The information in this section contains information about past results obtained by the attorneys at Ponall Law. The information has not been review or approved by The Florida Bar. You should know that:
The facts and circumstances of your case may differ from the matters in which results have been provided.
All results of cases handled by the attorneys are not provided.
The results provided are not necessarily representative of results obtained by the attorneys. Every case is different, and each client’s case must be evaluated and handled on its own merits.
Criminal Appellate Decisions
David Johnson v. State (1st DCA 2024)
Overturning conviction and sentence for Lewd or Lascivious Battery – successfully argued that defendant was provided ineffective assistance of counsel by his trial attorney
Joseph Guida v. State (5th DCA 2023)
Overturning conviction and sentence for Domestic Violence Battery based on stand your ground self-defense immunity
Jennifer Dusan v. State (5th DCA 2022)
Overturning conviction and 12-year prison sentence for DUI Manslaughter – Successfully argued that law enforcement failed to get the required search warrant prior to forcibly taking the defendant’s blood for alcohol testing
United States v. Jonathan Hipps (11th Cir. 2021)
Overturning convictions and sentence for Mail Fraud, Concealment of a Material Fact, and Making a False Statement or Representation related to the defendant’s conduct with relation to a contract with NASA – Successfully argued that the Government witness was improperly permitted to testify about his opinion of the defendant’s truthfulness and credibility
Chase Woolman v. State (2d DCA 2020)
Overturning convictions and 15-year prison sentence for sexual battery while in custodial authority of a minor and lewd or lascivious molestation – Successfully argued that trial judge committed various evidentiary errors and provided an incorrect jury instruction at trial
Jonathan Smith v. State (5DCA 2020)
Overturning convictions and Life sentence for capital sexual battery – Successfully argued that trial judge improperly refused to redact video of defendant’s police interview where officer provided his opinion on the credibility of the alleged victim
Trevor Dooley v. State (2DCA 2019)
Overturning conviction and 8-year prison sentence for Manslaughter with a Firearm – Successfully argued that trial judge provided the jury with an incorrect jury instruction on self-defense
Jose Recco v. State, (5th DCA 2019)
Overturning convictions and 25-year sentence for Lewd Molestation, Lewd Exhibition and Lewd Conduct – Successfully argued that trial judge improperly prohibited the defendant from cross-examining the alleged victim
Criminal Postconviction Matters
State v. Marc Rivera (9th Cir. Ct., 2023)
Order granting Rule 3.850 motion and overturning conviction and Life Sentence for First Degree Murder – Successfully argued that defendant’s trial attorney provided him with ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to object to improper comments on him exercising his right to remain silent
State v. Joseph Mehtala (9th Cir. Ct, 2022)
Order granting Rule 3.850 Motion and overturning Life Sentence for Capital Sexual Battery – Successfully got defendant resentenced to 2 years in prison based on his trial attorney’s ineffective assistance of counsel
State v. Matthew Apperson (18th Cir. Ct, 2021)
Order granting Rule 3.850 Motion and overturning conviction and 20-year sentence for Attempted Murder with a Firearm – Successfully argued that defendant’s trial attorney provided him with ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to object to an incorrect jury instruction on self-defense
Additional Successful Results
Marcus Maye v. State (2024)
Florida Supreme Court order accepting the case in order to determine the constitutionality of the Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) statute
State v. Ricky Neal (9th Cir. Ct., 2020)
Trial Judge Order declaring Prison Releasee Reoffender Statute Unconstitutional
Geraldine Thompson v. Ron DeSantis (Fla. 2020)
Florida Supreme Court decision granting a petition for writ of mandamus precluding Governor DeSantis from appointing Judge Renatha Francis to the Florida Supreme Court because she did not have the 10 years of experience required by the Florida Constitution