Cates set the tone for the results we were able to achieve in our case. He kept us informed throughout the process and as a result of his know-how he brought about successful conclusion to our case. By meeting with the prosecutor and judge in chambers prior to sentencing- he made a huge difference in the final outcome.
We are so grateful and hiring Cates made a big difference.
-Anonymous
I was falsely charged with 7 F2’s. And Dwane believed in me and proved to the prosecution that they did not have a case against me. After 9 months I was released…free and clear. He was always available and worked closely with me and my family. He was honest and straight forward with me and with what I could be facing if I were to be found guilty. I appreciated his professionalism, availability and honesty.
-Paul
I hired Dwane Cates to represent my son in a high profile sex crime. I looked up criminal lawyers on the internet and found several that I was interested in. I read Mr. Cates’ reviews and thought he might be too good to be true. After talking to him we decided to hire him. Dwayne went above and beyond to visit my son, even on Christmas Eve. His staff is remarkable, also, very friendly and helpful! He did a great job and my son, visiting him often, keeping him informed and we got a great result. The other reviews that I read were correct. I found other lawyers that were less money but we are very glad we spent the extra money for Mr. Cates. He was always easy to communicate with and considerate of our concerns. I would highly recommend him!!
-Candace
Attorney Dwane Cates and his staff have left a life-long great impression on me for the constant level of professionalism they exuberated during the entire time of my life-changing ordeal and for the great outcome of my case that came about because of the dedicated, hard work Attorney Cates put in. I had an aggravated assault case, and hired Attorney Cates. From the start, he was very upfront and honest with me about the chances of getting a plea deal from the facts I told him about the case. However, during this ordeal which stretched for almost 10 months, he and his staff kept me completely informed about court proceedings and dates, possible plea deals being discussed, and showed great understanding about what I was going through dealing with this situation. After months of hard work by Attorney Cates, he was able to get me a plea where I got no prison time, only 18 months’ probation, and when I complete my probation, my charge will be changed from a felony to a misdemeanor. Wow!! Great work Attorney Cates and Staff. You Come Fully Recommended.
-Anonymous
Top Notch Professionalism, the kind of person that ‘under-promises and over-delivers’. Dwane got my marijuana possession charges completely dismissed after warning me upfront that there was only ‘a 5-10% chance’ based on the details of my case. I was pulled over on the I-8 30 miles E of Yuma after the border patrol checkpoint drug sniffing dog alerted the agents to search my car. I handed the agents my bag of ‘goodies’ before they even searched my car, hoping that by being honest I could avoid being detained for very long in some town in the middle of the desert. After answering all of the officer’s questions and basically giving a full confession they wrote me up and let me continue on my drive to Phoenix. The next day I called several lawyers and Dwane stood out as the most professional and patient. During our initial conversations Dwane advised me that there was a slim chance of getting the charges dismissed based on my confession, the type of honesty that makes it easy to trust him. My trust in him paid off, because after 5 months and a lot of work on his part I still have a clean record and all charges were completely dismissed! I highly suggest talking to him before settling on your legal representation!
-Anonymous
After crossing the CA/AZ border in Yuma, AZ, I was detained by the Border Patrol when it was discovered that I had a marijuana pipe in my car. I contacted Mr. Cates, an AZ criminal attorney who took my case. His expertise and professionalism, as well as his staff’s professionalism were amazing. Mr. Cates took complete charge and worked diligently on my behalf for several months and was able to have my case dismissed. If you have any type of criminal matter that needs the attention of an outstanding Arizona criminal attorney Mr. Cates is the only one I would recommend. In retrospect his fees where an excellent value in light of the fact that I will not be subject to a criminal record.
-Robert
I was on a road trip going from Ca to AZ and got caught at the border patrol inspection center in Yuma. I received a citation for possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia with the court date attached. I immediately contacted Mr. Cates and his law office for help. The staff there are very knowledgeable and respond quickly to any phone calls or emails regarding the case. Mr. Cates was able to get my case dismissed, with all charges dropped. I’m amazed in how short of time he was able to get it taken care of for me. I would not hesitate to hire Mr. Cates; he is a very experienced and responsive lawyer that provides excellent results!!
