Commonwealth v. R.G.

April 2024:  This case involved an extremely complex investigation. The police used a confidential informant to conduct controlled drug buys which ultimately led to a search warrant being granted for our client's residence. The police used armored vehicle, drones, a SWAT team, and dozens of supporting officers when executing the search warrant. After investing all of those time and resources, the police failed to comply with the statutory search warrant requirements which resulted in the entire case falling apart. Our client who was facing up to almost 100 years in prison a mandatory minimum of a decade was able to walk away with all charges dropped.   

Commonwealth v. M.W.

April 2024:  We successfully argued that the search of our client's vehicle violated his 4th Amendment rights because the officer lacked probable cause that the car contained any evidence of a crime. With the crucial evidence kicked out, the prosecution was forced to concede that all charges had to be dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. K.J.

April 2024:  This was a classic "constructive possession" case where our client was charged after drugs were found in a vehicle during a traffic stop. After thoroughly reviewing the officer's notes and body cam, we were confident that the evidence did not establish that our client knew the drugs were in the vehicle or that he exercised dominion and control over them. We were working with an experienced prosecutor who agreed with our analysis and all charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. E.D.

April 2024:  Our client was charged after someone claimed that he had been involved in an attempted gun point robbery. When we received the discovery response, we quickly determined that there were significant problems with the identification of our client. The case began to unravel without forensics to support his involvement, and the prosecution did the right thing by dropping all charges.  

Commonwealth v. Z.H.

March 2024:  This case presented some interesting issues because our client was on private property and therefore not obligated to provide a breath sample under the implied consent law. The judge ultimately agreed with our argument that a breath test is required to convict under the "baby DUI" law, and the charge was dismissed.  

Commonwealth v. I.D.

February 2024:  The conviction rate for DUI charges is extraordinarily high so it's always gratifying to get a win. We challenged every aspect of the field sobriety tests and the officer's observations and ultimately persuaded the court that there was reasonable doubt that our client was impaired.  

Commonwealth v. T.L.

January 2024:  When our client hired us, he had already been in jail for over a month and been denied bond twice. Against long odds, we convinced the court to reconsider bond, and he was released. We were thrilled that he never went back after a judge dismissed all charges after a contested preliminary hearing. 

Commonwealth v. S.M.

December 2023:  This case was a perfect example of how a false accusation can turn someone's life upside down. It was clear from early in the case that the accuser's version of events was completely incredible. That didn't stop by the government from opposing bond, appealing our client's bond, and then fighting for over a year to prevent access to evidence that would ultimately  exonerate our client. 

Commonwealth v. C.Y.

November 2023:  Our client was in a very difficult situation because any conviction could have meant the loss of his career. We were able to carefully navigate a path that eventually led to all charges being dropped.  

Commonwealth v. T.T.

November 2023:  When we became involved in this case, our client had already been in jail for several months. We rejected a plea offer that would have resulted in years in prison and eventually persuaded the court to release our client on bond. The case was scheduled for a jury trial and lingered for over two years as various motions and arguments were litigated. Eventually the prosecution was forced to concede that a key witness had significantly changed her story and all charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. A.D.

November 2023:  Our client was unfairly charged after he restrained his ex while she was having a mental health crisis. It took multiple court dates and refusal of plea offers, but we got the right result in the end when all charges were dropped.  

Commonwealth v. E.Y.

October 2023:  A common tactic used by the police is to look through car windows in the oceanfront parking lots to find weapons and then manufacture reasons to pull over the vehicles once the owners return. We challenged every aspect of this case: probable cause to stop the vehicle, probable cause to search the vehicle, and whether the weapon was actually concealed under the relevant law. It took fighting in court and showing bodycam footage to the judge, but we ultimately prevailed and our client walked away with a clean record.  

Commonwealth v. V.N.

September 2023:  The win in this case was one of the most rewarding victories of our careers. Our client was facing multiple life sentences after a terrible accusation was made against him. It initially looked bleak because of DNA and medical evidence that on the surface seemed highly damaging. We worked with our own independent DNA forensic analyst and SANE nurse examiner to demonstrate that the evidence was far more ambiguous than the government claimed. Both of our expert witnesses testified during a 5 day jury trial, and we were thrilled when the jury unanimously came back with not guilty verdict on all charges. Nothing feels better than winning a not guilty verdict for an innocent man. 

Commonwealth v. D.M.

August 2023:  Our client was sentenced to 10 years of mandatory prison time after being convicted of distributing cocaine while possessing a firearm and possession of a firearm by felon. We successfully argued on appeal that the search of his vehicle uncovering the gun and drugs violated his 4th Amendment rights and his convictions were reversed. We're overjoyed that we helped save years of his life and return him to his family. 

Commonwealth v. P.M.

July 2023:  Our client was understandably confused by state and federal paperwork when she attempted to purchase a firearm. We were able to obtain court paperwork that showed that her legal status was extremely ambiguous and she didn't knowingly make any false statements on the gun forms. It was a huge win for our client who avoided any convictions.     

Commonwealth v. M.L.

July 2023:  Our client was charged after the police found suspected illegal drugs in her vehicle during a routine traffic stop. A soon as we reviewed body cam footage, we were confident that there was no probable cause to support the search. On top of the issue with the search, our client had a valid prescription for the items recovered. She never should have been charged and been forced to go through the court process, but we were happy to get the right result in the end. 

Commonwealth v. E.R.

July 2023:  Many people are surprised to learn that the police have a policy to make an arrest when responding to domestic calls. Our client and his wife learned that lesson the hard way. It created a difficult situation because the charge interfered with our client's ability to go on deployment and trial was scheduled for almost 6 months into the future! We were working with a reasonable prosecutor and managed to get it on the docket and dropped within a month so that our client could move on with his life.  

Commonwealth v. J.D.

June 2023:  This was a difficult case where the prosecution pursued a theory that our client attempted to rape an ex-girlfriend during an argument. After a contested hearing, the judge agreed with our analysis that while an assault may have occurred, the court would have to engage in impermissible speculation to conclude that our client intended to commit a rape.    

Commonwealth v. N.V.

May 2023:  The police detained our client as he was leaving a hotel room after they received a complaint of potential drug use in the room. The police entered the room and saw several people and drug paraphernalia in plain view which led to them eventually search our client's backpack. We filed a motion to suppress the search of the backpack based on the police lacking probable cause specifically linking our client to drug use. We were working with a seasoned prosecutor who agreed with our legal analysis and all charges were dismissed.   

Commonwealth v. J.R.

May 2023:  These were completely frivolous charges that never should have been authorized by the magistrate. With the help of our client, we gathered text messages and medical evidence demonstrating that the accuser was suffering from severe mental illness and had manufactured a ridiculous story out of spite. Thankfully we were working with an experienced prosecutor who took the time to evaluate the evidence and agree to immediately drop the charges.  

Commonwealth v. C.F.

April 2023:  When we were hired, our client was in jail on no bond following his fourth DUI arrest. First, we worked with his family to put together a treatment plan that allowed him to be released. Next, we reviewed the police bodycam footage and knew that we had a strong argument that the evidence failed to prove that our client was impaired. The prosecution didn't give up easily. After we put on a preliminary hearing demonstrating that the officer botched the field sobriety tests, we had enough leverage to convince the prosecution to downgrade the charges and secure a weekend sentence that allowed our client to keep his job.    

Commonwealth v. K.B.

April 2023:  The police unnecessarily charged our client after what was a very minor dispute involving her sibling. We were able to quickly navigate the process and managed to get the court date moved up for a quick dismissal.    

Commonwealth v. Q.O.

