December 28, 2016
December 28, 2016 - PRESSADVANTAGE -
Attorney Randy Collins successfully defends a client who was charged with rape, interference with a telephone communication and domestic violence battery.
SANTA ANA, Calif. Dec. 23, 2106 -- The Law Offices of Randy Collins announced that an Orange County jury had turned in a not guilty verdict (Case Number: 15CF2540) for their client who was facing several domestic violence charges. The jury on Dec. 16 unanimously found Luis Castaneda not guilty of forcible rape and interference with a telephone communication. Jurors split 10-2 in favor of a not guilty verdict on one count of domestic violence battery. This charge was dismissed by the Orange County District Attorney as a result of the jury decision in favor of "not guilty."
Criminal defense attorney Randy Collins said he was extremely pleased with the jury's verdict. "When I met and spoke with Mr. Castaneda, I was absolutely positive that he was not guilty of the serious charges that were leveled against him," Collins said. "To me, he sounded like a good guy who was caught up in the system and had been falsely accused."
The District Attorney presented a case, which depicted the defendant brutally beating a woman he was dating at the time and then forcibly raping her. Prosecutors said the victim cried out for help, which her neighbor heard and called the police.
Inside the home, there was blood on the door and broken glass on the floor, prosecutors said. When police responded to the alleged victim's home, they found the defendant hiding behind the kitchen refrigerator and arrested him. Subsequent forensic tests showed that the woman had a vaginal tear consistent with her account of the incident, according to the District Attorney.
However, the defendant, represented by Collins, presented an entirely different version of the incident. Based on the defendant's account, Collins argued that the alleged victim had framed Castaneda and that the evidence against him was the woman's deliberate lies to have him arrested.
Under California Penal Code Section 261, rape is defined as nonconsensual sexual intercourse accomplished by force, threat or fraud with a person who is not the spouse of the perpetrator. Interference with telephone communication is a charge that accuses a defendant of forcibly preventing the alleged victim from using a phone or communication device.
Under California Penal Code Section 243 (e)(1), domestic battery is defined as any willful and unlawful touching that is harmful or offensive and is committed against a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, former partner or a person with whom the defendant has or used to have a dating relationship. A defendant can be convicted of domestic battery (also known sometimes as "spousal battery") even if the alleged victim is not injured in any way. All that is required is that the defendant use "force" or "violence" against the alleged victim. A domestic battery charge often stems from a case where the alleged victim has not suffered injuries.
Collins said he was able to expose the woman's lies through a rigorous cross-examination process.
"The jury saw that the woman couldn't explain why her story had changed so many times and in so many critical ways," he said. "Ultimately, jurors agreed with the defense that the woman was not a credible witness and that she had manufactured her story to put the defendant in jail and ruin his life."
"This is precisely how the criminal justice system is supposed to work," Collins said. "Mr. Castaneda was facing serious charges that could have ended in devastating repercussions including time in state prison and hefty fines," he said. "Rape is a sex crime, which means that if he were convicted, he would have been required under the law to register as a sex offender for life."
Even facing these types of charges can be socially embarrassing for defendants, Collins said.
"We've had clients who have lost their jobs and their standing in society based on allegations," he said. "The law states that defendants are innocent until proven guilty. But, often, in these types of cases, defendants pay the price even before they've had a chance to fight the allegations or clear their name in court."
Castaneda said he was impressed with his attorney's resolve to prove his innocence. "Honestly, I don't believe any other lawyer could have gotten this result for me," he said, after the jury verdict. "The District Attorney really wanted to get a conviction against me. But Randy Collins never let up. He made the difference in my case and he is the reason I'm a free man."
Collins said these are the types of cases that give him immense satisfaction. "This was of course a challenging case," he said. "But it's totally worth it when at the end of it all my client who I believed to be innocent could walk out a free man."
About the Law Offices of Randy Collins
Former prosecutor Randy Collins represents defendants in criminal cases including sex crimes, assault, domestic violence, DUI, drug crimes, robbery and white-collar crimes. For a free consultation or for more information, please call The Law Offices of Randy Collins at (888) 250-2865.
###
For more information about Randy Collins, contact the company here:
Randy Collins
JJ Bisnar
bisnar6665@gmail.com
