Client Acquitted of Four Major Charges

Houlon Berman’s client, charged with assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct, threat to do bodily harm and failure to obey a traffic order, was found not guilty on December 6, 2010 after a Court trial lasting two days in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. A police officer confronted the client suspecting that he was driving under the influence. The defendant was not under the influence when stopped which the officers saw immediately. Nevertheless, the officers continued the traffic stop. Defense testimony further demonstrated that the charging officer had been involved in a series of prior contacts with the defendant which led to many meritless traffic citations. In the end, the Judge found that the two main officers who testified in the case lacked credibility and believed the defendant and his witnesses. The resulting verdict of not guilty was very well received by Houlon Berman’s client.