March 2023:  The police charged our client with a felony after they found a  loaded magazine during a traffic stop and found out that he was a felon. It looked like an uphill battle at the outset because our client admitted knowing that the magazine was in the car. But after a motion to suppress and hard fought trial, we successfully argued that there was a reasonable doubt that our client placed the ammunition in the car or was exercising dominion and control over it.  

Commonwealth v. R.E.

February 2023:  This was a case that refused to die. Our client was charged with a felony, and  he couldn't afford a plea deal based on immigration consequences. The prosecution was hard charging, but we stood our ground and fought back in the courtroom. We went through two separate jury trials, and the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in both cases. In the end, our client accepted a misdemeanor with a short weekend sentence. He was able to keep his job and stay in the country. It took over two years of fighting, but we were thrilled with the result.    

Commonwealth v. D.W.

December 2022:  Our client faced mandatory minimum jail time before giving us a call. We combed through two hours of bodycam and found several discrepancies with the officer's investigative notes. After discussing the issues with the prosecutor, we agreed to an outcome that allowed our client to avoid the DUI and any jail time.   

Commonwealth v. A.F.

November 2022:  The police searched our client after a K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in his car. We successfully argued at a motion to suppress that while the dog alert gave the police probable cause to search the vehicle, they overstepped their bounds when they searched our client's person. 

Commonwealth v. E.R.

October 2022:  Our client was in a bad situation after he clipped a curb in front of the police and blew a high number on the preliminary breath test. We closely reviewed all the bodycam footage and thought that we had a strong argument that our client's performance on the field sobrierty tests created reasonable doubt. We were working with an experienced prosecutor who knew that it was a close call. The final resolution was a slam dunk that allowed our client to get out the DUI and any jail time. 

Commonwealth v. T.J.

September 2022:  This was a high stakes case because our client was on felony probation with a massive amount of suspended time hanging over his head. We knew that a conviction would a disaster for him and refused all plea offers. After rejecting numerous offers and digging in for trial, the prosecution conceded at the moment of truth. 

Commonwealth v. S.P.

August 2022:  Our client faced mandatory minimum prison time after the police recovered a gun from his car. We filed a motion to suppress the evidence arguing that the search was iilegal under the 4th Amendment. In the end, the judge agreed with us that there was no legitimate basis for the search. Our client avoided a conviction, jail time, and any issues with his probation. It was a total victory. 

Commonwealth v. D.G.

August 2022:  A police officer alleged that he was spit on during an arrest at the oceanfront. It was a nightmare scenario for our client who faced not only a felony with mandatory jail time but also a violation of his probation. We set the case for a jury trial and were ready to argue that our client had no intent whatsoever to spit on the officer. At the last moment, a credible witness came forward who contradicted the officer's version of of events. We were working with an experienced prosecutor who did the right thing and decided that it was not appropriate to go forward in light of the conflicting testimony. 

Commonwealth v. A.C.

July 2022:  Our client was charged with malicious wounding and held without bond after an altercation in front of her residence. We spoke to two eyewitnesses and immediately knew that our client had lawfully defended herself after being attacked. Our client was released on bond within 24 hours of arrest and we dug into fight the case. Before the preliminary hearing, the prosecutor acknowledged that we had a strong self defense case and made the appropriate decision to drop the charge. 

Commonwealth v. G.C.

June 2022:  Our client lawfully defended himself after a man attacked him during a road rage incident. The prosecution never made a single plea offer and insisted on pushing for felony convictions and significant jail time. We held our ground and took the case to a jury trial because we were confident that a jury would see the truth that our client was put in a terrible situation and had no other option but to defend himself. It paid off when our client was found not guilty after a 3 day trial and 5 hours of deliberations. We're thrilled that our client can put this chapter of his life behind him. 

Commonwealth v. T.L.

June 2022:  Sexual assault cases are always extremely difficult. This one was particularly high stakes because our client likely would have died in prison if he was convicted. Part of our defense involved hiring a forensic DNA analyst who helped explain that the prosecution's DNA evidence was far less compelling than they claimed. Our client also testified in his own defense at trial and explained that he was the vicim of a terrible false accusation. In the end, the jury deliberated for 3 hours before returning a not guilty verdict. 

Commonwealth v. J.H.

February 2022:  Our client was charged after being accused of stabbing someone during a fight in an apartment. We knew that we had a great self defense case because the "victim" was the initial aggressor and was clearly impaired when interviewed by the police. It required turning down plea offers and several continuances, but we got the right result in the end.  

Commonwealth v. J.H.

February 2022:  A "consensual" encounter with the police turned into a nightmare for our client when the police looked into his car and saw a gun on the floorboard near his feet. It was a particularly ugly situation because he was classified as a violent felon which triggers a 5 year mandatory sentence. We were fortunate to work with an experienced prosecutor who sat down with us to discuss the case. We presented evidence that the gun was purchased by our client's girlfriend and that he was unaware that it was in the car.  

Commonwealth v. J.J.

February 2022:  An officer claimed that our female client had assaulted him when he was called out to a dispute over her car being towed. The bodycam footage showed a very different story of the officer being unnecessarily aggressive and pepper spraying our client who was clearly scared to death. We were working with a highly professional prosecutor who agreed that the footage didn't support the charges. 

Commonwealth v. M.W.

January 2022:  Our client faced a mountain of mandatory prison time after the police searched his car during a traffic stop and found a gun and drugs. We thoroughly reviewed the body cam footage, and it was clear that the officer had improperly extended the traffic stop once he learned that our client was a convicted felon and engineered a false basis to get into the car. The case barely got through the preliminary hearing. After sending our written motion to suppress to the prosecution, they waived the white flag and agreed to drop all charges. 

Commonwealth v. A.J.

December 2021:  Our client was charged with DUI after the police found him asleep behind the wheel while parked at 7-11. We argued that the evidence was consistent with our client drinking after the car was already parked and that there was no evidence that he was even the person who had driven the car to the 7-11. In the end, the judge agreed that there was reasonable doubt and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. D.D.

December 2021:  Our client was accused of strangling a woman in a vehicle and then severely injuring her by driving off at a high rate of speed as she was clinging to the side of his car.  The stakes were high because he faced two felonies and up to 25 years in prison. We presented the real truth that the alleged victim was highly intoxicated and that the physical evidence didn't match her version of events. In the end, the jury found our client not guilty of both felonies and instead only convicted of one lesser misdemeanor charge. It was a huge win. 

Commonwealth v. W.S.

December 2021:  Our client was unfairly arrested after an argument at his home led to the police being called. Getting a dismissal was particularly critical because our client's professional certifications could have been jeopardized by a conviction. Despite our client's total lack of any criminal record, the prosecution initially refused to drop the charge. We rejected a plea offer and eventually convinced the prosecution that there were legal technicalities that would prevent him from prosecuting the case. 

Commonwealth v. R.E.

November 2021:  Our client hired us in higher court after being advised by other attorneys that he should accept a felony plea agreement. It was an extremely difficult case because video evidence clearly showed our client discharging a gun in a nightclub. We took the case to a jury trial and made the argument that while our client had committed a crime, he was overcharged with a crime that didn't match the facts of the case. After a tough two day jury trial, the jury couldn't agree and a mistrial was declared. It's always a win when we fight back against the government and prevent them from getting a conviction. 

Commonwealth v. D.J.

November 2021: Before we were involved, our client had been close to accepting a plea agreement that would have put him under court supervision for two years. We put together a plan of action that involved counseling, and an agreement for the charge to be dropped completely. 

Commonwealth v. C.W.

