Case Results

DG was the Sergeant in charge of supervising the financial crimes unit of a law enforcement agency with countywide jurisdiction. After a lengthy investigation DG was fired, arrested, and charged with engaging in an organized scheme to defraud a ninety-three year old man of nearly $100,000, along with 23 other related felony offenses. The State alleged that, after DG was initially called out to investigate a theft at the elderly victim’s home, he began a visiting the man several times each week in order establish a friendship and gain the man’s trust. The State alleged that over the next several months DG stole over $80,000 in cash, and approximately $20,000 worth of valuable collectible items from the victim’s home and safety deposit box. During the course of the alleged scheme, law enforcement became suspicious of DG’s activities and began following him. Ultimately, DG’s supervisors because suspicious of his activities and, with the victim’s consent, installed covert cameras in and around the victim’s home in hopes of catching DG in the act of stealing money. Eventually, law enforcement did obtain video footage of DG removing a large stack of cash from a hidden safe on the victim’s bookshelf. Law enforcement also obtained DG’s bank records, which showed that during the course of the investigation, DG had deposited tens of thousands of dollars in cash into his bank account. Additionally, law enforcement obtained an insurance ledger which listed all of the valuable items contained in the elderly victim’s safety deposit box. On the same three days that DG was captured on bank surveillance footage carrying a large black case into the safety deposit box room, law enforcement learned that DG had pawned items listed on the ledger at various pawn shops within minutes of leaving the bank where the elderly victim’s safety deposit box was kept. When confronted with the evidence, DG offered a full detailed video-taped confession, which was played at his trial. Notwithstanding all this evidence, Attorney Prince was able to get four of the charges dismissed and obtain a NOT GUILTY verdict on eighteen of the charges. The jury hung on two of the charges, but the State, having been thoroughly beaten and embarrassed, dropped those charges following the trial.

GD was a starting wide receiver at Florida State University, and projected to be a first round NFL draft pick at the time of his arrest for sexual battery (rape). The State alleged that GD invited a female friend, the alleged victim, to go out drinking at a local night club with him and his friends. The alleged victim planned to sleep at GD’s apartment so that she would not have to arrange transportation back to her apartment so late at night. The victim claimed that she went to bed when she, GD, and his roommates all returned to the apartment. She further alleged that she was awakened by GD touching her buttocks and genitals sometime later, at which point she told GD to stop. The alleged victim claimed that GD then jumped on top of her, forcibly removed her underwear as she hit, bit, and yelled at him, eventually forcing her legs apart and penetrating her against her will. The alleged victim testified that she immediately fled the apartment following the assault, flagging down an officer and reporting the crime. Following his arrest, GD gave a full, detailed, video-taped confession confirming the alleged victim’s version of the events. Notwithstanding the evidence, Attorney Prince succeeded in obtaining NOT guilty verdicts on the charged offense of Sexual Battery, as well of the lesser offense of Attempted Sexual Battery. GD was immediately released from jail and returned to the football field to complete his collegiate career, and expects to be drafted in the 2016 NFL draft.

NC was charged with sexual battery on an incapacitated victim after he was alleged to have digitally penetrated a drunk, sleeping woman without her consent. The alleged victim was an acquaintance of NC and he attended party at her residence on the night of the assault. The alleged victim consumed a large amount of alcohol and then went to her bedroom and passed out. She testified that she awoke early the next morning with her underwear and pants pulled down to find that NC was digitally penetrating her without her consent. The alleged victim screamed at NC, ran to her roommate’s room crying hysterically, and immediately called the police. NC fled the residence. NC soon began sending the alleged victim text messages apologizing. Law enforcement then arranged for the alleged victim to conduct a recorded phone call with NC. During the recorded call, the alleged victim told NC that she would only forgive him if he admitted what he did step by step and explained when he did it. NC obliged, confessing in explicit detail and claiming that he did it because he was “drunk and horny.” Notwithstanding the evidence, Attorney Prince obtained NOT GUILTY verdicts on both the charged sexual battery and the lesser attempted sexual battery. NC was immediately freed from jail.

PL was charged with Attempted First Degree Murder with a Firearm, Attempted Armed Robbery with a Firearm, and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. The alleged victim claimed that he was waiting outside a mall with over a dozen other people anticipating the release of the new “Air Jordan” shoes when PL approached him brandishing a firearm. According to the alleged victim, PL demanded his wallet then immediately struck him in the head with the firearm, knocking him to the ground. The alleged victim asserted that he then leapt to his feet and ran for his life, at which point PL began firing at him. The bullets struck the vehicle the alleged victim was hiding behind and several spent shell casings were ultimately obtained by law enforcement. PL then fled the scene. Many of the witnesses attended the same high school as PL several years before the alleged offense and were able to immediately identify him by name when law enforcement arrived on scene. Moreover, surveillance footage from a nearby gas station clearly depicted PL. When PL was arrested later that day, he was found in possession of the magazine clip and ammunition which matched the shell casings at the scene. PL admitted that he struck the victim and attempted to rob him. Notwithstanding the evidence, Attorney Prince prevented the jury from finding PL guilty of ANY of the charged offenses.

JC had no criminal history, but was charged with committing an aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, which is a “10-20-Life” offense which requires a minimum mandatory sentence in state prison. The alleged victim, who was an off duty law enforcement officer, claimed that JC became enraged after he accidently cut him off in traffic. The officer testified that JC followed his unmarked vehicle, honking, making obscene gestures, and swerving erratically from lane to lane. The officer explained that JC ultimately pulled up along-side his vehicle, pointing a firearm at him and yelling. The officer claimed that he slammed on his brakes and took evasive action to get away from JC. At trial, Attorney Prince exposed the officer as a racist who had used the “N-word” as a slur against JC, who was a young African-American male. The jury wasted no time in finding JC NOT GUILTY.

CM was a prison release re-offender (recently released from prison and facing a mandatory life sentence) and prison gang member who was charged with Attempted First Degree murder after he allegedly stabbed a young man at a night club. The alleged victim with an investigator for the public defender’s office who was trained in police investigative tactics. He was at a night club with friends when he accidently bumped into CM. CM demanded the alleged victim explain “what his problem was” at which point the alleged victim explained that it was merely an accident. The alleged victim then turned around to leave when he felt a sharp strike to his back. He turned back around to face CM and asked why CM had punched him in the back. CM allegedly responded “No, bro… not a punch” holding up a blood covered knife. All of the alleged victim’s friends confirmed his version of the events and identified CM as the assailant. CM was especially easy to identify because of the distinctive prison tattoos on his face, which the alleged victim carefully described based on his investigative experience. Notwithstanding the clear identification by all the witnesses, Attorney Prince obtained a four minute NOT GUILTY verdict for CM after three days of trial testimony by the State witnesses. CM was immediately freed from jail. He moved out of state, got engaged, and had a little girl. CM also continued to pursue his music career, and is an emerging rapper who was recently signed by a record label. CM remains in close contact with Attorney Prince.