Not Guilty Jury Verdict
May 11, 2012-- A St. Louis City jury reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty on State vs. Bradley. Bradley had been charged with First Degree Assault with a serious injury (class A felony) and Armed Criminal Action. The defendant faced the possibility of life in prison. Attorney Richard Lozano represented the defendant |
Since 1994, I have helped my clients through many difficult times. If you are facing criminal charges, your legal problem is probably the single most signficant event in your life right now.
I understand and appreciate what you are experiencing. That is why I provide my cell phone number to all of my clients and am available to discuss your legal problem at any time.
I practice in state, local and federal court. My philosophy is simple: problem solve.
My goal is to achieve the best possible result with the least consequence to you. What you are facing may have life long implications. Let's work this problem together. Call me at 314-456-4567 for a free, immediate consultation.
A "favorable result" is subjective and depends on your particular circumstances. There are, however, optimal results. So why do some attorneys tend to get better results in criminal cases than others? Here is what I think:
Experience The more you do something, the better you get. I limit my law practice to criminal defense. I am before the same judges and prosecutors on a daily basis. As a result, I can quickly assess a case, advise on what to expect and craft a solution.
Working the case
Every criminal case needs to be worked. This means the state's evidence must be scrutinized and evaluated for strengths and weaknesses. Only then can a defense attorney present a solution to the state and/or court that will result in a favorable outcome.
Knowing the tendencies of a particular judge or prosecutor Having a point of reference is a tremendous tool in crafting a solution whether it is related to a bond or a plea. If a judge or prosecutor has agreed to a solution in the past, then it is likely they will agree to it in the future.
An inexperienced attorney without this point of reference may not understand the difference between a good and a bad outcome.
Creativity
Judges tend to want cases resolved. A creative solution can open the door so they can walk on through. I recently presented a solution to a judge on a felony probation revocation in which the defendant had absconded for several years. The prosecutor wanted a seven year prison sentence. The case concerned child support. I understand that child support cases are simply heavy handed collection actions and they can be completely solved by money. I offered an aggressive payment plan. The judge accepted my solution, reinstated the Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS, no criminal conviction)and soon after terminated probation.
Knowing when to plea and knowing when to go to the mat As a criminal defense attorney, my job is to get the best possible choices before my clients and to educate them thoroughly on the likely outcomes and risks. Sometimes cases need to be tried. This may be due to professional considerations or because the likely sentence is severe. I first get the best possible choices before my clients. I then help assess each path and weigh the risks, costs and benefits.
I sign several new serious criminal cases per week. Sometimes I sign 4-5 in a day. It is difficult to find the time to update this site with ongoing results. I take great pride in obtaining favorable outcomes for my clients. Recently (in May of 2012):
Aggravated Assault with Serious Injury and Armed Criminal Action (Class A felony) Not Guilty by Jury. What seemed like a slam dunk case for the State, a St. Louis City jury of 12 returned a verdict of not guilty on May 10, 2012. State vs. Bradley lumbered on for over two years. The state's most recent offer of 15 years in the penitentiary was refused by the Defendant. In this case, the Defendant was accused of shooting his cousin in the abdomen while a third cousin witnessed the event. Both the victim and the cousin testified against the Defendant. Richard Lozano thoroughly impeached the State's two witnesses on cross examination and presented evidence of a plausible alternate theory. He also raised serious questions about the complete lack of police investigation which could have exonerated the Defendant. In the end, the jury was unconvinced of the State's case and returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.
Unlawful Use of a Weapon: Dismissed. St. Louis City has started adding UUW charges for legally posessed guns if drugs are found in a vehicle. This is misapplying the law. In order for a UUW charge to stick, the purpose of the trip must be related to the contraband. After ongoing discussions with the State, it agreed to dismiss the charge voluntarily.
DWI trial. Not Guilty. The Defendant and his designated driver were walking from their broken down car when the police pulled up and starting questioning both men. Unfortunately, they never bothered to question the designated driver and charged my client with a DWI. I argued corpus delicti, that the State failed to prove a crime had been committed. The Court agreed.
Domestic Assault: Dismissed. Although the State had no victim, it insisted on moving forward with a 911 tape, the police officer and the police report. I moved to suppress all evidence pursuant to hearsay and lack of foundation objections. The Court granted my motions and the case was dismissed.
Attempted Robbery: Dismissed.
My client used his legally possessed weapon in self defense. Without trial, the State agreed with my assessment that the charge was weak and dismissed it.
Sodomy: Dismissed. My client had sensitive professional considerations that prevented him from accepting a plea. After review, the State agreed that the charges were too weak to proceed.
Felony Stealing: Dismissed.
My client was wrongfully accused of stealing. The case was dismissed voluntarily by the State after negotiations.
I know the difference between a great, good and bad outcome and I don't settle for easy.
 In the News: Lozano represents man accused of threatening St. Charles County judge and prosecuting attorney. Read more... |
St. Louis, 2011 - Three Charged With Looting Damaged Sunset Hills Homes (St. Louis Post Dispatch) Despite highly inflammatory media coverage, Lozano negotiated an SIS (no criminal conviction) and one year bench probation for three Bosnian nationals who were crucified in the media, preserving their good standing immigration status. "There was much more to this story than what was presented on its face in the paper, " said Lozano. "This was more about cultural and language barriers than criminal conduct." Good lawyering, diligence and persistence led to an excellent result for the accused.
Read the full story in the St. Louis Post Dispatch>>>
St. Louis, 2011 - Suspects Charged after Smash and Grab break-in at Electronics Store (KMOV.com) Lozano represents three of the accused and recently obtained a significant bond reduction for one of the defendants.
Read the full story on kmov.com>>>
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314-456-4567 to speak with me immediately.