November 2021: Our client was a passenger in a car during a traffic stop. He was charged after the police searched his backpack and found a gun. We reached out to the officer prior to the court date, and he was extremely reasonable and professional. He ultimately agreed that there were legal issues with the case that would prevent him from going forward and agreed to dismiss both charges. 

Commonwealth v. D.D.

October 2021: When we took over this case, it seemed like a long shot. The prosecution claimed that our client dumped a gun under a car while the police were following him. A witness testified that he saw our client crouching next to where the gun was recovered. To make matters worse, the officer was allowed to testify over our objection that he heard someone at the scene say our client had pulled a gun earlier in the night. We overcame the odds by highlighting the minimal investigation, lack of bodycam, and total lack of forensic evidence. The jury acquitted after less than 15 minutes, and our client avoided mandatory prison time. 

Commonwealth v. M.G.

September 2021: Our client was facing up to 40 years in prison after a significant amount of cocaine was found during a traffic stop. We successfully argued that the search was an improper inventory search because the police failed to follow standardized procedures. Instead of prison time, our client walked away with all charges dropped.  

Commonwealth v. A.G.

July 2021: Our client was an upstanding family man and member of the military who had one bad night after drinking one too many. The officer involved wouldn't agree to dismiss so we took the case to trial. Ultimately the judge agreed that the officer was relying on inadmissible hearsay testimony and both charges were dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. K.O.

July 2021: Whenever our client is in the military, we have to take special care that the case is handled in a way that won't impact our client's career. This was a situation where we had to fight for bond after it had been denied in lower court and then ultimately navigated a path for dismissal. We're happy to say that our client is still proudly serving the country. 

Commonwealth v. A.N.

June 2021: When we were called over the weekend, our client was in jail with an arraignment scheduled for Monday. We were able to get a bond hearing heard at the arraignment so our client didn't have to serve a single unnecessary second in jail. After release, we worked with the prosecutor to secure an agreement to drop the charge. 

Commonwealth v. T.K.

May 2021: Our client was an honest working man who got stiffed when someone failed to fully pay him for his construction services. Understandably he was upset and gave them a piece of his mind with some colorful words. The judge gave us some push back but we had a mountain of case law proving our client's words were protected by the 1st Amendment. 

Commonwealth v. T.G.

April 2021: Our client was locked up with no bond when he called us. We convinced a judge to release him over the prosecution's objection and a presumption against bond because of the gun charge. When we looked through the evidence, we knew we had a great argument that the search of our client's car was illegal. We talked it through with the prosecutor who agreed and all charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. M.L.

March 2021: First we fought to get our client out on bond over objection. After we went through the discovery with a fine toothed comb, we were convinced that there was no evidence that our client committed the crime. At the moment of truth in court, the prosecutor conceded and our client walked away with all charges dropped. 

Commonwealth v. S.B.

March 2021: This was our third consecutive granted appeal in the Court of Appeals. We're extremely proud to be in a small group of local attorneys who regular handle cases in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Virginia. If you've already been convicted, we still may be able to help you. 

Commonwealth v. T.M. 

February 2021: This was another sad example of how easily the system can be manipulated. Our client was charged after her ex boyfriend's mother claimed that she assaulted her. We went to trial and showed that her claim was completely frivolous. The judge agreed with us and dismissed the case. 

Commonwealth v. L.O. 

February 2021: When we took over the case, our client was in jail and facing a felony and a prison sentence. At the preliminary hearing, we convinced the judge to release her on bond. We set the case for a jury trial in higher court and the prosecutor eventually conceded we had a strong self defense case.  Our client was thrilled with the result.  

Commonwealth v. R.L. 

February 2021: Only about 1 in 10 appeals is granted by the Court of Appeals so we were thrilled to advance to the next stage of litigation. This case involved highly complex issues relating to jail house informants and whether the prosecution fulfilled their Brady disclosure duties in advance of trial. We look forward to continue fighting for our client. 

Commonwealth v. J.P.  January 2021: Our client was in a bad situation when he collapsed at a convenience store and was found with a gun in his pocket. We demonstrated to the court that he was a responsible gun owner who had suffered a legitimate medical episode. With the help of a reasonable officer, all charges were dismissed and our client has a clean record. 

Commonwealth v. C.W. 

January 2021: Our client faced the probability of jail time after being pulled over for going 50+ mph over the limit. In court, the officer acknowledged that his equipment hadn't been properly calibrated and our client was able to not only avoid jail time but to  have the charge dismissed completely. 

Commonwealth v. J.F. 

January 2021: This was a tough case. Our client was being held on no bond, and we had to fight through two bond hearings to get him released. Initially, the prosecution was reluctant to make a deal, but after we showed that our client was suffering from a mental health crisis, we were able to construct a deal to avoid felony convictions and any jail time.  

Commonwealth v. M.K.  

January 2021: We're proud to be in a small group of attorneys in the area who regularly practice in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. In this case, we identified a problem with a jury instruction offered at trial over objection and have successfully proceeded to the merits stage of the case. 

Commonwealth v. D.H.

January 2021: When we got the call to hire us, our client had already been in jail for two days. We go to work talking to the complaining witness and quickly made an arrangement where all charges were dropped and our client was released in less than 24 hours. 

Commonwealth v. M.V.  December 2020: Our client was charged with domestic assault against her husband. The prosecutor wouldn't make any offers so we took the case to trial. The judge dismissed the case after the "victim" was cross-examined and it became clear that the evidence was insufficient to support a battery conviction.  

Commonwealth v. H.V.  December 2020: Three people including our client were charged after cocaine was found in a car. The two co-defendants both pled guilty. We knew that there was a good suppression issue and chose to fight. The prosecutor conceded it was a strong issue and dropped the charge right before we got in front of the judge.  

Commonwealth v. M.C.  November 2020: Our client was one of the Portsmouth 19 who was charged after protesting the confederate monuments. It was a politically motivated and ridiculous charge from the start and our client should never have been forced to go through this. The prosecution did the right thing and dismissed the baseless charge without a hearing.  

Commonwealth v. K.F. 

November 2020: Our client was on vacation in Virginia Beach when an innocent night of fun turned ugly. It was clear based on the evidence that there were significant doubts about who was the aggressor. We were working with an experienced prosecutor who did the right thing and dropped the charge.   

Commonwealth v. R.A. & S.A.

October 2020: We represented two clients who were unfairly charged after a vengeful ex-employer complained about them lawfully open carrying firearms. It was a difficult trial that required arguing some very technical  points regarding the intent required for trespassing and brandishing. In the end, we were thrilled when the judge dismissed all charges.    

Commonwealth v. J.W.

October 2020: This was a high stakes situation because our client's military career was at risk.  After reviewing the  evidence, we knew that there was nothing to support a criminal charge. We were working with a highly professional prosecutor who listened to our arguments and agreed to drop the charge.  

Commonwealth v. J.D.

September 2020: Our client was invited over to his ex-girlfriend's house, and things turned ugly. She initially claimed that an assault occurred. At preliminary hearing and trial, we proved that her story had changed multiple times and that our client had permission to enter the house. In the end, all charges were dismissed and our client walked away vindicated.  

Commonwealth v. T.M.

September 2020: Our client was arrested after she was accused of assisting to destroy information pertaining to a gun / homicide investigation. We listened to a mountain of jail recordings. Based on what we heard, we knew the prosecution would have a hard time proving that she directly hindered the investigation. We had to reject multiple plea offers. In the end, the prosecution tapped out and dropped the charge completely.  

Commonwealth v. D.C.

September 2020: This was a high stakes situation because our client's military career was at risk.  After reviewing the  evidence, we knew that there was nothing to support a criminal charge. We were working with a highly professional prosecutor who listened to our arguments and agreed to drop the charge.  

