Criminal Defense Attorney Near Me

Criminal Defense Attorney Near Me

If you have been charged with a crime in the State of Ohio, it is in your best interest to take the matter seriously and to bring your strongest defense in response. A criminal conviction can upend your life in ways that you may not have even considered, which makes working closely with an experienced criminal defense attorney near you paramount. 

Potential Criminal Charges

While criminal charges can obviously take a wide array of forms, the most common fall into the following categories:

• Assault and battery
• Sexual abuse and battery 
• Burglary
• Robbery
• Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI)
• Drug charges
• Vehicular manslaughter
• Weapons charges

There is no such thing as a minor criminal charge – the consequences of a conviction are simply too steep not to address the matter head-on from the outset. 

OVI Charges

One of the most common criminal charges is OVI (which many people continue to call DUI). This charge relates to both alcohol and drugs, but alcohol charges are the most common. An OVI charge refers to having a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher (or to the officer testifying that you exhibited the signs of driving while intoxicated, which is a much more nebulous affair). Some of the subjective signs that officers often cite as being determinative of OVI include:

• Weaving in and out of one’s lane
• Driving exceptionally slowly
• Otherwise driving erratically
• Glassy, bloodshot eyes
• Smelling of alcohol
• Slurring one’s words
• Performing poorly on the field sobriety test administered

Assault and Battery Charges

Other common charges include both assault and battery. Consider the following:

• Assault refers to either attempting to cause or actually causing someone else harm. Assault can be either simple or aggravated, and when aggravated by a factor that enhances the seriousness of the crime, the charge is typically elevated to a felony.
• Battery refers to either intentionally or negligently causing someone else to either experience offensive physical contact or actual physical injury. 

Burglary Charges

The charge of burglary relates to entering a home, business, or any other structure unlawfully – with the intention of committing a crime. For the charge to apply, you need only the intention of committing a crime inside – you don’t need to actually commit the crime in question. Further, you don’t have to break and enter in order to burgle someone – entering via an unlocked door will get the job done (trespassing, however, is a requirement). The charge can be enhanced to aggravated burglary if you harm (or credibly threaten to harm) someone else in the commission of the burglary.   

Turn to an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Near You for the Legal Help You Need

If you are facing a criminal charge, the time to consult with one of the accomplished Ohio criminal defense attorneys at The VanNoy Firm is now. Your legal rights are too important to leave to chance, so please do not hesitate to contact us for more information about how we can help you today.