BERKE IN THE News

 

 

SUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE TO OBTAIN THE RETURN A CONFISCATED GUN PERMIT

United States District Court, District of Connecticut

 

CRIMINAL CHARGES DISMISSED  

Derby, CT - GA 

 

John B, a retired police lieutenant, was arrested by the Shelton Police. After two court dates his case was dismissed.  Despite the fact that the case was dismissed, as a result of his arrest his pistol permit was revoked.  Attorney Berke filed a federal lawsuit against the state police alleging that his pistol permit was illegally revoked and challenged the unlawfulness of the pistol revocation appeals process. John’s pistol permit was reinstated after a few weeks.  Attorney Berke filed a 1983 federal civil rights action against the Shelton Police for false arrest.  The city settled the civil rights case.

CTPOST  -   Retired Cop Sues State Officials to Get His Gun Permit Back 

 

NOT GUILTY        HOME INVASION, ROBBERY, ASSAULT FIRST DEGREE, FAILURE TO APPEAR FIRST DEGREE

Waterbury, CT - Judicial District 

Kevin L. was accused of entering a neighbor’s apartment with force and beating the homeowner with a table and microwave.  A jury acquitted of all charges.

 

ATTEMPTED MURDER    

NOT GUILTY

Fairfield, CT, - Judicial District

Bunleut T. was accused of attempted murder in a shooting between rival Cambodian gangs.  During the trial, we asked the jury to acquit him of the attempted murder and assault in the first-degree charges and he took responsibility for the possession of the firearm. The jury agreed and acquitted him of all charges except the weapons count.

 

KMEL DAVIS SHOOTING TRIAL OF TWO VICTIMS 

(MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER) 

NOT GUILTY

New Haven, CT - Judicial District

The client was found not guilty of Murder but Guilty of Manslaughter.

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  Man found guilty in 2011 New Haven Shooting Death

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  Defendant Testifies on His Behalf in New Haven Murder Trial

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  At New Haven Murder Trial, Survivor Tells of Scuffle with Gunman

 

 

NOT GUILTY

SEXUAL ASSAULT, RISK OF INJURY TO A MINOR

Fairfield, CT - Judicial District

Carlos D. was accused of sexually assaulting a developmentally challenged girl whom he met on the internet.  Carlos was acquitted of all charges by a jury.

 

 

 

NOT GUILTY         SEXUAL ASSAULT, RISK OF INJURY TO A FIVE MINORS

Fairfield, CT - Judicial District

Alvin R. Roosevelt Middle School basketball coach was accused of sexually assaulting five students and was charged with 21 felony counts. He faced over 180 years in prison.  The jury acquitted him of all charges.

 

SEXUAL ASSAULT, RISK OF INJURY TO A MINOR

NOT GUILTY

Fairfield, CT - Judicial District

James S. was accused of sexually assaulting his granddaughter.  The jury acquitted him of all charges.

 

NOT GUILTY 

SEXUAL ASSAULT  

New Haven, CT - Judicial District

Billy S. was accused of sexually assaulting the minor daughter of his girlfriend and faced 100 years.  He was acquitted of all charges after trial before a jury. .

NOT GUILTY

MANSLAUGHTER

Hartford, CT - Judicial District  

Conrod D. was found not guilty by a jury. He was accused of committing manslaughter with a machine gun.

 

 

NOT GUILTY          STATUTORY RAPE AND RISK OF INJURY TO A MINOR

Waterbury, CT - Judicial District

Jaymie B. was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old minor and impairing the minor’s morals by plying him with alcohol and marijuana. She became pregnant and gave birth to the minor’s child. DNA results linked Jaymie B., the 14-year-old minor, and the baby. Facing forty years the jury found Jamie B. not guilty on all counts.

NBC CONNECTICUT  -  Jury Clears Woman Who Had Affair With Teen

 

SEXUAL ASSAULT, RISK OF INJURY TO A MINOR

NOT GUILTY

Milford, CT - Judicial District

Jeff B. was accused of sexually assaulting his daughter.  The jury acquitted him of all charges.

 

NOT GUILTY SEXUAL ASSAULT

Fairfield, CT - Judicial District

1. Brown was charged with sexually assaulting his ex-wife. After a trial before a jury, he was acquitted of all charges.

 

NOT GUILTY SEXUAL ASSAULT

Fairfield, CT - Judicial District

Edwin G. was accused of sexually assaulting the 4-year-old son of his boyfriend. After a jury trial, he was acquitted of all charges.

 

DISMISSED POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE

United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi

After being indicted by a grand jury, M.Y.’s federal narcotics criminal charges were dismissed by stipulation.

 

DISMISSED                        POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL NARCOTICS

Bridgeport, CT - GA

George F. was charged with the possession of several hundred bags of crack cocaine.  After an evidentiary hearing, the court ruled that the drugs were illegally seized and granted the request to suppress the drugs.

