Case Results

2018 ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON

Client was charged with attacking another person with a pipe and causing injury. Martin Caraves was able to show that the complaining witness was the first aggressor and our client was merely defending himself as best he could. Law enforcement failed to ask the proper questions and understand the entire context of what had happened the night of the incident. The case was dismissed on the eve of trial.

2019 ASSET FORFEITURE RECOVERY

Client convicted of drug crimes had his assets (cash, retirement, real property, etc.) seized by law enforcement. The DA argued that all assets were obtained illegally as a result of profits obtained in drug sales. Martin Caraves successfully recovered 95% of the funds that were seized, including the life savings and investments, by the tracing the funds to legitimate sources. Client forfeited only 5% of funds.

2015 EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AND CHILD ABUSE CHARGES DISMISSED

Life Sentence Avoided due to Wrongfully Accused

Client was wrongfully arrested and charged with exploding a destructive device causing great bodily injury, possessing a destructive device near populated locations, and child abuse, all felonies. Client was suspected of giving a 13-year-old boy an aerial mortar round on August 2, 2015 that exploded and caused him to lose his left hand and hearing in one ear. Martin Caraves and Roseann Torres conducted further investigation, and with the help of a private investigator, determined that the client was in another county several hundred miles away as evidenced by gas station surveillance footage. Case was dismissed and client set free.

Link to News Story: https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/08/26/oakland-man-charged-in-fireworks-explosion-that-cost-boy-a-hand/

2018 – CHILD ABUSE WITH INJURY CHARGES

Client was charged with physical abuse of a juvenile resulting in injuries. The juvenile had trespassed onto the client’s property to steal items belonging to several tenants. The client attempted to conduct a citizen’s arrest and allegedly beat the child causing the injuries. Martin Caraves conducted further investigation and learned that it was the arresting officers that had injured the juvenile when they forcefully detained him to investigate what had happened. After reviewing defense counsel’s mitigation, including Body Worn Cameras, the case was dismissed.

2018 CHILD MOLEST CHARGES REDUCED

Bay Area school teacher accused by multiple students of inappropriate touching. Martin Caraves and his investigator were able to show the legal problems with the prosecution’s case and convinced the DA to resolve the matter for one count of simple battery. Client avoided PC 290 registration, jail time, and possible deportation. 

2017 – FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RESISTING ARREST CHARGES

Client was charged with felony domestic violence and resisting arrest. At the preliminary hearing, Martin Caraves convinced the judge to reduce the two DV charges to misdemeanors and showed that the client was the victim of assault by the two arresting officers. At trial, the resisting arrest charges were dismissed.