Commonwealth v. N.H.

August 2020: Our client was unfairly charged after he defended his wife from a drunken guest at a house party. We felt confident that we had a strong defense so we rejected two separate plea offers that would have involved guilty pleas to lesser charges. The prosecution ultimately folded their cards when it was clear we weren't going to plead guilty to anything.   

Commonwealth v. S.F.  

July 2020: Our client was initially charged with stalking and held on no bond. We quickly got him released, but more charges were filed the next day. Once again, we fought to get him out of jail. After lengthy court proceedings, we established that our client was the true victim of frivolous accusations and all charges were dropped.   

Commonwealth v. D.W.

July 2020: This was a classic scenario of our client being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  We worked with our client and his family to navigate a way through the system that resulted in all charges being dismissed with our client's bright future still intact.  

Commonwealth v. J.B.

July 2020: We closely reviewed over an hour of bodycam footage that showed our client doing exceptionally well on field sobriety tests and being polite and courteous with the officers. We were prepared to go to trial. After a negotiation with the prosecution, our client agreed to plead guilty to a reckless driving with a sentence that guaranteed 1. No DUI, 2. No Jail Time, 3. Our Client Being Able To Drive, and 4. No Interlock Device, It was a grand slam for our client.   

Commonwealth v. A.D.

June 2020: We were excited to finally be back in court fighting for clients after the lengthy court closures due to COVID. In this case, our client was wrongfully charged after an argument with her boyfriend. We documented that his story had changed significantly from what he originally told the police and passed the info along to the prosecution. We were working with an experienced prosecutor who quickly agreed that charge should be dropped.  

Commonwealth v. G.D.

February 2020: Our client was accused of stomping on a man during a melee at a bar. It was a complicated case to put together and required going out to the scene several times to take photos and interview witnesses. We knew based on the evidence and interviews that there was no evidence to support that our client had done anything other than try to break up a fight. After a hard fought trial, our client got out of the felony. 

Commonwealth v. J.S.

February 2020: This was an unusual situation because we were hired by the alleged victim of a domestic assault. He did not want to testify for fear that it could potentially incriminate him and jeopardize his military career. The judge agreed with our argument that he could not be compelled to testify under the 5th Amendment even with a prosecution offer of immunity. 

Commonwealth v. J.W.

February 2020: This case was yet another example of how the civilian initiated warrant system in Virginia is ripe for abuse. Our client, a business owner with no prior record, was arrested at his business in front of his customers based on nothing more than a frivolous complaint made by an ex-roommate. It was an incredibly unfair and humiliating experience. We were proud to help him get the charges dismissed and we're now working on expunging any record of his arrest.  

Commonwealth v. J.J.

February 2020: This case proved yet again that you've never seen it all as a criminal defense attorney. Our client was accused of throwing cayenne pepper into someone's eyes during an altercation. We knew that the story on the other side didn't add up. Our client pled not guilty and on cross-examination we demonstrated the inconsistencies in the complaining party's testimony. The judge agreed that there was reasonable doubt and dismissed the charge. 

Commonwealth v. S.W.

January 2020: Our client was charged after an incident at a family reunion got out of hand. We felt confident that the evidence would show that our client was the real victim. The prosecutor insisted on trying the case after we rejected a plea agreement. It was worth it because the charge was dismissed and our client walked away with his clean record intact. 

Commonwealth v. S.C.

January 2020: This was a tricky case because it involved surveillance footage, restaurant receipts, and a 911 recording. We knew that it would be difficult for the prosecution to get all the witnesses it needed to put together the case. We had to reject an offer and get through two continuances, but it was worth it in the end when all charges were dropped.  

Commonwealth v. X.Y.

January 2020: Our client was charged after a sting operation at a massage parlor turned up some less than savory behavior.  We fought to get one charge dismissed after trial in lower court. We appealed the remaining charge and came prepared with case law showing that an element of the remaining charge could not be proven. We were fortunate to have a reasonable prosecutor who looked at the law and agreed that the remaining charge should be dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. W.N.

January 2020: Our client was accused on nothing more than the word of a jailhouse informant. We built a strong defense to prove that our client was nowhere near the crime scene when it occurred. The prosecution didn't give up easily and our client was dragged through a preliminary hearing, a direct indictment, and even the threat of federal indictment. After all that trouble, the prosecution acknowledged in the end that the case was too weak to prosecute and all charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. N.P.

January 2020: Our client was thrown in jail after he lost his cool and told a judge that he was rude following a hearing. He hired us to handle his appeal. We convinced a judge in higher court that although our client should have kept his mouth shut, he did not disrupt the court process and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. J.D.

January 2020: Our client landed in jail after the police responded out to a domestic call. He was in a terrible position because he was also on felony probation with years hanging over his head. First we got him out on bond over the prosecution's objection. Then we got to work proving that the case against him was bogus. In the end, the prosecution was forced to concede that they couldn't prove their case and all charges were dropped.  

Commonwealth v. A.V.

December 2019: This was an interesting case and probably one of our last simple possession of marijuana cases before the General Assembly decriminalizes possession of small amounts. Our client was vacationing in Virginia and had marijuana on him that had been prescribed in Michigan. We did our research and showed the judge the legal authority that our client could not be prosecuted for lawfully obtained marijuana. Our client walked away with his clean record intact. 

Commonwealth v. K.H.

December 2019: This was a very difficult case. Our client was accused of sexual misconduct from years in the past. Based on the charges, he was facing up to life in prison. We were confident based on our assessment of the evidence that our client was innocent. Part of our investigation included recording telephone conversations that proved crucial in confirming that the accusations were frivolous. We worked with an experienced prosecutor who knew that the case was crumbling and all charges were dropped.  

Commonwealth v. H.O.

December 2019: Our client's Navy career and freedom were in severe jeopardy after his soon to be ex-wife made serious accusations against him. We dug into the complaining witness's credibility and found that there were numerous witnesses who would testify that she had a history of making false accusations. After sharing all of our information with the prosecution, they did the right thing and agreed to drop all charges. 

Commonwealth v. L.M.

November 2019: A neighborhood get together at a bar turned ugly and our client ended up facing two criminal charges. We tried to work with the people on the other side, but they insisted that they wanted to prosecute the case and put our client in jail. We dug in our heels and prepared to go to trial. When we showed up for court, the police officer had failed to properly issue subpoenas and asked for a continuance. The judge agreed with our argument that there was no good cause for a continuance and dismissed all charges.  

Commonwealth v. T.B.

November 2019: Our client faced a felony carrying up to 40 years in prison and to make matter worse he was already on felony probation. We were able to successfully work with the prosecutor to persuade him that the evidence didn't support the felony. Although we didn't have an agreement on sentencing, we were thrilled when we convinced the judge that no jail time was warranted. The cherry on top was that our client's probation officer didn't violate him. He walked away without serving a single day in jail.  

Commonwealth v. J.F.

November 2019: Our client faced 10 days of mandatory jail time after the officer discovered that he had two prior offenses for driving while suspended. We went through the DMV transcript with a fine toothed comb and discovered that our client had not been properly notified of his suspension. The judge dismissed the charge and instead found him guilty of driving without a license with a $100 fine.Our client walked out of court to go home to his newborn baby instead of spending the next 10 days in jail.  

Commonwealth v. T.A.

November 2020: A simple traffic stop turned into a criminal charge after the police searched the car and found a large bag of marijuana inside a bag. Fortunately for our client, we were able to exploit a technical defense because the police officer failed to provide him with a form advising him of his right to a full chemical analysis. The judge followed the law and dismissed the charge. 

Commonwealth v. G.S.

