Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law in every state in the U.S. Virginia has penalties that are specific to it, so if you are caught, you may face penalties such as fines or a possible jail sentence. As someone who has not been in trouble...
Month: July 2017
2 teens now facing charges in connection with double homicide
Virginia State Police have announced the arrest of a juvenile in connection with a double homicide last month in Halifax County. The 17-year-old, who lives in Danville, was charged as an accessory after the fact and also faces an obstruction of justice charge.No name...
Destruction of property can have serious consequences
Kids and young people may think that graffiti (or "tagging") and otherwise damaging or defacing property is just harmless fun. However, it's illegal. Many state laws refer to it as "vandalism."Here in Virginia, we have numerous laws regarding destruction of property....
Here’s why you should work with a criminal defense attorney
When you're accused of a crime, it's in your best interests to take steps to defend yourself. If you don't, you could face unfair treatment, a bias in court or just make mistakes that hurt your case. Many people don't realize the value that a criminal defense attorney...
Meth trafficking ring leader sentenced to 30 years in prison
A federal judge has sentenced the leader of a national methamphetamine trafficking ring to 30 years in prison. The ring was reportedly transporting a very pure form of the drug to southwest Virginia. According to information released by the U.S. Attorney for the...
Doctor faces 20 years in prison for opioid prescriptions
A Virginia doctor faces up to 20 years in a federal prison for prescribing powerful medications including Xanax, oxycodone and Adderall to individuals who had no medical need to take the drugs. The 49-year-old Fairfax resident pleaded guilty on March 4 to six counts...
Man sentenced in Virginia drug operation
A 31-year-old man from Virginia has been sentenced with more than 38 years in prison on multiple drug-related charges. The judge recommended that the man receives two life sentences plus eight years after a jury found him guilty of the drug charges in the February...
An overview of the legal process
If a police officer believes that a Virginia resident has committed a crime, that officer may take that person into custody. After taking a person into custody, a police report will be sent to the prosecutor. The police report will contain a variety of details such as...
Implicit racial bias may affect court decisions
Criminal defendants in Virginia and across the country often have to deal with the effects of racial bias in the courtroom. While outright bias and racist remarks may be far less common than they were in the past, implicit bias and stereotypes continue to play a role...
What is weapon focus?
You get accused of a crime. A witness comes forward. They testify that they saw you. They claim they remember it very well. They were watching the whole time.But what do they really remember? How reliable is that memory? They may not be lying intentionally, but that...
