James Robert Pratt

For the past two decades I have practiced criminal defense in the Federal, State and Local courts of Kansas at the trial and appellate levels. I have defended clients charged with every variety of crime from municipal disorderly conduct to Federal wire/mail fraud and complex money laundering cases. My state court experience includes defending homicide cases, sexual offenses and other serious felonies.

 NOTABLE CASES

United States v. Hall, F., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131466 (D. Kan. 2010). Dismissal of mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges on vagueness grounds.

United States v. Luis Diaz, Case Number 08-10100-01 MLB (D. Kan. August 1, 2008). Federal drug case, suppression of 1.2 pounds of methamphetamine found in a vehicle following a traffic stop.

State v. Rexroat, (99,432, Kan. Ct. App. November 21, 2008) (unpublished). Appellate Court’s affirmance of district court’s dismissal of charges based on the impermissible stacking in inchoate offenses (i.e. a defendant cannot be charged with an “Attempted Indecent Solicitation of a Child).

State v. Wade, Kansas (Kan. 95,649, July 13, 2007). Kansas Supreme Court's reversal of client's First Degree Murder Conviction and life sentence and ordering of a new trial due to trial court's erroneous amendment of the charges to conform with the defendant's testimony during trial. Supreme Court held this violated the defendant's rights of due process and prohibited him from preparing and presenting a defense.

State of Kansas v. Manbeck, Allen County Case No. 01 CR 302, trial counsel for defendant charged with Involuntary Manslaughter DUI. Argued the sentencing court could not enhance defendant's sentence as the language of the statute required a finding that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the offense, and defendant was only found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the offense. Defendant's enhanced sentence reversed by the Kansas Court of Appeals in 31 Kan. App. 2d 618 (2003). Court of Appeals reversal affirmed by the Kansas Supreme Court in 277 Kan. 224 (2004).

State of Kansas v. Beaman, Allen County Case No. 01 CR 19, jury verdict of not guilty of aggravated assault with a firearm upon a law enforcement officer. Defendant's Motion to Dismiss kidnapping charge for lack of probable cause sustained following preliminary hearing.

State of Kansas v. Spellman, Crawford County Case No. 99 CR 490 G, Motion to Suppress 2.65 grams of methamphetamine granted based on deputies's illegal ruse entry into home. Entry followed Sheriff's deputy allowing defendant to believe her children had run away or been kidnapped, even though the deputy knew the children were safe at the Sheriff's Department.

Olson v. City of Independence and Klars Jewelers, Montgomery County Case No. 96 C 106, civil jury verdict of no liability for Klars Jewelers following plaintiff's slip and fall in front of jewelry store. Judgment affirmed by the Kansas Court of Appeals, Case No. 1999-80700 (Kan. Ct. App. August 6, 1999)(unpublished).