Education

Law School/Year: Loyola University School of Law, Los Angeles, 1977

College/Year: Cal State Northridge, 1972

Bar Admissions

California

Practice Areas

Criminal Law     

Major Cases

Perhaps the highest profile case I handled was the death penalty case of Stacey Butler, who was charged with killing a young police officer in San Diego. The jury hung 6-6 and the death penalty was dismissed. After much additional litigation, the client and others were given pleas of voluntary manslaughter. Another high profile case I tried was the case of Eric Shimabukuro in North County. Three teenagers were involved in a ritualistic stabbing of a woman in her home in Escondido. She was stabbed 61 times. The jury found Shimabukuro not guilty of the murder.  

Professional Background

Early in my career I was with the district attorney’s office in Bernalillo County, N.M. (Albuquerque). I had the fortunate experience of being assigned as a trial lawyer in the violent crime trial team trying homicides, rapes and other serious violent charges. I have now spent over 30 years as a criminal lawyer. In 1992 I was awarded the Criminal Defense Bar Association Trial Lawyer of the Year and in 1999 was awarded the Criminal Defense Bar Association Directors’ Award for Excellence. I received a <i>Daily Transcript </i>Top Attorneys award in 2008 as well as 2010.

Professional Affiliations

I am a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association, Criminal Defense Lawyers Club, Veterans Bar Association and Cowboy Lawyers Association.

Personal Background

I was born and raised in the farm and small town country of northern Indiana and  southern Michigan. While graduating college and law school were wonderful steps upward in life, I am most proud of the fact that I served in combat in Vietnam in the U.S. Marine Corps. That service makes you understand that the valuable rights and freedoms we enjoy come at a significant price and should not be taken for granted here at home! They should be vigorously, protected, defended and respected in our justice system.