These people saved me from going to prison. It's a long story, a very long story. But the first…read moreattorney I had, supposedly the #1 defense attorney where I live, promised me all kinds of things. He knew I was innocent, it was incredibly obvious. There were some real contradictory things in the police report that frankly were clearly lies to anyone who read it. The attorney said, "This is totally bogus, one of the worst I've ever seen" and "I know the DA and these people, I can have this straightened out right away" and "I've worked with these people for over 15 years, I assure you I'm going right over there and get this stopped". And so of course you have to pay them up front which I did, many 1000's of dollars. And then guess what the attorney did? Nothing. He never did any of the things he said he would.
So I called US Observer because a friend of mine swore they'd helped him. And before I ever said much, the head man Ed Snook said, "Let me tell you what that attorney told you", and he proceeded to say everything, almost word for word, that the attorney had told me. It was the attorneys sales pitch. And Ed told me every word out of that attorney's mouth was a lie. And it was, Ed was proven 100% correct.
So at that time US Observer had a real warrior of justice working with them, an attorney named James Leuenberger. Sadly Jim has since passed away. But he actually helped me. Without going to trial I went from facing a Measure 11 crime in Oregon with a 70 month mandatory minimum prison sentence to $100 fine and 18 months probation. I didn't even have community service or anything. Then after 3 years I had a "set aside" where the record was expunged. To quote the judge in the "set aside" order, "It is as if this never happened. You may legally say all this never happened, even if asked in a court of law". Everything was gone, all the records of all the hearings, my background check is blank, nothing there. Kinda amazing that occasionally there is some justice, even though I had to take the plea offer for something I factually did not do. I was told the result was nothing short of miraculous from a private investigator, by two journalists, and by my estate attorney. They all used the same word, miraculous.
Without the attorney that US Observer helped me get, and without their behind the scenes actions, I might still be in prison to this day.
While I was in Grants Pass working with these people, who I count as my friends, I saw an incredible work ethic. They're hard working people that really believe in what they're doing. They are not "Hired Guns", they don't publish just anything people tell them to publish. They ONLY take cases from people who after an extensive investigation are shown to be innocent. They review all the discovery as provided by the DA to the defense, and interview you extensively. They knew more about all the details of my case than even my good attorney knew.
We didn't have to go to trial but they started preparing me for that. The strategies of how to win are extensive. The psychology of how to win in a jury trial are also amazing, there is a lot to it, there is tons to know. And these people are experts at this, much more so than even the good attorney.
While I was there I got a chance to talk to one of their clients who they also saved, she's one of the success stories on their website. Her story was incredible, a story of a terribly corrupt system of justice. And the end of her story she said, "They saved me", meaning US Observer.
They are the real deal. They have factually helped many, many people and continue to do so to this day. Unlike the Innocence Project that helps you AFTER you're convicted and then usually only with DNA evidence, these good people help you to avoid the conviction to begin with.
