When does physical contact between a teacher and a student become criminal assault under Virginia law?This question arises more often than most people realize. Teachers must maintain order. Students sometimes resist. Physical contact happens. But where is the legal line? (NOTE: This article discusses actions such as pushing, shoving, or guiding a kid by the […]

By James Abrenio | Abrenio Choe | Fairfax, VirginiaCriminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical MalpracticePublished: January 16, 2026 If you’ve been charged with a crime in Virginia and you hear the prosecutor say something like, “Your Honor, we move to nolle prosequi,” you may feel immediate relief—followed by confusion. Is the case over?Does that […]

By James Abrenio, Fairfax Virginia Criminal Defense AttorneyJanuary 16, 2026 One of the most common questions I get from people facing criminal charges in Virginia goes something like this: “James, this charge is ridiculous. Can’t we just get it dropped? Do I really have to go to court?” I hear this question in assault cases, […]

A conviction for a Virginia domestic assault will lead to many collateral consequences.  One of which is your ability to possess a firearm.  Therefore, if the right to possess a firearm is important to you, you need to discuss your options with your attorney. You must consider both Virginia and Federal Law. When it comes […]

As we have explained before, in Virginia, there are multiple ways to be guilty of Reckless Driving in Virginia.  Of course, driving at extremely high speeds is one of them.  But also driving in a manner that demonstrates a conscious disregard for life and property is another.  To that point, in 2024, there are a […]

If you’ve been paying attention to Virginia Expungement Law and the recent movement in the General Assembly, you’re probably aware that there are significant improvements coming to our expungement framework here in Virginia.  However, most of the change has a delayed effective date until July 1, 2025.  With that said, this past year, there were […]

Often, I get calls about reckless driving tickets, here in Virginia. Occasionally, those calls will involve folks who were alleged to have been driving over 100 mph.  And their first question is typically, “Can I really go to jail for this?” Reckless driving is a serious offense. In many states, driving fast is a traffic […]

If you’re facing a Virginia DUI, you may have heard the term “wet reckless.” If your attorney is telling you that it may be an option in your case, read this article to better understand its benefits. What is a wet reckless? You won’t find the term “wet reckless” in a Virginia code book or […]