From Trap to Trial: How One Rogue Arrest Unraveled in Court

In March 2024, Jail Mail introduced “the story of Daniel,” who returned in good faith to the Big Island to self-surrender on a grand jury indictment bench warrant. Despite careful preparation by his attorney to address the warrant in open court, Daniel was ambushed just minutes before his scheduled bail hearing—arrested in the courtroom at the direction of a rogue prosecutor. The timing appeared calculated to derail the hearing and assert power, not to pursue justice.

But in the courtroom, truth has a way of consistently winning the day.

In today’s follow-up, we unpack what happened after Daniel’s arrest. Thanks to the tireless work of criminal defense attorney Casey Stamm, the case went to trial—and the prosecution’s narrative was dismantled piece by piece, exhibit by exhibit. This is a story of prosecutorial overreach, weaponized lies, and one defense lawyer who stood before the jury and warned, “The complainant is going to look you in the eye and lie to your face.” She was right.

The Accusation: A Weaponized Lie

Daniel's accuser didn’t just make a claim—she built a narrative designed to manipulate. What began as a non-violent romantic breakup quickly spiraled into a criminal case, not because of strong evidence, but because of a prosecutor who bought a shaky story “hook, line, and sinker.”

The complainant's story was about as credible as an email titled, “HALF OFF BITCOIN, TODAY ONLY.”

As the trial proceeded, it was obvious to any objective spectator that this case was a clear power play by the complainant—like trying to force Daniel to stay in the relationship by demanding he attend couples counseling sessions with her. But here’s the kicker: she also threatened, “Try to discard me. The case against you is very clear & very easy. The evidence I have is more than enough. It means twenty years in jail and a lifetime record of a sexual predator.” When he refused to continue their relationship, she followed through on the threat.

The Prosecutor's Power Move
Back in 2024, the same prosecutor who presented the case to the grand jury almost certainly orchestrated Daniel’s arrest inside the courtroom—just minutes before his bail hearing. Ms. Stamm rightly called the move “petty, shortsighted, and juvenile.” I was in court that day, and even the judge conceded on the record that he had not ordered the arrest.

My read of the room was that everyone seemed genuinely baffled by the timing—it had all the markings of a tactical ambush. Instead of allowing Stamm the opportunity to challenge the state’s position in open court, the prosecutor appeared to take the easier route: derail the hearing altogether with a last-minute stunt meant to throw the entire proceeding into disarray.

Trial Strategy: Confronting the Lie Head-On

Ms. Stamm vigorously fought her client’s charges with a clear defense strategy: tell the jury the truth—the accuser is lying. Stamm didn’t mince words. In both her opening and closing statements, she told jurors that they would hear “crazy lies” and that those lies were central to the prosecution’s entire case.

It worked. The jury returned a not guilty verdict almost immediately—in under two hours.

Ms. Stamm’s Standout Moments in the Case

• fast-tracked the morning bail hearing to that same afternoon—a move the court had originally scheduled for the following day. This accommodation kept her client at cell block for just a few hours, not overnight.

• filed successful motions to admit evidence concerning the complainant’s past sexual behavior pursuant to Evidence Rule 410 and to suppress incomplete and ambiguous statements surreptitiously recorded by the complainant.

• introduced dozens of messages, emails, and voice notes revealing a pattern of control, obsession, and fixation—not fear.

This moment stands as a testament to the power of preparation, integrity, and skilled advocacy. Congratulations to all involved—particularly Attorney Casey Stamm—for delivering justice through tireless effort and unwavering commitment to the truth. As we reflect on this outcome, we’re reminded that when the system works as it should, it can change lives. Here’s to continued excellence in the courtroom and beyond.

With purpose and principles,

-GOT BAIL NICK