Woodbridge Criminal Defense Attorney

Strong Defense – Felonies, Misdemeanors, and Traffic Infractions

The criminal justice system in Virginia can be very confusing, particularly if this is your first time being charged with a crime. In Virginia, criminal offenses are generally classified as felonies or misdemeanors. Felonies are the most serious of offenses, carrying penalties of one year or more in prison, such as murder, arson, rape, robbery, grand larceny, breaking and entering, malicious wounding, forgery, uttering and the like.

Misdemeanors include less serious offenses carrying penalties of up to 12 months in jail, such as DUI, reckless driving, trespassing, assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and petit larceny. It is important to understand that even if you are charged with a misdemeanor, you still face potentially stiff penalties if you are convicted.

Experienced Defense for All Types of Criminal Charges in Woodbridge

Stevens Caruso provides strong, experienced criminal defense counsel to individuals charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses in the Northern Virginia region. Casey R. Stevens and Lisa K. Caruso are former prosecutors who have successfully handled thousands of criminal matters. They are not afraid to take on the toughest cases, and they know what it takes to achieve success in jury trials and bench trials. They leverage their extensive experience and legal knowledge to tackle a full range of criminal matters, including:

Assault/Battery

In Virginia, violent crimes such as assault and battery carry harsh punishments and can be prosecuted as either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the specific allegations involved. With so much at stake, you need a Woodbridge criminal defense attorney who will do everything possible to help you defend against the charges you are facing. We handle cases including:

• Assault and battery (Virginia Code Section 18.2-57)
• Assault and battery of a law enforcement or corrections officer (Virginia Code Section 18.2-57)
• Domestic assault and battery (Virginia Code Section 18.2-57.2)
• Malicious wounding (Virginia Code Section 18.2-51)
• Unlawful wounding (Virginia Code Section 18.2-51)

Regardless of the circumstances involved in your case, our attorneys are prepared to defend you by all means available. Once you get in touch, we can assess all potential defense strategies and help you make informed decisions about your next steps.

Domestic Violence

In addition to stiff criminal penalties, a domestic violence conviction can have very serious consequences for you and your family. If you are charged with a domestic violence offense, you may be served with a protective order preventing you from seeing your children and your spouse. It is crucial to consult with a skilled criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. We handle cases involving all types of domestic violence allegations in Virginia, including all forms of assault and battery.

At a minimum, domestic violence is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Section 18.2-57.2 of the Virginia Code. However, if you have two or more prior domestic violence convictions on your record, you could be facing felony charges.

Drug Charges

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Virginia, you may be forced to pay significant fines, participate in a drug rehabilitation program, and serve a lengthy jail sentence. Additionally, a drug conviction could jeopardize your current employment and impact your ability to find a job in the future. An experienced attorney can work with you to help you address the serious charges you are dealing with. Our attorneys defend individuals facing misdemeanor and felony drug charges, including:

• Drug distribution (Virginia Code Section 18.2-248)
• Drug manufacturing (Virginia Code Section 18.2-248)
• Drug possession (Virginia Code Section 18.2-250)
• Drug possession with intent to manufacture (Virginia Code Section 18.2-248)
• Drug trafficking (Virginia Code Section 18.2-248.01)

Due to the substantial consequences of drug crime convictions in Virginia, it is important that you fight your case regardless of the circumstances involved. Even if the police arrested you with drugs in your possession, you may still have defenses available. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may also be eligible for Drug Court, and successfully completing Drug Court could significantly reduce the long-term consequences of your arrest.

DUI/DWI

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is treated as a serious offense in Virginia. If you have been charged with a DUI, it is important to have an experienced Woodbridge criminal defense attorney on your side who will take the time to fully investigate the charges and develop a strong defense on your behalf. Here, too, there are ways to fight your case regardless of the circumstances involved, but choosing the right strategy for the specific circumstances at hand is critical for maximizing your chances of avoiding unnecessary consequences.

While all DUI charges carry substantial penalties (and can lead to other long-term consequences) in Virginia, if you have one or more prior DUIs on your record, the risks of a conviction increase substantially. Whether this is your first DUI or you are being prosecuted as a repeat offender, we can use our extensive experience to help protect you by all means available.

