State of Florida v. J.F.--Charge: Trafficking in Ecstasy
Client, a student, had no criminal history. Facing a maximum of thirty years, minimum mandatory three years prison. Client sold hundred Ecstasy pills to informant working with police. Numerous recorded telephone calls between client and informant. Hand-to-hand transaction with undercover police officer. Recorded confession by client. Jury convinced that his client entrapped. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. B.L.--Charge: Premeditated Murder and Attempted Premeditated Murder
Client allegedly observed by five eye-witnesses to fire a gun at both victims. State persuaded to waive death penalty. At trial, credibility of the five eye-witnesses challenged. Emphasized in inconsistencies in testimony of witnesses and poor investigation by police. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. E.T-Charge: Second Degree Murder
Numerous eye-witnesses observed client fire several shots at unarmed victim. Facing mandatory twenty-five years to life in prison. Testimony from eye-witnesses. Client testified on his own behalf. Argued that client acted in self-defense. Verdict: Not Guilty.
State of Florida v. S.N.-Charge: Lewd & Lascivious Conduct in the Presence of a Child
Alleged that client stood in his garage and masturbated in presence of teenage girl. Facing a lengthy term of incarceration as well as being labeled a sex offender. Doctor testified that client suffered from enlarged prostate causing actions to resemble lewd and lascivious act. Mr. Haas argued reasonable doubt as to his client's guilt. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. K.B.-Charge: Sexual Battery on a Minor.
Client was young man accused of having sexual relations with teenage girl misrepresenting her age. Facing a mandatory twenty-five years in prison. Client confessed to police believing that he would not be arrested because the girl lied about her age. Consent defense not allowed because of girl's age. Mr. Haas showed the jury inconsistencies between client's recorded statement and girl's version of events . Argued that confession coerced by police. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. J.J-Charge: Attempted Felony Murder in the First Degree.
Alleged that client and his co-defendant beat the victim with baseball bats while robbing him. Facing possible life sentence. At trial, Mr. Haas emphasized the inconsistencies in the victim's statements to the jury, arguing that the testimony of the victim was unreliable and that the victim was mistaken as to the identity of his attackers. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. C.S.--Charge: Armed Kidnapping and Armed Robbery
Alleged that client, along with a co-defendant, forced a man to walk to another location and, at gunpoint, robbed him of his belongings. Facing life prison sentence. Client confessed on tape to the police. Mr. Haas succeeded in convincing the judge to throw out the confession. Co-defendant testified at trial for the prosecution. Mr. Haas argued that the co-defendant lacked credibility and should not be believed. Verdict: Not Guilty.
State of Florida v. M.F-Charge: Armed Robbery with Firearm (two victims)
Alleged that client, along with a co-defendant, broke into a house where a high stakes card game was being played, robbing the participants at gunpoint. Facing a life prison sentence. Both victims knew client and positively identified him. Mr. Haas submitted evidence that his client could not have been the robber because of his work schedule. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. M.P.-Charge: Sexual Battery with Force; Burglary with Battery
Client alleged to have broken into young girl's bedroom window and forcibly raped her. Girl testified that she did not know client and had never met him. Facing life prison sentence and labeled as sexual offender. Proved that girl knew client, let him in through her window and sexual relations were consensual. Argued that girl was upset when her boyfriend discovered her betrayal and she fabricated allegations. Verdict: Not Guilty
State of Florida v. V.M.-Charge: DUI
Case prosecuted as felony based on three prior convictions,. Client arrested after tip to police that car drifting and driving in the wrong lane of traffic. Client unable to perform roadside tests. Breath test over two times legal limit. Motion to suppress granted-all evidence thrown out. Result: Case dismissed.
State of Florida v. D.G. -Charge: Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
Client accused of spitting on police officer. Based on criminal history, client faced five year prison sentence. Client made charitable contribution in exchange for plea to misdemeanor. Result: No jail, no felony conviction.
State of Florida v. C.M. -Charge: Possession of Oxycodone and Possession of Marijuana.
Client parked in car when police approached and saw drugs in door pocket. Post-arrest, police searched client's purse and found oxycodone. Client confessed to ownership of all drugs. Motion to suppress granted--all evidence thrown out. Result: Case dismissed.
State of Florida v. D.R.-Charge: Trafficking in Marijuana
Client arrested with co-defendant picking up 100 pounds of marijuana at Federal Express station. Seen by police loading box into trunk of car. Client arrested at scene. Motion to dismiss filed based upon violation of client's speedy rights. Appealed court's denial of motion to dismiss. Result: Trial judge ordered to release client. Case dismissed.
State of Florida v. E.P.-Charge: Burglary of Car
Client arrested with co-defendant and accused of driving co-defendant to and from burglary. Charged as accomplice. Identified by two eye-witnesses. Mr. Haas retained after client found guilty. Argued that client was denied fair trial because same law firm represented both client and co-defendant. Result: Motion for new trial granted. State appealed granting of new trial. Result: Order granting new trial affirmed by appeals court.
State of Florida v. A.R.-Charge: DUI
Client stopped by police after failing to maintain single lane. Client unable to do roadside sobriety tests. Breath test over twice legal limit. Argued that there was not enough evidence to prove traffic infraction and that police did not have right to stop client's car. Motion to dismiss granted. All evidence thrown out. Result: Case dismissed
State of Florida v. D.G.-Possession of Unlawful Identification
Client, a student, arrested by police for trespass after being told to leave a bar. Police found someone else's identification in client's wallet. Argued to prosecutor that because the identification was not altered or fraudulently used by client , there was no crime committed. Result: Case dismissed by State.
