Attorney Eric Matheny just spent a week in a grueling trial where his client was facing two consecutive life sentences with a mandatory terms of 25 years if convicted.
The facts of the case were not favorable to the accused. An eight-year old girl had accused a family member, the Client, of sexual battery.
The young girl testified in heartbreaking fashion.
However, despite the mountain of evidence against the Client, Attorney Eric Matheny was able to skillfully expose the problems with the prosecution's case, namely mistakes made during the investigation that created a lack of evidence, as well as inconsistencies and concerns regarding what the young child alleged had happened.
At the end of the trial, Attorney Eric Matheny feared the worst - a quick guilty verdict.
However, after hours of deliberation - the jury was deadlocked.
They could not decide on a unanimous verdict.
Using the possibility of a mistrial to his client's advantage, Attorney Eric Matheny was able to negotiate a plea to a reduced charge that would result in a term of probation - no prison sentence or jail sentence.
The Client, who had been in custody without a bond since 2022, would be released immediately and would go home to his family and serve a reasonable term of probation.
It was a tremendous victory!