JAMES M. CRAWFORD
Criminal Defense & Appeals Attorney
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Featured Verdicts
People v Mejia
The 40-to-life sentence was vacated and my client was released from prison
Johnny Mejia was originally sentenced to 40 years to life imprisonment for attempted murder. Based on recent changes in the law that favored Johnny, I filed a habeas corpus petition on his behalf. As a result, the prosecution and court agreed to modify Johnny’s sentence–it was reduced to credit for time served and Johnny was finally released from prison.
People v Dao
The jury found my client not guilty of all charges
My client Mr. Dao had a strained relationship with his wife. During one of their frequent arguments, she smashed his glasses and scratched his face. He pushed her away, and she told the police he strangled her into unconsciousness. However, during our investigation Ms. Dao admitted that she fabricated the charges out of anger. Despite this, the prosecution refused to drop the charges. During the trial, I presented evidence from my client and a special investigator I had hired who testified about the wife’s conflicting stories. As a result, the jury found my client not guilty of all charges.
People vs Ivory
My client was immediately released from state prison and is now a free man.
Ivory was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and sentenced to eight years in prison. While there, he was additionally charged with illegal possession of drugs and alcohol, for which he plead guilty and was sentenced to two years and eight months. However, the prosecution agreed to award him credit for time already served and good behavior in exchange for the guilty plea, but the prison refused to honor this agreement. I filed a habeas corpus petition on behalf of Ivory, arguing that he detrimentally relied on the prosecution’s promise in waiving his right to a jury trial and accepting the plea. The judge agreed, granting the petition and releasing Ivory immediately from state prison, a free man.
People vs George L.
My client was set free after having been sentenced to life in prison.
George was sentenced to life for robbery with gun enhancements. During the trial, the victims told trial counsel that George did not commit the crime, but the victims were not put back on the stand to testify. George was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. We argued on appeal that the conviction should be vacated based on ineffective assistance of counsel. In addition to not calling those witnesses, we also presented new evidence of innocence, including alibi witnesses and testimony of another inmate, who had been convicted of three similar robberies during the same time frame, that he was the actual robber. We won the case- George’s conviction was vacated, and he was set free.
People vs Ashley J.
My client’s conviction was vacated after having been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ashley was in an abusive relationship. One morning she woke up and found her 4 month old child dead in her crib. Both Ashley and her husband were arrested for murder; on the way out the door, the husband yelled, “the bitch did it.” Ashley was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, but her husband was found not guilty. I assisted Ashley with her appeal. We found that the trial counsel did not conduct a proper investigation prior to the trial. We interviewed family and discovered Ashley’s older daughter was hiding behind a couch on the night of the murder, and saw her father punch the baby in her crib. Based on this, and other material presented to the judge, Ashley’s conviction was vacated and she is now a free woman.
People vs Mark V.
My client was released from custody after having been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mark was babysitting for his friend’s 17 month old daughter the night she fell, lost consciousness, and unfortunately died at the hospital from traumatic brain injury. Mark was charged with murder, defended by another lawyer, and ultimately was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, I successfully argued that Mark did not receive proper counsel (no experts were called, child’s pre-existing head injury was not detailed)- the judge agreed, vacated the sentence, and we were able to retry the case. I retried the case for Mark. The verdict this time was dramatically different- not guilty of all charges. Mark has been released from custody after 12 years and is now a free man.
People vs Frank M.
My client was released from prison after having been sentenced to 315 years to life.
Frank was originally sentenced to 315 years to life for writing fraudulent checks with several prior convictions. On habeas corpus, I successfully argued that Frank’s previous trial and appellate lawyers provided ineffective assistance because they did not challenge the prior convictions which were invalid, and we were granted habeas relief, which gave us the right to argue that Frank’s imprisonment was unlawful. The court vacated the sentence and Frank was returned to the trial court for re sentencing. At the new sentencing hearing, Frank was re-sentenced to just 11 years (down from 315), and was immediately released from prison, a free man.
