Serving the Yakima valley with professionalism, compassion & commitment
Serving the Yakima valley with professionalism, compassion & commitment
Being arrested, investigated, or charged with a crime can affect nearly every part of your life. A criminal case can put your freedom, employment, driver's license, finances, reputation, and relationships at risk. Even charges that may initially seem minor can have consequences that continue long after the court case is over.
At Apple Valley Law, PLLC, we represent individuals facing criminal charges in Washington State. Our approach begins with understanding what happened, examining the government's evidence, identifying potential legal and constitutional issues, and helping you understand the options available at each stage of your case.
An arrest or criminal charge is not a conviction. The prosecution bears the burden of proving the charges, and every defendant has important constitutional and procedural rights. Depending on the circumstances, a criminal defense case may involve challenging the legality of a traffic stop, arrest, search, seizure, or interrogation; examining witness credibility; reviewing police reports, video, forensic evidence, and test results; negotiating with prosecutors; seeking dismissal or reduction of charges; or preparing the case for trial.
Below is an overview of some of the most common criminal matters we assist clients with.
A DUI charge can have consequences both in court and with the Washington State Department of Licensing. DUI cases frequently involve questions concerning the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, breath or blood testing, officer observations, constitutional issues, and the admissibility of evidence.
We assist clients with matters involving:
Because driver's-license deadlines can arise separately from the criminal court case, obtaining legal advice promptly after a DUI arrest can be important.
In Washington, "domestic violence" can be associated with a number of underlying criminal offenses when the alleged conduct involves qualifying family, household, or intimate relationships.
Common cases include:
Domestic violence allegations can result in no-contact orders and restrictions that may affect a person's home, children, firearms, employment, and related family-law proceedings
Washington law recognizes several degrees and types of assault. Depending upon the allegations, an assault can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony.
An assault defense may involve questions concerning:
Property-related charges can range from relatively minor misdemeanors to serious felony offenses.
Cases may involve:
The value of the property, the circumstances surrounding the alleged conduct, and a defendant's alleged intent can significantly affect the charges and potential consequences.
Washington's drug laws have changed substantially over time, making it particularly important to evaluate drug-related charges under the law applicable to the specific conduct alleged.
Drug cases may involve allegations concerning possession, manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver controlled substances.
These cases can also present important constitutional questions regarding searches of people, vehicles, homes, phones, and other property.
Not every traffic offense is simply a ticket. Certain driving allegations can result in criminal charges, jail exposure, license consequences, and increased insurance costs.
Examples include:
A court order restricting contact must be taken seriously. Conduct that might otherwise be lawful can result in criminal charges when it violates an existing court order.
These cases may involve disputes concerning:
A protected person generally cannot simply give a defendant permission to disregard a court order. Changes to an order ordinarily must be made through the appropriate legal process
Family law cases sometimes involve allegations of domestic violence, threats, stalking, harassment, or other safety concerns. Washington's protection-order law is primarily contained in Chapter 7.105 RCW, which addresses domestic violence protection orders as well as several other types of civil protection orders.
Protection-order proceedings may involve:
Washington criminal offenses are generally classified as misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, or felonies.
The classification of an offense affects potential penalties and where the case is heard. Felony cases can also involve Washington's sentencing guidelines and a defendant's offender score or criminal history.
Regardless of classification, a conviction can potentially affect employment, professional licensing, housing, immigration status, firearm rights, and other areas of life.
A court order is not optional. When a party fails to comply with a parenting plan, support order, or other family law order, the other party may have enforcement remedies available.
Common enforcement disputes include:
Washington law specifically provides procedures for modification and enforcement of parenting-plan and child-support orders.
When a person under 18 is accused of an offense, the case may proceed through Washington's juvenile justice system rather than ordinary adult criminal court Juvenile cases can involve unique procedures and consequences, and early intervention can be particularly important when a young person's education and future opportunities are at stake.
Our representation may also involve matters occurring after a plea or conviction, including:
You do not necessarily need to wait until charges have been filed to speak with a criminal defense attorney.
If law enforcement wants to question you, execute a search warrant, obtain your phone, or speak with you regarding an alleged crime, consulting an attorney before making statements can be important.
An attorney may be able to communicate with investigators on your behalf and advise you regarding your constitutional rights before charges are filed.
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