-Anonymous
My husband retained Mr. Cates in Oct. 2010 after he was arrested and wrongfully charged with possession of marijuana and transportation of marijuana for sale. Both charges were serious F2 felony violations and to add fuel to the fire my husband was not a “legal” U.S. citizen (but was in the process of obtaining legal status). Upon contacting Mr. Cates he was very confident he could be of assistance and very knowledgeable of the law. I’ll admit after 2 1/2 months my husband and I became a bit pessimistic about the outcome of the case but Mr. Cates always assured me he was putting for a valiant effort. Well needless to say I received a call from Mr. Cates assistant on 2/15/11 stating the charges against my husband were being dropped!!! Mr. Cates remained confident the state’s case was weak and he would go to bat for us. I say if you need a good criminal defense attorney PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL MR. CATES!! HE CANNOT WORK “MAGIC” BUT HE WILL DO HIS BEST TO ENSURE FAIR & JUST OUTCOME.
-Ericha
My husband retained Mr. Cates in Oct. 2010 after he was arrested and wrongfully charged with possession of marijuana and transportation of marijuana for sale. Both charges were serious F2 felony violations and to add fuel to the fire my husband was not a “legal” U.S. citizen (but was in the process of obtaining legal status). Upon contacting Mr. Cates he was very confident he could be of assistance and very knowledgeable of the law. I’ll admit after 2 1/2 months my husband and I became a bit pessimistic about the outcome of the case but Mr. Cates always assured me he was putting for a valiant effort. Well needless to say I received a call from Mr. Cates assistant on 2/15/11 stating the charges against my husband were being dropped!!! Mr. Cates remained confident the state’s case was weak and he would go to bat for us. I say if you need a good criminal defense attorney PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL MR. CATES!! HE CANNOT WORK “MAGIC” BUT HE WILL DO HIS BEST TO ENSURE FAIR & JUST OUTCOME.
-Ericha
My ex-fiancé who came here on a fiancé visa that was about to expire made false accusations of child molestations against me. Probably out of her hurt feelings because I explained to her that I was not going to get married with her anymore and probably also because someone had advised her to make these accusations because there is a special visa category for “victims of a crime”. She was expecting permanent legal residency as a result of her false accusations.
This was like a nightmare for me and I could not believe that it was actually happening. I quickly learned that it is very easy for an innocent man to land in jail in these cases and i understood that I needed an experienced AZ attorney for Criminal Law. I could not sleep anymore in the night and was expecting the police anytime to come to arrest me. Dwane Cates knew what he had to do and sent me to an expert for polygraph tests. He was very friendly, professional and had reasonable fees. The polygraph test showed that I was saying the truth and I was never arrested or officially charged with anything. If someone would ask me for advice who to consult in a Criminal Law matter in Arizona, Dwane would be my first recommendation.
-Anonymous
I retained Dwane Cates when charged with 6 felony counts by Yuma County. Dwane and his assistants were very responsive, knowledgeable and informative. I am very satisfied Dwane pled my case down to 2 misdemeanors (conditional felonies until i complete my unsupervised probation). Needless to say i would highly recommend Dwane Cates.
-Keith
It was almost 5 pm on a Friday when the Fort Worth Texas Fugitive Unit came to my door to arrest me and have me transported back to Arizona over an arrest warrant from almost six years earlier. I quickly found Attorney Cates’ office via the internet and my first contact was with his assistant Danessa. She was very helpful and assuring, in that they would be able to help me. Attorney Cates immediately contacted the Ft Worth officers and informed them that I had retained him as counsel and convinced them that I was not a flight risk and his office would make immediate arrangements for me to appear in court, which prevented me from being taken into custody and dragged through the system. I was facing possible five years min if convicted of a Class 2 felony drug trafficking charge. Attorney Cates negotiated three years unsupervised probation out-of-state. His office also worked an affordable payment plan that helped alleviate the financial hardship. I truly believe it a blessing having found and retained his services. I would not have otherwise had a more positive turn-out. I am forever grateful for his attentiveness and professionalism!
