 |
 |
HOME
|
Shaheen & Gordon … because the best legal minds belong in your corner.
Shaheen and Gordon’s criminal defense lawyers are experienced former State and federal prosecutors and seasoned criminal defense attorneys. Put their experience, knowledge and reputation to work for you. Our attorneys have experience and expertise in all aspects of criminal defense representation in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, on both State and federal levels.
Our clients have been charged with or are being investigated for serious felony and misdemeanor crimes, including homicide, first degree assault, second degree assault, robbery, kidnapping, sex crimes, child pornography, prostitution, internet luring/solicitation, sale and possession of controlled drugs, firearms offenses, fraud, embezzlement, theft, simple assault, criminal threatening and criminal trespass.
We prize the relationships our criminal defense lawyers have with our clients and believe our recognized success is due not only to the results we have achieved, but the relationships we have built with our clients. When you're in criminal trouble, you need a defense lawyer you can trust with your life in a justice system which is intimidating and unfriendly.
At Shaheen & Gordon, our criminal defense lawyers thrive on winning for our clients. Our job is to win for our clients, whether working quietly behind the scenes or doing battle in Court. Whether your case is a local district court matter or a significant State or federal felony charge, a rapid response from your legal defense team is essential for success. We strongly believe that legal teamwork contributes to our success and the best results for our clients. We match our resources carefully to the situation and to our clients' financial resources.
Usually, a criminal defense Partner and a criminal defense Associate form the core of the legal team working together to map out strategy, define and research any legal issues that are present and negotiate and/or try the case. The first important step in any criminal defense case is to find out what the State has for evidence in the case and what the prosecutor believes are the facts underlying a criminal charge. This is called the Discovery phase. This phase may demand both our extensive contact with police and prosecutors and obtaining documents and information relevant to the case through written motions or requests. The personal relationships our criminal defense lawyers have established and our reputation for integrity in the halls of justice are important assets to our clients when we contact law enforcement on their behalf. Many clients do not realize that successfully handling a criminal defense case requires a great deal of effective personal interaction between adversaries - defense lawyer and prosecutor. Being able to communicate effectively with the other side may make the ultimate difference in the success or failure of the case.
In some cases, our criminal defense lawyers may recommend that our clients retain the services of skilled investigators with whom we work, to conduct our own investigation, locate witnesses, track down necessary documents, take video or photographs or accomplish other important tasks. In many criminal defense cases, negotiating a disposition is the right way to achieve the best possible result. Our criminal defense lawyers work hard to put our clients and ourselves in a position of strength in any negotiation. If a case is not resolved through negotiation and needs to be tried, we prepare thoroughly for trial. In all criminal defense cases, we supply our clients with information as we receive it. The lawyer-client relationship is, often, intensely personal and involves what we consider a sacred trust.
Call the lawyers at Shaheen & Gordon … because the best legal minds belong in your corner.
Representative Cases:
Negligent Homicide: Successfully defended a truck driver on 4 counts of vehicular homicide with jury acquittals on all counts following trial. State claimed that driver of the truck was criminally responsible for driving at an excessive speed in a well marked construction site, resulting in the deaths of 4 individuals. The jury disagreed and returned NOT GUILTY verdicts on all counts.
Negligent Homicide: Client charged in Massachusetts with Motor Vehicle Homicide within days of new enacted "Melanie's Law" requiring mandatory prison sentences for certain drinking related motor vehicle offenses. Despite the new law the defense successfully negotiated a plea agreement where the defendant received a suspended sentence and did not go to jail. First Degree Assault: Client charged with First Degree Assault for stabbing her boyfriend in the chest with a carving knife. Client claims she acted in self-defense. At trial the defense focused on the injuries sustained by client and the police failures to conduct an adequate investigation, including failing to interview key witnesses that the defense interviewed and called as witnesses at trial, failing to conduct forensic testing on evidence supporting the claim of self-defense and failing to conduct any follow-up investigation based on new evidence that supported client’s claim of self-defense. The Jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY
Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault: Client charged with multiple counts of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault and Felonious Sexual Assault on two minor females. At trial the defense brought out motive fabricate charges, major inconsistencies between pretrial statements and trial testimony, with one of the alleged victims ultimately testifying that the defendant did not sexually assault her in any way. The jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY on all charges.
Felonious Sexual Assault and Simple Assault: Secured NOT GUILTY jury verdicts on behalf of a client charged with Felonious Sexual Assault and Simple Assault. Internet Luring/Solicitation: Client charged with using the internet to lure/solicit a minor to engage in sexual acts. Client also charged with Attempted Felonious Sexual Assault arising out of the same incident. State has strong case, including a confession. Through extensive negotiations and litigation, both charges are dropped and a negotiated agreement is reached on alternative lesser charges. After a contested sentencing hearing the court adopted the defense’s sentence recommendation, which resulted in the defendant not serving any jail time
Burglary: Client charged with unlawfully entering the apartment of a female college student with the intent to sexually assault her. At trial the defense brings out the relationship between the client and the alleged victim and the fact that the client and his friend were invited by the alleged victim to her apartment to continue an after-hours party. The defense raised questions regarding the sobriety of the alleged victim, her memory and her credibility. Further the defense raised questions about whether any sexual touching actually occurred and if so was it consensual. The jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY.
