Criminal Defense

Virginia crime suspects who do not assert their Constitutional Fifth Amendment right to remain silent are often shooting themselves in the foot, and rarely do more good than harm when talking with the cops without having a lawyer who arranges a debriefing agreement that provides...

Virginia involuntary manslaughter (Virginia IM) prosecutions call for a full court defensive press, just as does with all Virginia criminal defense. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that anything less than full sharpness when driving on the roads can result in very serious accidents...

Virginia trials are often uneven playing fields with some judges making improvident evidentiary and procedural rulings without giving the defense a fair chance to argue the point, with some prosecutors going against the established Constitutional, procedural and evidence rules --whether intentionally or otherwise -- and...

Virginia contraband prosecutions tend to focus on illegal drugs and unlawful firearm possession. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that even innocent people risk prosecution and conviction for when in close proximity to such items. Consequently, be careful about being with people you do...

Virginia detention is no picnic and no more desirable than the baloney sandwiches that are often served for food. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that you can help write the answer about whether you will get convicted of a crime and what your...

Better Fairfax and Northern Virginia plea negotiations -- better, that is, for criminal defendants -- is a major trend ever since four much more defendant-friendly chief prosecutors swept into the four northern Virginia counties. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that my opponents in...

Virginia detainee phone calls are visits are all recorded unless the discussion is with a lawyer on a designated secure jail phone line or in a lawyer visiting booth. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that too many inmates lull themselves to thinking they...

Oppressive was a great way to describe so many aspects of the Virginia criminal legal system, before the death penalty was abolished, before a whirlwind of criminal defendant-friendly legislation was passed in the 2020 through 2021, and before more enlightened (but not always as defendant-friendly...

Virginia sealing law is part of the wave of criminal law reforms that resulted during the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions in the commonwealth as a result of Democratic control of the legislative and executive branches of government, as well as who filled those seats....

Police interpreters are common enough when a suspect does not speak sufficient English. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I am exasperated at the lack of sensitivity, respect and understanding by too many police, prosecutors and even some judges toward and about people who speak insufficient...