Some results I've obtained for my clients
Every case is different, and no attorney can guarantee a result in a given case. That being said, here are a few of the results I've obtained for clients in appeals across the state:
People v. Martell (2021) - The superior court denied Mr. Martell's SB 1437 petition without holding an evidentiary hearing. I successfully argued in the Court of Appeal that it should reverse that denial and order the judge to give Martell his evidentiary hearing.
In re Melson (2020) - After the Court of Appeal denied Mr. Melson's habeas petition, the California Supreme Court granted review and directed the Court of Appeal to issue an order to show cause why his convictions for murder, attempted murder, and shooting at an occupied vehicle should not be reversed based on the denial of his rights to due process and effective assistance of trial counsel. This case is ongoing with proceedings in the trial court yet to come.
People v. Melson (2020) - Mr. Melson had one of his two attempted murder convictions reversed based on my argument that the jury was improperly instructed on the "kill zone" theory of attempted murder.
People v. Kennedy (2020) - The Court of Appeal rejected the Attorney General's opposition and agreed that Mr. Kennedy was entitled to a full evidentiary hearing where he could present evidence in support of an early parole date.
People v. Paniagua (2019) - The Court of Appeal reversed two of Mr. Paniagua's gang enhancements, resulting in a 15-year reduction in his sentence.
People v. Dominguez (2017) - Ms. Dominguez was ordered to pay $900,000 in restitution to a family member of the victim. I convinced the Court of Appeal to reduce that to less than $1,000.
People v. Means (2016) - Mr. Means was convicted of two murders in Los Angeles County and sentenced to life without parole. In his appeal, the court agreed with my argument that one of the murder convictions had to be reversed because forensic evidence was admitted in violation of the Sixth Amendment. The reversal means Mr. Means is now parole-eligible instead of serving life without parole.
People v. Rosas (2015) - Mr. Rosas was convicted of vehicular manslaughter in San Luis Obispo County and sentenced to four years in custody. I argued in his appeal that there was insufficient evidence supporting the verdict. The Court of Appeal agreed, Mr. Rosas' conviction was reversed and he was released from jail. You can read about Mr. Rosas' case in this article from the San Luis Obispo New Times.
People v. Sedillo (2015) - Ms. Sedillo was convicted of one count of murder, five counts of attempted murder, and one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling in Los Angeles County. The Court of Appeal agreed with my argument that six of her convictions had to be reversed on statute of limitations grounds. As a result, Ms. Sedillo's parole eligibility date went from 35 years down to 15 years.
People v. Larumbe (2015) - Mr. Larumbe was convicted of first degree murder in Los Angeles County. I argued in his appeal that there was insufficient evidence the killing was premeditated and deliberate. Based on that argument, the Court of Appeal ordered the conviction be reduced to second degree murder. This sped up Mr. Larumbe's parole eligibility date to 16 years from the original 26 years.
People v. Howard (2015) - Mr. Howard was convicted of first degree murder in Los Angeles County. The Court of Appeal reversed the conviction and granted Mr. Howard a new trial based on my arguments about prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, and the admission of unfairly prejudicial evidence. You can read about Mr. Howard's case in this article from My News LA.
People v. Hernandez (2014) - Mr. Hernandez was convicted of arson-related offenses in San Luis Obispo County. After I argued in the Court of Appeal that two of Mr. Hernandez's convictions were legally invalid, the Court of Appeal dismissed them. This reduced Mr. Hernandez's sentence from 11 years to 8 years. You can read about Mr. Hernandez's case in this article from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
People v. Amaya (2013) - Mr. Amaya was convicted of possession and transportation of methamphetamine in San Bernardino County. I argued that he could not be punished for both crimes. The Court of Appeal agreed and reduced his sentence from 56 months to 48 months.
People v. White (2013) - Mr. White was convicted of two counts of firearm possession by a felon in Los Angeles County. In his appeal I argued there was insufficient evidence for one of the counts. The Court of Appeal agreed, reversed one of the convictions, and Mr. White's 6 year, 4 month sentence was reduced to 5 years.
People v. Nguyen (2012) - Mr. Nguyen was convicted of transporting marijuana for sale in Orange County. Based on my argument that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge, the Court of Appeal reversed Mr. Nguyen's conviction and ordered the charge dismissed.
People v. Aguirre (2012) - Mr. Aguirre was convicted for a sex offense in Orange County and was sentenced to prison and lifetime sex offender registration. The Court of Appeal agreed with my argument that the jury should have been instructed on the defense of entrapment and reversed the conviction. As a result of the appeal, Mr. Aguirre was able to negotiate a disposition which got him out of custody and avoided sex offender registration. You can read about Mr. Aguirre's case in this article form the Orange County Register.
