Criminal Defense
One of the bedrocks of the American criminal justice system is that the prosecutor must prove that a defendant is guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This high standard means that, unless the prosecutor has great evidence that the person who committed the crime is, in fact, the person sitting at the defendant’s table, the defendant should not go to jail. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that jurors enter the courtroom with their own biases and personal beliefs that often make the defendant’s case much harder than it needs to be.
At the Davis law firm, we understand that criminal defendants have an uphill battle. This is especially true in Virginia, where the criminal defense lawyer’s ability to conduct “discovery,” the process by which evidence is obtained, is extremely limited. Unlike a civil trial, where witnesses are often asked to give depositions and all exhibits must be turned over to opposing counsel before trial, in a criminal trial, the Commonwealth’s attorney is required to turn over almost no evidence to the defense.
Winning that uphill battle requires a law firm with sharp minds and great presence in front of a jury. The criminal defense attorneys at the Davis law firm have the experience required to protect your rights and give you the best possible chance in front of the jury.
Roanoke, Virginia Drug Charges
Drug offenses are one of the most common crimes in America. As a result, the Virginia legislature has instituted harsh penalties for drug convictions. In state and federal courts in Virginia, being found guilty of a drug charge almost certainly means jail time. This is even true for first time offenders fighting “small-time” charges like possession of methamphetamines or possession of cocaine.
The Davis Law Firm offers aggressive representation to clients facing any criminal charges, including but not limited to:
- Possession of controlled substances, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, prescription medicine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine
- Possession with intent to distribute
- Manufacturing
- Drug trafficking
- Juvenile drug charges
- Breaking and entering
- Murder
- Assault
- Or Grand Larceny
Roanoke, Virginia Larceny Attorneys
Larceny is defined as taking something from a person with the intent to permanently deprive them of that item. In common terms, we call this stealing or theft. Virginia draws a distinction between grand larceny (an item with a value of over $200) and petit larceny (an item with a value of less than $200). Grand larceny also includes the theft of a person of money of $5 or more.
But the greater distinction is in the penalty of the two crimes. Grand larceny is a felony, requiring a penalty of no less than one year in prison. Petit larceny, on the other hand, is a class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.
Roanoke, Virginia Assault & Battery Attorneys
A simple disagreement at the bar can turn into criminal charges in a heartbeat. Virginia Code § 18.2-57 classifies assault and battery as a class 1 misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in prison and a possible fine. To avoid having a night on the town end up on your permanent record, you need the aggressive representation of the Davis law firm.
Other Cases We Handle
The Davis Law Firm is a well-respected Rocky Mount, Virginia firm that has served Southwest and South Central Virginia since 1891. In addition to drug charges, assault & battery, and larceny cases, we are currently accepting rape, homicide, murder, manslaughter, burglary, and sex offense cases. Our attorneys are qualified to practice in both state and federal court.
Our firm defends clients in Roanoke, Rocky Mount, Boones Mill County, Franklin County, Bedford County, Martinsville and Henry County, VA.
Blog for Criminal Defense
Library for Criminal Defense:
- Handbook for Virginia Grand Jurors [PDF]
Description: Grand juries play an important role in the Virginia criminal justice system. This handbook from the Franklin County Circuit Court Website helps Virginia Grand Jurors understand what to expect and how the process works. - Police Questioning - Don't Forget Your Rights
Description: Having an attorney present keeps police officers and detectives from using the typical tactics that are seen when they try to get suspects to either confess or incriminate themselves. Tactics such as indicating that only guilty people ask for lawyers, that they have witnesses who saw you commit the crime, that they already have forensic evidence that incriminates you, or that things will get really bad for you if you don't come clean and tell them what they want. View All
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