Criminal Defense

Police officers need a valid reason for conducting a traffic stop. This can come from several different things, including broken traffic laws. In some cases, the officer conducts the traffic stop because they have...

Driving under the influence (DUI) offenses are more serious than minor traffic infractions. They result in criminal charges rather than just citations. Those accused of impaired driving are at risk of probation, jail time...

Property crimes involving theft are some of the most common criminal offenses. People may end up accused of shoplifting or stealing from a neighbor. When a business or individual notifies the authorities about an alleged...

Drug charges can have severe ramifications for those found guilty. This does not only apply to consumers or distributors, even persons authorized to dispense medications can face criminal charges for improperly handling...

For evidence to be admissible in court, there must be a clear chain of custody. This refers to the documentation of who handled the evidence from when it was collected to its presentation in court. The whole point is to...

Plea agreements or deals are far more common in criminal cases than trials are. It’s estimated that  98% of federal cases and 95% of state-level cases are resolved that way. A plea deal can be beneficial for a lot of...

Although facing theft charges can be daunting, several potential defenses can be used. Understanding these defenses is crucial for crafting a strong legal strategy.  Here are some common defenses against theft charges. Lack...

There appears to be some long-awaited movement in the effort to get marijuana reclassified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. Advocates, including a number of political...

Washington experiences its fair share of white-collar crime activities that threaten the integrity of businesses, financial institutions and individuals' trust in the system. White-collar criminals target financial assets,...

Many serious crimes involve the use of violence and physical contact. Nonetheless, violence and physicality are not required for all serious crimes. With advancing technology, there has been a rise in criminal activities...

The police are trained to maintain law and order. Part of this involves executing arrests and securing evidence of a crime. However, if the police enter your home illegally, they cannot use any evidence they obtain...

The role of police officers is to prevent and investigate crime. They have a duty to protect innocent people. For the most part, this is exactly what they do. So, is it safe to talk to them?  There is a difference between...

When a police officer initiates a traffic stop for the suspicion of drunk driving, they have to figure out what’s going on. They have several tools that they can use to determine whether a driver is impaired or not. They...

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense in all 50 U.S. states, including Washington. Those caught and convicted of a DUI for the first time may face various penalties. Knowing the...

Some people here in Washington and throughout the country have taken shoplifting to a whole new level. Thanks in part to the organizing power of social media, large numbers of people have descended on everything from home...

Military servicemembers, like everyone else in Washington, can end up arrested for seemingly victimless crimes. Driving under the influence (DUI) arrests often occur during traffic stops, which means that they may take...

As military personnel, if you’re accused of committing a crime your case will need to be heard by the General Court Martial. Before a case reaches this point, however, an investigation will need to have taken place. This is...

People too often treat traffic offenses like they don't really matter. The average adult in Washington will admit to violating traffic laws on a regular basis. Many people habitually exceed the posted speed limit, drive...

Let’s get this out of the way: driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is both wrong and reckless. Even if you are not found and charged, drunk driving endangers your life, your car occupant’s lives as well as the...

Being pursued by law enforcement can be a frightening experience. It is not uncommon for most to people panic when they notice that the police are coming after them. This explains why many opt to take off to avoid an...

Not every misconduct by a member of the military warrants a court martial hearing. Sometimes, commanders can issue Article 15, also known as non-judicial punishment, to soldiers who violate UCMJ regulations that do not...