October 2019: Our client was in a difficult position because of a prior domestic assault and battery charge on her record. We fought the charge and convinced the judge that there was reasonable doubt as to whether our client had an intent to harm when the alleged assault occurred. The charge was dismissed and our client was able to move on with her life. 

Commonwealth v. S.C.

October 2019: We came to court with four different cases demonstrating that indecent exposure requires proof of not only nudity but also a sexual intent. The police officer opposing us was extremely professional and discussed the situation with us prior to trial. After we showed him the case law, he agreed that the evidence did not support the charge and agreed to dismiss the charge. 

Commonwealth v. A.D.

September 2019: Our client was in serious hot water after a pound of marijuana was found in his trunk during a traffic stop. We went through several hours of bodycam footage and discovered our client had been placed in handcuffs prior to administration of the Miranda warnings which put us in a strong position to argue that all of his statements were inadmissible. In exchange for not litigating the suppression issue, the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. It was a great result for our client. 

Commonwealth v. M.C.

September 2019: Our client had a bad night at the oceanfront and ended up in jail after an encounter with the police. It was a high stakes situation because he was in the Navy and facing other possible punishments. We put together a plan that enabled all charges to be dismissed upon the completion of an alcohol program. our client walked away with a clean record and no additional consequences through the Navy. 

Commonwealth v. M.M. September 2019: This was an incredibly complicated case. We consulted three expert witnesses in addictionology who specialized in treating heroin addicts. We also subpoenaed a deputy at the jail who had seen our client when he was arrested and recognized that he was suffering from withdrawal symptoms. The prosecution finally caved and agreed to reduce the charge to simple possession with no additional time to serve.  

Commonwealth v. D.M.

July 2019: We secured documents showing that our client had successfully petitioned a circuit court to have his gun rights restored. What our client didn't realize is that the gun rights restoration didn't solve all his problems. In the end, the prosecution knew that it was going to be difficult to prove that our client had knowingly and intentionally made a false statement. Instead of a felony, our client walked away with a misdemeanor and a few weekends. 

Commonwealth v. C.W.

June 2019: Our client was charged after a co-worker claimed that he was struck during an altercation at work. We interviewed and subpoenaed an independent witness who confirmed that the co-worker was the aggressor and instigated the situation. After hearing the testimony, the judge agreed that there was reasonable doubt and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. B.L.

June 2019: The initial charge was under 46.2-391 which requires proof of a suspension for DUI second offense. Our client only had a prior DUI first offense.  The officer realized his mistake and amended the charge over our objection to a violation of 18.2-272 which covers suspensions for DUI first offenses. In the end, we still won because we successfully argued that the DMV abstract failed to prove that our client was still suspended for the DUI first offense.  

Commonwealth v. J.F.

June 2019: Our client was facing a felony conviction and jail time after heroin was recovered in a vehicle during a traffic stop. We argued that there were several people in the car with drug histories, there was no proof of how long our client had been in the car, there was no evidence that our client had recently used, and the drugs were not readily visible. We were thrilled when the prosecutor tapped out allowing our client to walk away with a clean record. 

Commonwealth v. G.B.

May 2019: Our client was facing a felony conviction and possible prison time after a bag with meth residue was found in a van he was driving. We successfully argued that although he admitted prior drug use, there was no proof that he was aware of the presence of the bag as required in a constructive possession case. The judge agreed with our analysis, and our client walked out of the courtroom with his charge totally dismissed.  

Commonwealth v. P.M.

May 2019: Our client was a passenger in a car pulled for a DUI investigation. He had a big problem on his hands after the police accused  him of interfering with their investigation. We came prepared with a mountain of case law showing that failing to fully comply with an officer is not enough to prove obstruction of justice. After discussing the situation with the officer before court, we came to an agreement that both charges would be dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. K.R.

May 2019: Our client was arrested at a hotel in Virginia Beach and accused of running a prostitution ring. We successfully argued that no evidence proved that any prostitution occurred in the city of Virginia Beach and all charges were dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. H.C.

April 2019: Our client's ex-boyfriend made a series of false allegations after she broke things off with him. Through a tough cross-examination, we were able to show numerous inconsistencies with his version of events. The judge agreed that his testimony was not credible and dismissed all charges. 

Commonwealth v. A.S.

April 2019: Our client was charged with numerous felonies carrying mandatory minimum prison time after a gun and drugs were recovered during a traffic stop. We were fortunate to work with an experienced prosecutor who agreed with our analysis that the evidence didn't prove that our client knew any of the illegal items were in the car. 

Commonwealth v. N.H.

April 2019: After a hard fought trial, the judge found the evidence was sufficient to support a conviction but agreed to continue the case for 3 months. After the end of the 3 month period, the charge was dismissed, and our client walked away with a completely clean record. 

Commonwealth v. S.W.

March 2019: The police stopped our client as he was pulling out of a driveway and discovered a bag of marijuana. We successfully argued that the police violated our client's 4th Amendment rights by detaining him without any reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. The marijuana evidence was suppressed and our client walked away with a clean record. 

Commonwealth v. W.T. February 2019: Our client was charged with seven felonies and two misdemeanors after an incident in his backyard led to the discovery of a gun. It looked like a long shot because two police officers testified that they had wrestled the gun out of our client's hand. We successfully argued that forensics evidence didn't back up the officers' version of events and the jury found our client not guilty. Both misdemeanors were also dropped prior to trial.  

Commonwealth v. D.B.

January 2019: Our client was charged after his girlfriend's vengeful ex claimed that he brandished a weapon. We demonstrated that he was acting in self defense and that the weapon did not meet the required definition under the law. The charge was dismissed and our client kept his record clean. 

Commonwealth v. H.C.   January 2019: Our client was charged after sending an angry text message with colorful language. We brought a mountain of case law proving that her statements were protected speech under the First Amendment. The judge agreed that while her language was offensive, it was Constitutionally protected and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. D.G.

January 2019: Our client was charged after almost two ounces of marijuana was found in a vehicle during a traffic stop. Our client was smart enough to exercise his right to remain silent and called us. We rejected a plea offer that would have included jail time and scheduled the case for a hearing. On the day of court, the prosecution conceded that they could not prove constructive possession of the marijuana, and the charge was dropped. 

Commonwealth v. M.W.

January 2019: An innocent night out on the town turned into a nightmare after our client was charged with throwing a bottle at his ex-girlfriend. After closely examining surveillance footage, we were convinced that our client was innocent and came to court prepared to fight. After discussing the case with the prosecution, we were thrilled when both felony charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. G.C.

January 2019: Our client sat in jail for almost 5 months before he called us. We reviewed bodycam footage and quickly determined that he had a valid defense to both felony charges. After a hard fought trial, the judge agreed with our analysis and dismissed all charges other than a misdemeanor trespassing. Instead of years in prison, our client walked out of jail the same day. 

Commonwealth v. R.N.

January 2019: An innocent college party resulted in our client being charged with a class 1 misdemeanor when the police responded to a noise complaint. The city attorney tried to steamroll her into accepting a guilty plea before we got involved. We stood our ground, rejected the offer, and prepared for trial. The city attorney tapped out at the moment of truth, and our client walked out with a totally clean record, no fees, and no courts costs. 

Commonwealth v. J.C.

December 2018: Our client's career was put in jeopardy due to a frivolous claim that she assaulted her ex-boyfriend. We pulled court records proving that he had a history of assaultive behavior and were prepared to go to trial to prove our client's innocence. On the day of trial, the prosecution requested a continuance. We objected that there was no good cause. The judge agreed with us and the charge was dropped. 

Commonwealth v. A.R.

