John S. McLindon

Bar / Professional Activity

• Young Lawyers Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
• Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
• Baton Rouge Bar Association, Member
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
• U.S. District Courts for the Eastern Districts of Louisiana
• U.S. District Courts for the Western Districts of Louisiana
• U.S. District Courts for the Middle Districts of Louisiana
• Louisiana
• Louisiana State Bar Association, Member

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• In 2013, a former government official in a Louisiana municipality was arrested and charged with violating State RICO laws, along with theft and other associated charges. The client was presented to the State Grand Jury in East Feliciana Parish, and the Grand Jury returned a "No True Bill", which resulted in the District Attorney dismissing the entire case., 2013
• In 2011, represented a Chief of Police in Louisiana who had been charged by a Federal Grand Jury with an 11 count RICO based Indictment. After a week-long Trial, the jury acquitted the client on all 11 counts., 2011
• In 2016, represented the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals who had been indicted with 9 counts of perjury. After three years of pretrial discovery and intensive investigation, the Louisiana Attorney General's Office dismissed the entire indictment, 2016
• In 2015, represented a company who had contracted with the Livingston Parish Council to provide services to the Parish related to cleanup from Hurricane Gustav. The District Attorney and the Office of the Inspector General began investigating Mr. McLindon's client, which led to the matter being presented to a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury refused to indict, thereafter, the DA for Livingston Parish chose to go forward with the prosecution, filing an 81 count Bill of Information against the client. The Court found no probable cause at the Preliminary Hearing, however, the DA and the Office of the Inspector General persisted in their prosecution. After an initial round of discovery, the District Attorney voluntarily dismissed 59 counts. Mr. McLindon filed a Motion to Suppress all evidence relating to the remaining counts, and the Trial Court granted the Motion, resulting in a dismissal of the case, 2015
• In 2006, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, we won the dismissal of a multiple count indictment against our client for violation of the Federal Speedy Trial Act., 2006
• In 2016, Mr. McLindon represented the Sheriff of Iberia Parish who was charged by the United States Attorney's Office in a multiple count Indictment with Civil Rights violations. The Case was tried by lawyers from the DOJ from Washington D.C. After a week long trial the Jury acquitted the defendant on all counts, 2016
• In 2013, the co-owner of a local business was involved in a contentious breakup of the business with his partner. Our client was charged with multiple counts of theft. The case was tried in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the Judge returned a verdict of "Not Guilty" as to all charges., 2013
• In 2003, after many months of research and investigation by our firm, the United States Attorney's Office dismissed the case against former head of an East Baton Rouge Parish Agency, who was under investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office., 2003
• In 2012, after a five year battle with the United States Attorney's Office, we negotiated a multiple count, arson and insurance fraud case down to a one count Bill of Information for which our client received probation., 2012

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Graduate of The National Criminal Defense College, 1999

Pro bono / Community Service

• Past Member Board of Directors, Catholic High School Alumni Association
• Coach of the Cross Country Team for St. Jude School in Baton Rouge, 2007 -2014
• Ecumenical House Board of Directors, Past Member
• Member, Catholic High School Men's Club

Educational Background

• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, B.S., 1986
• National Criminal Defense College, 1999

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• This article discussed the different time limitations in which Federal charges must be instituted, Author, Statutes of Limitations in Federal Criminal Cases, Louisiana State Bar Association Journal, 2017
• This article discusses how an indictment can be amended Constructively at trial., Author, Constructive Amendment of an Indictment at Trial, The Champion Magazine, 2021
• This article discusses the different time limitations in which Federal charges must be instituted, Author, Statutes of Limitations in Federal Criminal Cases, Louisiana State Bar Association Journal, 2017
• Author, "Conditional Pleas Under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal
• Author, "Who’s Listening? Title III Wiretaps", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2014
• Author, "United States v. Jones: The Government’s Use of a GPS Tracking Device Constitutes a Search within the Meaning of the Fourth Amendment", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2012
• Author, "RICO: Establishing a Pattern of Racketeering Activity", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2012
• Author, Inventory Searches of Automobiles, Published in Around the Bar, Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2010
• Author, "Reconsideration of Crack Cocaine Sentencing", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2008
• Author, "The Federal Tort Claims Act", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2008
• Author, "Doing Federal Time: An Overview of the Federal Bureau of Prisons", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2006
• Author, "The Repeal of Articles of 893 (d) and 894 (b) of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 1996
• Author, "Busted on the Bus: Is it a Seizure?", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal
• Author, "Federal Sentencing & The Safety Valve: Relief from Mandatory Minimums", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal
• Co-Author with Patrick B. Kennedy, Jr., "Get Back to Where You Once Belonged: The Deportation of John Lennon", Around the Bar - The Baton Rouge Bar Journal, 2017

Honors

• AV Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell
• Avvo Client’s Choice Badge

Awards

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Avvo Client's Choice Award: This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com

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Distinguished: This award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 3.0 to 4.4.