Chesapeake Criminal Defense Lawyer

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Clients in Chesapeake, Virginia

When you are placed under arrest for an accusation of a criminal offense, the most important thing you can do in the moment is to stay calm. People make mistakes under pressure, especially while being held by police. To protect your rights during your case, contact a Chesapeake criminal defense attorney.

At Castellano Law Firm PLLC, we provide aggressive representation and clear counsel for people facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Chesapeake. When you work with our firm, we will do everything we can to help you mitigate the possible damage, drawing on past experience as a public defender representing people in jury trials.

How DUI Law Applies in Chesapeake, VA

Virginia DUI law applies uniformly across the state, and Chesapeake drivers face the same legal standards as anyone else charged with driving under the influence. The standard legal limit in Virginia is a BAC of 0.08 percent, though commercial drivers can be charged at 0.04 percent and drivers under 21 face a threshold as low as 0.02 percent.

Drug impairment can also support a DUI charge, and for certain substances, Virginia sets specific blood concentration levels that trigger a charge regardless of whether the driver appeared visibly impaired.

The penalties for a first DUI conviction include a fine, a 12-month suspension of driving privileges, and required participation in the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program. Elevated BAC levels at the time of arrest can add mandatory jail time even on a first offense. Repeat offenses carry significantly heavier penalties, and a third DUI within 10 years is charged as a felony.

The evidence behind a DUI charge, including the circumstances of the stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, and the accuracy of any chemical testing, can all be examined as part of a defense.

Drug Possession, Distribution, and Manufacturing Defense

Drug charges in Chesapeake range from misdemeanor possession of a lesser controlled substance to serious felonies involving the manufacture or distribution of Schedule I or II drugs. The schedule of the substance involved plays a significant role in how a charge is classified and what penalties a conviction carries. Possession of drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl is a felony that can result in years in prison.

Distribution and manufacturing charges carry even heavier exposure. Manufacturing Schedule I or II drugs carries a potential sentence of five to 40 years in prison, and prosecutors pursue these cases aggressively.

How the evidence was gathered is often a central issue in drug cases. When a stop or search lacked the legal foundation it required, the evidence gathered during it may not be usable in court.

In cases where drugs were found in a shared vehicle, residence, or other common space rather than on the accused directly, the prosecution cannot simply point to proximity. They must show that the person knew the drugs were there and had the ability to control them.

Violent Crime Representation

Violent crime charges in Chesapeake cover a broad range of offenses, from assault and battery to robbery, malicious wounding, and homicide. The penalties vary significantly depending on how an offense is classified and the circumstances behind it.

Eyewitness accounts are not always reliable, and physical evidence has to be properly gathered and handled. A single police report does not always represent the full context of an incident. Self-defense, the credibility of the accusation, and whether the prosecution can actually meet its burden of proof are all part of how a defense is evaluated.

Contact a Chesapeake, VA Criminal Defense Attorney

No two criminal cases in Chesapeake are alike, and the right defense depends on understanding the specific facts behind the charge. Call 757-724-0073 or contact our Chesapeake, Virginia criminal defense lawyer to set up a free consultation with Castellano Law Firm PLLC.