A larceny conviction will have long-lasting consequences on your life. Because theft deals with “lying, cheating, or stealing,” it constitutes a “crime of moral turpitude,” which potential educators, employers, and the law do not take lightly. If you’ve been charged, you need to learn how Virginia treats larceny charges. What’s the difference between Petit Larceny […]

In Virginia, hit & run charges are very serious.  The Virginia Code divides Hit & Run charges into two different scenarios: when you’ve struck attended property (someone was in the car) and unattended property. Your duties and the possible consequences depend on which situation you encountered. What should you do if you struck an occupied […]

So you’ve been charged with a crime. Naturally, you are asking yourself, “Will I ever be able to get this off of my record?” The process of having your record cleared is called “expungement.” You have likely heard the term before. Perhaps you had a friend have his or her charges expunged.  Perhaps your circumstances […]

Virginia Code 18.2-51 prohibits malicious and unlawful wounding: If any person maliciously shoot, stab, cut, or wound any person or by any means cause him bodily injury, with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill, he shall, except where it is otherwise provided, be guilty of a Class 3 felony. If such act be […]

In our opinion, Virginia’s Disorderly Conduct statute is confusing, and people find themselves charged even though their behavior may not meet the legal definition. This is especially prevalent in cases dealing with juvenile defendants. If you or someone you know is charged with disorderly conduct, it’s important to contact an attorney to protect your rights. […]

In Virginia, both Resisting Arrest and Assault on Law Enforcement charges are very serious. They are also very different. If you’ve been charged with either, here’s some useful information. How does Virginia define Resisting Arrest? First, let’s discuss Resisting Arrest (“Resisting”). Under Virginia Code Section 18.2-460, Resisting is essentially “fleeing” from an officer when the […]

More and more, I’m seeing individuals charged with assault on law enforcement officer(assault on LEO) here in Northern Virginia. It’s usually when they are being investigated (or arrested) for a separate offense, and they aren’t as polite (or sometimes behave more aggressively) than law enforcement would prefer. The problem is that assault on LEO is […]

This article is an in depth, practical discussion of Virginia Protective Order Law.  James Abrenio has been handling Protective Order cases in Northern Virginia for over a decade, and this article was written to answer some of the most common questions he’s received over that time.  The information provided here is meant to be a […]

This article is an in depth, practical discussion of Virginia’s charge of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor .  James Abrenio has been handling Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor cases in Northern Virginia for over a decade, and this article was written to answer some of the most common questions he’s received […]

Over the past several years, I’ve seen an increase in child-abuse charges filed against parents arising from the punishment that, even as recent as ten years ago, would not have caught the eye of a prosecutor. For all of you new parents out there, this is something that certainly needs to be on your radar. […]