A Sampling of Case Results
People v Gonzalez (2010) Defendant caught with 13 pounds of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. District attorney sought a 19 year prison term. Based upon our filing of motions in his defense, his 19 year prison offer went to 2 years. He will serve 5 months of that.
People v Kizer (2010) Defendant charged with felony robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Defendant's felonies all dismissed, and case resulted in simple misdemeanor assault with no jail.
People v Sidhu (2010) Defendant charged with assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury. Case dismissed.
People v Larson (2010) Defendant charged with grand theft and embezzlement. We filed a motion to dismiss the felonies before trial, arguing insufficient evidence. Case dismissed.
People v Whiteford (2010) Defendant charged with fraud and grand theft. Case dismissed.
People v Leday (2010) Defendant charged with felonies, assault with a deadly weapon and a special allegation of causing great bodily injury. After extensive negotiation, case settled for a simple misdemeanor battery and no jail
People v Martin (2010) Defendant charged with grand theft. We filed and argued a "speedy trial" motion. Case dismissed.
People v Bryce F. (2010) Defendant charged with felony evading police chase, and participating in criminal street gang. He was facing state prison time. Case reduced to misdemeanor traffic violation.
People v McCombs (2010) Suspended license and probation violations. All dismissed.
People v Joseph C. (Juvenile) (2010). Defendant charged with arson, terrorist threats and filing false police reports. He was facing a long time in the California Youth Authority. Felonies were dismissed and defendant was released from juvenile hall.
People v Armstrong (2009) Defendant charged with possession for sales of controlled substances and maintaining a residence as a place of sales. We filed a motion to quash and traverse the search warrant used to get in his house. Motion granted. Case dismissed.
People v Jonathan G. (2009) Defendant charged with burglary and possession for sales of large quantities of stolen prescription drugs. Defendant received drug court.
People v Natalia P. (2009) Defendant charged with DUI. We filed a "double jeopardy" motion on client's behalf. Case dismissed.
People v. Miranda (2009) Defendant charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm and causing great bodily injury. While he was facing a life term in prison, he received only a two year term after we put up a vigorous defense.
People v Boyd (2009) Defendant charged with third DUI. Facing a year in jail. We showed the DA the problems with proving the case, and the DA let the case go for a simple infraction.
People v Awad (2008) Defendant charged with felony terrorist threats. We took the case to a jury because the district attorney demanded 5 years prison. Defendant found Not Guilty.
People vs. Ortega (2008) Defendant was charged with molesting a child, through negotiations with the district attorney, the defendant’s charges were dismissed.
People vs. Rago (2008) Defendant was charged with under the influence (.08 bac) , convinced the district attorney to reduce the charge to a wet reckless.
People v. Lozano (2008) Defendant was charged with murder, torture, and kidnapping. He was facing life in prison. Case dismissed just before trial after exhaustive efforts to show the district attorney had charged the wrong man. Defendant was released from custody the same day.
People v. Masiel (2008) Defendant was charged with home invasion robbery, case went to trial, hung jury - no conviction.
People v Boyd (2008), Defendant faced a second DUI and a violation of probation. His DUI and probation violations were dismissed prior to trial and he pled guilty to drinking in public. He was fined.
People v Avalos (2007),Defendant tried on charge of theft from a merchant and acquitted.
People v. Kamble (2007),Defendant shot husband in the hip during a n argument and was charged with attempted murder and use of a firearm. She faced two life terms in prison with a minimum of twenty-five years in prison if convicted. Defendant obtained a plea-bargain where she was allowed to plead guilty to “assault with a firearm” and receive probation with electric monitoring in lieu of jail.
People v. Stout (2007), Defendant was charged with felony assault on a police officer after got into an altercation with a detective who wanted to question him about a crime. Defendant pulled mace from his pocked and maced the detective in the face. The judge dismissed the felony following the preliminary hearing, and the defendant pleaded guilty to simple battery as a misdemeanor.
People v. D.B. (2007), Defendant charged with felony vandalism after allegedly committing 10,000 damage to a person’s truck following an altercation. The court dismissed the felony following a preliminary hearing and the defendant pled guilty to an infraction, disturbing the peace.
People v Zurita (2006), Defendant was charged with Kidnapping for Rape, Forceable Rape, Criminal Threats and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He faced 34 years to life in prison if convicted. The prosecution put the victim on the witness stand at the defendant’s preliminary hearing, where Mr. McDonald badly discredited her. The judge dismissed all charges against Mr. Zurita.
People v DeSantos (2006),Defendant, who was on parole for a strike offense of attempted manslaughter, was charged with robbery after forceably taking property from a liquor store and striking the store clerk. He faced more than 10 years in prison. At his preliminary hearing, the judge reduced the robbery to a misdemeanor theft, and the defendant was released from jail.
People v T.Gray (2006), Defendant charged with assault causing great bodily injury. Defendant had a prior strike and was facing 14 years in prison. The jury acquitted Mr. Gray after two hours of deliberation, deciding he had acted in self-defense.
People v Oliver (2006), Defendant embezzled $160,000 from her employer. She received probation and no jail.
People vs. Alfred L. (May 2006), The Defendant, Alfred L. was charged with fraud, grand theft, embezzlement, and possession of a fire arm. His exposure was 19 years State Prison. In three court appearances, Mr. McDonald successfully convinced the district attorney to dismiss almost all of the charges. The client received probation and is now taking care of his family and working full-time.
