In countless television shows, the criminal is pulled over and the vehicle is searched. When marijuana is found, the accused often replies, “It’s not mine.”  While in the plot of the show this may or may not be true or, what happens in real life when this type of situation occurs?  Obviously, it adds intrigue...Read More

Marijuana possession is a serious charge in Virginia. A conviction can result in jail time, a criminal record and the loss of driving privileges. If you read the newspaper or look at Internet news sites, you often see articles where people are arrested for possession of marijuana and you often see an additional charge in...Read More

Typically, when most people think about DUI, they think about people going out to bars and having too much to drink and then driving drunk. While this has received much of the focus of the media and law enforcement, there is a push among law enforcement agencies to get tough on drivers who are under...Read More

There was a recent article published on Yahoo News that illustrates the need to have a good defense attorney represent you if you are charged with a crime. The article, published June 23, 2015, is a cautionary tale that, frankly, makes your jaw drop and leaves you thinking that there is no way that this...Read More

With all of the hubbub surrounding the legalization of marijuana in some states and in DC, some people have forgotten what should still be obvious – Marijuana possession and distribution is still a violation of federal and Virginia law. Amazingly, there are some who think that because you can cross the Potomac and get marijuana...Read More

Family abuse is the term under Virginia law for domestic violence. In this type of case, one family member (or household member) is accused of violence against another member of the household. Situations involving family violence are often made complex by family dynamics and living situations and the stresses they sometimes create. Furthermore, these cases...Read More

A family abuse charge (known as domestic violence in many other jurisdictions) in Virginia is serious business. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor and can potentially result in jail time. There are circumstances, however, in which the legal process can be seen as giving a person who has been charged with family abuse a second...Read More

You hear the term “due process” thrown about frequently. Often, it is in the context of criminal convictions being overturned on appeal because the police denied someone’s due process rights. Typically, this type of due process is referred to as substantive due process. There is another type of due process, known as procedural due process....Read More

It is well known that DUI is a serious crime in Virginia. You can face a lengthy suspension of your license, jail time, and steep fines. Driving under the influence is a substantial mistake that can have serious repercussions on your future. In fact, many people are so scared by the implications of being convicted...Read More

Virginia has a broad range of crimes that it considers domestic violence. Domestic violence is referred to in the statutes as “family abuse.” Family abuse is any act involving force, violence, or threat  that results in bodily injury or places a family or household member in reasonable apprehension of death, sexual assault, or bodily injury....Read More