Criminal Defense

Our blog posts in the past have discussed many different types of criminal charges and defense strategies. While it is true that you need to prepare your case to go to trial, the vast majority of criminal cases are settled through the use of plea bargains. These...

With all of the scary clown stories that are circulating around the country, a Monongalia County deputy is warning residents that trying to play a scary clown prank isn't something that is advisable. The deputy noted that it could be a criminal act to just walk around...

The former acting mayor and current city recorder for Buckhannon will be resigning soon, following an investigation into his alleged improper use of a fuel card belonging to the city during his tenure as mayor in 2015. State police indicated that they have reached a...

After a trial that included testimony from both the defendant and his accuser, a man has been found not guilty of sex crime charges. The allegations in the case involved the sexual abuse of a minor girl. The man was accused of abusing her in 2005 and 2006 and also in...

Each time you stand before the court or have a meeting with law enforcement officers during a criminal case, there is a chance that you will be thrown a curveball in your case. The events can either be a great opportunity for your defense or they can be a challenge...

The recent arrest of a Lewis County assessor on harassment charges has surprised the community he serves. The 38-year-old man of Jane Lew, West Virginia, is accused of harassing a victim in several ways. News reports say he sent hundreds of texts to the victim during...

We recently wrote about controversy surrounding the reliability of forensic evidence. All forensic tests contain some degree of uncertainty, and most have a higher degree of uncertainty than the general public realizes.In fact, there are even some forensic tests that...

If modern television police shows are to be believed, forensic science can prove who committed a crime 100 percent of the time, making old-fashioned detective work virtually obsolete. On these programs, officers only need a few hairs, a spot of blood or a shell casing...

West Virginia’s criminal code contains certain “elevator” statutes that can make conviction for certain crimes even more serious. Among these is the civil rights statute, which is a form of anti-hate crime legislation.The statute’s purpose is...

Domestic violence is a serious issue in West Virginia. For this reason, the law empowers judges to impose protective orders on someone accused -- but not convicted -- of domestic assault, or of making threats.Commonly known as restraining orders, protective orders...