Stefano L. Molea Attorney

First Admitted: 2011, California

Professional Webpage: https://www.davidpshapirolaw.com/stefano-l-molea/

Bar/Professional Activity:

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
National College for DUI Defense
California Public Defender’s Association
Member, Board of Directors, San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Client charged with vehicular manslaughter. Following a diversion motion being granted, the client's case was dismissed after satisfaction of certain terms. , 2021
Driving Under the Influence. Chula Vista Courthouse. Case dismissed after identifying Fourth Amendment violation. , 2023
Battery. Downtown San Diego Courthouse. No charges filed after discussions with prosecutor., 2024
Federal Attempted Bringing in Illegal Aliens. Federal Court- Southern District of California. No jail time imposed at sentencing., 2024
Battery with serious bodily injury. Chula Vista Courthouse. Dismissed with no conviction following a negotiated deferred entry of judgement., 2023
Six Robbery Charges in Downtown San Diego Courthouse. One year of county jail and stayed prison time as ultimate outcome., 2023
Juvenile Sex Crime. San Diego Juvenile Court. Charges not filed after lengthy discussions with prosecutor., 2024
Possession and Transportation of Controlled Substance. Deferred entry of judgement agreement reached resulting in total dismissal and no conviction whatsoever., 2023
Juvenile Criminal Threat, Firearm and Controlled Substances in San Diego Juvenile Court. Diversion motion granted with opportunity for a total dismissal of charges., 2024
Domestic Battery and Child Abuse charges. Not guilty after jury trial., 2023
Mental Health Diversion Granted on various felony charges, including a strike felony. Criminal charges stayed and treatment ordered to obtain a total dismissal., 2023
Client charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence. A military diversion motion was filed and granted. After successful completion of treatment, case was dismissed.
Client accused of transporting over 20 kilos of methamphetamine across the U.S.-Mexico border. He maintained his innocence from the very beginning but the Federal agents did not believe him. After a thorough investigation, we convinced the Government prosecutor of the truth-that he had been set up and knew nothing of the drugs. Ultimately, the case was dismissed and the client avoided the stress and anxiety of trial. , 2021
Client accused of smuggling many kilos of drugs across the border and was facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal court. Following extensive investigations and communication with the prosecutor, the case was ultimately dismissed after we demonstrated the client did not know the drugs were in the vehicle she was driving. , 2020
Client charged with murder. Following a trial, client was found not guilty and was released from custody. , 2019
Motion to suppress filed arguing a warrant was unlawfully obtained to draw blood from client. Motion was granted and blood results showing a .28 BAC were suppressed/excluded. , 2018
Motion to suppress was filed at preliminary hearing. Motion was granted and the result was the dismissal of the entire felony case. , 2017
DUI and hit and run charges. Hit and run charge dismissed by motion prior to trial. Trial on .19 BAC DUI resulted in not guilty verdict. , 2017

Honors/Awards:

The Impact Award is presented to an alumna or alumnus under the age of 50 with an outstanding record of career achievement and potential for greater success in years to come. , Impact Award, University of Redlands, 2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2023
Awarded for a streak of wins that resulted in misdemeanor and felony cases being dismissed. , Special Board of Director's Award, San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association, 2018
Best of the Bar for Criminal Defense, San Diego Business Journal, 2016, Best of the Bar- Criminal Defense, San Diego Business Journal, 2016
Rising Star, Super Lawyers for 2016 - 2019, Rising Star, Super Lawyers
Top 40 Criminal Defense Lawyer Under 40 in California, 2016, Top 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers Under 40, The American Society of Legal Advocates, 2016
Top 8% of his class with Magna Cum Laude Honors, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 2011

Educational Background:

University of Redlands, Departmental Honors in Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

"Criminal Defense: The Private Practice View" article published in San Diego Lawyer Magazine., Author, Criminal Defense: The Private Practice View, San Diego County Bar Association's San Diego Lawyer Magazine, 2019
Opinion: The Five Biggest Misconceptions About the American Criminal Justice System, Author, Opinion: The Five Biggest Misconceptions About the American Criminal Justice System, Times of San Diego, Law, Criminal Justice, 2024
Article written and publish in Times of San Diego. , Author, Opinion: We Should Temper Our Immediate Reaction to News of Alleged Crimes, 2020
"Op-Ed: "Just Because You Did It Doesn't Mean You're Guilty" article published in Millennial Magazine. , Author, Op-Ed: "Just Because You Did It Doesn't Mean You're Guilty", Millennial Magazine, 2017
"Opinion: Media Coverage Can Undermine The Presumption of Innocence" article published in Times of San Diego. , Author, Opinion: Media Coverage Can Undermine The Presumption of Innocence, Times of San Diego, 2018

Industry Groups:

Legal; criminal justice; criminal law; criminal defense

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