Desiree Adell Rooney Woods

Ms. Woods was assigned to be my attorney after my having two previous public defenders who were pushing for me to sign plea deals that came with prison sentences. Ms. Woods listened to me, looked beyond my alleged crimes and charges, and went to work for me, resulting in a great outcome; diversion c...ourt for a year with all charges being dismissed after successfully completing the program.

She was assigned as my public defender in Alameda County. I felt forced to accept a plea bargain just so that I could get out of jail and try to build my own case. I'm not a disgruntled client, I accept my part in agreeing to plea "no contest" to "disturbing the peace." It was a bogus little charge. ...I shouldn't have been sitting in jail. My cats went over a week without being fed or cared for. My car sat parked at a meter and was towed, impounded, and auctioned off. My public defender, Ms. Woods, did nothing. She did however lie to me and refuse to gather the evidence I told her about from the pay phone at Santa Rita Jail.