A criminal lawyer, much like a trapeze artist, is seldom more than one slip from an awful fall.” – Paul O’Neill, Life Magazine, 1959, writing about Edgar Bennett Williams

Sample Jury Trial Victories:

July, 2023:  Sonoma County Superior Court

Not Guilty verdict on First Degree Murder with Gun Enhancement and Hung Jury on Second Degree Murder.  Client was tried for murder after he tried to evict a man that was abusing his elderly father and faced 50 years to life for trying to save his father’s life.  After going to is father’s home to kick out the deadbeat, violent man who was abusing his father, a struggle ensued in which the alleged victim pulled a gun and Client ended up shooting and killing the violent aggressor.  The decedent had a long history of violence and physical abuse of other elderly persons.  Despite the apparent confidence of the prosecution in obtaining a conviction, Client lives to fight another day, having been convicted of NOTHING.  Though nothing is certain, it appears clear that a second trial will likely result in another hung jury or acquittal.

December, 2022:  Nevada County Superior Court

Not Guilty verdict on First Degree Murder with Gun Enhancement and 11 – 1 Hung Jury for Not Guilty on Second Degree Murder.  District Attorney ultimately dismissed all murder charges, choosing to proceed only on Assault and Firearm charges, which are still pending.  Client was released after spending 20 months in custody awaiting trial.  Charges stemmed from a crazy night of drugs and violence on an illegal marijuana grow on the San Juan Ridge in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains.  The Prosecution relied on the word of an informant who admitted he himself dealt the final blow to the victim.  Despite this, the DA gave him immunity.   The jury didn’t believe him.

January, 2022:  Stanislaus County Superior Court

Not Guilty verdict on Murder with Special Circumstances (Life Without Possibility of Parole) and Robbery.  Client was convicted of Grand Theft and was given time served on the day of the verdict, and was home in time for dinner with his family.  Case involved a “drug rip” where client supposedly robbed victim of cocaine.  Jury determined this was not a robbery, and came back with a verdict in about 90 minutes.

October, 2020 to March, 2021:  Mendocino County Superior Court

Hung Jury with 9 out of 12 jurors voting for Not Guilty in a retrial of a Home Invasion Robbery and Burglary with Gun Enhancement, stemming from an alleged robbery of a marijuana grow in the Mendocino hills.  The trial was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, with masks and other public health protocols.  Prosecutor had initially sought to obtain possible Life terms by amending the Complaint to add kidnapping charges after preliminary hearing.  Ultimately, in March, 2021, after two hung juries, the prosecution moved to dismiss the charges for insufficient evidence.  Clients are all now free men, and can move on with their lives.

March, 2020:  Mendocino County Superior Court

Hung Jury with an evenly split jury on all charges in a Home Invasion Robbery and Burglary with Gun Enhancement, stemming from and alleged robbery of a marijuana grow in the Mendocino hills.  Though the prosecution presented compelling evidence of guilt, many jurors had a reasonable doubt after the defense exposed the credibility problems of the complaining witness.  A mistrial was declared and the case may be retried.  Either way, the clients live to fight another day.

January, 2020:  Contra Costa County Superior Court

Not Guilty verdict on all murder charges, including first degree murder with special circumstances (LWOP – Mandatory Life Without Possibility of Parole).  Jury only convicted on involuntary manslaughter, so instead of spending the rest of his life in prison, the Client will will be home in Georgia within months of the verdict.  The District Attorney of Contra Costa continues to follow a pattern of overcharging persons of color with murder and special circumstances and were beaten back, yet again.  Pleasant Hill Police and District Attorney’s Office took advantage of abusive interrogation tactics against a cooperating witness with barely an eighth grade education to turn on his family members when police threatened him and gave him no choice but to turn against his own family.  The jury soundly rejected this witness’ coerced “confession” and absolved client of murder.  This was the fourth consecutive first degree murder acquittal by Mr. Gohel, including two with special circumstances.

June, 2019:  Stanislaus County Superior Court

Not Guilty verdict on all charges, including Murder and Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice.  His client was charged along with a prominent criminal defense lawyer, three CHP Officers and his own brother in a variety of trumped-up charges.  After fighting through the third-longest criminal trial in California history, the jury came back with acquittals on all charges for all of the defendants.

October, 2017: Sutter County Superior Court
Hung Jury in an attempted murder with gang enhancement case alleging a member of the Hells Angels shot at an alleged rival biker club member.  Despite alleged victim’s identification and other compelling video evidence, a significant number of jurors did not believe in client’s guilt.  Mistrial was declared, avoiding a 40-year-to-life sentence.  Client ultimately plead guilty to a 10-year sentence, an incredible result.

December, 2016: Contra Costa County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict on all charges for murder conspiracy charges with gang enhancements.  Client was released from custody on day of verdict.  Prosecution attempted to prove conspiracy that client was trying to kill alleged gang rivals using wiretap calls, informant testimony, gang expert opinions and rap videos.  Client was facing 35 years to life in prison.

September, 2016: Stanislaus County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict on all charges for first-degree murder with gun enhancement.  Client was in custody for four and a half years awaiting trial, but was released on the day of the verdict.  Despite two cooperating witnesses who claimed client confessed to the crime, wiretaps, cell tower tracking, and evidence of client’s intention to flee, jury acquitted in four hours after a four week trial.  Client was facing a 50-year to life mandatory sentence, but is now back home with his family.

