Attorney Jake Allen Shapiro's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

State v. R.M.: Hall County Superior Court (2025)

May 16, 2025

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

NOT GUILTY – MURDER State v. R.M.: Hall County Superior Court (2025) R.M. was charged with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a F ... elony related to a fatal shooting in his own home. R.M. was in his home when he fired his gun at a known party that was re-entering R.M’s home after being asked to leave by R.M. and another female in the home. The State’s plea offer before trial was for R.M. to plead guilty to murder with a sentence of life in prison, but R.M. rejected that plea offer and proceeded to trial with a theory of self-defense, defense of home, and defense of others as R.M.’s young son and a female were in his home at the time. Mr. Shapiro extensively cross-examined the prosecution’s witness, including law enforcement, regarding their own use of force policies and how situations involving a threat are based on split-second reactions. Mr. Shapiro was able argue what are commonly referred to as Georgia’s “Stand Your Ground Laws.” After a week-long trial, R.M. was found not guilty of all charges and went home despite facing the rest of his life in prison.

Criminal defense

State v. R.R.: Hall County Superior Court (2023)

N/A

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

NOT GUILTY – TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL DRUGS State v. R.R.: Hall County Superior Court (2023) R.R. was charged with Trafficking in Illegal Drugs based on a traffic stop where he was the sole occupant ... and driver of the vehicle where the alleged substances were found where there effectively wasn’t a third party to point to as being the perpetrator. The State’s plea offer before trial was for R.R. to serve a lengthy time in prison with the possibility of 30 years to serve in prison, and that plea offer was rejected. At trial, Mr. Shapiro cross examined the state’s witnesses concerning the testing of the alleged substance and the handling of the evidence. At trial, multiple State witnesses testified that R.R. was caught red-handed with no evidence that the substances were someone else’s. Despite these hurdles, Mr. Shapiro was able to secure a full not guilty verdict after a 2-day jury trial where R.R. walked out a free man without any charges after facing up to 30 years in prison.

Criminal defense

State v. D.P., Hall County Superior Court (2021)

N/A

OUTCOME:

CHARGES DISMISSED – MURDER State v. D.P., Hall County Superior Court (2021) D.P. was arrested and charged with Malice Murder among other offenses related to the death of someone he knew. When D.P. ... was arrested, he gave a statement that convinced law enforcement that D.P. had a motive to murder the victim, resulting in law enforcement arresting D.P. for murder. D.P. maintained his innocence throughout the investigation despite multiple law enforcement officers claiming there was evidence of D.P. at the scene and leaving at the time of the alleged murder. Through a lengthy investigation, Mr. Shapiro was able to interview alibi witnesses for D.P. at the time of the alleged murder and was able to successfully challenge what was thought by law enforcement to be forensic evidence linking D.P. to the alleged murder. As a result of the investigation and challenges to the State’s evidence, Mr. Shapiro was able to prove D.P.’s innocence based on alibi witnesses and forensic evidence that discredited what law enforcement initially had turned over as evidence. Shortly before trial, the State offered D.P. a plea deal to plead guilty to an attempted felony; however, D.P. maintained his innocence and refused to plead guilty to any crime associated with the alleged murder. After rejecting that plea offer and insisting on a trial, Mr. Shapiro was able to convince the State to dismiss all charges in the indictment where D.P. went home free after facing life in prison.

Appeals

Harris v. State (2025) - Appeal

N/A

OUTCOME: Reversed

Mr. Shapiro successfully appeal, briefed, and argued a murder conviction to the Georgia Supreme Court, resulting in a reversal and an impactful development to evidence law in Georgia.

Jake Allen Shapiro's Legal Cases (4)

State v. R.M.: Hall County Superior Court (2025)

State v. R.R.: Hall County Superior Court (2023)

State v. D.P., Hall County Superior Court (2021)

Harris v. State (2025) - Appeal