Frequently Asked Questions

I have been arrested for a criminal charge. What do I do?

The first thing to remember is not to speak with the police or prosecutors. Remember, you have the right to remain silent. The police are not your friends at this time and may say anything to try to get you to admit wrongdoing. Immediately call a Lynnwood criminal defense attorney to represent you.

What is a felony?

A felony is a charge given to a serious crime such as an assault, rape, or a theft. Any crime using a weapon is also charged as a felony. These types of charges normally carry much stiffer penalties, including larger fines and stiffer jail or prison sentences.

What is a misdemeanor?

A misdemeanor is a lesser crime than a felony, normally charged for crimes such as certain DUI cases, shoplifting, petty theft, prostitution and others. Sentencing for a misdemeanor are usually lighter than for a felony, with smaller fines and little or shorter jail sentences. You can learn more about felonies and misdemeanors on the criminal defense overview page.

My wife and I got into a fight and she called the police on me. Will I be arrested for domestic violence?

Domestic violence cases are very common, and accusations of this crime are often found to be retaliation by a spouse to get revenge against their partner. With careful investigation into the facts, our office can help determine what charges, if any, you might be facing and fight to protect your rights.

Can I assert self-defense after being charged with assault?

Self-defense may be defined as an action taken by a person in an attempt to protect him or herself or another from bodily harm by blocking the attack or launching a counter-attack. As American citizens, we have the right to defend ourselves and our property when these are threatened. The general rule of thumb is that the degree of violence must be comparable to the threat faced, and that this was the reasonable course of action to take.

This is a complex area of law and somewhat open to interpretation depending on the particular circumstances of the case. How can you determine what would be a comparable level of violence to counter a threat faced? What if the defendant actually killed his or her assailant? These questions must be addressed in such a way as to prove to the judge and jury that the defendant's actions were called for.

Therefore, we approach these cases with the utmost care, using physical evidence, witness testimony, cross-examination and recreations of the incident to build a compelling argument that supports self-defense.

Can I make a case for illegal search?

If you believe that you were the subject of an illegal search, we will look into this for you and work to build evidence that supports this fact. Based on what we find, we will file a motion to suppress evidence that was illegally acquired by law enforcement.

We will also look to other issues related to the evidence against you, including how it was processed, the chain of custody, and more. Even the smallest error or violation of procedure may be enough to challenge all evidence that was affected.

In their efforts to arrest alleged suspects and put them behind bars, police officers sometimes make mistakes. They may cut corners, conducting a search or making an arrest without a valid warrant or before establishing probable cause. Depending on what evidence was unlawfully obtained, this may cripple or entirely destroy the prosecuting attorney's case against a defendant.

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