Colin Christopher Murphy

Colin Christopher Murphy's Legal Cases (186)

West Des Moines, IA

Drug Crime Lawyer at West Des Moines, IA

Practice Areas: Drug Crime, DUI & DWI

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Drug Crime

State v. K.V., Iowa District Court for Clay County No. FECR022085

Oct 23, 2025

OUTCOME: Felony Drug Charges Dismissed

On October 23, 2025, the district court granted the State's application to dismiss felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, tax stamp and misdemeanor paraphernalia ... possession after we successfully challenged the search warrant that led to the search of my client's residence. The officer who applied for the warrant indicated that officers on the scene detected the odor of marijuana coming from the residence. However, there training and experience to recognize the odor was not adequately described in the warrant application. The State attempted to justify a warrantless entry into the home at hearing, but that effort was rebutted by showing there was no emergency confronting the officers at the time. Obviously, they took their time applying for the warrant, which negates any exigency under the circumstances.

Drug Crime

State v. A.L., Iowa District Court for Mitchell County No. SMCR027346

Oct 17, 2025

OUTCOME: Drug Charges Dismissed

On October 17, 2025 the magistrate court granted the State's motion to dismiss after we filed a motion to suppress challenging the deputy's apparent authority to search a passenger's personal belonging ... s based on the male driver's consent to search the vehicle. It was clear from the deputy's body camera that a reasonable peace officer in his position would have inquired whether the purse and shoulder bag on the passenger side floorboard belonged to the female prior to searching it. Because actual authority was absent and apparent authority questionable under the circumstances, the State did the right thing by dismissing.

Drug Crime

State v. D.M., Iowa District Court for Cerro Gordo County No. SRCR033783

Jun 29, 2025

OUTCOME: Drug Charges Dismissed

On June 29, 2025 the State dismissed the charge of marijuana possession right before the hearing on our motion to suppress was scheduled. A DNR officer entered a fishing shack without a warrant at whi ... ch time he detected the odor of cannabis. He believed he had the consent of a party who was standing outside of the shack on frozen Clear Lake. However, the individual was only a guest and lacked actual or apparent authority to permit law enforcement to enter. A tip of the hat to the prosecutor who recognized the futility of moving forward in the face of a well researched suppression motion.

Drug Crime

State v. L.L., Iowa District Court for Tama County No. SRCR018837

Jun 17, 2025

OUTCOME: Drug Charges Dismissed

On June 17, 2025 the district court granted our motion to suppress challenging the breath test result on the ground that the officer did not honor our client's request for an independent breath test. ... This led the State to amend the charge of OWI to public intoxication and dismiss the marijuana possession charge altogether. There was a larger issue overshadowing the proceedings . . . whether the Meskwaki Nation police officer had jurisdiction to stop the vehicle in the first place as it occurred off of settlement property. That issue will remain open until we can challenge it again.

Drug Crime

State v. T.B., Iowa District Court for Ida County No. SRCR008454

May 21, 2025

OUTCOME: Drug Charges Dismissed

On May 21, 2025 the district court approved a motion to amend the charge of marijuana possession to underage nicotine possession after we moved to suppress the search of our client's vehicle. The offi ... cer elected to search the vehicle after discovering a nicotine vape in our client's possession. That search revealed a separate THC cart. However, the vape cart is not a "public offense," but rather a civil penalty that provides no probable cause to search for evidence of a crime. A tip of the hat to the prosecutor for recognizing the distinction here. The result is a $70 monetary penalty with no surcharge, court cost, jail, probation, or community service.

DUI and DWI

State v. K.W., Iowa District Court for Story County No. OWCR064492

May 12, 2025

OUTCOME: OWI Charge Dismissed

On May 12, 2025 the district court granted the State's motion to dismiss the charge of OWI following our review of the traffic stop video, which demonstrated the officer lacked the statutory basis for ... invoking implied consent after compelling our client to submit to a preliminary breath test and failing to inform her that she was under arrest for OWI. We'll be able to expunge the dismissal from her criminal record in six months.

Drug Crime

State v. A.K., Iowa District Court for Story County No. OWCR0634040

Feb 13, 2025

OUTCOME: Drug Charges Dismissed

On February 13, 2025, the district court granted our motion to suppress evidence finding that the traffic stop was not supported by probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Althoug ... h the officer's radar indicated our client was traveling 39 mph in a purported 30 mph zone, we established that the posted speed limit was incorrect according to the local municipal code, which meant that our client was actually traveling 39 mph in a 45 mph zone. This ruling operated to suppress evidence of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well as an OWI test refusal. It also reinstated our client's driving privileges that had been revoked for one year due to the test refusal.

DUI and DWI

B.C. v. Iowa Dept. of Transp., No. 25DOTOW0742

Jan 02, 2025

OUTCOME: Driver's License Revocation Rescinded

On January 2, 2025 an Administrative Law Judge rescinded the revocation of our client's out-of-state driving privileges after finding law enforcement did not honor his request to contact a family membe ... r or an attorney for assistance in determining whether to submit to chemical testing under Iowa Code section 804.20. The ALJ noted law enforcement gave him until 1:30 a.m. to call a family member or attorney, but our client was restrained in handcuffs and couldn't dial his phone despite repeated attempts to activate it with voice commands. The police not only failed to assist him with making the call under the circumstances, despite the statute permitting them to do so, they also deemed him to have refused chemical testing with 40 minutes remaining in the call window.

Drug Crime

State v. T.C., Iowa District Court for Polk County No. FECR384287

Dec 05, 2024

OUTCOME: Felony Drug Charges Dismissed

On December 5, 2024 the district court granted the State's motion to dismiss a multi-felony trial information following the filing of a motion to suppress attacking the probable cause supporting a sear ... ch warrant used to raid our client's residence. He was facing 35 years in prison and tens of thousands in fines following the discovery of psilocybin, marijuana flower and cannabis extracts, none of which displayed any drug tax stamps, in his room. In fact, the State was recommending a prison sentence despite no prior criminal history. A thorough review of the search warrant application revealed problems with probable cause that should have been apparent to law enforcement at the time of the search. Not only did the State dismiss the charges, it agreed to return personal property seized during the search including a vehicle and cash valued at more than $15,000. A huge W for our client and another validation of our processes and systems used to defend drug charges.

DUI and DWI

J.R. v. Iowa Dept. of Transp. No 25DOTOW0098

Oct 11, 2024

OUTCOME: Driver's License Revocation Rescinded

On October 11, 2024 the administrative law judge rescinded our client's refusal to consent to chemical testing after finding the officer never requested a preliminary breath test nor placed him under a ... rrest for OWI, which were the two predicate conditions on which the officer relied to invoke implied consent. This is another sterling example of GRL's systems and processes in reviewing all available evidence, including body camera, dash camera and jail camera videos to fashion a winning strategy to avoid a one-year license revocation.

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