Criminal Defense

DUI convictions (see here) & public intoxication convictions (see here) bring immigration risks for those who are not United States citizens, at least for those with multiple alcohol-related convictions.

Firearm purchase applications -- actually consent forms for firearm dealers to run police background checks of the purchaser of a handgun or other firearm -- ask whether the purchaser has been convicted of a felony offense. Va. Code § 18.2-308.2:2.

As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I pity the criminal defendant arrested on an open warrant while carrying or near illegal drugs or other contraband, which compounds the criminal charges to be faced by the defendant.

As a Fairfax, Virginia, criminal lawyer, I know that when a risk exists that the Virginia magistrate will not let the defendant be released on bail, the criminal defense lawyer needs to be ready to arrange a bond hearing before a judge as soon as...

Arrest warrants should never be ignored. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer and Virginia DUI attorney, I know that ignoring them leaves the warrants a chance to catch up on the defendant in unforeseen and undesirable ways. Arrest warrants ordinarily get issued as a result of...

Federal felony sentencing often is harsh, unless the prosecution requests leniency as part of plea negotiations, with that leniency request ordinarily connected to snitching/cooperation. As a Virginia criminal lawyer defending in state and federal court, I know that many federal felony convictions involve substantial mandatory...

Police misconduct needs to be publicized. As a Fairfax, Virginia, criminal lawyer, I know that letting police abuse remain in the shadows will perpetuate such abuse. Bringing it to the light of day enables public scrutiny to reduce police misconduct.

Anger dissipation is critical on the road to victory in the courtroom and in life. As a Fairfax criminal lawer, I know how much easier that anger dissipation is said than done, but also know the benefits of applying the practice and principals of taijiquan/...

Police videotaping should be routine and available to the public, unless counterbalanced by sufficient concerns for protecting suspects' privacy and for not blowing open an ongoing criminal investigation. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that an incident picture and video can be worth a...