Trial Portfolio
The Law Offices of Dion J. Custis, 1994-Present
Dion is licensed in the State of Wyoming with his home office in Cheyenne. He is also licensed in the State of Colorado with his home Colorado office in Fort Collins.
Owner of solo law practice, emphasizing in personal injury and criminal defense. Have handled every type of criminal case from DUI to Death Penalty cases and has practiced in every court including Municipal, County, State District Court, Federal District Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Wyoming Supreme Court and State and Federal Courts in Colorado.
- Senior Assistant Public Defender, Cheyenne, WY – 1994-2011
- Handled full criminal caseload including all types of felonies and misdemeanors with an emphasis in serious felonies and death penalty cases.
- Have experience in State Supreme Court and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Have personally appealed two convictions which were reversed in the Wyoming Supreme Court.
- Trial attorney on seven cases eventually reversed by the Wyoming Supreme Court.
- Presenter-Wyoming Public Defender seminar-Trial Tactics, Closing Arguments, Trial Practice.
- Presenter of The Law of Search and Seizure, Criminal Law.
- Former Criminal Law Adjunct Professor at Laramie County Community College.
HIGHLIGHTS
Wrongful Death Cases
Gonzales Personal Injury Case – 2017
Mr. Gonzales was hit by another driver without insurance and suffered major injuries, the Law Offices of Dion J. Custis and his team were successful in reaching a settlement of $95,000.
Criminal Defense
- Tried over 100 serious felony level trials including State and Federal Courts.
- Have successfully tried all types of criminal cases including major drug cases involving multiple defendants, homicides, fraud cases, sexual assault cases, DUI’s, utilizing all types of defenses including mental illness, alibi, alternative suspect, lesser included crime, etc.
- Successfully defended four death penalty cases all resulting in life sentences
State v. Steven Plummer, Cheyenne, WY 2006
Mr. Plummer was charged with the beating death of young man. He was acquitted at trial of all charges.
State v. Kent Proffit, Gillette, WY 2006-2007
Mr. Proffit was charged with two murders and accused of molesting one of the victims. The state sought the death penalty and we were successful in obtaining a life verdict at trial.
State v. Keith Jesperson, Cheyenne, WY 1997
Mr. Jesperson was accused of murdering a young woman in Wyoming. He was known as the “Happy Face Killer” having committed several other murders throughout the western states. He was brought to Wyoming after being convicted of at least three murders and was serving three life sentences. We were able to secure another life sentence for him and avoid the death penalty.
State v. Aaron Dowdell, Rawlins, WY 1997-1998
Mr. Dowdell was serving a life sentence for murder and was charged with the murder of a prison guard at the Wyoming State Prison. We successfully obtained a life verdict at trial.
State v. Aaron McKinney, Laramie, WY 1998-1999 (Matthew Shepard Murder)
Mr. McKinney was the young man charged with the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. This case was of national significance due to the allegations that Mr. Shepard was tied to a fence and murdered for being homosexual. The case received worldwide press coverage and as lead counsel we were successful in avoiding a premeditated murder conviction at trial which eventually led to a plea agreement for two life sentences in exchange for dismissal of the death penalty.
