Attorney Richard Vernon Swanson's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Intent to kill or no intent to kill

Aug 09, 2004

OUTCOME: Assault instead of Attempted Murder

Client spent most of an evening drinking and doing drugs with two friends. the friends decided to no longer share the drugs and alcohol and walked off to leave with the remainder of the drugs and alcoh ... ol. Client in anger shot them both each in the leg. Client charged with attempted murder (a 25 to life sentence). I argued that she did not intend to kill them but just assault them and the jury agreed.

Criminal defense

Falsely charged with Felony Spousal Battery

Jul 23, 2004

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY

Client's wife left the defendant home with their two infant children. She claimed she was going to work, but instead went to a casino where she gambled all evening. She arrived back at the house the ... next morning after refusing to answer any of the defendant's calls. She became angry that he was challenging her choices and made a false claim to the police about being struck by her husband. Her injury actually occurred when she fell due to her excessive consumption of alcohol over the course of the evening. Client was arrested for felony spousal battery. I argued that there was insufficient evidence to convict on the charges and the jury agreed and found him NOT GUILTY!!!

Criminal defense

Attempted Murder of a Police Office- 25 to life

May 14, 2003

OUTCOME: Attempted Voluntary Manslaughter - 6 years

Client and two others were doing Methamphetamine at the home of one of the other defendants. They received a call from an unknown party claiming that "The Mexicans" where on their way over to their lo ... cation to rip them off. One of the other defendants walked outside and fired his gun several times in the air and shouted "@#$%&* Mexicans". The three then went back into the house and waited for the Mexicans to come by. The client saw a shadow moving toward the house and the other defendant fired his gun several times at the shadow. The shadow was the police responding to the shots fired call and one of the officers was struck in the leg. All 3 were charged with attempt murder of a police officer (a 25 to life sentence for each officer there.) I argued that my client did not fire a gun among many other circumstances and the jury found him guilty of Attempted Voluntary Manslaughter ( 6 years instead of 25 to life)

Criminal defense

Felony Assault at the family picnic

Apr 04, 2003

OUTCOME: Misdemeanor then Expunged

Client and her family went to Perris Lake for the day. a fight broke out between the clients family and another family at the lake. Client and her husband were arrested for Felony Assault on the other ... family and convicted of the charges as a Felony. I argued successfully to have the charges reduced to a misdemeanor at sentencing. Later she had the charges expunged from her record.

Criminal defense

Walmart shoplifting

May 28, 2002

OUTCOME: ACUITTED / NOT GUILTY

Client arrested for shoplifting spark plugs at Walmart. He owns a truck repair shop and had sparkplugs in his work overalls when he stopped at Walmart to purchase several items. After paying for his ... purchase he was stopped by store security and they found his spark plugs. The D.A. refused to dismiss charges, so We went to a full jury trial. At trial the Security Guards that made the arrest were shown to have give false testimony and the Client was found not guilty. Client filed a separate civil suit and was awarded $250,000 in damages for false arrest in civil trial

Criminal defense

Kidnapping or not Kidnapping

May 09, 2001

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY

Client charged with Kidnapping for Robbery. (25 to life) Defendant picked up victim and in an attempt to obtain money for the drugs the victim had purchased drove the victim to numerous locations so th ... e victim could collect the money he owed. Victim was unsuccessful at obtaining the money, so, he ran from the car after several stops and contacted the police. I argued that the victim was not Kidnapped and was a voluntary participant and the jury agreed.

Richard Vernon Swanson's Legal Cases (6)

Intent to kill or no intent to kill

Falsely charged with Felony Spousal Battery

Attempted Murder of a Police Office- 25 to life

Felony Assault at the family picnic

Walmart shoplifting

Kidnapping or not Kidnapping