December 2018: A simple traffic stop turned into a much bigger problem when the officer found marijuana and testified that our client was uncooperative during the arrest. We took all of the charges to trial. We used case law to successfully argue that the lack of cooperation did not rise to the level of criminal obstruction. We beat the marijuana charge on a technical argument. The cherry on top was that the reckless driving was reduced to regular speeding with a small fine. 

Commonwealth v. C.J.

November 2018: Our client faced a mandatory minimum 2 years in prison after a gun was found in a vehicle during a traffic stop. After the preliminary hearing, we were confident that the prosecution couldn't prove our client had placed the gun in the car or ever exercised "dominion and control" over it. We scheduled the case for a trial and waited for forensics that would clear our client. After the forensics failed to materialize, the prosecution dropped the charge without a trial. 

Commonwealth v. A.M.

November 2018: This was a high stakes trial with our client facing 5 years mandatory minimum prison time. We successfully argued that although our client acknowledged knowing a gun was in a car, he never exercised dominion and control over the gun as required in a constructive possession case. After a hard fought motion to suppress and trial, we eventually prevailed and our client was found not guilty of both firearms charges. 

Commonwealth v. R.Z.

November 2018: Our client was caught in a nightmare after being unjustly accused of domestic assault. To make matters worse, he was suspended from work and his case wasn't scheduled for trial for more than 3 months! We talked to the prosecutor and showed the charge wasn't justified. We were able to get the case on the docket immediately and the charge was promptly dropped. 

Commonwealth v. C.P.

November 2018: Our client had big problems after being pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the road less than one year after a felony DUI. He was facing a mandatory minimum one year in prison. We successfully argued that his driving did not meet the legal standard for endangerment to life, limb, or property and the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor with time served. 

Commonwealth v. E.W.

November 2018: A routine traffic stop after 4th of July fireworks turned into a huge problem when the police found an open container of beer in our client's car. He was facing mandatory minimum jail time before he gave us a call. Through a tough cross-examination, we successfully demonstrated that his performance on the field sobriety tests was not consistent with impairment. He walked out of the courtroom with no criminal conviction and no jail time. 

Commonwealth v. L.B.

November 2018: An innocent night at a hotel turned into our client's worst nightmare after her child got out of the room and was found alone in the lobby. The police responded and charged  her with felony child neglect. The charge was completely unjustified as what occurred could have happened to any parent. We were fortunate to work with a reasonable and fair prosecutor and the charge was quickly dropped.  

Commonwealth v. J.S.

October 2018: Our client was charged after her ex called the police following an argument. We were able to gather evidence demonstrating that her ex had a history of drunken and disorderly behavior. That helped convince the prosecutor that the case should not be prosecuted and the charge was dropped. 

Commonwealth v. D.W.

September 2018: This was a high stakes case. Our client's Navy career was put in jeopardy after false accusations were made against him. It took two separate court dates, but we successfully managed to have both charges dropped.  We and our client walked out of the courtroom with big smiles that day. 

Commonwealth v. D.B.

August 2018: When our client's family first called us, he was in jail on no bond.  Within 48 hours, we got him out of jail and back to his family and job. With our guidance, all charges were dropped and the worst chapter in his life is behind him. 

Commonwealth v. S.S.

July 2018: Our client was charged under the so called "revenge pornography" law.  Our client had a different attorney in lower court and was convicted and received jail time.  We were hired to handle the appeal and filed motions arguing that the law is an unconstitutional infringement on the First Amendment.  After two different court dates worth of argument and legal briefs, the case was ultimately dismissed after we convinced the judge that the court did not have proper venue to hear the case. 

Commonwealth v. A.M.

June 2018: Our client had a different attorney in lower court and was convicted. We were hired to handle the appeal and immediately got to work investigating the case.  We discovered that the location of the damage and the relative size of the vehicles supported our client's story that he didn't realize that contact was made.  After presenting the evidence to the prosecutor, the case was dropped and our client walked away with a clean record. 

Commonwealth v. L.O.

May 2018: Some domestic cases are dropped with little opposition from the prosecution. This was not one of those cases. We put in extensive work including interviewing witnesses, meeting with the complaining witness multiple times, and helping to negotiate a protective order. Along the way, we rejected multiple plea agreements. The hard work paid off with all charges dropped and our client keeping his job. 

Commonwealth v. K.H.

April 2018: Our client was charged after the police discovered a gun in his jacket during a traffic stop.  With our guidance, our client obtained his concealed carry permit prior to the court date and we convinced the judge to dismiss the charge. 

Commonwealth v. B.L.

April 2018: A routine traffic stop turned into a big problem for our client when the state trooper discovered that his license was suspended for a DUI.  Our client received 30 days to serve in lower court, and we appealed.  In higher court we successfully argued that the evidence didn't prove that our client had notice of the suspension.  The charge was dismissed, and he walked away with no jail time and no fine. 

Commonwealth v. K.W.

February 2019: Animal control officers charged our client after his dogs were found dehydrated in his home. We successfully argued that he had no intention of leaving the animals unattended and the charges were dismissed.   

Commonwealth v. C.J.

February 2018: Our client was charged after a gun and molly were found in the vehicle he was driving.  The case was drawn out for almost a year, but we were thrilled when our persistence paid off and the prosecution conceded that they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that our client had placed the items in the car or knew they were present. 

Commonwealth v. S.H.

January 2018: Our client was charged with two felonies carrying a combined mandatory minimum of 1 year behind bars.  Needless to say, it was an extremely stressful situation for our client.  We spent hours viewing video security footage and identified key portions that contradicted the official version of events. Prior to a jury trial, the prosecutors did the right thing and agreed to drop the charges.  We were beyond thrilled for our client. 

Commonwealth v. S.S.

January 2018: Our client was charged after pawning what turned out to be stolen property.  It was a high stakes case because a conviction would have led to a violation of our client's probation. We convinced the Court that there was reasonable doubt that our client knew the property was stolen and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. B.H.

December 2017: Our client was a passenger in a car where cocaine was found. The police testified that he was highly nervous and admitted to cocaine use the previous day. We successfully argued at trial that the prosecution could not prove that our client placed the cocaine in the car or knew it was there. Our client avoided possible prison time and a lifetime of being a convicted felon. 

Commonwealth v. J.J.

November 2017: Drugs were found in a car driven by our client after an accident. We successfully argued at trial that the prosecution could not prove that our client was aware the drugs were in the car and all felony charges were dismissed. He walked away a free and happy man. 

Commonwealth v. S.Y.

October 2017: Our client was thrown in jail and faced the possibility of life in prison. Needless to say, he was terrified. We worked tirelessly to uncover evidence that was never reviewed by the police. In the end, we were successful in proving that our client was the victim of a terrible false accusation. We were incredibly excited when his charge was dropped. . 

Commonwealth v. D.F.

July 2017: Our client innocently tried to purchase a gun and ended up charged with two felonies.  We successfully argued at trial that the prosecution could not prove that he had previously been convicted of a felony and both charges were dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. M.J.

July 2017: Heroin and marijuana were discovered in a car that our client was driving. We successfully argued that the prosecution couldn't prove that our client knew any drugs were in the car.  The marijuana charge was dismissed after trial and the possession of heroin was dropped before trial in higher court. 

Commonwealth v. A.A.

July 2017: Our client was accused of embezzling more than $40,000 from her employer.  We investigated the case and discovered that the employer made an insurance claim on the supposed theft that paid out $25,000.  We did more digging and discovered that the employer had a felony fraud record under a different name!  In the end, the prosecutor agreed that this was likely insurance fraud with our client being falsely accused to cover up the crime. 

