Colin Christopher Murphy
PRO

Colin Christopher Murphy's Legal Cases (183)

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. 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.

DUI and DWI

State v. M.F., Iowa District Court for Carroll County No. OWCR013762

Oct 02, 2024

OUTCOME: OWI Charge Dismissed

On October 2, 2024 the district court granted the State's motion to dismiss after it ruled the breath test obtained through implied consent was inadmissible in trial. We established that our client re ... quested an independent blood test after the state administered breath test, but was informed: (1) the hospital would only take cash; and (2) the officer would not transport him to an ATM. We established that not only did the hospital have an ATM on site, but there were at least 3 other ATMs within a three-block radius of the police station. The inability to obtain an independent test was attributed to the police officer, which meant the state's test could not be used against him.

Criminal defense

State v. T.M. Iowa District Court for Webster County No. FECR367207

Sep 23, 2024

OUTCOME: Felony Charges Dismissed

On September 23, 2024 the district court dismissed perjury charges against our client stemming from a homicide investigation. Law enforcement contended that he had deliberately misled them about the e ... vents that immediately followed a fatal shooting in which he was not involved. The firm's pretrial discovery process revealed that our client's version of events, which was revealed to law enforcement in a sworn statement, was consistent with other evidence in the case. When we announced that we were ready to defend our client at trial at the final pretrial conference, the charges were dismissed. A tip of the hat to the county attorney who understood that the police may have overstepped here.

Drug Crime

In the Matter of Property Seized from L.T., Iowa District Court for Franklin County No. SPCV502141

Sep 16, 2024

OUTCOME: Seized Property Returned

On September 16, 2024 the district court dismissed the Iowa State Patrol's attempt to seize $7,500 in cash following a traffic stop on Interstate 35 in 2021. The state's law on forfeiting seized prope ... rty contains strict requirements that must be followed if the seizing agency intends to divest the owner of his money. In this instance, the Patrol neglected to file the proper notice to the owner following the traffic stop. The drug defense attorneys at GRL have a keen eye for this sort of detail and can leverage it on the client's behalf with great effect.

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