Defense Attorney

Do I really need a lawyer?  Chances are if you are reading this website you are concerned about an event that happened to you.  You are nervous and unsure what to do.  It is my goal in this website to give you helpful answers.  If you prefer to discuss your case directly with me, you can do so by contacting my office.

Actually, the better question to ask is when should I contact an attorney.  The answer is: sooner rather than later.  In some cases, DUIs or Domestic Battery, for instance, by the time I have heard from a person in the midst of the situation, the police have already investigated and charged the person with a crime.  You should not delay contacting an attorney.  I know your court date may not be for a month, or in some instances a few months, but you need to start planning your defense as soon as possible.  The reason police officers take reports is that they know that over time, a person’s ability to recall events falter.  For the same reason, you want to begin preparing for your defense as soon as possible.  This means contacting potential witnesses to learn what they recall of the event.  Also, if this is a DUI, you may need to act quickly to keep driving legally.

Sometimes, you have not been arrested, but are concerned that you might face criminal charges.  Some examples of this situation are sex crimes or a casino marker case.  I have found that wishing the whole thing would just go away is not a good plan.  While you put your head in the sand and are thankful the police haven’t called you, the case continues.  The police file their reports with the District Attorney who in turn begins the process to obtain an arrest warrant.  Once an arrest warrant is filed, the police will then arrest you and you are brought to jail.  In these situations, a lawyer can begin to prepare your defense, and can open communication with the police and the District Attorney.  By getting involved early, you may be fortunate enough to avoid charges.  Even when you cannot prevent charges against you, by getting an attorney involved, the attorney can learn when charges are being filed.  You can then address your custody by filing an appropriate motion before you are arrested.  Experience demonstrates that whether you appear out of custody at a bail hearing, as opposed to having been arrested and held in custody awaiting your bail hearing, has a psychological affect on the Judge’s decision.  Judges tend to believe people who are in jail should stay and people out of custody are not as dangerous.

I have tried in this website to give you some information on my most frequently handled cases.  Please feel free to call me if you have questions.  After 16 years practicing criminal law, (6 of those years as a Deputy District Attorney, and 10 years in private practice) chances are you are not the first one to tell me about this situation.  Yet, I know that each of us has a unique background and deserves to have his/her dignity maintained and be protected.  I understand that good people have moments of regret, and one action does not negate a lifetime of hard work or good character.

Contact us about your legal matter today!