Criminal Defense

When most people consider the consequences of a criminal conviction, they focus on the sentence imposed by a judge—incarceration, fines or probation. But the consequences of a criminal conviction can go far beyond the sentence. Collateral consequences Collateral...

The stigma of being accused of a sex crime is horrendous. The accusation alone can permanently damage your reputation. But in our judicial system, in every state of the union, an individual is innocent until proven guilty. If accused, every single person is entitled...

Many West Virginia residents struggle every day with a drug or alcohol addiction. These addictions can negatively affect several areas of life. Addictions can cause people to lose jobs, relationships and their homes. Drugs and alcohol often affect our behavior and can...

If you are accused of a sex crime in West Virginia, especially a crime involving a child, it can impact your life forever. Your reputation in your community can greatly suffer for many years to come even if the charges are dropped or you are found not guilty. Still,...

Restrictions on police searches are largely related to where people have an expectation of privacy. The greater the expectation of privacy, the less the police are free to search. When there is a low expectation of privacy, police have more power to search....

Simply being accused of a sex crime can absolutely ruin your reputation in your community, at your job and in just about any other aspect of your life, even if you are not convicted. Still, just like any other person accused of a crime, you have Constitutional rights...

West Virginia sports fans can sometimes get overexcited. In some cases, this can even lead to them physically confronting a coach, referee or umpire. If a person is accused of a physical confrontation with an athletic official, they should know the law and how to...

Authorities investigating drug crimes may take months or years to build cases against alleged drug traffickers. As a result, when they begin arrests, police may wrangle more people than originally intended. In addition, charges may vary from person to person, but any...

When many people think about assault and battery, they picture a person acting violently towards another. However, in many states including West Virginia, assault and battery charges can stem from much more than a violent action. If a prosecutor establishes all the...

The prosecution’s witnesses in your criminal trial are going to play a pivotal role in the ultimate outcome of your case. After all, if a judge or jury buys into that testimony, then the likelihood that you’ll be convicted may be significantly increased. If, on the...