Criminal Defense

A charge is not a conviction, and the first days matter more than most people realize. We defend people facing charges in Buchanan County and across Eastern Iowa, starting with an honest read on what you are actually facing.

What we handle

Operating while intoxicated (OWI)

Drug offenses

Theft and property offenses

Assault

Traffic offenses and license matters

Probation violations

Expungement of eligible records

What to do before you talk to anyone

This is the part we wish everyone knew, and it costs nothing.

You do not have to answer questions. Being polite and being talkative are different things. You can decline to answer and ask for a lawyer, and that request is not evidence of anything.

Ask for a lawyer, out loud and clearly. Questioning is supposed to stop once you do. Hinting at it does not count.

Do not discuss the case on a jail phone. Those calls are recorded and they are routinely used at trial.

Write down what you remember, as soon as you can. Times, who was there, what was said, what you had eaten and drunk and when. Memory degrades fast and details matter later.

Do not post about it. Nothing on social media helps, and plenty of it hurts.

Common questions

Should I just plead guilty and get it over with?

Sometimes a plea is the right outcome, but it should be a decision, not a shortcut. Convictions carry consequences beyond the fine: your license, your job, your insurance, your firearm rights, and immigration status if you are not a citizen. Know the whole cost before you accept it.

What happens to my license after an OWI arrest?

There are two separate proceedings, the criminal case and an administrative action against your license, and the administrative one runs on its own short deadline to request a hearing. Miss it and you lose that fight regardless of how the criminal case turns out. Call quickly.

It is only a simple misdemeanor. Do I need a lawyer?

You are entitled to handle it yourself. Before you do, find out what the conviction actually carries. For some charges the fine is the least of it.

Charged, or expecting to be? Call before you give a statement. (319) 334-4488