*Case number and name not given as client received a deferred judgment

Attorney Lahammer’s client was arrested in December, 2011, and charged with first-degree robbery, fourth-degree theft, assault with weapon and going armed with intent.  He was accused of robbing the L&M Mighty Shop on E. Burlington Street in Iowa City, while wearing a ski mask and displaying a knife to the clerk.    He only managed to get away with $200 to $250 from the cash register.  The first degree robbery charge is a Class “B” Felony, which in Iowa carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.  The charge of going armed with Intent is a class “D” Felony which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, as well as a $7500.00 fine. Due to Attorney Lahammer’s diligent advocacy and representation, a favorable plea agreement was reached.  Attorney Lahammer’s client pleaded guilty in January as a part of this plea agreement, he plead to Going Armed with Intent and First Degree Theft.  The Defendant was sentenced in March, 2013, to three years of probation.  His judgment was deferred.  A deferred sentence means that Attorney Lahammer’s client will have a clear record of felony convictions as long as he doesn’t get any other criminal charges during his probation period.  Further, all fines and restitution must be paid within 2 years.

Linn County Case No. FECR02571

Attorney Lahammer’s client was charged with child endangerment causing serious injury after taking his then 46 day old child, to the emergency room after he burped her and heard a “popping” noise in January of 2011.  The child had multiple rib fractures, a broken clavicle and bruises on her face and chest. A charge of child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class “C” Felony, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000.00 fine. Trial began on January 30, 2012.  Mr. Lahammer in his opening statement brought to light that his client’s girlfriend, the mother of the child, had grand mal seizures, which had never been investigated. The jury deliberated about 7 ½ hours over two days after a two and half day trial, coming back with a NOT GUILTY verdict. Mr. Lahammer’s client had always maintained his innocence.

No. CR11-0088

Attorney Lahammer’s client was charged with Attempting to Possess Pseudoephedrine Knowing or Having Reasonable Cause to Believe it Would be Used to Manufacture Methamphetamine, which means she was initially facing up to 121 months in Federal Prison. Van Wechel was involved in a reverse sting in which she was the “middleman” in a pseudoephedrine buy. Attorney Lahammer argued in Court that Van Wechel was entitled to a reduction in this case due to a sentencing disparity.  Others involved in this offense received much lesser sentences than the time that Ms. Van Wechel was facing.  Further, as a minimal participant the Court ruled that Van Wechel was entitled to a variance based on these facts and was sentenced to serve a total of 6 months, which was well below the original sentence she was facing.

No. CR11-90

State of Iowa vs. Mickael Meder Peterson

Linn County Case No. FECR92102

Attorney Lahammer’s client was initially charged with Unlawful User in Possession of a Firearm (he had possession of 8 guns of varying types) in Federal Court. During negotiations between Attorney Lahammer, the Defendant and the United States Attorney’s Office it was agreed that the case would be moved to State Court and the Defendant would plead guilty to the State Aggravated Misdemeanor charges of Carrying Weapons, Assault Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of Marijuana and Interference with Official Acts. If the Defendant would have been found guilty in Federal Court he could have served up to 51 years in a Federal Penitentiary but since the case was moved from Federal Court to State Court he was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Delaware County No. FECR007362

Jesse Fierstine was originally charged with attempted murder and willful injury after cutting out his father’s pacemaker in 2009.  Attorney Lahammer’s client, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, wasn’t taking his medication when he attempted to cut out the pacemaker.  Mr. Lahammer was quoted as saying, “Jesse never intended to kill his father…..he thought taking out the
pacemaker would help him. ”  Charles Fierstine’s death in 2010 was unrelated to the assault. The charge of attempted murder carried a penalty of a minimum of 25 years in prison.  An agreement was reached between the County Attorney, Mr. Lahammer and co-counsel Frank Santiago for Jesse to plead guilty to willful injury, going armed with intent and 2 counts of assault causing serious injury.   The judge said the case weighed heavily on her.  She sentenced Jesse to the maximum allowable penalties for each charge.  Consecutively, with no mandatory minimum.

Linn County no. FECR83049

Attorney Lahammer’s client was charged with Attempted Murder and multiple other counts.  This case was heard in front of a jury that lasted for over a week.  Mr. Lahammer argued that his client was defending himself against dangerous people with gang affiliations.  The jury came back finding his client guilty of the lesser included offense of Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury and other counts, the sentence was 2 years in prison to run concurrent with the other counts charged.

Linn County No. FECR82392

Mr. Lahammer’s client was accused of spending money improperly and accepting improper pay as a city employee. “We proved our point in depositions, which made it very evident that the people who initiated these charged against Gary did so without having all the facts in front of them, and the at the ‘financial audit’ done at great expense to the city was based on false premises,” Lahammer stated to the Cedar Rapids Gazette.  The state admitted that it couldn’t prove its case.  Judge Marsha Beckleman dismissed the charge of misconduct in office against the former Veterans Memorial Director.

NDIA     CR05-87-2-MWB

Attorney Lahammer’s client was charged with Bank Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  His client plead guilty to Aiding and Abetting an Armed Bank Robbery and was originally sentenced to 135 months imprisonment .  Mr. Lahammer appealed to the 8^th Circuit and won.  His client’s sentence was reversed and remanded for sentencing before a different U.S. District Court Judge.  His client was later sentenced to 70 months, which was a reduction of almost half the original sentence.

NDIA CR06-0042-LRR

Attorney Lahammer’s client had been accused of giving his girlfirend a small bag of cocaine to hide in her pants during an October 30, 2005, traffic stop. Leyse was charged with distribution of cocaine resulting in his girlfriend’s death from use of controlled substances. Defense attorney Lahammer hired a medical expert to review what caused his girlfriend’s death, this prompted Assistant United States Attorney to try Leyse for cocaine distribution without holding him responsible for the girl’s death. A federal jury returned a not guilty verdict on a cocaine distribution charge.