Sale/Possession of Controlled Drugs: Client charged with the felony offense of Possession with Intent to Sell Marijuana. Through negotiation with the prosecutor the charge is reduced to a Class A misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana charge and client accepts plea offer to a suspended jail sentence.
Sale/Possession of Controlled Drugs: Client charge with the felony offense of Possession of Cocaine. Defense files a motion to suppress the cocaine from trial contending it was obtained by an illegal police search. The prosecutor, after reading the motion and investigating the case further, agrees and drops the charge. CASE DISMISSED
Sale/Possession of Controlled Drugs: Client charged with Class A misdemeanor offense of Possession of Marijuana. Client rejects State’s plea offer and opts to go to trial. On the day of trial the prosecutor drops the charge after the defense points out that he does not have the required certified lab report on the marijuana. CASE DISMISSED.
Controlled Drugs: Obtained dismissal of indictment against individual charged with participating in scheme to import counterfeit prescription drugs into the United States.
Controlled Drugs: Successfully defended individual importer of pharmaceuticals indicted in the federal district court for the District of New Hampshire for trafficking and importing counterfeit goods. After Shaheen & Gordon’s retention all charges against the individual were dismissed.
Federal Securities Law: Successfully defended a CFO of a publicly traded company in a criminal investigation, alleging violations of federal securities laws and improper revenue recognition; after an extensive investigation no criminal charges were brought. Public Corruption: Successfully defended a public official in an investigation alleging violations of federal law arising from his performance as a public official; after an extensive investigation no criminal charges were filed. State Securities Law: Successfully defended a CEO of a publicly traded company in a criminal investigation, alleging violations of state securities laws; after an extensive investigation no criminal charges were filed. Federal Banking Law: Successfully defended real estate developer in federal criminal investigation alleging violations of the federal banking laws. After investigation no charges were filed. Internal Revenue Service: Successfully defended broker in internal revenue service investigation. After extensive investigation, no criminal charges were brought and a civil settlement reached. Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Obtained reversal at the United States Supreme Court and First Circuit Court of Appeals of 70-month criminal sentence by establishing sentence was imposed under unconstitutional mandatory sentencing guidelines. Simple Assault & Criminal Threatening: client charged with simple assault and criminal threatening for allegedly pushing and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend while they were exchanging custody of their minor child. Client denies the allegations and goes to trial. At trial the defense contests the charges and argues that the allegations were fabricated by the ex-girlfriend in order to create a false basis to try and modify custody of the minor child. The defense presented eye-witness testimony and court documents as evidence. After trial the judge found client NOT GUILTY on the assault charge and placed the criminal threatening charge on file WITHOUT A FINDING, resulting in no convictions for the client.
Simple Assault: Successfully defended Dartmouth College student charged with assault on a police officer. Client found NOT GUILTY after trial. Criminal Contempt: Secured victory after trial for client charged with Criminal Contempt for possessing firearms.
"Bootlegging" Music: Client charged under State of New Hampshire's music "bootlegging" law. After extensive pretrial motion practice court entered a directed verdict in favor of the defendant after the close of the State's evidence resulting in not guilty verdict for defendant.
Operating After Suspension (Subsequent Offense): Client charge with O.A.S. (Subsequent Offense). Client rejects State’s plea offer and opts for trial. At trial the defense questions the State’s witnesses (two State Troopers) regarding the client’s certified motor vehicle, which appeared to show that the client’s license was valid on the date the State says it was under suspension. In closing arguments, the defense points out to the judge State’s failure to provide available motor vehicle records regarding client’s suspension. Further, the defense points out to the judge that the criminal complaint against the client is defective in that it failed to allege a material element of the offense of O.A.S. (Subsequent Offense). Judge finds client NOT GUILTY |
Contact An Attorney James D. Rosenberg Steven M. Gordon William E. Christie Timothy M. Harrington Marcie Vaughan |
PRACTICE AREAS
- Business and Corporate
- Corporate Fraud/Internal Investigations
- Criminal Defense
- Divorce and Family
- DWI/DUI/OUI (Drunk Driving)
- Employment
- Estate and Probate
- Government Relations/Lobbying
- Health Care
- Litigation
- Municipal Law
- Personal Injury
- Products Liability
- Real Estate
- Social Security Disability
- Trademark and Copyright
- Worker's Compensation
