Success Stories and Case Results for Jonah Chew, San Francisco Criminal Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer

Success Stories

At Chew Law, we believe our case results speak for themselves. By winning not guilty verdicts and negotiating favorable plea agreements, we have saved countless clients from prison, restored their job and educational opportunities and afforded their families the opportunity to move forward. Below is a small sampling of our success.

Man Wrongfully Accused In Beating Acquitted After Four Year Legal Saga

Case: A man mistakenly accused of a brutal New Year’s Day beating was exonerated by a jury, ending his four-year battle for justice. Connelly was arrested at 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2007, after celebrating New Year’s Eve at an Embarcadero Center restaurant. A fellow reveler had identified Connelly as the man who had “sucker-punched” him in the face several times outside the venue, breaking his nose. The complaining witness, was seriously injured and required several reconstructive surgeries.

Results: The client found not guilty on all charges.

Juvenile charged as an adult, faces deportation

Case: Our client, a 15-year-old undocumented immigrant, was charged as an adult for allegedly stabbing a man in a Financial District alley. He faced 12 years in state prison. The head of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Gang Unit was personally prosecuting his case.

Results: Our office was able to get the case reassigned to juvenile court, allowing the client to avoid a “strike” and to stay in the country.

DUI with great bodily injury

Case: Our client was charged with DUI with great bodily injury following a car accident in San Mateo County. The complaining witness was hospitalized for several days and was briefly in a coma.

Results: Case dismissed after our office successfully argued that the district attorney failed to prove his client was driving or that the victim suffered great bodily injury connected to the accident.

Federal DUI threatens future

Case: Our client's lifelong dream to join the U.S. Navy was in jeopardy after being arrested for federal DUI a few weeks before reporting for duty.

Results: Our client was admitted to the three-month DUI First Offender Program.Upon completion, he was allowed to terminate his probation to join the Navy.

Medical Marijuana Trial For Father and Son

Case: A San Mateo county man on felony probation and his father were charged with growing more than 200 marijuana plants. The younger man was also charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition, a rifle and a shotgun.

Results: Father and son acquitted of all charges following a five-week trial, thanks to a successful medical marijuana defense. The trial and verdict were cheered by medical marijuana advocates and garnered media attention.

Teen Faces Armed Robbery, Gun Charges

Case: Seventeen-year-old client was charged with armed robbery of two minors in San Francisco's Sunset District. Case involved two guns and the teen faced 12 years in state prison.

Results: Our office was able to negotiate a deal that spared his client a strike on his record, as well as any prison time.

Two-Strikes Robbery Jury Trial

Case: During our client's San Francisco Superior Court trial, two people testified he robbed them of money out of their pockets on a Tenderloin street. He faced a minimum of seven years in prison.

Results: After our client testified that the "crime" was actually a drug deal gone awry, he was acquitted of all charges.

Possession For Sale of Methamphetamine

Case: A man was charged with selling methamphetamine, despite his claim that he was only a user.

Results: Under cross examination by our office, a police officer expert was forced to admit that he did not believe that our client planned to sell the half-ounce of meth in his possession and was likely just a user. Case dismissed.