Practice area
Criminal defense
A criminal charge puts your record, your licence and sometimes your freedom at risk. We explain what you are facing, protect your rights at every stage and work toward the outcome that does the least damage to your life.
Overview
Most cases begin with an arraignment, often within days of an arrest or a summons. You are told the charge and asked to enter a plea, and the court decides the conditions of your release. What is said and done at that first appearance shapes much of what follows.
Our work starts with the evidence. We obtain the police reports, recordings and test results, and check whether the stop, the search and the questioning followed the law. Where they did not, we ask the court to keep that evidence out.
From there we advise you on the realistic options, which may include dismissal, a reduced charge, a diversion program or trial. The decision to accept an offer or to go to trial is always yours.
Matters we handle
OVI and traffic offenses
Operating a vehicle under the influence, driving under suspension and other charges that put your licence at risk.
Misdemeanors
Theft, assault, disorderly conduct, trespass and similar charges heard in municipal and mayor's courts.
Felony charges
Cases indicted in the Court of Common Pleas, from the preliminary hearing through trial.
Drug offenses
Possession and trafficking charges, including eligibility for treatment in place of conviction.
Domestic violence charges
Charges that carry protection orders, firearm restrictions and consequences in family court.
Probation violations
Hearings where the court decides whether to continue, change or revoke community control.
Record sealing and expungement
Applying to seal or expunge eligible convictions and dismissed charges under Ohio law.
Who this is for
- You have been arrested, cited or summoned and have a court date.
- The police have asked to speak with you about an investigation.
- Your licence was taken at the roadside after a traffic stop.
- An old conviction is getting in the way of a job, housing or a licence.
What to do now
- Do not discuss the facts with the police, on the phone from jail or on social media. Say that you wish to speak with a lawyer.
- Write down your court date, courtroom and case number, and do not miss the hearing.
- Keep every paper you were given: the citation, bond papers and any licence suspension form.
- Write your own account of what happened while it is fresh, for your lawyer only.
- Follow every bond condition, including any order to stay away from a person or a place.
- Call a lawyer before the arraignment if you can. Some deadlines, such as the one to challenge a licence suspension, are short.
How the fee works
Flat fee by stage
Criminal matters are handled for a flat fee, so you know the cost before you decide. The fee depends on the charge and the court, and is quoted at the end of the consultation.
For more serious cases the fee is set in stages: one fee through pretrial hearings, and a further fee only if the case goes to trial. Court costs, fines and the cost of any outside testing are separate. Payment plans are available.
What to bring to the consultation
- The citation, complaint or indictment
- Bond papers and any conditions of release
- Any licence suspension notice you were given
- Your written account of what happened
- Names and phone numbers of anyone who was present
- Any letters from the court or the prosecutor
Common questions
Should I talk to the police to clear things up?
Not without a lawyer. You are entitled to stay silent and to have a lawyer present for questioning, and using those rights cannot be held against you. Statements made to explain things away are among the most common sources of evidence in criminal cases.
What happens at an arraignment?
The court tells you what you are charged with, you enter a plea, and the judge sets the conditions of your release. A plea of not guilty at this stage keeps every option open while your lawyer reviews the evidence.
Will I lose my licence after an OVI arrest?
An administrative suspension often begins on the day of arrest. It can be challenged, and limited driving privileges for work, school and medical appointments can often be requested, but the time allowed is short.
Can my record be sealed?
Ohio has widened eligibility for sealing and expungement in recent years. Whether you qualify depends on the offense, the number of convictions and how much time has passed. We can check your eligibility at a consultation.
Attorneys who handle this
Daniel Okoro
Founding attorney
- State of Ohio, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2006
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