Criminal Defense

When you have to defend yourself against charges accusing you of participating in a crime, you need the best defense possible. Working with an attorney is part of the process, so understanding what your attorney can do for you is important.Criminal defense lawyers...

If you've been charged with a crime, one of the things you may have to deal with is the use of bail. In Virginia, you don't have a right to bail in a criminal case. That means that you could be stuck in jail for as long as your case is pending, which is why many...

They are called deals because, in essence, that's exactly what they are. The Commonwealth of Virginia, represented by prosecutors, and accused defendants, backed by criminal defense attorneys, come to terms. The defendant offers to plead guilty to obtain a charge or...

Members of the Virginia State Crime Commission are trying to determine whether teen sexting should be categorized as something other than child pornography. The pressure to sext is a reality for many teens. Juveniles who engage in sexting may be unaware of the severe...

Homicide is a catchall term describing deaths caused by killings. A person's state of mind at the time of a homicide can have as much to do with the charges he or she faces as the case circumstances. Manslaughter is a killing that may or may not be intentional,...

A conviction on public corruption charges can be a game-ender for a politician. The former governor of Virginia and his wife, Bob and Maureen McDonnell, recently were found guilty of a total of 20 corruption-related allegations. The ex-governor, who served as the...

Embezzlement may be categorized as larceny or theft. Virginia defendants charged with embezzlement are accused of stealing property, usually money, they were authorized to handle. The criminal charge remains the same, whether property is taken in one lump sum or...

A juvenile can be tried, convicted and sentenced as an adult. A Virginia judge may agree to an alternative sentence, one compatible with the defendant's age that would allow the juvenile to avoid incarceration with adults. Sentencing rulings in these cases are...

There's behavior that's considered criminal under the law, and there is behavior that most people consider appropriate in society. Between the two, there are large areas of gray, and there are times when actions within the gray areas can result in criminal charges...

Can a drug dealer be held accountable for the death of a customer? Both engage in an illegal activity by selling and buying street drugs and know use of the drugs can be high risk. Evidence clarifies whether a dealer's role warrants criminal charges and how severe...