's go rage" way that so many of my friends in SoFlo used to say before going out in Ft. Lauerdale.</div>
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Nope.</div>
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I am mad at you, my potential clients. I am mad because I care for you. I care for you before you even give me a dime. In fact, I am mad because I want what's best for you.</div>
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Am I always going to be what's best for you? No, but I can tell you a story to illustrate why I may be a good choice.</div>
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Twice this week, TWICE, I got phone calls from folks who live hundreds of miles away, and the conversation goes something like this:</div>
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"My family member is in jail. He doesn't have any family in the area and few friends. He's never really been in trouble before, and I am looking for a lawyer. I got your name from So and So (big time lawyer considered one of the best in the game). He's been charged with X crime, how much is it?"</blockquote>
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"I am so honored to be getting refers for Mr. So and So...tell me what's going on."</blockquote>
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"Well .... (details that potential client's family member thinks they know)....How much is it?"</blockquote>
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"Thank you for sharing that with me. I am going to see what I can find on the clerk's website.?</blockquote>
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"How much is it?"</blockquote>
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"Sir, I understand you are concerned about the price, but I'll tell you what, I want to give you and your loved one a price that is fair to me. There are so many variables that could determine what a fair price is, and I will only have an idea after I speak with your loved one. We have been on the phone for 30 minutes, and I'll tell you what, I am going to take time to go visit your loved one in jail and interview him personally if that is ok with you. But before I do that, I am sure you will talk to other lawyers, and you should probably do that, but just remember you get what you pay for, and I think a lawyer that will give you a price right off the bat without knowing anything probably isn;t going to put in the work necessary needed for your loved one's case. Also, this is my price range (price range) for the charge. Do you still want me to take an hour or so to go visit your loved on in jail?"</blockquote>
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"Oh yeah, great, I like you already."</blockquote>
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"I will call you as soon as I talk to your loved one in the next 24 hours."</blockquote>
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I then go to the nasty, stinky, too cold or too hot jail, after paying to park and I go introduce myself to the potential client. They are gung ho about hiring me. I give them a price and they say yah let's do it! I say great, I'll tell your loved one what you said.</div>
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I get to the office and call the person who called me and they either never answer, or tell me they hired a lawyer who the bail bondsman recommended and is charging next to nothing.</div>
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So, you see why I'm mad with you, the potential client or his/her family member. I do everything in my power to help you, and be fair to you, and you don't take my advice. </div>
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This has happened to me 6-10 times in my career so far. I have yet to see one of these potential clients get bailed out, I have yet to see one of these potential clients go to trial despite proclaiming their innocence. On the flip side, I have been the second lawyer hired on several cases where the family hired the lawyer the bondsman or some inmate recommends. They are always more happy with me.</div>
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I may charge slightly more for my representation than others, but that is so I can keep a low caseload and devote to you the attention you deserve.</div>
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Word to the Wise: You get what you pay for. If a lawyer is giving you his time and undivided attention before ever being paid, and he wants to be fair to you, there is a good chance you might hire him or her now, instead of hiring the cheap guy, paying him, then hiring the first lawyer you spoke to and paying him too.</div>
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P.S. Experience is useless if its bad experience.</div>
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<a href="http://www%2Cfacebook.com/coryrothlawoffice" target="_blank">Facebook </a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0Houston, TX, USA29.7604267 -95.369802828.8787477 -96.6606963 30.6421057 -94.0789093tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-11663545902409202062015-03-10T11:28:00.001-05:002015-03-10T11:28:10.395-05:00BETTER CALL SAUL: FIVE-0 A LAWYER'S POINT OF VIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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LET THE AUDIENCE FINISH THE STORY</h2>
