Criminal Defense

Facing court without a lawyer can be risky even for the most seemingly simple appearances. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that unrepresented criminal defendants are fishes out of water facing a highly experienced judge and a prosecutor whose abilities run from knowing the...

Handgun convictions in Virginia do not automatically require the recovery nor testing of the weapon. As a Fairfax criminal defense attorney, I know that a firearm element of a firearm offense requires proof that the item is “any instrument designed, made, and intended to fire...

Child pornography will always be a strong focus of federal and state prosecutors. As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I warn people interested in child pornography to obtain any necessary psychological or other help to stay away from it. To those interested in adult pornography, I...

Invoking one's Fifth and Sixth Amendment right to not talk with police without a lawyer so often spells the difference between liberty and conviction and incarceration. As a Virginia criminal defense attorney, I know that appellate courts only protect this right when invoked clearly and...

Speedy trial rights in Virginia prosecutions are governed both by the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights' Sixth Amendment and Virginia Code § 19.2-243. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the importance of clearly asserting one's speedy trial rights in order to protect them....

Appealing from any loss in court is an important option to consider, including for probation revocations and stricken dispositions under Va. Code § 18.2-251 (also known as 251). As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I know that any feeling of dread over a probation revocation or...

Gamble with slot machines, but not with what your blood alcohol test result might be after consuming alcohol. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that it takes not much beer, wine, or alcohol / liquor to yield a test result on the Intox EC...

In Virginia, a prosecution cannot be brought simply in any old county. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that venue needs always to be considered as a possible challenge by a criminal attorney. "'In a criminal prosecution, it is the Commonwealth’s burden to...

Shifting terrain and circumstances are the only constant in criminal court. As a Virginia criminal lawyer, I know that Benard Ighner could have been singing about criminal defense with "there are not many things in life you can be sure of, except rain comes from...

Jury trials usually are not associated with probation violation nor sentencing proceedings. At the same time, as a Fairfax criminal lawyer I know that criminal defendants have a right to a jury to determine whether facts exist beyond a reasonable doubt to impose mandatory minimum...