People v IRW
My client was released from prison after having been sentenced to life.
IRW was in his car when two other men entered a liquor store, robbed it, and then shot and killed the cashier. My client played no role in the killing of this man, yet was originally convicted of murder with a robbery-murder special circumstance and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. After 29 years in custody, we successfully argued IRW’s defense under Penal Code 1172.6. The trial court agreed, vacated the murder conviction and special circumstance, and resentenced him to 8 years in custody; with credit for prior time already served, IRW was released from prison and is now a free man.
Criminal Defense Verdicts
People vs. Edward H.: Defendant was charged with murder. After two hung juries, murder charge was dismissed and defendant released from custody.
People v. Jeffrey W.: Defendant was charged with driving under the influence of marijuana. Charge was dismissed.
People vs. D.M.: Defendant charged with Hit and Run. Dismissed.
In Re: John W.: Defendant was told he was facing a 115 year Life Sentence. Defendant took a 10 year deal. A Habeas Corpus was filed and defendant’s prior conviction was vacated and defendant re-sentenced to time served.
People vs. T.N.: Conspiracy and Theft charges Jury ruling – Not guilty.
People vs. C.C.: defendant charged with petty theft. Case dismissed.
People vs. J.C.: order denying motion to withdraw reversed.
People vs. R. V.: Defendant was charged in Juvenile Court with assault with bodily injury. The minor was acquitted of charges following a trial.
People vs. M.M.: Charged with Assault and Battery. Client charged for attempting to stop a DUI driver from leaving the scene of an accident. Case dismissed.
USA vs. D.J: Defendant was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. A motion to modify guideline sentence was granted, based on amendments to crack cocaine guidelines.
People vs. T.H.: 70 year sentence vacated. Prosecutor mislead trial judge.
In Re: Darrell C.: Order by the governor reversing parole grant by Parole Board was vacated in Habeas Corpus proceeding.
People vs. M.D.: Trial Court order denying order to suppress. Reversed and dismissed.
People vs. Steven L.: Defendant was denied a hearing to substitute a court appointed counsel. Conviction was vacated on appeals.
People vs. M.F.: 2nd degree robbery and street terrorism. Charges dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
People vs. D.A.: Reversal of Charges Child annoyance conviction reversed in full, due to lack of evidence.
People vs. Henry R.: Defendant was charged and convicted with 1st degree murder and 2nd degree murder of unborn fetus. On appeal, conviction was reversed. After a second appeal, defendant’s conviction was vacated because the prosecutor illegally obtained defendant’s confession to a jailhouse informant.
People vs. M.M.: Defendant was charged and convicted of grand theft auto and receiving stolen property. Police conducted illegal search of client’s garage. Conviction reversed on appeals.
Criminal Appeals Verdicts
In Re: Darrell C.: Governor’s decision to deny client parole after being granted parole by the parole board was vacated in Habeas Corpus.
People vs. Steven L.: Defendant was not allowed to hire a new lawyer. Conviction was vacated on appeals.
People vs. Terry H: 70 year sentence vacated. Prosecutor mislead trial judge.
People vs. J.C.: order denying motion to withdraw reversed.
In re: John W.: Defendant was told he was facing 115 year Life Sentence. Defendant took a 10 year deal. A Habeas Corpus was filed and defendant’s prior conviction was vacated and defendant re-sentenced to time served.
USA vs. D.J: Defendant was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. A motion to modify guideline sentence was granted, based on amendments to crack cocaine guidelines.
People vs. Henry R.: Defendant was charged and convicted with 1st degree murder and 2nd degree murder of unborn fetus. On appeal, conviction was reversed. After a second appeal, defendant’s conviction was vacated because the prosecutor illegally obtained defendant’s confession to a jailhouse informant.
People vs. M.M.: Defendant was charged and convicted of grand theft auto and receiving stolen property. Conviction was reversed on appeals.