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I ripped the following quote from a Rolling Stone article.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: freight-text-pro, serif; font-size: 17px;">"You know what happened," Mike says to his daughter-in-law at the end of the episode. "The question is, can you live with it?" He then turns and faces toward the camera, as if asking the audience too. It's a haunting question, since we know what the answer is.</span><span style="font-family: freight-text-pro, serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: freight-text-pro, serif; font-size: 17px;">Read more: <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/recaps/better-call-saul-recap-officer-down-20150309#ixzz3U057p3vX" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/recaps/better-call-saul-recap-officer-down-20150309#ixzz3U057p3vX</a> </span><span style="font-family: freight-text-pro, serif; font-size: 17px;">Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bbJxak64Kr4kEzacwqm_6l&u=rollingstone" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #be1e1e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@rollingstone on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bbJxak64Kr4kEzacwqm_6l&u=RollingStone" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #be1e1e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">RollingStone on Facebook</a></span></blockquote>
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We already loved Mike, we knew he was a former cop, but we never knew what motivated him. We found out in grand fashion last night exactly why Mike is Who He Is. There are so many great articles on the web that delve deeply into the creation of the Mike. All I want to do is point out what the story tellers did.</div>
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As Mike is speaking to his daughter-in-law, he asks her a rhetorical question. She knows the answer, but she doesn't say it. Mile then turns to us, and I don't know about you, but I answered "yes."</div>
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The directors got it spot on. As a trial lawyer and story teller, we want to leave our audience on the edge of their seats. One storytelling tactic is to let not overstate it: don't ask the one question to many, don't hammer the final nail in the coffin. Empower the jury to take the nail out of your hands, and use their hammer to shut down the State's case.</div>
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P.S., I watch Matlock on YouTube sometimes, but not for his fashion sense.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-30094974959969562102015-03-09T12:53:00.000-05:002015-03-09T12:53:07.722-05:00SHAKING MY HEAD AT THE HARRIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPGsxbJ-0vQPG1UF6hYCxko1N9JS-RMTM2a-wMcR1sF-OjYGGC-BpDxjaesjqWG1_LWkIRElTgBdE9hWb5lYiD_SNjIycp8kQtDgJba0ajF8iW0ANIYGjr3tX6RjSpdpukkHEMVpbZCQ/s1600/Cory+Roth+Law+Office+letterhead+02(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPGsxbJ-0vQPG1UF6hYCxko1N9JS-RMTM2a-wMcR1sF-OjYGGC-BpDxjaesjqWG1_LWkIRElTgBdE9hWb5lYiD_SNjIycp8kQtDgJba0ajF8iW0ANIYGjr3tX6RjSpdpukkHEMVpbZCQ/s1600/Cory+Roth+Law+Office+letterhead+02(3).jpg" height="140" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
IF THE PROSECUTORS DON'T WORK...</h2>
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Why should my client be dragged to court? I have a case in Harris County that dates back to September. For me, this is an interesting case that I would love to take to trial. However, this case has enough bad characters that the case should be dismissed.</div>
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My client was the victim of barratry. You see, lawyers aren't allowed to walk up to you in the courthouse and ask if you need a lawyer. Needless to say, this lawyer charged my client very little money. Word to the wise, you get what you pay for. This lawyer, of course, did no work on the case for four months.</div>
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I get hired, and get to work hard and fast for my client. I do some digging and find out that the complainant and all the witnesses have several convictions for crimes of dishonesty. Add this to the fact that the weapon was not found, and you should have a dismissal.</div>
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I do what I sometimes do, and tell the prosecutor that her case is bad and what she needs to look into. Of course, the prosecutor who wrote those notes on the file was not the prosecutor handling the case, and she didn't write the note where notes are always written. </div>
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So my client and I slog through the horrible weather and traffic to court. I ask the prosecutor if she is ready to dismiss, because if not, I am setting this case for trial. She tell me she hasn't yet evaluated the case. JIMMINY CRICKET!!! The case is SIX MONTHS OLD!!!! You haven't LOOKED AT THE CASE??!?!?!?! You have me and my client coming to court for 6 months for no darn reason at all?!?!?</div>
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I approached the judge to set the case for trial. This court requires a disposition hearing before the case can be set for trial. The judge insinuated that because I have only been on the case for 2 months that we need more settings. I might appreciate that sentiment in some cases, but I AM NOT THE ONE ASKING FOR TIME!</div>
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This is what happens in the Harris County Courthouse. This is what the Harris County District Attorney does. I don't blame the prosecutor that is assigned to my case. She is sweet and will hopefully dismiss the case. She has no power or authority. I blame the elected DA. </div>
