Criminal Defense

As harsh as the Virginia criminal justice system generally is when compared to its two northern neighboring jurisdictions, a blessing in Virginia is that lawyers in criminal and civil cases get to question and talk with potential jurors at length in the jury selection/ voir...

Immunity law needs to be considered by any trial witness wishing to assert the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I have experienced several case dismissals for assault cases where the complaining witness hires a lawyer who tells the prosecutor...

Sex offender registration is but one of the harsh realities for those convicted in Virginia for rape, other sexual assault, child pornography, and soliciting minors for sex. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that the conviction and sentence for such crimes is a sharp...

Battling for criminal defense clients can be seen either as a great opportunity to help people and protect civil liberties, or else as a constant struggle against an overly unjust criminal justice system. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I choose the first approach, in that...

Consent is necessary for any sexual activity. As a Virginia criminal attorney, I know that mutually consensual private adult sexual activity generally is protected as lawful. Failing to obtain consent can be fatal. Consent is not defined by absence of resistance nor of oral protest...

Silence is the most critical first weapons of a criminal suspect. As a Fairfax criminal attorney, I know that clearly stating "I am not talking" -- or similarly clear words -- requires police to stop questioning a suspect. This is true whether or not the...

Strangulation is a felony in Virginia, versus simple assault being a misdemeanor. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a strangulation conviction does not require extreme choking. Virginia's strangulation statute provides that: "Any person who ... impedes the blood circulation or respiration of another...

Sure outcomes are rare in criminal defense, says Fairfax criminal lawyer. Sure outcomes should never be relied upon in criminal defense. We need look no further than the many split decisions of the United States Supreme Court to know that, being human, judges and jurors...

Great persuaders and negotiators know how to reach across the aisle to work with people who harbor plenty of opposing views. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the persuasive value of setting aside political and personal differences to persuade others and to gain essential...

Public intoxication is overcharged in Virginia. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that an intoxicated in public conviction is not good for one's reputation, and the risks of fighting such prosecutions only involve hiring a lawyer, and paying court fines and costs.