Criminal Defense

Stay at home was announced by Virginia's governor this week, but thankfully with numerous exceptions to not make people complete prisoners of their homes. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer and civil libertarian, I encourage commonwealth residents to read the relatively brief stay-at-home order (Executive...

Reckless driving in Virginia is a jailable offense, classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, carrying up to one year of incarceration, a fine of up to $2,500, court costs, and suspended driving running from zero days to six months (with the ability to apply for...

Coping in normal times with police investigations, arrests and prosecutions is always enough of a challenge for criminal defendants, their families and loved ones. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I knot that the arrest challenge is increased all the more with the current pandemic, where...

DUI arrest risks always are present when a person drives with alcohol in one's bloodstream, even if a small quantity. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that overall DWI arrest numbers will be reduced as people drive less during the pandemic. I also know...

Drug 251 dispositions involve the withholding of a drug possession conviction under Virginia Code § 18.2-251, and is only available if the criminal defendant  has not before received a 251 disposition or applicable drug conviction. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a 251...

Extortion cannot be successfully prosecuted in Virginia when a threat is only made after the alleged victim has voluntarily handed over money. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I congratulate Assistant Public Defender Tabatha Blake for winning an appellate reversal of her client's extortion conviction, by...

Commonwealth of Virginia jails will report the names of all non-United States citizens to United States immigration authorities. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that the Virginia legislator has passed legislation that will limit such mandatory ICE reporting to felonies only.

County jail changes are happening in Fairfax in response to and during the pandemic. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that during Covid-19 the county jail rejects delayed jail service commencement, rejects having inmates serve multiday sentence on successive weekends (with weekends being...

Insanity is a defense often considered when the defendant is unlikely to win on a theory of defense that the alleged act took place in a murder, homicide, or other serious felony case, when the evidence of committing the act is overwhelming. As a Fairfax...

Lapdancing and motorboating are at risk of getting prosecuted along with handjobs due to new legislation (Legislation) awaiting the governor's signature, that expands the definition of prostitution. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I do not expect a gubernatorial veto, but do see the prospects at...