Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal charge is not just a court date. It is the thing that sits behind every background check afterwards, and it is why the outcome of the first hearing matters more than people realize.
I defend misdemeanors and felonies in Fairfax General District Court, in Circuit Court, and in federal court.
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Virginia State Bar, admitted 22 years. 20+ years in Fairfax County courts.
Free consultation
Tell me about your case.
The first conversation is free and usually takes about fifteen minutes.
No cost and no obligation. Prefer to call? (703) 585-3323
Less serious is not the same as minor.
A misdemeanor conviction can carry up to twelve months in jail, along with fines and a permanent record. In Virginia these are heard in the General District Court, and they move quickly.
- Reckless driving
- Petty theft
- Disorderly conduct
- Simple assault
- Public intoxication
Where the stakes change entirely.
Felony charges carry substantial fines, prison rather than jail, and consequences that outlast the sentence — voting, firearms, employment and professional licensing among them.
- Grand larceny
- Drug distribution and trafficking
- Violent offenses
- White-collar charges
- DUI with aggravating circumstances
Preparation is most of the job.
Very few cases are won by argument on the day. They are won by knowing the file better than anyone else in the room, and by deciding early what the realistic best outcome actually is.
We start with the facts
A confidential conversation about what actually happened, not what the report says happened. I need the version you would not put in writing.
Then the file
Evidence, witness accounts, the procedure followed at the stop or the arrest. Cases turn on things that look procedural until they decide the outcome.
Then a straight assessment
You will hear what is realistic, including when that is uncomfortable. I would rather tell you early than let you find out at the podium.
The file is not the person.
A charge sheet reduces someone to the worst thing anyone has alleged about them. Part of the work is making sure the court hears the rest — how it happened, who you are, and what is actually at stake. That has changed outcomes in cases where the facts themselves did not move at all.
Criminal charges in Virginia.
Should I talk to the police?
You are entitled to decline, politely, and to ask for a lawyer. People talk themselves into charges far more often than they talk themselves out of them.
What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?
Broadly, jail versus prison and twelve months versus longer. The lasting difference is what a felony does to your rights and your employment afterwards.
Can a charge be dismissed or reduced?
Frequently, depending on the evidence, the procedure followed, and your record. That is the first thing I assess.
Will this show up on a background check?
A conviction will. Virginia does not allow expungement of convictions, which is why it is worth fighting the charge rather than accepting it to end the process.
I have never been in trouble before. Does that matter?
It matters a great deal, and it should be put in front of the court properly rather than mentioned in passing.
Do you handle federal cases?
Yes. I am admitted in the Eastern District of Virginia as well as the state courts and the District of Columbia.
If it is a driving charge
Reckless driving is a criminal charge but has its own page — see reckless driving or traffic tickets.
Virginia · District of Columbia · U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia · U.S. Bankruptcy Court
We are here to help you navigate this.
The first conversation is free. Plan for about 15 minutes — sometimes longer. My clock isn’t ticking while we’re talking.
Bring your summons and tell me what happened in your own words. I’m happy to keep answering your questions even after the consult, especially if you’re a nice person. My clients usually are.
And if I’m not the right fit for your case, I’ll tell you.