People vs. Ryan P. (April 2006), The Defendant, Ryan P. had received a citation for his third driving under the influence. After several discussions with the district attorney in San Bernardino, Mr. P received a wet reckless. His driver's license was not affected and today Mr. P has a driver's license that holds no restrictions.
People vs. Adan Z. (April 2006), The Defendant Adan Z. was charged with rape and kidnapping, facing life without parole. Case was completely dismissed at Preliminary Hearing at the Southwest Justice center located in Riverside County. The defendant was released from jail the same day the case got dismissed. He did not have to post bail, nor does he have to be under any court supervision. He is a free man, as if nothing ever happened. Upon Mr. Z's release from custody, he went out for a big dinner with his family and is now back to work.
People vs. Steven M. (March 2006), The Defendant Steven M. got caught up with a high speed pursuant with the California Highway Patrol. The chase was televised and received a lot of media attention. Mr. M was charged with evading a peace officer and driving while under the influence. Mr. McDonald convinced the judge to give his client drug court. Mr. M has completed drug court and is successfully working.
People v Sanchez (2005). Defendant charged with shooting at an occupied residence and with a street gang allegation. Acquitted at trial.
People v . Stout (2005) Defendant charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and battery on a police officer, causing injury. Case dismissed at Preliminary Hearing.
People v Clark (2005) Defendant charged with residential burglary. Case dismissed
People v. Deans (2005) Defendant charged with transportation and sales of controlled substances. Case dismissed.
People vs. Pucket (2004) Charged with Residential Burglary, gave a statement to the officers admitting to all the charges. Despite the odds, Mr. McDonald pled the defendant to a misdemeanor charge and the defendant got no time as a result of his plea, and his only term of probation was a small fine.
People vs. A.S. (2004)The defendant's was charged with kidnap for ransom, carrying a prison term of "life without parole" Bail was set at $1,500,000 but Mr. McDonald was successful in getting his bail reduced to $100,000. As a result the client was out of custody so he can fight his case. Mr. McDonald then moved to have the kidnap for ransom case dismissed in its entirety because the defendant's right to due process had been violated. After written briefs and lengthy arguments before the court, the court dismissed the whole case.
People vs. Yanez (2003) The Public Defender's office had this case for almost one year, the best offer was 9 years state prison. Mr. McDonald was hired, filed a 17 page Motion requesting Prop. 36, the motion was granted, and the defendant was released from custody the same day. This is an example of effective counsel that takes a stand for his clients and gets results.
People vs. Tanya Hadden (2003) , Mr. McDonald took this nationally publicized case on from another attorney that had her case for over one year. Mr. McDonald's effective negotiating skills allowed Ms. Hadden to plead to a two year sentence rather than the 15 years she was being offered.
People vs. Hernandez (2003),Charged with 245(a), assault with a deadly weapon, a strike. After only one court appearance Mr. McDonald was able to get the case down to brandishing a firearm and 28 days weekend work release.
People vs. [sealed name] (2003), Charged with battery, Mr. McDonald was hired before any court appearances. The district attorney filed charges, however Mr. McDonald provided concrete documentation regarding our client's innocence and successfully convinced the Riverside District Attorney's Office to withdraw the filing and the case was listed as insufficient evidence.
People vs. Miller (2002) Felony Probation violation. Defendant was facing an automatic three-year prison term because he had a suspended prison sentence. We held a formal probation violation hearing. Mr. McDonald fought the process, and the judge found the defendant "not in violation" of probation. He was immediately released.
People vs. Vertican
(2002) Charged with unfounded sex crimes. Mr. McDonald fought day and night. The district attorney ultimately dismissed the case after Mr. McDonald, through a forensic computer expert, showed that a detective may have fabricated computer porn evidence against Mr. Vertican.
People vs. Gray (2002) , Charged with (2) counts of First Degree Murder. The case went to jury trial. The jury deadlocked, favoring a conviction for voluntary manslaughter. At sentencing Mr. McDonald proved the Mr. Gray's character was that of an up standing citizen. He was released from custody that day, and one of only a handful of people ever to get probation on this kind of charge. Today, Mr. Gray visits our office regularly and we all feel he is part of our family for life. In 2010, Mr. McDonald saw that Mr. Gray's manslaughter conviction was expunged from his record,
People vs. Corbin (2000) : Charged with Assault with a deadly weapon, case went to a jury trial, and the jury found him not guilty.
People vs. Herrera (2000) : Charged with attempted murder, jury found him not guilty. Exposure went from 16 years to 3 years at half-time.
People vs. Cuccia (2001) : Appeal, reversed and remanded for new trial. Defendant released from State Prison. Published Opinion
People vs. Rich (1999) , First Degree Murder trial, alleging special circumstances. The case went to jury trial, the defendant was facing LWOP. jury found him not guilty of First Degree Murder.
People vs. McClain (1999), Charged with Rape, case was dismissed before trial, after battling with the district attorney for almost three years. This incident changed Mr. McClain's life after receiving his bachelor's degree he returned to school and is now working on his law degree.
In re Michael I, (1999),The California Youth Authority deprived Michael I his constitutional right to counsel. Mr. McDonald filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus and was successful. Published Opinion
People vs. Lopez (1998), Rape charges on a minor, case went to jury trial, and the entire case completely dismissed. Defendant was released the same day. Today Mr. Lopez is married with a child and lives a normal happy life.
There are hundreds and hundreds of cases with results that represent victories as stated above. It is not uncommon for Mr. McDonald, and his staff to receive letters of thanks from his clients.