• Congratulations to ASAs Leonard Thompson and Nicole Garcia for obtaining guilty verdicts on charges of Kidnapping (LIFE), Sexual Battery by Multiple Perpetrators, and Simple Battery. The Defendant kidnapped the Victim and took her to a music studio where she was sexually battered by several men. He then discarded the victim at a random location where she was located the next morning thanks to a 911 call. The jury deliberated for 10 hours before returning the guilty verdicts.
Special thanks to Samantha Mesa, Maria Diaz, Idalvis Trujillo and April McClellan for their tireless efforts. Thanks to all of the support staff who served as mock jurors in the preparation of this case.
• Congratulations to DC Khalil Madani and STC Michael Von Zamft for securing a guilty verdict of First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder on a 2003 homicide. The Defendant and an accomplice were hired by the Victim’s wife to murder her husband for the insurance proceeds. The Defendant walked up to and shot the Victim in the back of the head and staged it to look like a robbery gone wrong. From 2003-2009, investigators did not have many leads as the wife of the victim was inside her house at the time of the murder and there was no physical evidence tying Javon Robinson to the crime scene.
Finally, in 2009, an accomplice who was in jail on another matter came forward and confessed his involvement in the case and provided information allowing the investigators to identify the shooter. After being arrested the Defendant gave a lengthy confession to the murder. At trial, the defense attempted to argue that the accomplice’s testimony could not be believed, and that the Defendant’s confession was a product of coercive police tactics. The jury deliberated for one hour and twenty minutes before returning a verdict of guilty as to both counts in the indictment.
Special thanks to Andrea Marquez, Sherri Reaves, and intern Elizabeth Keck, who were instrumental in the success of this trial.
• Congratulations to ASA Deanna Andrews and ASA Alex Bergida on securing a guilty verdict in a case involving battery on a law enforcement, resisting without violence, and disorderly conduct. Special thanks to Trial Coordinator Brittney Grant, Victim/Witness Counselor Katherine Garcia, and Litigation Support for their invaluable assistance.
• Congratulations to ASAs Stephen Mitchell and Joseph-Robert Forman, who obtained guilty verdicts for Armed Burglary, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault. The Defendant, a prison release reoffender who had armed and masked himself, dragged the Victim inside his home to rob him. The Victim’s wife and two young children were also inside the residence. After robbing the Victim inside his home, he then kidnapped him and forced him at gunpoint to drive to and withdraw money at an ATM. They drove back to the residence and the Defendant subsequently stole the Victim’s car.
Special thanks to Evika Jones, Mar Rodriguez, Mary Ann Miyskiw-Jones and Eric Torres for their efforts in coordinating the travel arrangement for three out of state witnesses and additional assistance throughout the trial.
· Congratulations to ASAs Alex Bergida and Ana Cuello on receiving guilty verdicts of Tampering with a Victim, False Imprisonment, and Battery. A very special thanks to Roxanne Hubbard and Alexa Perdomo for their assistance with the witnesses.
· Congratulations to ASAs Ramy Simpson and Adianez “Adi” Jimenez for obtaining a guilty verdict of Aggravated Battery Resulting in Great Bodily Harm with an Enhancement for Use of a Weapon. ASA Jimenez previously litigated the Stand Your Ground immunity claim before the pandemic.
On March 4, 2017, the Victim, Defendant, and Co-Defendant were in a strip club when they got into a heated argument where the Victim slapped the Co-Defendant. The parties were separated by security and the codefendants were escorted out to the parking lot. A few minutes later, the Defendant (armed with a knife) and Co-Defendant (now armed with a long, metal pipe) ran between the parked cars toward the Victim from two directions. The Defendant stabbed the Victim in the back twice with a knife as he ran away.
Special thanks to Cary Jose and Winston Bennett for all their help with the requests and the witnesses. Thanks to our Litigation Support team for all their help with demonstratives and video equipment that allowed ASAs to show CCTV footage on one monitor and the Defendant’s Stand Your Ground recorded testimony on another.
· Congratulations to ASAs Katharine Moore and Justus Hogge for obtaining guilty verdicts/a plea against four Co-Defendants for Armed Robbery with a Firearm, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery with a Firearm, and Convicted Felons in Possession of a Firearm.
One of the Defendants texted his friends that his co-worker had received a large sum of cash earlier that day. Video footage showed a vehicle parked in front of the Victim’s job for more than 20 minutes. When the Victim walked out, two gunmen exited the vehicle and demanded his wallet.
Less than five minutes after the robbery, an officer immediately pulled over a vehicle matching the B.O.L.O. Body worn camera footage of this was valuable evidence along with the recovery of two firearms and video evidence of the actual crime. Three of four co-defendants were found guilty after jury trials, and sentenced to, or will be sentenced to, mandatory life sentences as prison releasee reoffenders. The fourth co-defendant plead guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison followed by 10 years of reporting probation as a Habitual Violent Offender.
Special thanks go to Shaun Williams, Sheila McGregor, and Maria (Angie) Davila for their invaluable assistance during this case.
· Congratulations to ASAs Leonard Thompson and Vianca Picart who secured a guilty verdict for Domestic Violence charges including False Imprisonment, two counts of Sexual Battery, two counts of Simple Battery, and Tampering with a Victim.
The Defendant was jealous after he learned that the Victim had kissed another man and that the Victim wanted to end the relationship. The Defendant held the Victim against her will for 48 hours. She finally was able to ask a neighbor to call 911 when the Defendant left for a beer run. This case largely relied upon the credibility of the victim.
Special thanks to Victim Witness Counselors Samantha Mesa and Rayna Milfort during the trial. Samantha Mesa went above and beyond in getting the victim travel accommodates and supporting her through the trial.
