Attorney Stephen W Howard's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Motion to Suppress

N/A

OUTCOME: Granted - Case Dismissed

Client was sitting in his parked vehicle in an area where houses were under construction. Police officer pulled in front of the client's vehicle, blocking him in, and approached the client. The office ... r found drugs in the car, and felony possession charges were filed. Mr. Howard successfully argued that, even though the the officer never activated his lights, did not handcuff the client, and didn't put the client "under arrest," that the encounter still violated his client's Fourth Amendment rights. The court ordered the evidence suppressed, and the case was dismissed.

Criminal defense

DUI

N/A

OUTCOME: Conviction Reversed on Appeal

While he was represented by another attorney, the client was convicted of DUI. Mr. Howard took the case after conviction, and got the case reversed on appeal. In the appeal, Mr. Howard challenged the ... trial court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence. Although there was sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the client had been driving under the influence, Mr. Howard was able to convince the appelate court that the evidence was obtained by violating his client's Fourth Amendment rights. The conviction was reversed, and the case dismissed.

Criminal defense

Probation Violation

N/A

OUTCOME: Probation Reinstated

Client was placed on "zero tolerance" probation after previously violating the terms of probation. Client violated probation yet again, and was facing a potential 15-year prison term. Mr. Howard presen ... ted mitigating information to the court and convinced the judge to give the client another chance on probation.

Criminal defense

Child Abuse Homicide

N/A

OUTCOME: Reduced to Misdemeanor with Probation

Client was charged with child abuse homicide relating to the death of an infant. Mr. Howard consulted with an independent medical examiner, and obtained information that raised real questions about th ... e cause of the child's death. mr. Howard also obtained other mitigating information relating to the client's background. Using this information, Mr. Howard negotiated with the prosecutor and got the charge reduced to a misdemeanor, with a "no contest" plea. At sentencing, Mr. Howard convinced the judge to give the client probation without jail time.

Criminal defense

DUI

N/A

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Police pulled the client over for a minor traffic violation, and then observed indications of alcohol consumption. Client was charged with DUI. By pointing out problems with the field sobriety tests ... and intoxilyzer results, along with the lack of any reckless driving pattern, Mr. Howard convinced the prosecutor to dismiss the charge.

Criminal defense

Credit Card Fraud

N/A

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client was charged with credit card fraud after the person she was shopping with used a stolen credit card to purchase merchandise. By demonstrating the absence of any evidence that client had particip ... ated or otherwise known that the credit card was stolen, Mr. Howard was able to convince the prosecutor to dismiss the case.

Criminal defense

Communications Fraud

N/A

OUTCOME: Reduced to Misdemeanor with Probation

Client was charged with second-degree felony communications fraud, facing a possible 1-15 year prison term. Mr. Howard's analysis of the case raised questions and created doubt about whether the prosec ... utor could actually prove the charges at trial. Based on those concerns and Mr. Howard's negotiations, the prosecutor agreed to allow the client to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of issuing a bad check (bouncing a check).

Criminal defense

Drug Distribution

N/A

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client was caught red-handed by police selling drugs. Mr. Howard negotiated with the prosecutor, and was able to get a deal where the charges would be dismissed upon client's completion of treatment.

Criminal defense

Felony Burglary

N/A

OUTCOME: Not Guilty Verdict

Client was accused of unlawfully entering a home and stealing property. Mr. Howard's investigation revealed witnesses who confirmed the client's story, that the alleged victim had made up the allegatio ... ns as a means of getting revenge against the client. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.

Criminal defense

Domestic Violence

N/A

OUTCOME: Not Guilty Verdict

Client was charged with domestic violence where the alleged victim claimed that when she tried to call the police, the client pulled the phone from her hands so hard that the cord came out of the wall. ... At trial, Mr. Howard was able to introduce key photographs, showing the phone cord still wrapped around the leg of a small end table that had several items perched on top. It would have been physically impossible to pull the cord out of the wall without knocking the table over and causing its contents to spill. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.

Stephen W Howard's Legal Cases (14)

Motion to Suppress

DUI

Probation Violation

Child Abuse Homicide

DUI

Credit Card Fraud

Communications Fraud

Drug Distribution

Felony Burglary

Domestic Violence