Tacoma Criminal Defense Attorney
Serving all of Pierce County
Tacoma Criminal Lawyer
Call now to learn more about your legal rights and options.
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Experienced Washington State Criminal Defense.
Don't simply forfeit your freedom or legal rights without a fight.We are experienced Tacoma criminal defense attorneys. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Tacoma, Washington, or elsewhere in Pierce County, we're here to help. It is important to speak with an experienced Washington State and Tacoma criminal defense lawyer about your legal rights. After learning more about the specific circumstances of your case, we will offer you our legal opinion and discuss options.
While many people are aware of their state and federal protections, they often fail to properly exercise them. This happens for many reasons, but often because people erroneously believe that if they fully cooperate with law enforcement, things will go much better for them in court. Regrettably, this is often not the case. In fact, just the opposite is true.
A good Tacoma criminal lawyer will get between you and the state. Think of yourself in a wild brush fire. We're the firefighter who comes in and wraps you in a fire-proof blanket until the firestorm passes. A good Tacoma criminal defense attorney will protect you on numerous fronts. They will also guide you through the Pierce County criminal process if charges are filed.
In the chaos that often accompanies an arrest, it's hard to think clearly about exercising your legal rights. As noted above, many Pierce County citizens know that they have rights when they are being arrested or charged with a crime. Surprisingly, however, many people chose to essentially forfeit their state and federal statutory and constitutional protections both before and after they are arrested or charged with a crime.
Sadly, people seeking the advice of our Tacoma criminal lawyers often call us after they have already plead guilty or accepted some other resolution to their case and believe that they have made a mistake. Often, they tell us that they felt pressured into accepting a resolution that they did not believe was fair or appropriate.
Unfortunately, by this time, it is often extremely difficult for us to assist them because their case has already been resolved. And, in Washington State, undoing a guilty plea can be very complex. In nearly every possible instance, it best to retain an experienced Tacoma criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
This allows your criminal lawyer to explore all of your options and assist you in making a truly informed decision about how you should proceed. It also allows your lawyer to thoroughly review all of the evidence and properly investigate the matter.
The city or the state has the burden of proving their case in every criminal matter. Make them do it.
In all Tacoma Municipal and Pierce County criminal cases, the city or the county is required to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a substantial burden. In many cases, you may also have one or more legal defenses available to you. But these statutory defenses must be properly raised and argued.
All defendants have the right to an attorney at all court hearings. And, it is important that you have a lawyer by your side at all criminal proceedings. This is true even if you do not believe that the offense with which you have been charged is a serious one, and it is especially true if you believe that you have done nothing wrong and are innocent.
If you are a criminal defendant here in Tacoma, Kent, Burien, Renton, Tukwila, Federal Way, Auburn or anywhere in Pierce County, we can help. We know the criminal laws of Washington State. We know the courts. And we know how to protect your rights.
How do I know if I'm being charged with a felony or a misdemeanor?
If you have been cited to appear in the Tacoma Municipal Court, a Pierce County District Court or another city court for a criminal matter, you are either being charged with a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor. These courts do not have jurisdiction to hear felony cases.
If you have been ordered to appear in Pierce County Superior Court, you are being charged with one or more felonies. You may also be facing additional misdemeanor charges. If you have questions about your charges, we can also review your case online and answer all of your questions so long as you have already been charged with a crime.
If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If you are charged with a gross misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Most misdemeanors, with a few exceptions for charges such as DUI or Possession of Marijuana, do not carry a mandatory jail sentence. But a judge can sentence you up to the maximum if he or she believes that it is warranted.
From our centrally located Pierce County offices in downtown Tacoma, we assist clients in Puyallup, Fife, Lakewood, University Place, Bonney Lake, Spanaway, Orting, Buckley, Eatonville, Fircrest, Parkland, Graham, Gig Harbor, Edgewood, and Pacific, as well as all other Pierce County cities.
If you are facing a criminal charge, you don't have to do it alone. We understand the criminal laws of Tacoma and WA State. Let us protect you and your rights.
Our Tacoma criminal attorneys handle all Pierce County Municipal and all Pierce County District Court criminal matters. If you need help with any of the following, please call our offices for a free consultation.
All Pierce County and Tacoma Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants charges (DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving)
All Pierce County and Tacoma Minor Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (Minor DUI/Minor DWI/Minor Drunk Driving)
All Pierce County and Tacoma Shoplifting charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Hit & Run Attended charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Hit & Run Unattended charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Minor in Possession of Alcohol charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Disorderly Conduct charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Possession of Marijuana charges
- All Pierce County and Tacoma Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Reckless Driving charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Negligent Driving charges
- All Pierce County and Tacoma Attempting to Elude a Police Officer charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Reckless Endangerment charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Assault IV charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Assault IV - Domestic Violence charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Harassment charges
- All Pierce County and Tacoma Resisting Arrest charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Harassment - Domestic Violence charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Malicious Mischief charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Malicious Mischief - Domestic Violence charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Protection and No Contact Order Violations charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Degrees of Theft (Shoplifting) charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Criminal Trespass charges
- All Pierce County and Tacoma Obstructing a Police Officer charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Fraud and Forgery Charges charges
- All Pierce County and Tacoma Making a False Statement charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Prostitution charges
All Pierce County and Tacoma Solicitation of a Prostitute charges
- All Pierce County and Tacoma Vehicle Prowling charges
All other Pierce County and Tacoma Misdemeanors and Gross Misdemeanors
Many Pierce County and Tacoma felony matters