Tacoma Criminal Defense Attorneys

Providing Experienced Legal Representation to Those Charged with a Crime

Being charged with a crime is an emotionally charged event. It can be scary, nerve-racking, embarrassing, anxious, and frustrating, just to name a few emotions. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or a felony, our Tacoma criminal defense attorneys at South Sound Law Group take great pride in representing all of our clients with great skill, experience, and compassion.

A criminal charge can put you at risk for jail time (or prison time), large fines, probation, and a host of other additional requirements (at a cost to you) like classes and/or evaluations for mental health, alcohol or drug abuse, anger management, or domestic violence courses. In addition, depending on the type of charge you are facing, you could face license suspensions, revocations, and immigration consequences. You could lose your ability to receive certain types of federal programs, like student loans, and the loss of other important constitutional rights, like your right to possess a firearm or vote.

Whatever you’re facing, we have a team of highly qualified criminal defense attorneys to get you through this difficult time. We strive to not only provide excellent representation but also to provide you with peace of mind by creating the necessary trust that you know we’re doing everything we can for you. We also believe that it is our duty to help guide you through the entire process, like where to get an evaluation, how to get your license reinstated, etc.

What Types of Criminal Cases Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer at South Sound Law Group Represent?

Our attorneys have represented clients in state and federal courts in various types of criminal cases, from violent crimes to misdemeanor charges. Whatever criminal offenses you were charged with, you have civil rights that deserve to be defended. The lawyers of our firm will provide a steadfast defense to the accused in an attempt to see charges dropped or reduced or in hopes of jail time and fines being limited.

Our law offices represent clients in western Washington accused of the following:

Assault
Domestic violence
Drug charges
DUI
Harassment
Malicious mischief
Minor in possession
Theft, robbery, and stolen property crimes
Vehicular homicide

If you do not see your particular criminal offense listed here, please contact a defense attorney at our firm anyway, as we may still be able to provide legal assistance in other practice areas relating to criminal law not listed on our website. Our law offices provide a free consultation to all new clients.

Do You Need an Attorney for Your Criminal Legal Issue

Regardless of your past record or the charges against you, a strong criminal defense can make a difference in the outcome of your case. A criminal defense attorney will explore all available legal options to ensure you receive fair treatment under the law. This often involves a thorough investigation into law enforcement procedures, arrest protocols, and search warrants to uncover any violations of your rights.

Legal Errors

Mistakes made by police or prosecutors can significantly affect a criminal case. If law enforcement violates search and seizure laws or fails to follow proper procedures, evidence obtained illegally may be deemed inadmissible. In some cases, such errors could lead to a complete dismissal of charges. Even when a case proceeds, exposing procedural flaws can weaken the prosecution’s arguments and potentially reduce the severity of the charges against you.

Probable Cause and Unlawful Arrests

Your defense lawyer may examine whether the police had probable cause for an arrest or a valid warrant for a search. Officers sometimes act aggressively or negligently, leading to unlawful detentions or improper handling of evidence. No matter the charges you face, your constitutional rights still matter, and your attorney will work to ensure they are fully protected.

Burden of Proof

It’s crucial to remember that you are innocent until proven guilty. Prosecutors must provide clear and convincing evidence of your alleged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. A strong legal defense doesn’t need to prove innocence—it only needs to establish doubt about the prosecution’s claims.

Why You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

Even if you are completely innocent, never assume the legal system will work in your favor without skilled legal representation. Prosecutors aggressively pursue convictions, and without proper defense strategies, you could face severe consequences. Working with a criminal defense attorney familiar with your charges can help protect your rights, challenge the prosecution’s case, and fight for the most favorable outcome.

Please contact South Sound Law Group to schedule a free consultation if you’re facing criminal charges.

What Should Be Done in Cases of a Minor Charged with a Crime?

Almost as frightening as the feeling of handcuffs snapping shut over your wrists is the chilling phone call from your child, calling from a jail cell in the middle of the night. Though statistics show that juvenile arrests are trending downwards in recent years — 2019 saw fewer minors arrested for crimes than any year over the past four decades — there are still hundreds of thousands of juvenile arrests made each year across the United States.

Studies show that young people of color are arrested more frequently and treated differently by the juvenile justice system. And while males made up the majority of those arrested, females now made up a third of the minors accused of illegal offenses in the country.

While it can be tempting to brush this arrest off as part of being young in America, juvenile matters of a legal sort tend to follow a person as they get older, with a criminal record making it harder for them to get a job, a loan, or housing.

Rehabilitation Options

Thankfully, the state of Washington recognizes that bringing the full force of the criminal justice system down on young people is not helpful to them or to society. Washington attempts to rehabilitate minors charged with crimes in hopes that they do not become lifelong criminals. This often involves community service and other features of government-run rehabilitation programs.

It is possible to argue for lighter sentencing with one of our Tacoma criminal defense attorneys. And, if the minor does what the courts ask of them, it may be possible to have their criminal records sealed in time.

Is Domestic Violence a Felony Charge in the State of Washington?

Domestic abuse and violence are a problem in this country, with millions of claims being made every year. A domestic violence charge may be accompanied by several other offenses, such as assault, harassment, reckless endangerment, malicious mischief, threats made with a deadly weapon, rape, kidnapping or false imprisonment, criminal trespassing, burglary, coercion, and damaged property crimes. In some of the most unfortunate cases, domestic abuse ends with a charge of manslaughter or murder.

To be charged, the law says that the two must share the same living space, be romantic partners (or ex-partners), have a child together, or otherwise be directly related to one another. And it’s important to know that, to be convicted of this crime, the accused does not even need to lay a finger on the other person. Emotional abuse, psychological abuse, and financial or economic abuse all qualify as domestic violence.

If the officer who arrives on the scene sees any probable cause, it is their duty to arrest the accused. And the victim cannot drop the charges once they’ve been filed — only the prosecutor has this option.

The majority of DV cases in Washington state are charged as misdemeanors, meaning that those convicted may face 90 days in jail and a fine of a thousand dollars. A gross misdemeanor charge can result in nearly a year of jail time and fines up to $5,000.

More severe examples, where more violence was delivered upon the victim, or there was a violation of a no-contact order, may be charged as felonies. A Class C felony domestic violence case may result in five years of prison time and fines up to $10,000. At the same time, a Class A DV felony could come with it a lifetime prison sentence and fines close to $50,000.

As with any other crime, those who have been charged are considered innocent until proven guilty in a courtroom trial. The lawyers for the supposed victim will attempt to provide evidence that the abuse took place and it is up to the criminal defense attorneys to either disprove the allegations or make room for reasonable doubt.

We have represented clients charged with violence against their domestic partners before. Every person deserves a fair trial and a strong defense, and you will find a lawyer at our firm ready and willing to provide you with that. If you’re facing DV charges, particularly for an incident that caused severe personal injury to another person, please do not wait to talk to a lawyer about these very serious legal matters.

Consult Our Tacoma Criminal Defense Attorneys Today

A criminal charge is scary and can be complicated; it’s our job to provide direction and calm. If you meet with local criminal defense attorneys in Tacoma and they aren’t willing to spend the time with you, answer questions, and explain the legal process before you’ve given them any money, how do you think they will behave once you’ve entered the courtroom?

Whether you’re looking to build a criminal defense against accusations of misconduct or want to speak about a DUI defense for traffic violations, you will find an experienced attorney at our firm who is ready to provide you with a dedicated and aggressive legal defense.

Still have questions? Give us a call and speak with a member of our legal team, or better yet, call or e-mail to set up an appointment to meet face to face.

Schedule your free consultation at 253-465-2722 with the law offices of South Sound Law Group today.