• We have a proven record of success.

    Defending criminal and driving charges since 1993.

    False Creek at night

Our Successes

The vast majority of our clients’ cases are resolved favourably.

R. vs. K.L. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Assault (domestic).

Issues: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of a conviction and whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel that resulted in Crown electing to stay the proceedings and to end the prosecution. No criminal record.

R. vs. H.S. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Assault with a weapon.

Issue: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of a conviction.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to provide information to Crown counsel which resulted in Crown deciding to end the prosecution not approve any charges.  No criminal record.

R. vs. B.L. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Assault, Unlawful Confinement, Communicating for the Purpose of Obtaining Sexual Services

Issues: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of conviction and whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution.

Result: Mr. Johnston provided information to Crown counsel about our client’s personal circumstances and the circumstances of the alleged offences, as well as references to applicable legal principles, which persuaded Crown counsel to accept a guilty plea to the Assault charge alone and to direct stays of proceedings on the remaining counts. The Crown and court also agreed with Mr. Johnston that a conditional discharge was an appropriate sentence. No jail. No criminal record.

R. vs. J.L. – UBC RCMP Investigation

Charges: Assault.

Issue: Whether there was a substantial likelihood of obtaining a criminal conviction and whether it was in the public interest for police to recommend charges.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to police whic resulted in police closing their investigation. No charges recommended. No criminal record.

R. vs. T.A. – West Shore RCMP investigation

Charge: Assault (Domestic).

Issue: Whether it was in the public interest for the Crown to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier provided information to Crown Counsel that convinced them not to approve charges against the client. No criminal prosecution. No criminal record.

R. vs. J.S. – Surrey Provincial Court

Charge: Sexual Assault (reduced to common assault.)

Issue: Whether Crown counsel could prove that our client touched the complainant for a sexual purpose.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown counsel that our client did not intend to touch the complainant in a sexual manner. The Crown agreed to proceed on the lesser charge of common assault and, after hearing Mr. Mines’ submissions, the Judge granted our client a conditional discharge. No criminal conviction. No jail. No sex offender registry.

R. vs. N.R. – Sechelt Provincial Court

Charge: Assault Causing Bodily Harm.

Issue: Whether it was in the pubic interest for our client to be sentenced to a conditional discharge for this offence which resulted in a serious facial cut to the complainant.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to steer our client through a course of rehabilitation and, after hearing Mr. Mines’ submissions, the Judge granted our client a conditional discharge. No conviction. No jail.

R. vs. S.K. – Surrey Provincial Court

Charges: Assault; Assault with a Weapon, Breach of a Release Order.

Issue: Whether our client could be released on bail given Crown’s concerns for his willingness to attend court and potential to commit further offences.

Result: Mr. Johnston was able to persuade the Judge to release our client on the least onerous conditions.

R. vs. O.C. – Richmond RCMP Investigation

Charges: Theft (from Employer)) Investigation.

Issue: Whether the evidence was capable of reaching Crown counsel’s charge approval standard.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to the police investigator who, ultimately, elected not to request that any charges be approved. No criminal prosecution. No criminal record.

R. vs. C. E. – Courtenay Provincial Court

Charge: Driving While Prohibited.

Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the prohibited driving charge which carries a mandatory minimum one year driving prohibition.

Result: Mr. Johnston was able to persuade Crown counsel to proceed with the lesser offence of  driving without a valid licence. Our client was sentenced to a driving prohibition of only one month.

R. v. S.C. – Vancouver Police Investigation

Charge: Assault.

Issue: Whether there was credible evidence that would meet the charge approval standard.

Result: Mr. Gauthier provided information to the investigating officer that led the investigator to conclude that our client was not chargeable with a criminal offence. No charge approved. No criminal record.

R. vs. C.K. – Richmond Provincial Court

Charges: Assault; Forcible Confinement (domestic).

Issue: Given the rehabilitative steps we were able to guide our through, whether it was in the public interest for our client to be sentenced to a criminal record.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown to proceed only on the assault charge and, after hearing Mr. Gauthier’s submissions, the Court granted our client a conditional discharge. No criminal conviction.