Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
I served as a Criminal Justice Act panel attorney for the Superior Court in Washington, D.C., for six years. During that time I received scores of appointments for serious misdemeanors and felonies for juvenile and adult defendants. In a case involving a charge of armed carjacking (which carried a mandatory minimum sentence upon conviction of 15 years), I was able to persuade the jury that my client was only guilty of the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. My client received a sentence of only 18-54 months. I had approximately 30 trials during this time including several jury trials. I also served as a panel attorney under the Criminal Justice Act for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Maryland. One of these cases involved a second degree murder for vehicular homicide. Many cases involved distribution of controlled substances.
In Utah I served as a Criminal Justice Act panel attorney for the U.S. District Court for about five years. Among other things, I represented a client in a jury trial for a second degree murder charge on Indian lands. I also had several felony appointments during this time as well. I appealed five of those cases to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver, Colorado. These appeals resulted in published opinions. Their official citations can be found on this website under the “About” tab.
Since 2005 I have worked several criminal cases for private clients. Some of those cases involved, the aggravated sexual abuse of a child, driving while intoxicated, domestic violence in the presence of a child, assault, lewdness, and a second degree murder appeal to the Utah Court of Appeals (and a subsequent petition for the issuance of a writ of certiorari to the Utah Supreme Court) (I was only appellate counsel for the second degree murder appeal). I also was appointed by the Third Judicial District Court to be lead counsel and to represent a prisoner on death row in a State habeas capital appeal to the Utah Supreme Court, and a subsequent petition for the issuance of a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. Upon conclusion of oral argument before the Utah Supreme Court, the Court issued a lengthy, published opinion. This capital, State habeas appeal lasted for five years.
Keep Abreast of Developments
I feel that I am eminently qualified to represent a defendant in any misdemeanor or felony case in the State of Utah — either State or federal. I stay abreast of developments in criminal law by purchasing or attending continuing legal education courses in this subject area through national courses, including those offered by the National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers.
I have also served as an Assistant Public Defender in the State of Virginia for a period of time. While serving as a public defender in Virginia I also represented scores of clients in both juvenile and adult cases involving serious misdemeanors and felonies.
If you’ve been charged with a crime, contact me for a Free 30-minute confidential case review at: (801) 535-4385.