Criminal Defense

When people think about mobile devices and criminal charges, they often think about how their personal devices could be a treasure trove of evidence for the police. Most people have a lock on their phones to prevent unwanted access, and some people even use special...

Along with a right to a trial by a jury of your peers for any serious offense, the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution also guarantees you the right to a speedy trial. That was done to give people a guarantee that they wouldn’t simply be detained by the...

In an emergency situation, people often just react. They may not have time to do anything else or consider the legality of their actions. They may also think that breaking the law isn’t because they had no choice due to the emergency. One example of this could be if a...

When you’ve been charged with any kind of crime, it probably won’t be long before you start hearing about the possibility of a deal. In fact, less than 10% of criminal defendants ever see “their day in court,” because the vast majority of cases are closed through plea...

We’ve talked here before about when law enforcement officers have the right to search someone’s home and when they can search their “person” or body. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Most people...

The prosecution relies on evidence to present a strong case. However, there are certain instances when the evidence against you can be excluded from your trial. The rules of evidence dictate the admissibility of evidence in court. Sometimes, not all evidence goes...

The police in Virginia need to suspect you of a primary traffic infraction to stop you on a public road. Pulling someone over is a major inconvenience and will affect their schedule, possibly even their employment. Police officers need to have a legal justification to...

Being charged with a crime is a scary and overwhelming situation. Regardless of the charge, there are several important decisions you must make.  Sometimes, the prosecution for your case may offer a plea bargain. Usually, the plea bargain comes with a lesser charge,...

Virginia takes trespassing seriously. As a coastal state with miles of farmland, we have a number of statutes addressing trespassing on all kinds of property.  We’re going to look at just a few key statutes here. Signage isn’t always required People often believe that...

When the police catch someone in possession of prohibited drugs or controlled substances for which they do not have a prescription, they will usually seize those drugs at the same time that they arrest the individual who possessed them. Often, what law enforcement...