Criminal Defense Representation You Can Rely On
Criminal charges, whether they be misdemeanors or felonies, can potentially change your life forever. Even a conviction of a seemingly minor traffic offense like reckless driving can affect your ability to obtain certain jobs or professional licenses. Convictions of crimes of moral turpitude, generally defined as crimes involving lying, cheating, or stealing, even if they be misdemeanors, can have lasting negative impacts on future employment prospects. Felony charges, even those for seemingly victimless crimes such as possession of illegal narcotics, invariably wreak havoc on the lives of those convicted, long after any jail sentence has been served and fines and court costs have been paid. This is especially true for those who are not United States citizens, for whom criminal convictions often result in almost immediate deportation to their countries of origin. In fact, in criminal matters involving non-citizens, the implications of a criminal conviction on their immigration status are often of much greater concern and significance than the penalties imposed by the criminal justice system.
If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you need an experienced, skilled, knowledgeable, and committed advocate by your side. The law firm of Strickland, Diviney & Segura defends clients charged with all manner of crimes, ranging from reckless driving and DUI to drug distribution and homicide. We are committed to providing the highest quality legal services. For us, that means not only being aggressive advocates in defending our clients against the often draconian penalties imposed by the justice system, but also taking the time necessary to educate our clients about what is happening at every stage in their case. It is extremely important to us that our clients have the requisite knowledge to make informed decisions about how to proceed, every step of the way. For our clients who are not United States citizens, we take special care to ensure that they understand the potential immigration consequences of any decision they may make in their criminal case.
Because a conviction of virtually any crime may bring serious consequences, like incarceration and hefty fines and restitution in the short term, and reduced occupational and civic opportunities in the long term, if you are charged with a crime you need to fight as assertively as possible. If you are convicted, it may be that your case can be appealed. However, it is always better to obtain a dismissal or not guilty verdict the first time around. That said, depending on the facts of your case, the most prudential course may be so seek a reduction of the charge to a lesser offense or to negotiate an agreement with the prosecuting attorney. Having a steady and capable defense team by your side can be the difference between freedom and incarceration.
Lawyers at Strickland, Diviney & Segura handle cases in all courts in the Roanoke Valley and throughout Central and Southwest Virginia. This includes the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts, General District Courts and Circuit Courts. We also have extensive experience representing defendants in criminal matters in the federal court system. Whether your case is pending at the state or federal level, we are here to help guide you through the process.
More information about Virginia’s court system can be found here. Additional information regarding criminal procedure in Virginia can be found here.
A sample of the types of criminal matters we handle include the following:
State Court
- Malicious Wounding
- Abduction
- Sexual Assault
- Grand Larceny
- Fraud & Embezzlement
- DUI
- Serious Drug Offenses
- Robbery & Burglary
- Counterfeiting
- Arson
- Gambling offenses
- Firearms offenses
Federal Court
- Tax Fraud
- Firearms offenses
- Threats Against the President
- Probation Revocations
- RICO Conspiracies
- Capital Murder
- Death Penalty Litigation
- Drug Offenses
- Identity Theft
- Human Trafficking
For a free consultation regarding your case, please call our Roanoke office to discuss. Our number is (540) 982-7787.