Mount Zion Criminal Lawyers

I, Johnny Felan Castaneda Sr., have been a proud member of the Georgia Bar since 1990, consistently in good standing. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to assisting those who require legal help and advocating for victims of wrongdoing. My firm is equipped with a wide range of experience, having handled a multitude of cases successfully. Call us for a free office consultation. I am fluent in both Spanish and English. You can reach out to us via email at officejfc@aol.com or jfcastanedalawfirm@gmail.com.

The Smith Williams Law Firm’s owner, Yolanda Smith-Williams, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Political Science with a minor in English. She received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. While in law school, Yolanda gained valuable legal work experience by working with a Circuit Court Judge. This was the start of her experience in working in the area of Family Law. She later received a highly sought after internship with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office. In this position, Yolanda assisted in prosecuting individuals charged with felonies and...

Katie has spent her entire legal career advocating for her clients. She spent over 14 years as a public defender in Fulton County, representing individuals charged with felony crimes at the trial and appellate level. Most of her career at the public defender’s office was spent in the complex felony unit, representing people charged with the most serious crimes; murder, armed robbery, sex crimes and drug trafficking. More recently, Katie was a partner in a boutique law firm, trying cases and representing clients all over the Metro Atlanta area. Her many years in the courtroom have earned her a reputation...

I began my adult life by serving in the U.S. Army, in the Military Intelligence Corps. After an honorable discharge began attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1998. After two years of hard work I received my Bachelor's Degree. I began law school in 2001, and received my Juris Doctor in 2004. I have worked extensively in juvenile courts in the metro-Atlanta area, primarily as a guardian ad litem representing the interests of children in deprivation and delinquency cases. I have also served as a guardian ad litem in very contentious custody cases....

Sydney received her law degree from the University of Alabama after completing her undergraduate studies at Ole Miss. While at the University of Alabama School of Law, Sydney studied criminal law and criminal defense under the current Executive Director and Attorney-in-Chief of the Federal Defenders of New York, and earned top honors for her work in Alabama’s criminal defense clinic. She also served as the Ethics Opinions Editor for Volume 35 of the Journal of the Legal Profession. After graduating from law school, Sydney worked as a Staff Attorney at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Sydney...

I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, but spent most of my first 18 years overseas. As a young adult, I returned to the United States, completed my undergraduate degree at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and earned my law degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. While in law school, I distinguished myself by serving on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Dispute Resolution and the Bankruptcy Developments Journal.

After law school, I continued my studies and received a Master's Degree in International and Comparative Law from the University of Brussels. Prior to entering private practice,...

Kathryn Boortz is a trial attorney with nearly 10 years of litigation experience in courtrooms across the state of Georgia. She began her legal career in the public sector with the Metro Conflict Defender’s Office in Fulton County and then became an associate attorney at the boutique litigation firm of Conaway and Strickler. In June 2013, Kathryn founded Boortz Law, LLC. Boortz Law was founded so that Kathryn could focus on the areas of law that resonate with her gifts of compassion and creativity as a counselor to her clients. These areas include Estate Planning, White Collar and Juvenile...

S. Lamar Gardner, our Firm’s founding and managing partner, was born and raised in Corinth, MS. Lamar obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in Political Science in 2009. In 2012, Lamar obtained a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy from Clark Atlanta University. Upon graduating from Clark Atlanta, Lamar began working in the non-profit sector. In 2014, however, he was offered admission to Southern University Law Center (SULC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he obtained his Juris Doctor (Cum Laude)in 2017. While at SULC, Lamar served as the 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief of the Southern University...

Quinton G. Washington is a seasoned trial attorney, former judge, and founding partner of Washington Legal Group—a premier Atlanta-based law firm representing individuals, families, and municipalities throughout Georgia. With more than 20 years of courtroom and leadership experience, Quinton has earned a reputation as a fearless, compassionate, and highly strategic legal advocate—especially in the realms of family law, criminal defense, and complex municipal matters. Quinton has been honored as a Georgia Super Lawyer for eight consecutive years (2018–2025)—a recognition reserved for no more than 5% of practicing attorneys in the state. More notably, for the past three years, he...

Kalpin’s entire career has been carefully designed to provide you the best representation possible.

As an Assistant Solicitor for over two years, Kalpin handled misdemeanor cases at every stage. While learning the internal techniques of a prosecution process, Kalpin continued earning the respect and building relations with such Judges, other prosecutors, and court administrators.

For his very first client of his career, he obtained a dismissal on all charges. Click here for a narrative from that case. As an indigent defense counsel for Clayton County, he passionately fought for each and every...

Results-driven and client-oriented, Attorney Brandon Dixon is committed to seeing his clients succeed. Focusing on criminal defense and traffic tickets in Atlanta, Attorney Dixon is exhaustive in his research of each and every case he takes on. His successes have resulted in reduced punishments and dismissed cases for numerous clients who were facing serious penalties for criminal charges. Zealous and aggressive tactics enable him to effectively represent his clients in the courtroom. Attorney Dixon is part of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Available 24/7 for a free thirty-minute case...

A native of Atlanta, Ron Smith earned his J.D. Degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1981 and first practiced law as a state prosecutor in central Florida. Mr. Smith's service to others includes his background as a Certified K-12 Teacher and Undergraduate through Graduate Instructor in several subject areas. Since 1965 he continues to work as a lay minister for various Christian and charitable ministries. His private law practice since 1984 has been an extension of these ministries so as to help people deal with a variety of legal matters. For several years Mr. Smith owned and managed a...

As a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Kevin possesses a very thorough knowledge of the law. Kevin's experience includes representing prominent business clients at a prestigious international law firm. In addition to his business law experience, Kevin has litigated numerous criminal misdemeanor and felony cases, including DUI, drugs, domestic violence and traffic cases. As a trial lawyer, Kevin has successfully attained "Not Guilty" jury verdicts and reductions to lesser charges in front of some of the toughest judges in Georgia. Kevin is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. While in law school, he was a member of the Moot Court Board Managing...

State prosecutor for over 11 years; have tried over 100 felony cases, including 2 death penalty cases. As a defense attorney since then, I have specialized in appeals of criminal convictions, achieving a very high reversal rate. Currently actively engaged in a death penalty appeal, awaiting the docketing notice from the Georgia Supreme Court. Criminal law is all that I have done in my career, and I have a passion for the work I do. I also have a deep commitment to my clients. As I tell all of my clients and potential...

Kate fiercely believes that everyone has the right to a fair trial and an excellent lawyer. She brings an unmatched passion for justice and a discerning academic eye to every case she works on. Beginning her career as a public defender, Kate gained significant experience representing the poor in the State and Superior Courts of Clarke and DeKalb County, Georgia. During her time in public defense, she handled hundreds of cases and spent thousands of hours in the courtroom fighting for her clients. She has argued dozens of pre-trial motions and successfully kept the prosecution from being able to introduce illegally-collected...

Frank W. Hicks III, Esq., after graduating from Mercer Law School in 2002, began working as a prosecutor where he oversaw the traffic division. He then moved over to the Public Defender’s office where he worked for over a decade. He has resolved thousands of criminal cases, ranging from traffic tickets to murder and has over 100 jury trials. Frank draws upon his past experience as a deputy sheriff to assist his clients. Frank is admitted to practice in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Georgia Supreme Court.