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IT'S A GOSH DAMN WAR OF ATTRITION!!! </div>
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IT'S LIKE BEING POKED 1,000 TIMES IN THE SAME SPOT!!!</div>
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IT'S A WASTE OF EVERYONE'S TIME AND MONEY!!!</div>
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Cory Roth, Signing Off.</div>
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713.864.3400</div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/coryrothlawoffice" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/coryrothlawoffice</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541980716932254987.post-70121849685744834812015-03-06T17:10:00.003-06:002015-03-06T17:13:48.683-06:00The Hat Trick: Three DISMISSALS in ONE Week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKshcGXaUY5HJZoBw9ZnaKq57eFR3oGDy-PDwsa-kKZ1HL1XnVYjXNe3RNlb_HSguMbwVRVYWZtJoNwxYnuhNl-6MiHtQOZMZhskOYtoKi2su4QM8T0CkHkeSv5SmpRXBXtNfgfSM5WVw/s1600/Cory+Roth+Law+Office+logo+01+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKshcGXaUY5HJZoBw9ZnaKq57eFR3oGDy-PDwsa-kKZ1HL1XnVYjXNe3RNlb_HSguMbwVRVYWZtJoNwxYnuhNl-6MiHtQOZMZhskOYtoKi2su4QM8T0CkHkeSv5SmpRXBXtNfgfSM5WVw/s1600/Cory+Roth+Law+Office+logo+01+(2).png" height="78" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
THREE MARIJUANA CASES</h2>
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THREE DISMISSALS </div>
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ONE WEEK</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I had a pretty good week or so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Last week I had a possession of marijauna case dismissed against my client who was a passenger in a truck with three buddies who all had weed on them. There was also weed underneath my client's seat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">On Wednesday, I won a </span>Motion to Suppress<span style="font-weight: normal;"> after picking a jury. Case Dismissed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Today, Friday, I showed up to court for our pretrial conference setting on a marijauna case. It was supposed to go to trial mid-march. I showed up to court this morning and my client's name wasn't called at docket. The court coordinator seemed to mumble that the case was dismissed when I said his name wasn't called. I approach the coordinator, and she goes to the clerk and pulls out a yellow sheet saying case dismissed. This client found me on Avvo. He was pulled over for driving with his headlights off at night. His friend was in the passenger seat with just about two ounces of weed in Tupperware at his feet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">This case was purely about possession, which means the government had to prove my client had actual or constructive care, control, or management over the pot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Either the ADA doesn't want to take weed cases to trial, this was truly a tough case to make, or they are growing scared after my win this week (probably not...really...maybe...hopefully).</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">If you hire me on a weed case be prepared to go to court many times over the course of many months because good things happen when you set cases for trial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Like my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_2111544689"></span>FACEBOOK <span id="goog_2111544690"></span></a>page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Join my circle on <a href="https://plus.google.com/117333059830189223638" target="_blank">GOOGLE+</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Visit my websites for <a href="http://www.druglawyershoustontexasharriscounty.com/home.html" target="_blank">Drugs</a>, <a href="http://www.houstonassaultchargelawyers.com/home.html" target="_blank">Assaults</a>, and <a href="http://www.houstontexasmarijuanalawyers.com/" target="_blank">Marijuana</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">If you are a former client, or simply enjoy my blog, please rate me on <a href="http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/77006-tx-cory-roth-4588705.html" target="_blank">AVVO</a>, Facebook, or Google.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">#criminaldefenselawyer</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">#marijuanalawyer</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">#houstoncriminallawyer</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Or contact me the old-fashioned way: </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Cory Roth<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cory Roth Law Office<o:p></o:p></div>
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4306 Montrose Boulevard, Suite 240<o:p></o:p></div>
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Houston, Texas 77006<o:p></o:p></div>
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T. 713.864.3400<o:p></o:p></div>
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F. 713.864.3413<o:p></o:p></div>
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C. 832.419.9973<o:p></o:p></div>
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B. 24088337<o:p></o:p></div>
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CoryRothJD@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Client Centered | Trial Ready<o:p></o:p></div>
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</h2>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079088716834261038noreply@blogger.com0