A drug charge is serious, but adding a firearm to the equation changes the nature of the case entirely. Under the U.S. Code, the mere presence of a gun during a drug trafficking crime triggers mandatory minimum sentences that can easily turn a few years of prison into several decades. Defendants and their families must understand the charge because it…
If you face federal firearm charges in Virginia, a specific scoring system heavily influences your future. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines provide a framework that courts use to calculate a recommended prison sentence. This process involves a formula where the final score depends on specific factors that you may not realize are part of the equation. Factors that increase a base…
When a Virginia police officer makes a suspected drunk driving arrest, it activates a series of events within the criminal justice system. Whether you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or had a momentary lapse in judgment when you got behind the wheel, if the police have arrested you, you must navigate the system as the court fully adjudicates your case. This…
In Virginia, penalties under conviction of drunk driving are quite severe. For a first offense, and even in some subsequent cases, convictions are handed down as misdemeanor crimes. Many people mistakenly believe this term is synonymous with the phrase “not serious,” which couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, if the court convicts you of DUI charges, certain issues…
If you’re one of many Virginia parents whose teenager has recently faced an arrest and charges for a crime (e.g., DUI underage, theft, drugs, etc.), there are local resources available to help you navigate the system. If you haven’t already spoken with a social worker, this is often a first step toward building a strong support network for your son…
