On
May 5, 2016, the defense team of Windy Ortega and Joshua Ortega successfully
defended their client against numerous drug and gun allegations. On September
29, 2014, their client, who will be referred to as “Mr. W” going forward, was
stopped for a minor traffic infraction – the legally tinted windows of the vehicle
he was operating appeared too dark for the taste of two Baltimore City
narcotics officers. The narcotics officers
quickly abandoned the alleged purpose of their stop (issuing a citation for a
minor traffic infraction), and began searching the vehicle driven by Mr. W. Following
this constitutionally questionable search of the vehicle, Mr. W was arrested
for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and various handgun
violations. The ramifications of a guilty verdict for Mr. W was a lengthy
prison sentence. After more than a year-and-a-half of waiting for his day in
court, Mr. W was finally able to select a jury on May 2, 2016.
In
an effort to prove its case, the State called seven witnesses. The Ortegas systematically exposed the bias
and credibility of the narcotics officers and State’s experts, as well as the
limitations of the State’s case. Throughout this highly contested trial, the
Ortegas fought for Mr. W to make certain he got a fair trial. The jury, hearing
the evidence as an impartial and objective body, found Mr. W not guilty of
possession with intent to distribute marijuana and four hand gun charges after several
hours of deliberations.
The
Ortegas, and Mr. W, are forever grateful to the ladies and gentlemen who served
on this jury for their time and careful consideration of all the evidence in
this case. Joshua and Windy, a husband
and wife law firm, lived up to their reputation as the Fighting Ortegas.
