Another big win for Beles and Beles and Restorative Justice! We are happy to announce the release from prison of Gustavo L. after serving 20 years of a 28-Life prison sentence by order of the Santa Clara Superior Court on August 13, 2024. Gustavo L. will be reunited with his family because of the hard work and outstanding lawyering of Attorney Kate Hallinan in our office.

Scoring a major appellate victory on January 18^th, 2022, we have secured the reversal of an attempted murder charge on behalf of Eduardo L in San Joaquin (Stockton). Mr. L had been sentenced to 32 to Life, including numerous gang and firearm clauses. Through the diligent work of our dedicated appellate team, we were able to secure reversal of this verdict based on our argument that the jury had not been instructed properly regarding the “Kill Zone theory”. This momentous decision has already begun receiving notice from other legal teams throughout the state as a precedent through which to secure the reversal of their client’s unjust sentences. The client and his family have expressed tremendous gratitude for our efforts, and we are thankful for the opportunity to serve their needs in this instance of misguided justice.

In a gratifying win for the Law Offices of Beles and Beles, a firm client, I.T., was resentenced in Alameda County Superior Court. I.T. had originally been sentenced as a “third-striker” to a 45-years-to-life state prison term. After I.T. served 19 years of his sentence and made great strides in rehabilitating himself while incarcerated, Beles and Beles worked to convince the District Attorney’s Office to file a motion for resentencing.  Firm lawyers Robert Beles, Anne Beles, Manisha Daryani, and Charles Duggan presented written arguments to the District Attorney’s Office that I.T. was deserving of a lesser sentence and a second chance in life. On August 17, 2021, a Superior Court Judge agreed to resentence I.T.  The new sentence means I.T. will now be going home to his family.

In a unanimous decision issued on August 6, 2021, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco reversed the murder conviction of a Beles & Beles client. In a great team effort by Robert Beles, Manisha Daryani, and Joseph Ryan, our firm briefed and argued the appeal. The Court of Appeal agreed with our argument that the jury in our client's case should have received a jury instruction about voluntary manslaughter, and that the error required our client's conviction be overturned. We feel vindicated that the Court of Appeal agreed with our argument and we were delighted to share the news with our client and his family.

Beles & Beles Law Offices today secured a compassionate release from federal incarceration on behalf of a client who suffered from underlying medical conditions that put him at high risk of serious illness and/or death from COVID-19. Our client, John M., a 34-year-old man with a history of hypertension and obesity, was incarcerated at the federal prison in Safford, Arizona after being convicted of drug trafficking. His family retained Beles & Beles Law Office to file an emergency motion for his release.

The Court found that our client’s risk of contracting COVID-19 might be increasing, citing the evidence we provided of the growing number of cases at the Safford federal prison. The Court also determined that our client was not a risk to the community based on his good behavior in prison and the release plan we prepared on his behalf.

Our client had over 19 months remaining on his sentence. The court ordered his remaining sentence be served at home with his family.

September 22, 2020 Important Victory

Mr. L plead to a crime of Indecent Exposure without being informed by his previous counsel or the court of the lifetime sex-offender registration requirement. Mr. L is an internationally renowned musician and must travel to make a living. He had been registering as a sex offender for 2 years and had lost all hope until he came to our law office. We are experts and could see that Mr. L’s rights had been violated. Total victory- Mr. L is no longer a convicted sex registrant and very thankful for our help.

Commutation Granted by Governor Newsom! Our client, Mr. Barajas was 14 years into a total prison sentence of 80 years to life. Mr. Barajas committed a gang-related crime at a young age and was sentenced to for 2 counts of attempted murder, plus two 25-year-to-life firearm enhancements. During the years since then, he has demonstrated his commitment to self-improvement and becoming a productive citizen. Beles & Beles Law Offices filed a successful Commutation of Sentence with the Governor's Office, and Gavin Newsom personally commuted Mr. Barajas' sentence, making him eligible for parole consideration. 

June 2020: Reversal of Child Molestation Case (San Mateo County)

Attorney Joseph Ryan Wins Remand: Court of Appeal Orders the Superior Court to hold a new sentencing hearing regarding the defendant's firearm enhancement.

HUGE WIN: On February 5, 2018, the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal reversed an 8 year sentence of a man convicted of a construction kick-back scheme. Robert J. Beles argued to the Court that his client was innocent and had not properly waived his rights.

A California appellate court reversed the first-degree murder conviction of a 61-year-old Antioch woman accused of murder.
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