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Lawyer Barry Sooalo | Featured Attorney Criminal Defense

If you or a loved one are the target of a criminal investigation, stop, do not make any statements to anyone else; speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney before you do anything else.

What often times occurs is the police will call a person at his or her home or job and request that the person come to the police station to "make a statement".  If this ever happens to you or this has happened to you and that is why you are now visiting this site and reading this page, you can breath now.  Relax.  You will be ok.  What is important to remember is this:

1.  Do not make any statements to the police;
2.  Do not make any statements to anyone else;
3.  Speak with an experienced criminal law defense attorney immediately to discuss your options;

Often, a skilled and experienced attorney can make all the difference in the world.  He or she might be able to use various strategies and skill sets to encourage the prosecutor to not file charges.  If charges are filed, the skilled and experienced criminal law defense attorney can start to plan your defense such that you will be better off strategically for what happens next in the process.  Positioning is everything in the early stages of the criminal justice system, and an experienced criminal law defense attorney can do certain things, take certain actions, on your part, that puts you and your case in a more favorable position for either pre-trial settlement or trial, or even post-conviction proceedings, depending on the individual facts of your case.

No two cases are ever exactly alike and so what is done in one case might not make sense to do in another case.  For a free evaluation of your case, contact the Law Office of Barry Sooalo.

Timing.  Timing is critical when you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a crime, or if you or a loved one are the target of a criminal investigation.  Early in the criminal justice process, options may be available to you which an experienced criminal defense attorney can exercise effectively on your behalf.  As a rule, when in doubt, consult an experienced criminal defense attorney with a record of success in pre-trial settlement negotiations, jury and jury-waived trials, and post conviction proceedings both at the Hawaii Paroling Authority and the courts of appeal.

For immediate assistance, call 754-5669.

Below is a representative sampling of our work and the results we have been able to obtain for our clients.

Examples of results:

Trials

1.  State of Hawaii v. Saili, Case No. 1FC11-1-1317, Criminal Contempt of Court.  Bench Trial.  Verdict: Not Guilty.
2.  State of Hawaii v. Saili, Assault 3rd, Bench Trial.  Verdict: Not Guilty.
3.  State v. Gowan, Cr. No. 12-1-1189 (Kidnapping, Assault, Abuse of Household Member), Jury Trial.  Verdict: Not guilty.
4.  State v. Lealao: client charged with DUI.  Full hearing before the ADLRO.  Verdict: Not Guilty.
5.  State v. Abril: client on parole, charged with parole violation.  Full hearing before the HPA in Hilo, Hawaii.  Verdict: Not Guilty.  Client immediately released from custody.

Pre-trial Matters

1.  State v. Tyler: client charged with Promoting Detrimental Drug First Degree ("C' Felony).  Brought motion to suppress.  Motion granted.  Government Nolle Prosequi's the case.  Case dismissed.
2.  State v. Gowan: client summarily sentenced to 100 hours jail for contempt of court.  Brought ex-parte motion to reduce sentence from 100 hrs to 24 hours.  Motion granted.  Client released from jail.
3.  State v. Momoe: Client charged with Murder in the Second Degree.  Negotiated plea agreement.  Charge reduced to Assault 1st Degree from Murder 2nd Degree.

Sentencing

1.  State v. Scarfone: client was target of drug investigation into meth distribution.  Client's co-defendant sentenced to one year jail.  Client sentenced to probation.
2.  State v. Williams: client charged with meth distribution.  Trial.  Guilty verdict.  Client sentenced to probation.
3.  State v. Sakuma: client convicted of assault in the second degree after jury trial.  Even though client convicted of felony assault, successfully persuaded judge to sentence client to probation.


Post Conviction Proceedings (HPA and Courts of Appeal)

1.  State v. Momoe: Before the Hawaii Paroling Authority.  Argued Mandatory Minimum hearing.  Client originally charged with Murder 2nd Degree (life in prison).  Negotiated charge down to Assault in the 1st Degree (10 years).  After hearing argument from counsel, HPA set client minimum at five (5) months.  Client released from prison after five months and 27 days.
2.  State v. Faatea: Before the Hawaii Paroling Authority.  Client charged with parole violation for using marijuana while on parole.  Client represented by another attorney and was sentenced to at least one year prison for violation.  Client retained our office to represent him at upcoming parole consideration hearing.  Argued client entitled as matter of law to use marijuana for medical purposes.  HPA agreed.  Parole granted.  Client released.
3.  State v. Ramsey:  Client charged with Sex Assault and Burglary.  After appearing before the board eight times and being turned down for parole eight times with other counsel because client would not agree to complete the Sex Offender Treatment Program, client retained our office to represent him.  Successfully argued to HPA that it, the HPA, does not have the statutory authority to hold client in prison to complete the SOTP because the client had already maxed out on his sex assault sentence.  Client released from prison without having to complete the SOTP.
4.  State v. Puaoi.  Client convicted of sex assault.  Client in prison 16 years and had been denied parole numerous times.  Represented client before the HPA and was able to persuade HPA to grant parole to client.  Parole granted.  Client freed from prison.
5.  State v. Kim.  Client convicted of UEMV and sentenced to 5 yrs. prison.  Client also facing new charges on similar charges.  Negotiated deal between client and law enforcement.  Client released from prison in less than one year.  Client placed on probation for all matters.