More and more people are asking the question, "why hire an attorney for many legal matters?" in some cases where the public feels comfortable, some legal matters can be handled in a less formal way. However, involvement in the criminal justice system can have some very serious consequences to your future.

As a result of having been arrested or indicted, many of your personal freedoms have already been placed in jeopardy. You may have experienced a search and seizure of personal property, spent time in jail, been questioned by law enforcement agents and been ordered to appear in court. Your reputation, your whereabouts and your freedom are now under the control of the court. You need to have someone represent and defend your rights.

My philosophy is to respond quickly and aggressively to any criminal charges. Your liberty is at stake and I won t hesitate to use every available resource to defend you.

Although the laws say that everyone accused is entitled to a defense, there are several other legal principles at work against you:

   
• the government's primary concern will be to protect the community from you. Your individual rights are of secondary concern to the government now.
   
• the system uses its own legal language, perspective and assumptions, and this may make it difficult for you to understand.
   
• the system has a tremendous amount of power over an accused person and it will use all that power against you.

Keeping this reality in mind, you will need to be well represented as early as possible in your case.

   
• Graduate - University of Texas, B.A. with highest honors political science
   
• Graduate - University of North Carolina, M.A., political science
   
• Graduate of University of Texas school of law with honors and special award for the study of criminal law
   
• Admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 1975
   
• District Public Defender for Bernalillo County

• Member - New Mexico Bar Association criminal law section
• Member - New Mexico trial lawyers association
• Member - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Selected a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers- 1987
• Specializing in criminal law since 1975
• Extensive trial experience
• Special knowledge in the following
              
  • Murder
                  
  • Drug & conspiracy cases
              
  • Robbery & burglary
              
  • Kidnaping
              
  • Rape
              
  • Larceny, theft, shoplifting
              
  • Fraud, embezzlement & white collar crime
              
  • Vehicular homicide
              
  • DWI
              
  • Criminal appeals & post conviction motions