Larceny/Theft

In Virginia, larceny and theft charges can also be prosecuted as a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the specific allegations involved. Beyond the criminal penalties, a larceny or theft conviction can also have long-lasting consequences for your personal life and professional reputation. With so much at risk, you need a strong and proactive criminal defense firm on your side. Our firm handles cases involving charges of:

• Burglary (Virginia Code Section 18.2-89, 18.2-90, 18.2-91, 18.2-92)
• Credit card theft fraud and forgery (Virginia Code Sections 18.2-192, 18.2-193, 18.2-194, and 18.2-195)
• Concealing/receiving stolen property (Virginia Code Section 18.2-108)
• Grand larceny (Virginia Code Section 18.2-95)
• Obtaining money by false pretenses (Virginia Code Section 18.2-178)
• Petty larceny (Virginia Code Section 18.2-96)
• Robbery (Virginia Code Section 18.2-58)
• Shoplifting (Virginia Code Section 18.2-103)

In larceny and theft cases, the penalties that are on the table depend on the value of the property involved, whether the crime involved violence or unlawful entry, and a variety of other factors. Our attorneys can help you understand the specific penalties you are facing, and then we can examine all the circumstances surrounding the allegations against you and your arrest to determine what defenses are available to you.

Murder

If you are being charged with murder in Virginia, you could be facing up to life in prison. As a result, you need to be represented by a highly qualified defense attorney who knows how to thoroughly investigate a case and mount an aggressive defense against charges as serious as murder. At Stevens Caruso, we have the experience you need, and we are prepared to use our experience to help protect you by all means available.

Probation Violations

Violating the terms of your probation is a serious matter that can lead to your incarceration. If you have been accused of a probation violation, it is important to seek the advice of experienced attorneys who know how to challenge these kinds of allegations. We have extensive experience with these allegations as well, and we can defend you whether you are facing charges related to one of the following or any other alleged probation violation in Virginia:

• Committing a crime while on probation
• Failing a drug test
• Failing to maintain steady employment
• Failing to report to your probation officer
• Leaving the Commonwealth of Virginia without authority

Of course, if you are being accused of committing a crime while on probation, you will need to defend against this criminal charge as well. We are prepared to handle all aspects of your case, and we will do everything we can to help you avoid both immediate and long-term consequences.

Sex Crimes

Conviction of a sex crime in Virginia comes with very severe consequences. In addition to potential incarceration, you may be required to register with the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. A skilled criminal defense attorney can work to protect your legal rights and build a strong defense to address the charges you are facing. We handle cases involving allegations of sex crimes, including:

• Aggravated sexual battery (Virginia Code Section 18.2-67.3)
• Carnal knowledge of minors and taking indecent liberties with a child (Virginia Code Sections 18.2-63, 18.2-64.1 and 18.2-370)
• Prostitution or solicitation of prostitution (Virginia Code Section 18.2-346.01)
• Rape (Virginia Code Section 18.2-61)
• Object sexual penetration (Virginia Code Section 18.2-67.2)
• Forcible Sodomy (Virginia Code Section 18.2-67.1)

We handle cases involving allegations of possessing or distributing child pornography and other sex-related offenses as well. If you are facing allegations of any type of sex crime in Virginia, we strongly encourage you to schedule a confidential consultation with a Woodbridge criminal defense attorney at our firm right away.

Traffic Tickets

Most individuals who are served with a traffic ticket simply plead guilty and pay their fine. However, this can prove to be a very costly mistake. It is important to recognize that you do have the right to challenge the ticket—and there are a variety of potential means for doing so.

Our attorneys can review the evidence in your case, and we may be able to have your charges reduced or dismissed. This could save you a substantial amount of money in fines, increased insurance premiums, and other costs. But we can only help you if you get in touch.

White Collar Crimes

White collar crimes also carry serious penalties under Virginia law. If you are being charged with a white collar crime, you need a sophisticated defense attorney who can sort through complicated facts and identify critical weaknesses in the government’s case. Our attorneys have experience handling an extremely wide range of white-collar cases in Virginia, including cases involving allegations of:

• Bribery (Virginia Code Section 18.2-447)
• Embezzlement (Virginia Code Section 18.2-111)
• Extortion (Virginia Code Section 18.2-59)
• Forgery (Virginia Code Section 18.2-172)
• Money laundering (Virginia Code Section 18.2-246.3)

If you are facing white collar allegations in Virginia, determining what evidence prosecutors have against you will be a key first step toward building an effective defense strategy. Our attorneys can gather and analyze the evidence that is available, and then we can build and execute a defense strategy that is custom-tailored to the circumstances at hand.

What to Expect During Your Criminal Case

If you are facing any type of criminal charge in Virginia, you need to take action to protect yourself right away. The early stages of criminal cases can move quickly, and if you aren’t prepared to protect yourself, you could face life-altering consequences unnecessarily. Our attorneys can explain everything you need to know, and we can get to work on your case immediately if necessary.