Mark Coleman Secures Return of Seized Firearms for Clovis Family

Mark Coleman represented the family of Albert Sheakalee in a court case that resulted in the return of 500 firearms seized by the California Department of Justice in 2015. The weapons were confiscated after the DOJ received information that Sheakalee, the owner of a care home in Clovis, was banned from owning guns due to his presence in the state's Armed Prohibited Persons database. However, Coleman argued that Sheakalee was not aware of his inclusion in the database and that the DOJ broke its promise to keep the raid confidential until a court hearing could determine his mental fitness to own guns.

Coleman successfully argued that Sheakalee, who had no prior criminal history, was not properly notified of the ban on firearms ownership and that the majority of the seized guns were used for hunting and were legally owned. As a result of Coleman's efforts, the firearms were returned to the family on behalf of Sheakalee in December 2016.