Criminal Law Charges

Types of Criminal Law:

Many people who find themselves facing criminal charges have little knowledge about how to deal with the stress and anxiety of such a situation. There are thousands of cases of unfortunate people who become lost and hopeless because they lack the proper guidance through the confusing and complex justice system. Proper legal representation ensures that you will have a knowledgeable advocate throughout the entirety of the proceedings.

Whether you are charged with fraud, a DUI, or simply need arrest assistance or a prior expunged from your record, you need legal representation. An attorney understands how the court system can be intimidating for people facing criminal charges, and your lawyer wants to live up to the trust and faith you place in their ability to remedy your situation as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Whether you are arrested in Florida or face charges in California, you can find an experienced and dedicated attorney in the Steigerwalt & Associates network of premiere legal professionals. We combine proven results with the compassion and dedication to protect your rights and freedom. Thousands of other people who were in your same situation discovered the benefits of using the Steigerwalt & Associates group. Let us help you as well.

Drunk Driving Defense (DUI, OUI, DWI)

Driving under the Influence, Driving While Intoxicated, or Operating Under the Influence are some of the most common types of criminal cases prosecuted in America. Although specific laws regarding the nature of the violation vary from state to state, there is virtually universal consensus that operating a vehicle under the influence of a drug is extremely dangerous.

Many different factors are considered during the initial phase of a DUI. Your speed, alcohol level, and prior convictions can all influence the outcome of your case. Unfortunately, many of the tests used to determine level of intoxication are subjective, confusing, or prone to failure which can render a range of false results. Most people do not know their rights when they are stopped for a DUI, and as such face stiff penalties such as the loss of driving privileges, stiff fines, and even prison time.

White Collar Criminal Defense

The so-called "white collar crimes" are often some of the most complicated crimes in the legal system because they encompass a wide variety of actions that involve many different factors. The investigations that seek to root out white collar crime are often fraught with potential inconsistencies and violations, so it is important to not panic when the first subpoena is delivered.

The Federal Government has enacted a number of laws including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and White-Collar Crime Penalty Enhancements Act of 2002 that have greatly expanded the investigative and punitive aspects of white collar crime prosecutions, so it serves you greatly to have the best representation possible.

The best way to protect your company, your finances, and even your freedom is to contact one of the lawyers in our network of premiere legal professionals. We understand the complexities of white collar investigations, so we take the worry and burden out of any extensive investigations.

Federal Crimes and Sentencing Guidelines

Federal crimes are among the most serious in the United States, and most people who are accused of violating federal law find themselves in a very confusing, tense, and frightening situation. Many federal crimes carry severe penalties and stiff fines, and even an accusation of such a crime is enough to permanently damage a reputation. The United States Sentencing Guidelines dictates the appropriate amount of punitive action, regardless of age, condition, or prior offenses.

Further complicating federal crimes is the amount of resources the government can bring to bear on an individual. Federal prosecutors boast an almost 95% conviction rate because many people feel intimidated by the power of the government unless represented by an experienced and determined attorney. The only way to reduce a sentence is through a "departure", a complicated legal maneuver only available through the power of counsel.

High Profile Criminal Cases

Because the media has an almost ubiquitous presence in our lives today, there are few high profile criminal cases that escape public scrutiny completely. These cases can range from suspects in the war on terror, to alleged white collar criminals, and even government officials accused of violating the public's trust.

These people face hardships unique to their situations. While everyone in America is guaranteed a speedy and public trial, too much public exposure can prejudice and bias people into presuming guilt without sufficient evidence. Just as difficult in protecting innocence at trial is the defending against the verdict of the court of public opinion. High profile defendants need special protection and understanding over the course of their cases to ensure that no one violates their rights and freedoms.

Arrest Assistance

Being detained by officers of the law is nearly always a frightening and stressful situations. Besides the initial shock of the arrest and the anxiety over the future, there can be serious and significant consequences should an inexperienced and terrified person admit to or sign anything without adequate legal counsel.

When you are charged with a crime, you have the right to speak to a lawyer. Would you rather have an overworked and overstressed public defender handling your case, or a dedicated, professional, and understanding personal attorney to fight for your rights? The choice you make will very likely determine the outcome of your case, and when your freedom hangs in the balance, shouldn't you get the best?

Expungements - Clearing a Criminal Record

An expungement is a legal procedure designed to clear a criminal record to reflect the rehabilitation of a person from the penal system. Any time someone is accused or convicted of a crime a notation is made on a criminal record. This note follows this person around for the rest of their lives, interfering with the rights that so many Americans take for granted.

The expungement process can be long, complicated, and expensive without proper legal counsel. It is however necessary if you seek to live a life free of the restriction that a serious conviction can entail. After expunging an offense from your record, it can never again be held against you in employment, housing, or criminal cases. Committing a mistake long ago should not impinge on the life of people who have paid their debt to society.

Fraud Charges

Fraud is defined as willfully deceiving another in order to obtain property or services unjustly. "Willfully deceived" is a deliberately nebulous term that gives law enforcement broad powers of authority when investigating the purported misdoings by a suspect. The desire to prove wrongdoings is often over-enthusiastically pursued by a number of legitimate law enforcement agencies in cases where the line between legal and illegal is rather obscured.

Obtaining a fraud conviction depends greatly upon a number of variables, not the least of which are amount of money or property involved, the extent of the scheme, and the number of people affected by the deception. Innocent mistakes and accounting errors can cause inconsistencies that can lead to legal action if taken in the wrong point of view.