 

POSSESSION OF A PISTOL WITHOUT A PERMIT

REDUCED CHARGE AFTER MOTION TO DISMISS AND APPEAL

New Haven, CT - GA

New Haven Cab Driver John Lutters was charged with possession of a pistol without a permit.  He was driving his cab when a passenger cut his neck with a knife. Although he did not have a pistol permit, after a motion to dismiss, the trial court Judge Lubbie Harper, Jr, dismissed the charges. (Judge Harper later served on the Connecticut Appellate and Connecticut Supreme Court.)  The State appealed and the Connecticut Supreme Court determined that, although the statute did not mention that a place of business must be a fixed business, that is what the legislature meant when they drafted the law.  Upon remand to the trial court, the state agreed to reduce the charge which carried a mandatory minimum jail sentence to an unconditional discharge on a single misdemeanor charge.

 

SUFFIELD, CT  POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF STEALING DRUG MONEY

DISMISSED

Rockville, CT - GA

JOURNAL INQUIRER  -  Charges Dropped Against Former Suffield Officer

 

RUMONE RICHARD CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER

Milford, CT - Judicial District

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  Details Emerge with 2nd Arrest in Downtown Milford Shooting

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  Hospitalization Delays Suspect's Court Appearance in Milford

 

GUN AND NARCOTICS CHARGES 

Bridgeport, CT

CTPOST  -  Alleged Bridgeport Drug Dealer Hit With Gun Charges

 

TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE INVESTIGATION

NO CHARGES FILED AGAINST CLIENT

New Haven, CT

Berke represented the interests of Jennifer Hrmodaka, the fiancée of Raymond Clark who was convicted of murdering Annie Le at a Yale University Science Laboratory.

CTPOST  -  Attorney Says DNA Sought From Yale Suspect Fiancee

NBC CONNECTICUT -  Yale Murder Suspect's Fiancée  Still Supports Him

NBC CONNECTICUT  -  DNA Backlog Delays Annie Le Case: Lawyer

 

SEX TOURISM - USA v. EDGARDO SENSI

Bridgeport, CT     

A Federal Grand Jury indicted Mr. Sensi of sex tourism and the production of child pornography.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

Westport, CT

Berke represented Kevin Larkin, who along with a co-defendant was arrested by warrant and stand accused of sexually assaulting a woman they met at the Black Duck Café in Westport, CT.

DONNELLY JEWELRY STORE MURDER CASE 

Fairfield, CT

Berke represented Nicole Pearce who was charged with Murder and Felony Murder of a Fairfield couple who owned a popular jewelry store on the Post Road in downtown Fairfield.

CTPOST  -  Accomplice in Donnelly Murders on Death Bed

CTPOST  -  Accomplice in Donnelly Murders Dies

CTPOST  -  Ex-girlfriend to Testify Against DiMeo

 

DISMISSED 50 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA

New Haven, CT -GA

 

Task force including Hamden Police and federal agents seized 50 pounds of marijuana from client’s apartment.  Case dismissed after we established that the investigators lied about the existence of an informant in the search warrant.

 

DISMISSED            DRUGS AND GUN SUPPRESSED

Bridgeport, CT - GA

Federal and state agents searched a Bridgeport home pursuant to a federal search warrant.  After a suppression, the case was dismissed against all three of Attorney Berke’s clients.

 

ACCELERATED REHABILITATION

“AR” FOR POSSESSION OF 40 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA  

Fairfield, CT  - Judicial District 

A Bridgeport UPS driver was accused of conspiring to sell forty pounds of marijuana.  After three days of trial, the defendant received AR, accelerated rehabilitation.

 

 

ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING THE DEATH OF A MINOR

New Haven, CT  -  Judicial District

Moories Hill Jr. received one year for allegations involving the death of a minor.

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  Man Gets 1 Year in Death of Infant Son in New Haven; Prosecutor Cites Question of Which Brother Committed Crime

CTPOST  -  Man Charged in Connection With Infant Son's Death

KIARRA DAVIS (GUN TRAFFICKING CASE)

Fairfield, CT -  Judicial District

CTPOST  -  City Settles Police Brutality Lawsuit

CTPOST  -  Gun Seller Gets 5 Years in Prison

CTPOST  -  Woman Pleads No Contest to Gun Charges

 

LAGUARDIA AIRPORT EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF IDENTITY THEFT

Bridgeport, CT-Judicial District

CTPOST  -  Undocumented Immigrant Charged with Stealing Man's Identity

 

PINE ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STRIP-SEARCHED BY TEACHERS

USDC, CT

CTPOST  -  Ex-students Settle Conn. Strip Search Lawsuit

NBC CONNECTICUT  -  Strip Search Decision Could Affect Ansonia Case

 

EASTON MAN CHARGED WITH HOME INVASION

Bridgeport, CT  Judicial District

CTPOST  -  Easton Home Intruder Agrees to Plea Deal

 

RISK OF INJURY TO A MINOR, “BANANA CASE”

DISMISSED   

Bridgeport, CT - GA 

Annie O’Donnell, a Bridgeport kindergarten teacher for thirty years, was charged with risk of injury to a minor for encouraging a kindergarten student to eat a banana, still in its peel, from his lunch try, that the student had just thrown in a garbage can.  The charges were dismissed.

