PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK V. JEAN PIERRE, 4060/2019

East Flatbush man charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree is acquitted by a Brooklyn jury of all weapons charges after a three-day trial. Police recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from inside of an unfinished basement where the man was found sleeping by the super. Police entered the location and arrested the man for trespass, before searching the area and recovering the firearm from a hole in the ceiling. DNA was found on the trigger / trigger guard of the pistol. No fingerprints were recovered. Mr. Mottola pointed out the possibility of DNA transfer and focused on the lack of any independent witnesses connecting Mr. Pierre to the firearm or the location, earning a Not Guilty result on all weapons charges after a short deliberation by the jury.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK V. DENNIS SMITH, 268/2020

East New York man charged with 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree is acquitted by a Brooklyn jury of all charges after a week-long trial. Police recovered two firearms from inside of Mr. Smith's girlfriend's apartment after a call earlier in the evening for a domestic dispute. Police entered the location alleging that Mr. Smith's girlfriend gave consent. DNA was found on several parts of the firearm. No fingerprints were recovered. Mr. Mottola pointed out the possibility of DNA transfer and focused on the lack of any independent observations of Mr. Smith possessing these firearms and his lack of ties to the apartment, earning a Not Guilty on all charges after the jury deliberated for two days.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK V. TERIC HAMMETT, 4148/2018

Another Brooklyn client acquitted of all Felony charges in connection to an alleged robbery at 1:30 AM on June 3, 2018, on the Brooklyn-bound Q train. Mr. Hammett allegedly kicked the complaining witness in the face and grabbed his iPhone and iWatchwhile he was on the Q train with his wife. Despite the testimony of both the complaining witness and his wife, as well as an independent eyewitness on the Q train, Mr. Hammett was found Not Guilty of all Felony charges, including all counts of Robbery and Attempted Robbery, thanks to a vigorous defense by Mr. Mottola. 

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK V. CURTIS BEDFORD, 9151/2017

Brownsville man charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm is acquitted by a Brooklyn jury of all charges after a week-long trial. Police allegedly recovered a firearm from inside of a safe - which they claimed was wide open -  inside of Mr. Bedford's bedroom. Police entered the location without a warrant, alleging that Mr. Bedford's girlfriend at the time gave consent while Mr. Bedford was away in Pennsylvania. Mr. Mottola pointed out several inconsistencies with the police officer testimony, and secured the favorable result for his client, earning a Not Guilty on all charges after a brief deliberation.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK V. KE FU ZHAO, 80/2018

Man charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and other violent Felonies in connection with an alleged slashing that took place inside of a gambling parlor in Sunset Park on December 11, 2017, was acquitted of all charges by a Brooklyn jury. 

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK V. JEAN NAUFABLE, 6914/2018

Former FDNY EMT charged with Rape in the First Degree is found Not Guilty by a Brooklyn jury of all charges after a week-long trial. Text and direct message communications were entered into evidence, severely damaging the credibility of the complainant and ultimately resulting in a full acquittal after a short deliberation by the jury.