Attorney Ernest Frank Marquez's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

People of the State of Colorado vs. Willie Robbins

Apr 05, 2006

OUTCOME: Defendant found Not Guilty of First Degree Murder

Role in Case: Lead counsel - responsible for voir dire; cross of primary prosecution witnesses; cross of expert witnesses; direct of expert witnesses; closing statement Charges: 2 Counts of First D ... egree Murder; 2 Counts of Agg. Robbery; 1 Count 2nd Degree Burglary Verdict: Not Guilty on all counts Robbins and three co-defendants were alleged to have committed a home invasion robbery of a grower/dealer of high grade marijuana. Robbins and two co-defendants were arrested. The fourth was apprehended after this case was concluded. During the robbery, the dealer was shot in the chest and Robbins was alleged to have been the shooter. According to the roommate of the dealer, the defendants fit the general description of the men alleged to have been involved in the robbery and shooting. The prosecution case was built around the roommate's testimony and a series of informants who claimed that Robbins and/or another co-defendant had confessed their involvment in the crime to them. Robbins went to trial first, and the prosecution case fell apart. After the Not Guilty verdict, charges were dismissed against the three other co-defendants.

Criminal defense

People of the State of Colorado vs. Alberto Rincon

Jul 23, 2003

OUTCOME: Manslaughter, Assault

Role in Case: Second Chair - responsible for replacement voir dire; opening statement; cross of various law enforcement witnesses; cross of civilian witnesses Charges: 2 Counts of 1st Degree Murde ... r (Intentional & Extreme Indifference) (Victim 1); 4 Counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit 1st Degree Murder (Victim 2 & 3); 1st Degree Assault (Victim 2); 2nd Degree Assault (Victim 3) Verdict: Reckless Manslaughter; 1st Degree Assault; 3rd Degree Assault This case arose from a drive by shooting in front of a bar in Pueblo. The intended victim (Victim 2) was shot in the knee; a bystander (Victim 1) was shot in the head as she dropped to the pavement; a third (Victim 3) was grazed in the leg. The drive by shooting was allegedly instigated by the sale of fake cocaine to Rincon by Victim 2. A co-defendant (who had been identified by bystanders as being in the car witih Rincon) became the chief prosecution witness against Rincon and testified that she was not in the car with Rincon at the time of the shooting, but was in a motel room dealing cocaine at the time of the shooting. She testified that Rincon came to her room after the shooting and admitted his involvement. Rincon owned a car that matched the description of the car described by bystanders, and he was seen at another bar near where the shooting took place very shortly before the shooting. He also hid a set of distinctive rims for this car that were similar to those described by bystanders. These were discovered at his brother's house in Kansas.

Criminal defense

People of the State of Colorado vs. Hosea Sullivan

Feb 28, 2003

OUTCOME: Not Guilty - all charges

Role in Case: Lead counsel - responsible for voir dire; cross of primary eyewitness; cross of primary law enforcement witnesses; cross of expert witnesses (pathologist); closing statement Charges: ... 2 Counts of First Degree Murder; Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder Verdict: Not Guilty on all counts Hosea and two co-defendant were involved in a dispute with three other individuals over a "disrespectful" phone call. One died of a single gunshot wound to the chest from a 9mm handgun. A second died of multiple gunshot wounds from a 357 Magnum, 12 Gauge shotgun and other handguns. We conceded that Hosea had the 357 Magnum and fired the first shot into the air, and argued any other shots of his were fired blindly. We argued that the evidence showed that the deceased only received a flesh wound from a 357 Magnum bullet that had ricocheted off the pavement and that this injury did not contribute to his death. We argued that there was no complicity because the gunfire erupted spontaneously after one of the co-defendants had been severely beaten by one of the deceased. Hosea was tried with one co-defendant. The third co-defendant was tried separately. Hosea was found Not Guilty of all charges and both co-defendants were found Guilty of Second Degree Murder.

Criminal defense

People of the State of Colorado vs. Korey Sandoval

Dec 13, 2002

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

Role in Case: Trial Counsel Charges: Sexual Assault, Incapacitated Victim Verdict: Not Guilty Sandoval, a young Mexican-American man, went to a party at his neighbor's house. All of the ... other people in attendance were a few years older, white and for the most part, strangers to Sandoval. Sandoval was found having sex in an upstairs bedroom with an extremely intoxicated women who was passed out at the time. She was a stranger to Sandoval. Sandoval was charged with sexual assault of an incapacitated victim and the case went to trial on the defense of consent. On cross examination, testimony was elicted from the alleged victim that it was possible that she might have invited Sandoval to have sex, but that she could not remember because of her intoxication. Sandoval did not testify.

Ernest Frank Marquez's Legal Cases (4)

People of the State of Colorado vs. Willie Robbins

People of the State of Colorado vs. Alberto Rincon

People of the State of Colorado vs. Hosea Sullivan

People of the State of Colorado vs. Korey Sandoval