-Anonymous
Dwane Cates is the most available lawyer that I’ve known. When you call him, he will answer you and he gets the answers for very promptly. His office staff is very professional and willing to assist the client day or night. Dwane helped us out at 10pm on the phone and met with us on a Saturday.
-Anonymous
Dwane Cates is the most available lawyer that I’ve known. When you call him, he will answer you and he gets the answers for very promptly. His office staff is very professional and willing to assist the client day or night. Dwane helped us out at 10pm on the phone and met with us on a Saturday.
-Anonymous
Mr. Cates handled the defense of my teenage son for criminal possession of marijuana and a DUI. His expertise and professionalism made the entire process easier. He promptly returned all calls. He pleasantly and reassuringly answered all questions. Having worked with several attorneys in a civil matter over the last few years I have learned that their service and professionalism varies GREATLY and that paying huge fees (>$100K) does not guarantee service of the quality that was provided by Mr. Cates. Having been represented by some of the “top” in Phoenix made me start to believe in all of the lawyer bashing. Mr. Cates renewed my faith and believe in the “profession” again.
-Anonymous
I have actually have retained Mr. Cates on 3 different occasions for 3 completely different matters over the last 5 years. On all 3, the one previously listed, one breach of contract regarding a shipping of a horse, and a divorce case. All 3 cases ended with results that made me very happy. I found Mr. Cates to be professional and caring. I have trusted Mr. Cates with issues that have been very near and dear to me and he has never let me down or disappointed. He has always been very well prepared, well studied and always punctual with excellent communication. His office staff and assistant are top notch as well. They make you feel so welcome and cared for regardless of why you are seeking the help of an attorney. I have also consulted Mr. Cates for advice on other matters as well. I have recommended him to many and still continue to do so.
-Anonymous
I had an allegation levied against me that the police investigated. I was freaking out. Mr. Cates was recommended to me. And after I contacted him, I understand why he was recommended. He totally calmed my nerves and immediately took action; telling me what I should do/not do, what I should be aware of. He guided me through my polygraph testing. In the end, the allegation faded away, and I credit Mr. Cates for resolving so quickly.
-Anonymous
Thank you, Mr. Cates, and your law firm. You have been on track in taking care of my criminal matter. Even though I had you retained for the two years that I was incarcerated, when it came time for my court case, you were there for me even though it was such a long time ago. Again, thank you and Danessa for your courteous help when we called you many times throughout the two years.
-Anonymous
Dwane Cates did an excellent job for me and I highly RECOMMEND HIM. I had a very complicated case. He conceived the proper strategy, though I did question it at the time, he executed the strategy perfectly and delivered the results I wanted. What makes him so effective is that he knows the law better than most of his opposition and he knows the opposition better then he knows the law. As a result, he is able to get to anyone he needs to and he is able to make your case for you because they will listen. They know Dwane Cates knows what he’s talking about. Dwane charged me a fair rate for his services and he never nickeled and dimed me for more money because of “Extenuating Circumstances. He even did additional work for me that was not clearly defined when I retained him without any claim for additional fee. In comparison, most of the other attorneys I priced came in at 200% of his rates.
-Kevin
At the first point from when I retained Mr. Cates, he was nothing but professional, and I felt that he really cared about my case. I could tell that after negotiating with the other attorney, delivering the verdict that was best regarding all parties was top priority for Mr. Cates. He was not the first attorney I have had help me, however, he was the best.
-Tyson
My father found Dwane on Google Ads when I was arrested one Saturday night in Glendale. Dwane was working on a Sunday morning and that was a good indication of the dedication that I would see during the course of my case.
I had drunk too much, had resisted arrest and, due to extreme intoxication, had kicked out a police car window. While I was talking to others in the holding cell, I had learned that people from out of state are often not released on bail. Dwane was extremely responsive and in the jail that day. He displayed my ties to the State of Arizona and secured not only release on own recognizance, but permission to leave the country prior to my hearing.