People v. Martell (2021) - The superior court denied Mr. Martell's SB 1437 petition without holding an evidentiary hearing. I successfully argued in the Court of Appeal that it should reverse that denial and order the judge to give Martell his evidentiary hearing.
In re Melson (2020) - After the Court of Appeal denied Mr. Melson's habeas petition, the California Supreme Court granted review and directed the Court of Appeal to issue an order to show cause why his convictions for murder, attempted murder, and shooting at an occupied vehicle should not be reversed based on the denial of his rights to due process and effective assistance of trial counsel. This case is ongoing with proceedings in the trial court yet to come.
People v. Melson (2020) - Mr. Melson had one of his two attempted murder convictions reversed based on my argument that the jury was improperly instructed on the "kill zone" theory of attempted murder.
People v. Kennedy (2020) - The Court of Appeal rejected the Attorney General's opposition and agreed that Mr. Kennedy was entitled to a full evidentiary hearing where he could present evidence in support of an early parole date.
People v. Paniagua (2019) - The Court of Appeal reversed two of Mr. Paniagua's gang enhancements, resulting in a 15-year reduction in his sentence.
People v. Dominguez (2017) - Ms. Dominguez was ordered to pay $900,000 in restitution to a family member of the victim. I convinced the Court of Appeal to reduce that to less than $1,000.
People v. Means (2016) - Mr. Means was convicted of two murders in Los Angeles County and sentenced to life without parole. In his appeal, the court agreed with my argument that one of the murder convictions had to be reversed because forensic evidence was admitted in violation of the Sixth Amendment. The reversal means Mr. Means is now parole-eligible instead of serving life without parole.
People v. Rosas (2015) - Mr. Rosas was convicted of vehicular manslaughter in San Luis Obispo County and sentenced to four years in custody. I argued in his appeal that there was insufficient evidence supporting the verdict. The Court of Appeal agreed, Mr. Rosas' conviction was reversed and he was released from jail. You can read about Mr. Rosas' case in this article from the San Luis Obispo New Times.
People v. Sedillo (2015) - Ms. Sedillo was convicted of one count of murder, five counts of attempted murder, and one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling in Los Angeles County. The Court of Appeal agreed with my argument that six of her convictions had to be reversed on statute of limitations grounds. As a result, Ms. Sedillo's parole eligibility date went from 35 years down to 15 years.
People v. Larumbe (2015) - Mr. Larumbe was convicted of first degree murder in Los Angeles County. I argued in his appeal that there was insufficient evidence the killing was premeditated and deliberate. Based on that argument, the Court of Appeal ordered the conviction be reduced to second degree murder. This sped up Mr. Larumbe's parole eligibility date to 16 years from the original 26 years.
People v. Howard (2015) - Mr. Howard was convicted of first degree murder in Los Angeles County. The Court of Appeal reversed the conviction and granted Mr. Howard a new trial based on my arguments about prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, and the admission of unfairly prejudicial evidence. You can read about Mr. Howard's case in this article from My News LA.
People v. Hernandez (2014) - Mr. Hernandez was convicted of arson-related offenses in San Luis Obispo County. After I argued in the Court of Appeal that two of Mr. Hernandez's convictions were legally invalid, the Court of Appeal dismissed them. This reduced Mr. Hernandez's sentence from 11 years to 8 years. You can read about Mr. Hernandez's case in this article from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
People v. Amaya (2013) - Mr. Amaya was convicted of possession and transportation of methamphetamine in San Bernardino County. I argued that he could not be punished for both crimes. The Court of Appeal agreed and reduced his sentence from 56 months to 48 months.
People v. White (2013) - Mr. White was convicted of two counts of firearm possession by a felon in Los Angeles County. In his appeal I argued there was insufficient evidence for one of the counts. The Court of Appeal agreed, reversed one of the convictions, and Mr. White's 6 year, 4 month sentence was reduced to 5 years.
People v. Nguyen (2012) - Mr. Nguyen was convicted of transporting marijuana for sale in Orange County. Based on my argument that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge, the Court of Appeal reversed Mr. Nguyen's conviction and ordered the charge dismissed.
People v. Aguirre (2012) - Mr. Aguirre was convicted for a sex offense in Orange County and was sentenced to prison and lifetime sex offender registration. The Court of Appeal agreed with my argument that the jury should have been instructed on the defense of entrapment and reversed the conviction. As a result of the appeal, Mr. Aguirre was able to negotiate a disposition which got him out of custody and avoided sex offender registration. You can read about Mr. Aguirre's case in this article form the Orange County Register.
