Representative Cases

Southern California criminal defense attorney Antonio J. Bestard is justifiably proud of his consistent record of successful results for clients throughout California charged with a serious felony crime.

Antonio J. Bestard is a thorough investigator, skilled negotiator and tenacious litigator offering creative and unique legal solutions based on a comprehensive knowledge of California and Federal law.

He has been consistently recognized by his legal peers and earned the grudging respect of his legal adversaries after winning the complex, high-profile cases usually avoided by less savvy attorneys.


ACQUIT / DISMISS / REDUCE

CONTACT California defense lawyer Antonio J. Bestard today.

The following is a brief overview of some of Antonio J. Bestard’s legal success stories over the past twenty years, including multiple cases in which he was able to see a client acquitted or a verdict overturned after his thorough investigation and preparation located a legal technicality or loophole.

MURDER – After a client’s actions resulted in a murder charge, Antonio J. Bestard was able to identify a legal technicality that resulted in a dismissal on all charges.

THREE STRIKES – Antonio J. Bestard has convinced the court numerous times to dismiss an individual strike in order to obtain a favorable result for his client. He has also identified alternatives, like drug counseling, to assist clients in avoiding strikes on their records. Recently, Antonio J. Bestard convinced a court to strike four strikes on a case, after the district attorney’s only offer was a life sentence on the case. Because of Antonio J. Bestard s ability to persuade the court to show mercy, in one of the most punishing and notorious counties on the three strike issue, the client was able to avoid a life sentence, and could look forward to a day when the prison gates would open to his freedom.

SEARCH EVIDENCE – Antonio J. Bestard was able to suppress evidence found in a car by the police, leaving the prosecution with no evidence and no choice but to drop all charges against his client.

DISMISSAL – Antonio J. Bestard represented a client facing two murder charges, a potential death penalty case. At the preliminary hearing he was able to convince the court to dismiss the murder charges.

DUI/DMV – Representing a client charged with a DUI and a blood alcohol level of .30+, Antonio J. Bestard was able to save the client’s driving license by winning a hearing with the DMV.

DUI – Representing a client charged with a second felony DUI, Antonio J. Bestard was able to arrange for home arrest, thus saving his client’s job.

DUI ACCIDENT – While representing a client charged with felony DUI and a resultant motor vehicle accident, Antonio J. Bestard was able to utilize effective legal research and challenge a particular point of law the prosecutor believed applied to the case. This resulted in a favorable outcome for his client, even though the accident involved a CHP officer.

DUI / DMV/WRIT – After the DMV ruled against a client in a DMV hearing, Antonio J. Bestard challenged the ruling in the Superior Court by filing a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus. After a hearing in the Superior Court, and over the objections of the DMV, Antonio J. Bestard was able to convince the court that the DMV was wrong and had the court reverse the decision of the DMV suspending the client’s license.

MURDER TRIAL – A client was charged with running down the street and killing a neighbor in cold blood in front of many witnesses. Attorney was able to convince a jury that the client was not guilty of murder but of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, thus the client was able to avoid a life sentence, and could look forward to a day when he would be free.

TRIAL WIN – A client was charged with burglarizing a house. The owner of the house came home in the course of the burglary and chased the burglar out of the house. The homeowner identified the client as being the burglar. After a tough fought trial, Attorney was able to convince the jury that the client was not guilty, whereupon the client walked out of the courtroom into the loving arms of his mother.