2022

Norwalk Courthouse – NOT GUILTY

How do you defend a client who was charged with two counts of sexual abuse? What if the crime happened twenty-two years ago? What if the defendant confessed to this crime in a recorded telephone call? For some defense attorneys this case is over and the only option is to accept the prosecutor’s offer of eight years in prison and a life time obligation to register as a sex offender.

The first step in defending a client charged with a serious felony is preparation. We prepared by undertaking our own investigation. Our experienced private investigator worked harder than the police. The second step was to mount a legal challenge to the charged. We filed motions to dismiss based on the statute of limitations and due process. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations  for certain sex crimes is extended by Penal Code Section 803(f)(1) because the victim was under the age of 18 years when the offense was committed. The victim made a report to a California law enforcement agency when the victim was age 21 years and older, and criminal complaint was filed within one year of that report.

We could either accept the prosecutor’s offer of eight years in prison or go to trial. Client chose trial. We chose to prepare and then prepare more.

Adrian Baca is a skilled trial attorney with years of experience and a long track record of success. This alone is not enough. Each case is unique. Each case demands the undivided attention of the trial attorney.Our client received this level of care. After a week of trial, the jury returned verdicts of not guilty on both charges. Client is back home with his family and thankful he entrusted us with life, which he now has back.

Clara Shortridge Courthouse – Conviction Vacated: Murder and Attempted Murder 

Our client was convicted of murder and attempted murder back in 2001. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 80 years to life in prison.

We petitioned the court vacate his sentence. We thoroughly reviewed the 18 volumes of trial transcripts, researched changes in law, and submitted extensive briefing to the court. After a six-hour evidentiary hearing, the court agreed with the defense that the prosecutor could not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court vacated his murder and attempted murder conviction. About a week after this hearing, our client was released from prison.

Fullerton Courthouse – Case Dismissed: Illegal Search Suppressed

Client was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance. We thoroughly reviewed all the police officer body worn cameras. We prepared a motion to suppress after discovering that police officers searched the apartment prior to obtaining a search warrant.

After prolonged negotiations and the co-defendant’s payment of restitution for the damage caused to the apartment, the court dismissed the case.

Case Dismissed: Criminal Threat and Battery

Our client was accused of threatening to kill her boyfriend and beating up his sister. We prepared extensively for the preliminary hearing. The judge granted our request to reduce the felony criminal threat charge (a strike) to a misdemeanor at the preliminary hearing. The prosecutor then offered us a plea bargain, which we declined to accept.

Result: Upon review of the preliminary hearing transcript and exculpatory evidence we submitted prior to trial, the prosecutor dismissed all charges 

Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder

Our client was charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to murder with a gang enhancement. As a result, he was facing multiple life counts in prison. Making matters worse, the crime was caught on video. The preliminary hearing for this case spanned seven court days. Our client was held to answer on all charges.

We prepared an extensive motion to dismiss. We argued that our client was never part of any conspiracy to murder. Additionally, we asserted that throwing two punches did not constitute an intent to kill. We also argued that the prosecutor failed to establish that our client was a street gang member or a Southside gang member.

This matter was set for trial. Being prepared for trial helps plea negotiations. It was preparation that helped us achieve a good result in this case. 

Result: The prosecutor offered our client a plea to one count of assault with a deadly weapon, Penal Code 244(a)(4)(a non-strike, with 50% custody credit).

2021

Compton Superior Court – Preparation Pays Off with Murder Case Dismissal

Our client was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and multiple counts of assault. This was a five-defendant case, so we prepared around the clock for the preliminary hearing.

The police obtained a huge amount of video surveillance, cell phone records, and Google location data. As a result, the preliminary hearing took several days.

We managed to get the google location data excluded because we showed that the lead detective was not qualified to testify as an expert.

The judge found insufficient evidence for murder, conspiracy to commit murder and all the assault with a deadly weapon charges. The court ordered her immediate release.

Sometimes you need to treat the preliminary hearing like a trial. This case proves that being 100% prepared for the preliminary hearing pays off.

Los Angeles Court – Three Strikes but Instead Out to a Program

Our client was facing 25 years-to-life. He had two prior “strikes” and picked up a new violent felony, which would mean a third strike for him.

We were able to establish that he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a prior work-related accident, and separately that he was the victim of a crime, where he was beaten and suffered a concussion.

Our client pled to a reduced charge. He was granted probation and was then subsequently released to a mental health program.

Orange County Superior Court – Potential Life in Prison Does a 180

Our client was charged with attempted murder, torture, and domestic violence. He was facing life in prison.

Our office performed a thorough defense investigation, which yielded a probation offer of just another 180 days in jail from the prosecutor, which our client accepted.

Los Angeles Superior Court – Home for the Holidays

Our client was charged with attempted murder. We undertook a painstaking investigation, which included going over video surveillance frame by frame, reviewing all the police officer body worn cameras, and coming up with an alternative plausible scenario to attempted murder.

This was a three-defendant case, so the preliminary hearing took several days. We were able to weaken the credibility of the lead investigator and a civilian witness that testified to events that did not happen.

