In the interest of full disclosure I received a very light penalty considering what I was accused of. Yet I still find I need to warn people away from attorney Manuel. Attorney Manuel was unfamiliar with what actions constituted indirect contact pertaining to orders of protection. I observed him being repeatedly corrected on other points of law for other cases. He was routinely late and unprepared to the extent that it alienated the judge and made him visibly exasperated. My case took 10 months and 6 court dates traveling from out of state to be resolved, due almost entirely to his unpreparedness. Attorney Manuel asked me the same questions on four separate occasions and was surprised by my answers each time. After the case was over he was unable to produce any notes which would have been helpful to a custody dispute. He rarely returned phone calls or emails. His business card was even missing a digit of his phone number. He allowed his email address through his website to lapse. Emails to his outlook email address were not responded to. His office door was always locked. I can't imagine anyone paying for this person's services, but if you have the misfortune of having attorney Manuel appointed to represent you as a public defender I suggest you find a way to hire someone, anyone, else.

In the interest of full disclosure I received a very light penalty considering what I was accused of. Yet I still find I need to warn people away from attorney Manuel. Attorney Manuel was unfamiliar with what actions constituted indirect contact pertaining to orders of protection. I observed him being repeatedly corrected on other points of law for other cases. He was routinely late and unprepared to the extent that it alienated the judge and made him visibly exasperated. My case took 10 months and 6 court dates traveling from out of state to be resolved, due almost entirely to his unpreparedness. Attorney Manuel asked me the same questions on four separate occasions and was surprised by my answers each time. After the case was over he was unable to produce any notes which would have been helpful to a custody dispute. He rarely returned phone calls or emails. His business card was even missing a digit of his phone number. He allowed his email address through his website to lapse. Emails to his outlook email address were not responded to. His office door was always locked. I can't imagine anyone paying for this person's services, but if you have the misfortune of having attorney Manuel appointed to represent you as a public defender I suggest you find a way to hire someone, anyone, else.

In the interest of full disclosure I received a very light penalty considering what I was accused of. Yet I still find I need to warn people away from attorney Manuel. Attorney Manuel was unfamiliar with what actions constituted indirect contact pertaining to orders of protection. I observed him being repeatedly corrected on other points of law for other cases. He was routinely late and unprepared to the extent that it alienated the judge and made him visibly exasperated. My case took 10 months and 6 court dates traveling from out of state to be resolved, due almost entirely to his unpreparedness. Attorney Manuel asked me the same questions on four separate occasions and was surprised by my answers each time. After the case was over he was unable to produce any notes which would have been helpful to a custody dispute. He rarely returned phone calls or emails. His business card was even missing a digit of his phone number. He allowed his email address through his website to lapse. Emails to his outlook email address were not responded to. His office door was always locked. I can't imagine anyone paying for this person's services, but if you have the misfortune of having attorney Manuel appointed to represent you as a public defender I suggest you find a way to hire someone, anyone, else.