Attorney André Robert Bélanger's Legal Cases

Appeals

State v. Trahan

Mar 01, 2016

OUTCOME: Case remanded

We were appointed to represent our client on post conviction. He claimed he plead guilty pursuant to a Crosby plea that would allow him to appeal adverse pre-trial rulings. We found this claim to be wi ... thout merit but did find another issue concerning the validity of his guilty plea. Any evidentiary hearing was held. The record we developed at the hearing prompted the Court of Appeals to vacate his conviction. The case is now remanded for further hearings on the issue.

Criminal defense

Louisiana v. Byron Riley

Mar 01, 2016

OUTCOME: Sentence Vacated

We filed a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court asking them to vacate our client's life sentence since he was a juvenile at the time the crime took place. The Supreme Court granted th ... e writ and ordered his sentence vacated. The case was remanded to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals for further handling.

DUI and DWI

Darby v. Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles

Oct 28, 2015

OUTCOME: Won suit

We represented our client on a Mississippi DUI and obtained an order of dismissal. Despite this outcome, Louisiana still moved to suspend his commercial driving privileges claiming he was given pre-tri ... al diversion. We filed suit against the DMV and brought the case to trial. The trial judge ruled in our favor and held that the resolution in Mississippi is not a "diversion" and was a true dismissal preventing an adverse action of his driving privileges.

Federal crime

United States v. Addington

May 20, 2015

OUTCOME: Probation

Client accused of fabricated records on an offshore platform that portrayed passing tests for the platform's blow out preventer.

Criminal defense

State v. Lipoma

Apr 09, 2015

OUTCOME: case dismissed

Client arrested for violating a restraining order. But, state's evidence couldn't show that he was properly served and their timeline was supect. Furthermore, the defense had evidence that the accuse ... r would become drunk and belligerent with our client. On the day of trial, the state dismissed provided our client agree not to have any contact with his accuser.

Criminal defense

State. v. Bishop

Mar 10, 2015

OUTCOME: Unanimous recommendation for full pardon

Client was convicted for dealing nearly 1500 ecstasy pills. At the time he was known as the "Ecstasy King." Since this conviction, he's completely rehabilitated his life, married and became a product ... ive member of society looking to adopt children. So, to facilitate that goal he applied to the pardon board. We got an unanimous pardon recommendation from the pardon board.

Criminal defense

State v. Cox

Feb 01, 2015

OUTCOME: Misdemeanor Plea

Client arrested for terrorism and alleged to have threated placing an explosive at a refinery. The client was on federal supervised release and facing possible 20-life sentence as a habitual offender. ... After doing a preliminary hearing we got his bail reduced from $500,000 to $35,000 and were able to secure a no contest plea to a misdemeanor with credit for time served.

Criminal defense

State v. Delbosque

Dec 15, 2014

OUTCOME: No Probable Cause. Charges refused.

Our client was charged with defrauding an elderly couple of over a million dollars. He is married to the couple's grand daughter. He conducted a preliminary hearing and developed a theory that one of ... the couple's children did not approve of the wealth transfer and that this was the source of the fraud complaint. We called the purported victim who testified to giving him the money and the reason why. There was no evidence to suggest the couple was not of unsound mind. The judge found no probable cause and the case was not prosecuted.

Federal crime

US v. Brooks

Dec 04, 2014

OUTCOME: Senteced to 1 day; seized money returned

We represented someone convicted of narcotics trafficking with a recommended guidelines range of imprisonment of nearly 20 years. We challenged the basis of drug quantity attributed to our client sinc ... e those amounts were driven by the uncorroborated word of a cooperating informant who tried to retract those amounts at his own sentencing hearing. We also challenged the disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine and argued that a 1 to 1 ratio should be used instead of 18 to 1. We also presented the remarkable life turnaround our client has made since he was indicted and, coupled with our client’s unique life circumstances, we argued for probation. The Court sentenced our client to 1 day in jail followed by a 5 year period of supervised release. Since the Government failed to properly forfeit money seized from our client when he was arrested, they advised the court it would be returned to him.

Criminal defense

State v. Collette

Dec 01, 2014

OUTCOME: Charges Reduced

Client was arrested after receiving a suspicious package that was the subject of an anonymus tip. A K9 Unit is used after our client refused consent to search. 4 dozen vials of suspected steroids are ... recovered. We filed a motion to suppress challenging the initial detention and the ability of a k9 to detect steroids. Shortly before the suppression hearing, the prosecution offered a misdemeanor plea with bench probation and the opportunity for an expungement in 6 months.

André Robert Bélanger's Legal Cases (21)

State v. Trahan

Louisiana v. Byron Riley

Darby v. Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles

United States v. Addington

State v. Lipoma

State. v. Bishop

State v. Cox

State v. Delbosque

US v. Brooks

State v. Collette