Commonwealth v. J.M.

June 2017: The stakes were high with our client facing state sentencing guidelines recommending a punishment of more than 9 years in prison.  We were humbled that our client placed his faith in us and exercised his right to a jury trial.  It was a big risk but it paid off.  After a hard fought trial, we were thrilled when the jury returned not guilty verdicts to all felony charges and instead convicted him of only one misdemeanor. 

Commonwealth v. J.C.

June 2017: Our client was charged after a gun was found in a vehicle he was driving.  We requested forensic analysis that ultimately did not link our client to the gun and the charge was dropped. 

Commonwealth v. S.C.

May 2017: Our client was one of several young men in a car during a traffic stop.  The police found two guns under one of the seats and charged our client who was the closest to the gun.  DNA analysis failed to prove any link between our client and the gun and the charge was dropped. 

Commonwealth v. D.J.

May 2017: Our client was charged after police found a box of bullets in his glove compartment during a traffic stop.  The prosecution agreed that the evidence could not prove that our client placed the box in the car or knew that it was there. 

Commonwealth v. B.C.

April 2017: Our client was accused of using a stolen credit card to purchase items at a motorcycle shop.  The clerk claimed that she could identify our client.  We conducted a lineup after the preliminary hearing and she selected somebody other than our client.  With the identification crumbling, the prosecution agreed to drop all charges. 

Commonwealth v. C.B.

February 2017: Our client was charged after several bags of heroin and cocaine were recovered from a vehicle he was driving.  He was smart enough to ask for an attorney immediately.  The prosecution could not prove that he even knew the drugs were in the car let alone that he was distributing them.  Both charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. K.C.

December 2016: Our client was charged with murder after a shooting outside of a bar.  Two witnesses identified him as the shooter.  It did not look good for him. Fortunately for him, we have extensive experience with eyewitness misidentification.  We worked with an eyewitness testimony expert and used video enhancement to successfully prove that our client was not the shooter.  All charges were dropped without a trial and our client walked away a free and happy man. 

Commonwealth v. O.C.

September 2016: Our client was charged with two felonies carrying a combined mandatory minimum of 1 year behind bars.  Needless to say, it was an extremely stressful situation for our client.  We spent hours viewing video security footage and identified key portions that contradicted the official version of events. Prior to a jury trial, the prosecutors did the right thing and agreed to drop the charges.  We were beyond thrilled for our client. 

Commonwealth v. D.R. September 2016: Our client was charged with attempted possession of a firearm by a felon and false statements on the state firearms form.  We took the case to trial and successfully argued that the court records were ambiguous and did not clearly prove that he had been previously convicted of a felony. Both charges were dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. P.P.

June 2016: Our client was charged with felony obtaining money by false pretenses.  He deposited a fake check for over five thousand dollars into his bank account. The bank erroneously honored the check and gave our client five thousand dollars in cash. We took the case to trial and successfully argued that our client was the true victim of receiving a check that he didn't realize was fake.  The charge was dismissed and our client avoided a felony conviction and possible jail time. 

Commonwealth v. K.J.

January 2016: The police recovered a firearm under our client's seat during a traffic stop and he was wearing a holster. Needless to say, it didn't look good. On our motion, the firearm was sent for DNA testing. When DNA was recovered on the gun that didn't match our client, the prosecution had to concede that they couldn't prove that our client had handled the gun. The charge was dismissed and instead of spending the next 5 years in prison, our client is working and supporting his family. 

Commonwealth v. D.C.

December 2015: We worked with a sexual assault nurse examiner who was able to demonstrate that the accuser's injuries were completely consistent with consensual intercourse. When our client refused to plead guilty, the prosecution used all of their power and leverage and indicted on more charges. With our help, our client stood his ground. We set the case for a jury trial. In the end the prosecution dropped all charges without a trial, and our client avoided the possibility of life in prison. 

Commonwealth v. B.S.

November 2015: Our client was accused of a violent gunpoint home invasion. There was a laundry list of serious charges including abduction, robbery, and multiple counts of use of a firearm. We became aware that a photo lineup had never been conducted with the victim. After the victim refused to participate in a photo lineup with us, we asked the court to order a photo lineup. The prosecution ultimately acknowledged that the victim could not identify our client and all of the charges were dropped. 

Commonwealth v. A.L.

September 2015: We successfully argued there was no reasonable basis for the officer to stop our client and the case was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. C.O.

September 2015: Our client was charged with stabbing two people and assaulting a third person during an altercation outside an oceanfront bar.  We were confident that we could prove that our client acted in self-defense and scheduled the case for a jury trial.  The prosecution offered multiple plea offers but we stood firm.  Before the scheduled trial date, the prosecution dropped all of the charges and our client avoided felonies and serious jail time. 

Commonwealth v. K.B.

July 2015: Our client was charged with a felony assault on his ex-girlfriend. The prosecution insisted on a felony conviction. We took the case to trial. We subpoenaed an EMT who had treated her on the night of the supposed strangling and noted that she was highly intoxicated and had no visible injuries. The judge dismissed the charge based on our argument that her lack of injuries was completely inconsistent with the assault she described, and our client walked out of jail on the same day. 

Commonwealth v. R.S.

July 2015: Our client was accused of stealing expensive electronic equipment from a neighbor.  We tracked down a police officer who was able to testify that the neighbor had made prior false accusations against our client. After hearing the officer's testimony, the court quickly dismissed the charge and our client walked away a free man. 

Commonwealth v. J.C.

August 2015: Our client was accused of failing to disclose a domestic assault and battery conviction when he attempted to purchase a gun.  We successfully argued that the prosecution could not prove his prior conviction and the felony was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. V.H.

June 2015: Our client was charged with distributing cocaine after several baggies of crack were found in the car he was driving.  We successfully argued that the prosecution could not prove that our client was aware of the drugs and the case was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. T.W.

June 2015: Our client was charged with distributing cocaine after several baggies of cocaine were found during a traffic stop. We successfully argued that the evidence failed to prove that he knew the cocaine was in the car or that the amount was consistent with distribution. 

Commonwealth v. C.W.

June 2015: Our client was accused of felony theft of lighting equipment outside of a business.  The stakes were high because the outcome had major implications on his pending contested custody case.  During our preparation for trial, we took photos of the business and established that they regularly left lighting equipment in the area of their dumpsters.  At trial we successfully argued that our client reasonably believed that the lighting equipment was abandoned property and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. R.R.

March 2015: Our client sat in jail for over a month after being told by another lawyer that it was impossible to get bond in felony DUI cases.  We helped to get him into treatment and out on bond.  When the prosecution made no offer, we took the case to trial and successfully argued that one of the two prior convictions was inadmissible.  Our client avoided a felony that would have resulted in the loss of his job and didn't do a single additional day in jail. 

Commonwealth v. D.D.

December 2014: Our client was charged with two counts of robbery and use of a firearm.  The victims were robbed at gunpoint outside a mall and our client was accused of being the getaway driver.  We took the case to trial and successfully argued that our client didn't know in advance that the co-defendant was going to commit a robbery and panicked when he saw what was happening.  Both robberies were reduced to misdemeanors and our client was released from jail. 

Commonwealth v. V.S.

November 2014: Our client was accused of breaking into a house and stealing money and food.  We successfully argued that our client had been in the house previously and entered the house with the intent to seek shelter rather than the intent to steal.  Our client avoided a felony record and a lengthy jail sentence. 

Commonwealth v. T.A.

October 2014: Our client was charged with possession after a bag of cocaine was found during a traffic stop.  We successfully argued at trial that the prosecution couldn't prove that he was aware that the bag was in the car and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. J.H.