At the hearing itself, Dwane ensured that my side of the story got through to the judge and the judge showed mercy, seeing it as, not an intentional aggressive action against officers of the law, but an understandable if egregious mistake. My felony got knocked down to a misdemeanor and I had to pay around $400. I had probation only until payment of the fine– in other words for about 2 hours.
In communication, Dwane was always prompt and professional and he was patient when I needed to ask detailed questions and go through various what-if scenarios. Overall, I thank Dwane for his great work and the justice system of Arizona for its understanding.
-Matthew
I wanted to write a review explaining how satisfied we were with Mr. Dwane Cates’ performance in and out of court during case preparation especially with dealing with the county attorney and superior court judge. What a nice professional, kind and qualified lawyer he is! I have used other lawyers in my past and would give him a 10 as far as being honest, reliable and qualified. He graduated top in his class and he really knows criminal law and can handle any case with expertise. He is very competent with understanding law, procedures and people. His office assistance Vanessa was also a joy to work with. As far as stress goes on the family, he took a lot of stress off us. I would highly recommend him as your lawyer to handle any criminal case and you will be pleasantly surprised how favorable the results will be for you, as they were for us. Now that the case is over, I can’t imagine getting a better judgment anywhere, with anyone, at any time. I’ve had many remarks from friends that my son was very lucky to come out doing so well considering his plea to 7 non-dangerous felony charges- no jail time except for time served and 3 years’ probation. My advice is a top lawyer like Dwane Cates could make a tremendous difference in your life and you would be smart to protect yourself as much as possible by utilizing Dwane Cates. I’m glad we were smart and will always appreciate what Mr. Cates did for our son and family.
-Alan
Dwane recently handled a criminal case for me. He is extremely professional and very knowledgeable of the law. I would highly recommend him for any criminal matter. I really felt like he was fighting on my side. I am so impressed as to how fast my case was handled.
-Anonymous
Mr Cates handled my case in a efficient, and expedient manner. He was always very available for any of my questions and willing to listen and give me honest feedback. My case was resolved in the best possible manner; something which I’m more than certain would not have been the outcome without his help.
Having someone knowledgeable and more importantly responsive to my many questions, not only provided the best outcome for my case, it also kept my mind at ease. Something that is hard to do in a difficult time, and Mr. Cates did a wonderful job for me and I would recommend his services.
-Anonymous
Mr. Cates defended my nephew to the best of his ability given the case with almost no chance to improve the situation, in fact turned it around and was able to get the sentence that he was looking to do reduced from 14 years to just over 1 year. He was not a judgmental person just fair and to the point. Didn’t promise anything but worked to get a fair outcome. Some people think that a lawyer is supposed to get you off the charges. The reality is that some clients don’t leave them any chance to do that so the option is medication of the charges. He did that and did it very well. He or a staff member was always available weekends and nights which was truly appreciated. Thanks.
-Garland
I was busted at the I8 checkpoint about 50 miles east of the AZ/CA border with a very small amount of pot, I called up Dwayne and his people took care of everything, thankfully I did not have to drive back to AZ and in the end the case was dismissed. Thanks Dwayne!
-Don
I was arrested in Tempe for an assault charge because I was present and a friend of the person who got into a fight. When I tried to explain what happened to the police, they treated me as a criminal and cited me for assault. I went to Mr. Cates and explained to him what happened in detail and how I was merely a witness to the fight. He listened to everything I had to say, treated me as a person, and took the position that getting the charges reduced would not be sufficient as I was clearly not a participant. When I showed up to my hearing, I was met by his partner Mr. Hanson who aggressively pursued and received a dismissal in my case. All the charges were dropped and I was able to return to my life as it was prior to the bogus charges. I would recommend to anyone who feels that they have been wrongfully arrested or treated by the police to contact either Mr. Cates or Mr. Hanson as they were willing not only to listen, but to not take a position of compromise in a situation where a person has been treated unfairly.
-Anonymous
