APRIL HIGUERA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ADH INVESTIGATIONS, Owner / Principal Agent - since 2001 - Currently licensed in California (#25440) & Nevada (#1744); Pre-trial and post-conviction criminal defense and civil investigation
Paralegal, 1991 thru 2000 - litigation, contracts, estate planning, land condemnation, criminal defense
EDUCATION
Graduated #1 in class, 1998 B.B.A. - Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee - multiple honor societies and academic scholarships, NCAA Div I Women's Golf scholarship (Team Captain), Acklen Records President
Graduated with honors, 1991 Paralegal Diploma - Adelphi University, New York, New York - generalist
Shooting Incident Reconstruction, 2016 Certificate (score 100%) - 40-hr master class, Forensic Pieces (Jan Johnson)
CASEWORK
The actual cases April Higuera has investigated are too numerous to mention here. Below are the significant felony and civil cases she considers to be the most comprehensive and/or consequential and/or most recent. NAMES OF DEFENDANTS ARE PROVIDED WHERE CASES WERE IN THE NEWS (non sex charges).
Civil matter vs corporation Wrongful death; 2024; factual investigation
Federal civil matter vs corporation Wrongful termination of whistleblower; 2023, 2024; factual investigation; settled
Civil matter vs [____] County NV [ND;WR] Prosecutorial and Police misconduct; 2023, 2024; factual investigation
Asian male v CA (AY)
(23 cts Assault, Torture, False Imprisonment, Lewdness with a Minor); 2023; post-conviction IAC/habeas review and consultation
NV v [Eastern Indian male (AB;WR)]
(2cts Sexual Assault of a Minor); 2022, 2023; pre-trial review and consultation
HI v [Caucasian male (CS;GM)]
(Sexual Assault); 2022; pre-trial review and consultation
CA v [Hispanic male (JCVO; LL]
(1st deg murder of a police officer); 2020, 2021, 2022; pre-trial factual and mitigation investigation; conv Lesser (2nd deg murder)
NV v [Caucasian male (WS)]
(Assault w/Deadly Weapon); 2021; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - Atty Wm Routsis
NV v [Caucasian male (DN)]
(Assault w/Deadly Weapon); 2020, 2021, pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser (probation) - Atty Wm Routsis
NV v [Caucasian male (ST)]
(Assault); 2020, 2021, pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - Atty Wm Routsis
NV v [Caucasian male (JP-S)]
(Assault); 2021; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - Atty Wm Routsis
CA v [Caucasian male (AJ)]
(rape, sexual assault); 2019, 2020; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser (non-sex probation) - Atty Lori London
NV v [Caucasian male (JB/MK)]
(conspiracy to defraud U.S./Tax Evasion); 2019, 2020, 2021; pre-trial review and consultation
CA v [Caucasian male (RF/JM)]
(1st deg murder); 2019, 2020, 2021; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
CA v [Caucasian male (KB)]
(2 cts lewdness with a child); 2019; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - Atty Rob Woelfel
CA v [Caucasian male (ND/WR)]
(1 ct rape of a minor); 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - Atty Wm Routsis
CA v [Hispanic male (DR-F/JR)]
(5 cts lewdness w/minor); 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; pre-trial review and consultation
CA v [Caucasian male (FF/GK)]
(first degree murder); 2018; pre-trial factual investigation; MISTRIAL
U.S. v Ernesto Gonzalez
(first degree murder, RICO/org crime — 2011 Sparks Nugget Shooting); 2018, 2019, 2020; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - Atty Michael Kennedy
NV v [Black male (ZF)]
(burglary, robbery w/deadly weapon); 2018; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - Atty Wm Routsis
NV v [Caucasian male (SK/DH)]
(6 cts sexual assault of child, 5 cts lewdness); 2017, 2018; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
NV v [Caucasian male (BB/TR)]
(first degree murder); 2017, 2018, 2019; pre-trial factual review and consultation
CA v [Caucasian male (JW/GK)]
(first degree murder); 2017, 2018; pre-trial factual and mitigation investigation; conv lesser
U.S. & CA v [Caucasian male (SS/MK)]
(61 cts medical insurance fraud); 2017, 2018, 2019; pre-trial factual investigation; 60 counts DISMISSED, pled lesser to 1 ct - Atty Michael Kennedy
NV v [Caucasian male (CK/TR)]
(3cts lewdness w/minor); 2016, 2017, 2018; pre-trial factual investigation; conv
NV v [Caucasian male (JE/JA)]
(sexual assault, sexual battery); 2016, 2017, 2018; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
NV v [Caucasian male (WW/DH)]
(2 cts sexual assault of a child, lewdness w/minor); 2017, 2018; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
NV v [Caucasian male (JQ/TR)]
(1st degree felony murder); 2016, 2017; mitigation investigation; pled lesser
U.S. v [Caucasian male defendant (DH)]
(conspiracy to structure financial transactions); 2016, 2017; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - atty Joseph Low
[Asian Indian male petitioner (RG)] v MD
(1 ct 1st deg murder); 2016; post-conviction review and consultation
[Hispanic male petitioner (JL)] v NV
(1 ct 1st deg murder); 2016; post-conviction review and consultation
[Hispanic male petitioner (IV)] v NV
(2 ct sexual assault w/child, lewdness w/child); 2016; post-conviction review and consultation
Nevada v [Caucasian male defendant (BB)]
(1 ct sexual assault w/child, lewdness w/child); 2016; pre-trial factual investigation; Pled lesser (non-sex informal probation) - Atty Teresa Ristenpart
Nevada v [Persian male defendant (HH)]
(3 cts sexual assault of a child, 4 cts lewdness of a child under 14); 2015, 2016; pre-trial review and consultation; Pled lesser (informal probation) - Atty Martin Weiner
[Caucasian female petitioner (SD/TR)] v NV
(1 ct first degree murder); 2015; post-conviction review and consultation
NV v [Caucasian male defendant (JP)]