January, 2016: Solano County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict on all charges for client, a member of the Vallejo Hells Angels, in a felony assault with serious bodily injury case.  Alleged victim was a police officer’s son, who bumped into client’s female friend. When client asked him to apologize, the entitled cop’s son tried to act like a tough guy, and got taught a lesson in manners by the Hells Angel.  Jury acquitted based upon self-defense claim.  Jury seemed to agree with the HA adage: “Talk Sh**t, Get Lit!”

October, 2015: Marin County Superior Court
Not Guilty Verdict on Misappropriation by a Public Official and ultimate dismissal of all charges in a high profile political prosecution of the General Manager of the Ross Valley Sanitary District.  Client was in custody for two years on trumped-up high bail where the elected District Attorney of Marin County personally prosecuted the case.  Client was released on the day of the verdict, finally a free and righteously-exonerated man.

February, 2015: Lake County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict on all felony charges and gang enhancement involving a fight between members of the Hells Angels and the Vagos in an Indian casino.  Jury acquitted after a three month trial, despite damaging video evidence.  The jury did not believe the prosecution’s claim that the Hells Angels were a criminal street gang.

March, 2011: Sonoma County Superior Court
Hung Jury with 9 out of 12 votes for acquittal, where client was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and a great bodily injury enhancement. Despite three eyewitness accounts that my client had assaulted the alleged victim, and grisly injuries to the victim, the large majority of the jury believed defendant’s self defense claim. Charges were ultimately dismissed.

April, 2010: Sonoma County Superior Court
Hung Jury on a Three-Strikes robbery case where client was facing 35 years to life in prison. Despite eyewitness testimony of two witnesses, a mistrial was declared after all jurors were not convinced of guilt. Because of the hung jury, district attorney ultimately offered three years in prison, which client accepted.

March, 2010: Sonoma County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdicts on Felony Battery and Felony Gang Charges and Enhancement involving a member of the Hells Angels. The jury made a specific determination that the Hells Angels were not a criminal street gang under Penal Code sec. 186.22.

February, 2010: San Francisco County Superior Court
Hung Jury in an Arson of an Inhabited Dwelling prosecution. Despite damaging video surveillance evidence, jury did not find client guilty, after witness identifications were demonstrated to be unreliable.

October, 2009: Alameda County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict, where client was accused of Rape of an unconscious woman. Jury returned a Not Guilty verdict based upon a consent defense. District Attorney’s last offer was 3 years state prison and lifetime sex registration under California law.

September, 2009: Napa County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict, where client was accused with two counts of Assault with Great Bodily Injury. DA’s last offer was 5 years in prison and two strikes. A Not Guilty verdict came after 45 minutes of jury deliberation following almost two weeks of trial and 25 witnesses.

August, 2009: Fresno County Superior Court
Not Guilty verdict on charges that members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club were a criminal street gang and a finding that they did not commit a criminal act in furtherance of the HAMC. This was the first such finding by a jury regarding the HAMC in the state of California, where liability for the underlying criminal offense was established (liability was uncontested on the underlying misdemeanor offense). Jury returned its verdict in under one hour.

April, 2007: Sacramento County Superior Court
Police excessive force civil case. Jury verdict finding Liability against a sheriff’s deputy for assault against my client, and award of damages.

Other Notable Results:

September, 2017, Mendocino County.  Exclusion of all seized evidence when judge granted motion to suppress evidence related to a traffic stop where illegally concealed firearms were found.  Police claimed “officer safety” justified the warrantless search.  Judge disagreed.

July, 2016, Sonoma County.  Dismissal of all charges in felony gun and gang charges against “Prospect” of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club when judge granted motion to suppress evidence.

April, 2016, U.S. District Court, San Francisco (Hon. Charles Breyer).  Jury trial verdict where client was facing 10 year minimum mandatory sentence due to allegations of possession with intent to distribute five kilos or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  Jury convicted on charge, but did not find true the weight allegations, thus avoiding a 10 year sentence.  Client was ultimately sentenced to 3 years in prison, which was four years less than the best offer to settle the case made by the government.

July, 2014: Conta Costa County.  Dismissal of First Degree Murder Charges at Preliminary Hearing

July, 2013: Mendocino County.  Dismissal of all marijuana possession for sale, cultivation and firearm charges after suppression of search warrant

July, 2012: Yavapai County (Prescott), Arizona.   Dismissal of Aggravated Assault with Firearm and Gang Charges against client, a member of the Arizona Nomad Hells Angels Charter, after judge set aside the indictment after prosecutor failed to present exculpatory evidence to the grand jury.  Case was never refiled.

April, 2012:  Alameda County.   Dismissal of Accessory to Vehicular Homicide charges

January, 2011:  San Francisco County.   Dismissal of felony cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana at preliminary hearing

October, 2010:  Sonoma County.  Dismissal of assault with deadly weapon in drive-by shooting case at preliminary hearing

May, 2006:  U.S. District Court, District of Nevada (Las Vegas).  Dismissal of Violence in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) charges against client in infamous shootout in Loughlin, Nevada involving the Hells Angels and the Mongols Motorcycle Clubs.

Mr. Gohel won his very first jury trial, a felony grand theft auto and fraud case in San Mateo County.