October 2014: Our client was charged with felony DUI and faced mandatory minimum prison time because it was his fourth DUI.  We successfully argued that two Tennessee convictions could not be as enhancement because that law was not substantially to Virginia's DUI law. Our client was released that day. 

Commonwealth v. R.B.

September 2014: Our client was accused of a drive by shooting in which four different people were shot and seriously injured.  We took the case to a jury trial.  We argued that the only witness who identified our client had a history of bad blood with our client's family and could not be trusted. After hearing all the evidence, the jury could not reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared.  The prosecution dropped all charges before a second scheduled trial and our client was released. 

Commonwealth v. .A.L August 2014: Our client was desperate.  He had been in the U.S. for over a decade and had a wife and children who were American citizens.  Despite our best efforts, the prosecution refused to work with us to reduce the charges.  We took the case to trial and after fighting tirelessly we were able to convince the judge to find him guilty of disorderly conduct and to give him a sentence that would not effect his immigration status. 

Commonwealth v. N.B.

November 2014: Our client was a former police officer whose ex-girlfriend accused him of deliberately throwing boiling water on her. We were able to demonstrate through medical records that she was highly intoxicated and that the injuries she suffered were likely the result of her own drunken negligence.  Multiple witnesses confirmed that our client was sober, calm, and cooperative.  We had to refuse multiple plea offers and the prosecution eventually conceded and dropped all charges. 

Commonwealth v. J.J.

June 2014: Our client was charged with 4 felonies after he signed a false name to four different traffic summons.  We refused an offer for misdemeanors that would have included weekends in jail and took the case to trial.  We successfully argued that there was no genuine intent to commit fraud and that our client was simply expressing his displeasure with the traffic stop. 

Commonwealth v. C.M.

June 2014: Our client made the worst mistake of his life and led the police on a high speed chase. He was a young sailor in the Navy with a bright future. He was facing prison time and a bad conduct discharge from the Navy.  The prosecution refused to make any offer to reduce the charges.  We took the case to trial and convinced the judge to find him guilty of a misdemeanor offense.  Our client avoided a felony and stayed in the Navy. 

Commonwealth v. T.H.

April 2014: Our client was accused of stabbing a man to death during a fight outside a restaurant.  Video surveillance showed that it was our client who had been attacked first.  We took the case to a jury trial and argued that our client had lawfully defended himself. After three days of fighting for our client, the jury found him not guilty of murder and instead convicted him of manslaughter. 

Commonwealth v. G.E.

March 2014: Our client was charged with rape based on the claim of a co-worker.  We worked with our own sexual assault nurse examiner to prove that there was no physical evidence su[pporting the accusation. The prosecution was not willing to give up easily. We took the case to a jury trial. After two days of fighting for our client, the jury deliberated for less than thirty minutes before returning a not guilty verdict.  Our client walked away a free man instead of facing 5 to life in prison. 

Commonwealth v. G.D.

February 2014: Our client was accused of shooting and robbing a man at a rap concert. The victim identified our client as the man who shot him.  We conducted our own photo lineup with the victim who could not pick out our client.  The victim subsequently admitted to the prosecution that he could not be sure that the assailant was our client and all charges were dropped.  Instead of the possibility of life in prison, our client walked out of jail on the same day. 

Commonwealth v. S.W.

November 2013: Our client was charged with felony theft from a department store.  The store's loss prevention officer claimed that he could identify our client as the woman who had exited the store with over $500 worth of merchandise.  We conducted our own photo lineup with the loss prevention officer who selected a woman who was not our client. We took the case to trial, presented the evidence of the false identification, and the charge was dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. L.P.

October 2013: Our client was charged with distribution of narcotics, possession of a firearm by a felon, and six counts of possession of ammunition by a felon.  We argued successfully in pre-trial motions that all of the ammunition charges violated our clients double jeopardy rights.  At trial we successfully argued that the prosecution could not prove that our client knew that the narcotics and firearm were in his car.  He walked away a happy man with all charges dismissed. 

Commonwealth v. S.B.

June 2013: Our client was charged with a DUI felony and faced mandatory minimum jail time.  We took the case to trial and successfully demonstrated that the state trooper had administered the sobriety tests improperly. Following a hard fought trial, the felony DUI was dismissed.  Our client avoided a felony, mandatory jail time, probation, and the indefinite suspension of his license. 

Commonwealth v. E.D.

April 2013: Our client was charged with murder after an altercation outside a bar turned deadly.  We were convinced that our client had acted in self-defense.  We took the case to a jury trial.  After four days of a hard fought trial, our client was found not guilty of murder and was instead convicted of manslaughter. Instead of of the possibility of forty five years in prison, he is coming home soon. 

Commonwealth v. S.K.

September 2012: Our client was charged with stealing a car and committing a strong arm robbery.  Two different witnesses including a police officer identified him.  We didn't give up.  We took the case to trial and convinced the judge that the identifications were unreliable because no lineups were ever conducted and no forensics linked our client to the scene.  All of the felonies were dismissed and our client walked away with no jail time. 

Commonwealth v. S.L.

March 2011: Our client seemed doomed.  He was charged with a gunpoint robbery.  The prosecution had a DNA match from a hat that been ripped off the head of the perpetrator.  We didn't give up. We worked with our own DNA expert and sent the hat back for a second analysis comparing the DNA recovered from the hat to a a different man who we believed was the true perpetrator.  It turned out that the other man's DNA was also in the hat.  The prosecution promptly dropped all charges and our client walked out of jail that day. 

Commonwealth v. D.S.

February 2011: This situation was incredibly unfair because our client had been told that his juvenile convictions would not effect his gun rights.  We took the case to a jury trial.  We subpoenaed a former juvenile probation officer who acknowledged that many people including our client may have been misinformed of their gun rights.  The jury found our client not guilty and he avoided spending the next two to five years of his life in prison. 

Commonwealth v. J.M.

January 2011: This was a brutal case.  Our client was charged with murder under the theory that he beat an infant to death.  We worked extensively with a pediatric forensic pathologist who helped us to establish that the infant had serious preexisting medical issues that likely played a role in his death.  We fought relentlessly and the result was our client being convicted of a reduced charge and avoiding the possibility of life in prison. 

Commonwealth v. T.W.

September 2010: We were confident that our client had been misidentified from a photo lineup. We took the case to a jury trial. We demonstrated that the victim had failed to describe several unique characteristics of our client in her initial description to police.  At the end of trial the jury was deadlocked and a mistrial was declared.  When the prosecution offered to reduce the charge with no jail time, it was too good to refuse.  Our client was thrilled. 

Commonwealth v. D.C.

September 2009: Our client was charged with breaking into his ex-girlfriend's house and beating her to the point where she required hospitalization. We took the case to a jury trial. We subpoenaed her medical records and demonstrated that her injuries were completely inconsistent with the attack she described. The jury found our client not guilty and he walked away a free man. 

Commonwealth v. A.D. October 2008: Our client was charged with robbing a convenience store at gunpoint. We worked with an eyewitness testimony expert who was able to identify serious flaws with the identification procedure.  We took the case to a jury trial.  It was 11 to 1 for a not guilty verdict and a mistrial was declared.  Our client was released on bond that day.  He rejected numerous offers and the prosecution eventually dropped all charges before a second trial. 

Commonwealth v. L.C.

March 2008: Our client was charged with sexually assaulting the teenage daughter of his neighbor.  The prosecution was insistent that any plea offer include a conviction that would force our client to register as a sex offender.  We took the case to a jury trial.  We successfully used school records to show that the girl had told wildly different versions of her story to school officials.  Our client was found not guilty and avoided being a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.