(coercion, receiving bribe by public officer, voluntary sexual conduct with a prisoner, dissuading victim from reporting a crime, misconduct by a public officer); 2015, 2016, 2017; pre-trial factual investigation; Pled lesser (non-sex informal probation) - Atty John Arrascada
NV v [Caucasian male defendant (GS)]
(harassment; 2015 pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v [Hispanic male defendant (SA)]
(1 ct sexual assault); 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; 2015, 2016, 2017; Pled (non-sex informal probation) - Atty John Routsis
NV v [Hispanic male defendant (DE/__)]
(1 ct sexual assault); 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; 2015; Pled (non-sex informal probation)
NV v [Caucasian male defendant (LA)]
(level III drug trafficking); 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; 2015, 2016; DISMISSED - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v [Hispanic male defendant (HE)]
(1 ct battery w/deadly weapon); 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; 2015, 2016; DISMISSED - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v [Caucasian male defendant (TS)]
(1 ct sexual assault); 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v [Native American male defendant (JT)]
(1 ct 1st deg kidnapping, robbery w/ deadly weapon); 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v Wayne Burgarello
(1 ct 1st degree murder, 1 ct attempted murder); 2014, 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v Julian Acox
(1 ct 1st degree murder/open murder); 2013, 2014, 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - atty Theresa Ristenpart
NV v [Hispanic male defendant (JR)]
(1 ct kidnapping w/deadly weapon); 2014; pre-trial factual investigation; Pled lesser (probation) - atty Wm Routsis
NV v [Caucasian male defendant (JS)]
(1 ct felony battery); 2013; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - atty Wm Routsis
NV v [Caucasian male defendant (RL)]
(2 cts sexual assault with child under 14, 1 ct Lewdness with child under 14); 2013, 2014, 2015; pre-trial factual investigation; DISMISSED - atty John Routsis
NV v [Hispanic male defendant (ML)] (4 cts lewdness with child under 14); 2013, 2014; pre-trial factual investigation; Pled lesser (non-sex informal probation) - atty John Routsis
CA v [Caucasian male defendant (LH/LL)]
(DUI homicide); 2012, 2013; pre-trial factual investigation; conv lesser
CA v [Caucasian male defendant (KS/LL)]
(1 ct 1st degree murder); 2010; pre-trial factual investigation; conv lesser
United States v Anh Te Duong
(29 cts including RICO, 1st deg murder, robbery); capital trial; 2009, 2010; pre-trial factual and bio-social mitigation investigation; conv LWOP - attys Marcus/Anderson/Zimmerman
CA v [Caucasian male defendant (JN)]
(3 cts 1st degree murder); 2009; pre-trial factual investigation; file review/consultation
Hope Schreiner v State of Vermont
(1 ct 2nd degree murder); 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009; 2014 post-conviction factual and ineffective assistance of counsel investigation; PAROLED 2014
Sedley Alley v United States
(1 ct 1st degree murder); 2003, 2004, 2006; capital post-conviction factual investigation; executed 2006 (innocence evidence was uncovered during the investigation, however, court denied testing of DNA) - TN Fed Defender
[Caucasian male petitioner] v United States
(1 ct 1st degree murder of a police officer); 2004; capital post-conviction factual investigation; executed 2007 - TN Fed Defender
TN v Max Roybal (2nd of 2 murder cases, 1st case below)
(1 ct 1st degree murder); 2003, 2004; pre-trial factual investigation; JUDICIAL ACQUITTAL - attys Terry/Gore
[Hispanic male petitioner (DQ)] v State of Tennessee
(2 cts 1st degree murder); 2001, 2002, 2003; capital post-conviction factual investigation; state petition denied, disposition unknown - TN State defender
[African American male petitioner (TC)] v State of Tennessee
(3 cts 1st degree murder); 2002; capital post-conviction factual and bio-social mitigation investigation (not completed due lack of state funding); disposition unknown
[Caucasian male petitioner (JH)] v State of Tennessee
(1 ct 1st degree murder); 2001, 2002; capital post-conviction factual and bio-social mitigation investigation; state petition denied, disposition unknown - TN State Defender
TN v Max Roybal (1st of 2 murder cases, 2nd case above)
(1 ct 1st degree murder); 2001; pre-trial factual investigation; JURY ACQUITTAL - attys Terry/Gore
[Caucasian male petitioner (FM)] v State of Tennessee
(2 cts 1st degree murder); 2001; capital post-conviction, jury composition analysis and juror interviews; state petition denied, disposition unknown - TN State defender
United States v [Caucasian male defendant SS/ML]
(conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation for murder) 2001; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
United States v [Caucasian male defendant __/ML]
(2 cts of esp. aggr. rape, kidnapping); 2001; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
TN v [Caucasian male defendant (FT/__)]
(2cts sexual assault of a minor); 2001; pre-trial factual investigation; pled lesser
CA v [African American male defendant; same defendant as below (JS/ML)]
(esp. aggr. kidnapping for ransom); 2000; factual investigative paralegal services (incl assisting counsel in field interviews and court preparation, timelines, witness stmt comparisons); conv lesser
United States v Jamal Shakir
(44 counts, including RICO, 1st degree murder, money laundering, drug trafficking, kidnapping); 2000; capital trial factual investigative paralegal services, including organization of over 30,000 pages of discovery documents, composing timelines and document summaries, photograph crime scenes, document retrieval; conv LWOP - atty Natman Schaye