Just prior to trial, the our client accepted a probation offer for time served, and pled to being an accessory. The client is now home with his family for the holidays.

Los Angeles Superior Court – Potential Strike Stricken

Our client was charged with criminal threats, which is a felony. There were many delays and failed negotiation attempts to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor, so we moved forward to a preliminary hearing.

We conducted a thorough investigation so we were prepared for the preliminary hearing. After presenting our case, the judge agreed our client was overcharged. The judge doubted the strength of the case and agreed with the defense to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor.

2019

Client was charged with murder. Prosecution case was based on wiretaps, phone call detail records, cell tower mapping, and an informant who testified against the defense. The defense retained a private investigator and employed an expert in cell phone mapping. After a five-week trial, client was found “not guilty” of all charges. Clara Shortridge Courthouse, Los Angeles.

2019

Client was charged with home invasion robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Prosecutors had wiretaps, GPS, and cell phone evidence, as well as a co-defendant who “flipped” and testified against the remaining defendants. The plea offer to client before trial was 25 years in prison. The defense rejected the offer, even though the gang allegation charge carried a life in prison sentence. Following a three week trial, the gang allegation was found to be not true. Compton Courthouse.

2019

Client was charged with three counts of attempted murder, extortion, and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon. This was client’s second strike, and he was looking at multiple life sentences in prison. Following an independent defense investigation, the defendant accepted two years in prison, where he will serve no more than a year (George Deukmejian Courthouse, Long Beach).

2018

Client charged with three counts of attempted murder, and was facing multiple life sentences if convicted. The defense undertook an extensive investigation and retained a video surveillance enhancement expert. Prior to trial the prosecutor dismissed all charges (George Deukmejian Courthouse, Long Beach).

2017

Client had a prior strike. He was charged with assault with a firearm, criminal threats, and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon. The prosecutor kept changing the plea agreement. The defense elected to go to trial. We extensively prepared the defendant to testify. He testified that his girlfriend’s estranged husband threatened him. The jury agreed. He was found “not guilty” of the most serious charge. The defendant admitted he secured a gun, which police found after he was threatened by the ex-husband (Clara Shortridge Courthouse, Los Angeles).

2018

Client was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. We represented him previously at trial. He had been charged with possession of narcotics for sale, but the jury found him “not guilty.” Now, he was looking at another long sentence in prison. After an extensive investigation, we were able to show the prosecutor that the “victim” had told authorities a completely different story. The prosecutor dismissed the case (Clara Shortridge Courthouse, Los Angeles).

2017

Mom was charged with intimidating a witness, with a gang allegation. She is an honest and hardworking member of the community. She was now looking at life in prison. The defense prepared extensively to demonstrate that police arrested her because they were trying to force her son to plead guilty. Police shot at her son and then tried to say that he was pointing a gun at them. The defense filed several motions to dismiss, based on police misconduct. Prior to trial, all charges against mom were dismissed (San Fernando Courthouse).

2017

Our client was charged with Mayhem along with a gang allegation. He was the focus of an article in Rolling Stone Magazine, “How I killed my way out of prison.” https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/how-a-wrongfully-convicted-inmate-killed-his-way-out-of-prison-153932/

Miraculously, he was freed from prison and subsequently sued the police for wrongful conviction. Another incident occurred after he was released where he was looking at life in prison. We were retained to represent him in a retrial, where the jury deadlocked 9 to 3 for guilt. Our office successfully defended him at trial. During jury deliberations, the prosecutor offered the defendant a plea to time served. He accepted this offer and won his wrongful conviction civil case (Compton Courthouse).

2016

Client had two prior strikes and was charged with robbery. As a consequence of his past record, he was looking at a sentence of 25 years-to-life.

Result: The jury found him not guilty (Clara Shortridge Courthouse).

2016

Client was arrested on a cold case DNA match. He was charged with kidnapping for rape, rape, and oral copulation. He was facing life in prison. Following a hard-fought trial, the jury announced they were deadlocked, at 11 to 1 for “not guilty.” The prosecutor then dismissed all charges (Clara Shortridge Courthouse, Los Angeles)

2015

Client was charged with eight counts of sexual abuse. He was facing multiple life terms in prison. The defense fully prepared for trial and undertook its own investigation. Right before jury selection the prosecutor offered the defendant time served and to plea to a count, which did not require him to register as a sex offender (Clara Shortridge Courthouse, Los Angeles).

2015

Client was a well-respected professional with a security clearance. As such, any conviction would end his career. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, and assault. Extensive preparation and reenactments were undertaken. The jury returned a verdict of “not guilty” on all counts (Alhambra Courthouse).

2014

Client was charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. After extensive preparation, client took the stand and testified at trial. The result, “not guilty” on all counts (San Fernando Courthouse)

2014

Client was charged with domestic violence. The trial lasted nearly two weeks. The jury deliberated for no more than five minutes. He was found not guilty (Downey Courthouse)

2013

Client was charged with sales/transportation of cocaine. He had a prior strike and a prior conviction for drug sales.

Result: The jury found him “not guilty” (Clara Shortridge Courthouse, Los Angeles).