Joshua Tree Attorney
Joseph T. Rhea
Joshua Tree Criminal Defense and DUI Attorney Joseph T. Rhea has defended thousands of cases in state and federal court.
He has been repeatedly named Top DUI Lawyer and/or Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by Palm Springs Life Magazine every year from 2010 - present.
Attorney Rhea is also the only criminal defense trial lawyer in the state of California with a doctorate from Harvard University.
Every case is different, and Mr. Rhea meets with each client individually. Mr. Rhea personally reviews the police reports and evidence in every case. The goal is always to obtain for each client the best result possible.
Some Recent Results:
I. Driving Under the Influence
Client charged with DUI causing Death — No Jail
Client charge with DUI on Federal Land — Dismissed
Client charged with .12 blood alcohol DUI — Dismissed for Speedy Trial Violation
Client charges with .09 blood alcohol DUI — Dismissed for Serna violation
Client charged with .16 blood alcohol DUI — Dismissed for Ingersoll Violation
Client charge with .16 blood alcohol DUI — Dismissed (excessive time to blood draw)
Client charged with.11 blood alcohol DUI — Hung Jury, plead to infraction of speeding, $300 fine
Client charged with DUI with accident — Jury verdict, “NOT GUILTY”
Client charged with .18 — Dismissed on suppression motion
Client charged with .10 blood alcohol DUI — Plead to infraction of coasting, $100 fine
Client charge with DUI causing Death and Great Bodily Injury (passenger) — No Jail
Client charged with Second Time DUI — Plead to infraction of speeding, $250 fine
Client charged with .24 blood alcohol DUI — Dismissed for Serna violation
Client charged with .14 blood alcohol DUI — Plead to coasting, $100 fine
II. Drug Charges
Client charged with Transporting Marijuana from Mexico — Dismissed (no continual observation form the border)
Client charge with Felony Transportation of Marijuana — Dismissed (no probable cause for the stop)
Client charged with Felony Cultivation of Marijuana — Dismissed (California MMP defense)
Client charged with Felony Possession of Mushrooms — Plead to infraction of disturbing the peace, $100 fine
Client charged with Possession of Marijuana for Sale — Dismissed (California MMP defense)
Client charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine — Plead to infraction of making loud noises, $50 fine
Client charged with Possession on Federal Land — Dismissed
Client charged with Felony Possession of Cocaine — Dismissed
Client charged with Diversion of Hospital Narcotics — Dismissed
Client charge with Manufacture of Methamphetamine — Not held to answer
Client charged with Hand-to-Hand Sales of Marijuana — Dismissed
Client charged with Transporting 3lbs of Marijuana through an International Airport — Dismissed on 995 motion
Client charged with transporting MDMA from Thailand through an International Airport — Plead to an infraction, $200 fine
Client charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale — Dismissed
III. Crimes of Violence and Other Crimes
Client charged with Battery — Jury Verdict “NOT GUILTY”
Client charged with Felony Embezzlement — Dismissed on 990 motion
Client Charged with Lewd Conduct — Dismissed on Serna Motion
Client charged with Attempted Murder of spouse with a firearm — Case Dismissed following successful appeal
Client charged with Spousal Rape — Case plead to the infraction of disturbing the peace, $100 fine only
Client charged with Assault with Deadly Weapon on a Child — Jury verdict “NOT GUILTY”
Client charged with Felony Domestic Violence — Jury verdict “NOT GUILTY”
Client charged with Intimidation of a Witness — Case Dismissed
Client charged with Terrorist Threats on a Domestic Partner — Case Dismissed
Client charged with Child Molestation — No Filing
Client charged with Child Endangerment with a DUI — Plead to the infraction of speeding
Client charged with Kidnapping — Case Dismissed with a Stipulation to Probable Cause for the Arrest. $25 court fine only
Client charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Child — Stipulation to Probable Cause for Arrest, Case Dismissed
Client charged with Child Endangerment with a DUI — Case Dismissed for violation of speedy trial right
Client charged with False Imprisonment — Case Dismissed
Academic Credentials:
University of San Francisco J.D. (2003), Law Review
Harvard University Ph.D. (1996)
Harvard University M.A. (1991)
University of North Carolina B.A. with Honors (1989)
Professional Memberships
NACDL: National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
California NORML
CPDA: California Public Defenders Association
CACJ: California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Publications
Race Pride and the American Identity, Harvard University Press (2001)