CTPOST  -  Charges Dropped Against Teacher in 'Garbage Lunch' Case

 

EIGHT POUNDS OF MARIJUANA

DRUGS SUPPRESSED

Bridgeport, CT - GA  

Eight Pounds of marijuana were found in Shawn Morrison’s bedroom after he was stopped for a motor vehicle infraction a few blocks from his home in Bridgeport. The police searched his home after they believed that the passenger of his car had a weapon who fled the scene. After a hearing, the court agreed that the police unconstitutionally searched his home and suppressed the drugs found.

 

40 POUNDS MARIJUANA

DRUGS SUPPRESSED

Stamford, CT - GA 

Case dismissed after our investigation revealed the unlawful of the traffic stop.

ANTONIO LOSTAUNAU v. BRIDGEPORT POLICE OFFICER FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE

CTPOST  - Passenger of Car That Rammed Police Claims Brutality

 

 

VIOLATION OF PROBATION- DISMISSED

Bridgeport, CT - GA

Roxanne Lafountain was accused of committing a residential burglary while she was on probation.   The victim and police officers testified at the violation of probation hearing.  The judge concluded that the state did not prove that she committed the offense and did not find that she violated her probation.

 

MICHAEL STINSON CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION AGAINST BRIDGEPORT POLICE FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE

CTPOST  -  Man Shot 12 Times Sues Cops

 

ORLANDO LOPEZ SOTO SUED BRIDGEPORT POLICE OFFICERS IN BEARDSLEY PARK ASSAULT   (BEARDSLEY STOMP)

 

A bystander videotaped the three Bridgeport Police officers beating Mr. Lopez-Soto in Beardsley Park.  Attorney Berke filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the officers which resulted in a settlement.

CTPOST  -  Mayor: Excessive Force by Cops Under Review

CTPOST  -  Lawsuit Alleges Police Brutality

CTPOST  -  Civil Rights Violations Brings Scrutiny

NEW HAVEN REGISTER  -  2 Bridgeport Cops Plead Guilty to Rights Violation

CTPOST  -  City Settles Police Brutality Lawsuit

HUFFINGTON POST  -  Bridgeport Police Brutality Lawsuit: Man Claims Cops Stomped, Kicked Him 

CTPOST  -  2 Cops Plead Guilty in Park Stomping

CTPOST  -  "Beardsley Stomp" Lands Cops in Federal Prison

 

 

WOMAN ACCUSED OF BIOTERRORISM

Bridgeport, CT-GA

 

Cari A. was arrested in Bridgeport, CT on terrorism charges after she was nabbed allegedly sprinkling a white powder outside the offices of the state Department of Children and Families on Middle Street. Berke obtained a dismissal.

 

STATE V. RAYMOND BRIDGES

Milford, CT GA

Burglary 3rd, Larceny 4th, Persistent Larceny Offender.

 

STATE V. DARREN CROSS 

NOT GUILTY

Milford, CT - Judicial District

Sexual Assault 1st (2 counts).

 

STATE V. JAMES DECABA

Milford, CT GA

Larceny 4th.

 

STATE V. FRASIER

Larceny 1st , Criminal impersonation.

 

 

BENCH TRIALS

 

 

STATE V. JAY MENGA

Assault 3 (2 counts), Breach of  Peace, Criminal Mischief.

 

 

SUPPRESSION HEARINGS WITHOUT A TRIAL

 

 

STATE V. GORDON

Bridgeport, CT - GA

Franks violation, challenge to search warrant execution.

 

STATE V. BRANTLEY

Milford, CT  - GA 

DWI / medical records without a warrant.

 

STATE V. ANTRUM

Milford, CT - GA

Show up Identification.

 

STATE V.  MORALES

Milford, CT - GA

Involuntary statement; English as a second language.

STATE V. PARKER, 

Milford, CT - GA

Fourth Amendment seizure of pistol from the defendant.

 

STATE V. JAMES JETER

Milford, CT - GA

Motion to suppress; unlawful warrantless search.

 

STATE V. C. RUSSELL

Milford, CT - GA

Motion to suppress; unlawful warrantless search.