Criminal Defense

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...

Preliminary hearings are an important part of Virginia criminal defense for felony prosecutions. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that such hearings are important for obtaining discovery before the hearing date, for working to negotiate a mutually agreed settlement, to learn more about the...

Virginia drug defense involves humorless statutes, sentencing schemes and sentencing guidelines. As a Fairfaxcriminal lawyer, I know that the sentencing risks for a drug conviction multiply when the conviction is not for mere personal drug use, and is instead for selling, distributing, manufacturing, or possessing...

Guilty pleas in Virginia must only be the result of the defense's fully preparing for trial. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that this trial readiness approach to pleading guilty, no contest/nolo contendere, Alford, or facts sufficient to prove guilt (collectively for this article,...

Statutory rape prosecutions are risked at the Virginia state level whenever an adult engages in sex with a minor, whether or not the defendant knew the minor was a minor. At the federal level, a prosecution for sex trafficking requires that the defendant “knew, or...

Virginia prostitution defense often involves police stings, where alleged Johns/hobbyists are set up to meet with would-be prostitutes/providers who instead are police officers/police hires. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know how much prostitution prosecutions waste limited police resources that could instead