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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Charleston, WV

Our Recommended Best Charleston Criminal Defense Lawyers

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Charleston criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

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Providers

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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
3744 Teays Valley Road, Suite 204, Hurricane, WV 25526

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (9)
Yelp
3.0 (2)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Barney Law PLLC upholds the rights of the accused in criminal defense proceedings in Charleston and the rest of West Virginia. The firm handles various cases, ranging from DUI and domestic battery to serious felony charges, including murder. Focusing on protecting constitutional rights, it also assists inmates with habeas corpus and post-conviction cases. Known for thorough legal representation, Barney Law has been helping clients navigate complex legal challenges while striving for fair outcomes since its foundation in 2015.

Criminal defense attorney Mark A. Barney has been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in West Virginia. He has also earned accolades such as the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a Super Lawyer designation by Thomson Reuters. Barney contributes to the legal community as a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and other professional organizations.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
805 Bigley Avenue, Charleston, WV 25302

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.3 (48)
Yelp
3.7 (6)
Avvo
3.5 (2)

Why choose this provider?

With more than 30 years of legal experience, The Law Offices of Claude S. Smith, III, provides legal counsel and representation to locals of Charleston, West Virginia. With its criminal defense services, it helps clients facing criminal charges reduce their eventual penalties, guides them through the process of getting the charges against them dropped, and protects them from having a crime on their permanent record. The legal practice also examines the evidence against the accused and checks whether law enforcement officers have complied with arrest protocols.

Claude S. Smith III takes an aggressive approach to defending clients who have been accused of crime. He encourages them to ask questions and keeps them updated on the progress of their case. Claude is a recipient of multiple awards for his performance across various practice areas.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
105 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (11)
Facebook
5.0 (1)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Carrico Law Offices is a family-oriented practice with a hands-on approach to tackling criminal defense cases and leveraging its extensive experience to defend the accused. Serving Charleston and the rest of West Virginia, the firm handles state crimes, like DUI and small-scale drug offenses, and federal crimes, such as embezzlement, money laundering, sexual abuse, and serious drug cases. The Carrico Law Offices has been providing aggressive legal representation to clients for over 45 years.

Timothy "Tim" Carrico previously worked as an assistant prosecutor. He possesses two decades of legal expertise, and his experience spans both state and federal courts. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia and the U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit. Carrico graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
707 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25301

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC deals with cases involving criminal allegations in Charleston and adjacent cities in West Virginia. Its criminal defense lawyers perform internal corporate investigations and collaborate with regulators and prosecutors to help defendants acquire evidence that demonstrates that they are not guilty. Additionally, they help their clients achieve positive outcomes for their cases by defending their interests at every level of the criminal justice system, including appeals and trials. The firm has been in the legal sector since 1923.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
3818 MacCorkle Avenue Southeast, Charleston, WV 25304

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (104)
FindLaw
5.0 (4)
Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC, has handled more than 2,000 legal cases and trials since its inception. Serving Charleston and West Virginia, it fights for the interests of those who have been arrested or charged with criminal violations. The firm handles felony and misdemeanor cases and aggressively scrutinizes law enforcement records to check for inconsistencies or errors in evidence gathering. It also addresses cases involving assault, domestic violence, drug crimes, and illegal possession of firearms.

John Balenovich has tried more than 150 cases in 52 of West Virginia's 55 counties. He has been quoted in “The Wall Street Journal,” appeared on A&E’s television show “The First 48,” and delivered speeches at legal seminars across the state. He received his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
16 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (37)

Why choose this provider?

Since 2020, Walters Law Firm, PLLC, has been assisting citizens of Charleston and surrounding locations in West Virginia who are facing criminal charges for negligent activities that caused injuries to others. It carries out independent investigations to help its clients get proof that their activities did not cause the accident. Additionally, it protects its clients' rights and interests in court and partakes in settlement negotiations to help them avoid being held financially liable for any damages suffered by other people.

Ron Walters Jr. is an experienced insurance and financial settlement consultant who earned his Juris Doctor degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2018. He is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
716 Lee Street East, Charleston, WV 25301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (123)
Facebook
5.0 (6)
Avvo
4.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Pritt & Spano, PLLC, provides individuals with criminal defense in locations in West Virginia, such as Charleston. It defends clients against the aggressive attacks of the prosecution. The firm provides legal protection in cases of felonies, misdemeanors, expungements, white collar crimes, and DUI. It investigates cases and looks for factors that can render evidence against defendants inadmissible, such as violations of their rights. Pritt & Spano has helped clients recover more than $50 million within its first six years of operation.

Joseph H. Spano Jr., Pritt & Spano’s managing partner, is a criminal defense attorney. He founded the firm after serving as Kanawha County’s senior assistant prosecuting attorney. Spano tried more than 100 bench trials for misdemeanor at the Magistrate Court. He also worked in the Circuit Court before Judge Charles King Jr., where he covered felony trials, probations, home confinement violations, expungement hearings, and plea agreements.

Joseph H. Spano Jr., Pritt & Spano’s managing partner, is a criminal defense attorney. He founded the firm after serving as Kanawha County’s senior assistant prosecuting attorney. Spano tried more than 100 bench trials for misdemeanor at the Magistrate Court. He also worked in the Circuit Court before Judge Charles King Jr., where he covered felony trials, probations, home confinement violations, expungement hearings, and plea agreements.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
205 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (74)
Facebook
5.0 (5)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Zerbe & Pence, PLLC, has more than 15 years of experience providing legal services to those who require criminal defense services in Charleston, West Virginia. The law firm navigates the justice system to assist individuals wrongly accused of a crime in avoiding conviction and prison time. It offers legal services to those facing charges of assault, public intoxication, drug crimes, shoplifting, and domestic battery. The legal practice also provides consultation to those who have committed traffic violations or faced DUI charges.

David Pence has successfully defended many DUI cases, including the notable Meadows v. Reed, at the West Virginia Supreme Court. He is a member of the National College of DUI Defense and a certified operator of the Intoximeter EC/IR II breath machine. David also teaches at DUI seminars for public defenders and legal aides.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Charleston
707 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25323

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Carey Douglas Kessler & Ruby PLLC offers criminal defense services to individuals charged with crimes in Charleston and across West Virginia. It is led by former federal prosecutors who possess the investigative expertise and determination to pursue the truth wherever it may lead. The firm employs innovative tactics to shift the balance in its clients' favor, mitigate their sentences, or secure the dismissal of their cases. The firm has been providing legal representation services for three decades.

Criminal defense lawyer Michael Carey previously held the position of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States. He also served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. He achieved the distinction of graduating at the top of his class from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Compare Best Charleston Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Barney Law PLLC
3744 Teays Valley Road, Suite 204, Hurricane, WV 25526
Law Offices of Claude S. Smith, III
805 Bigley Avenue, Charleston, WV 25302
Carrico Law Offices LC
105 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301
Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC
707 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25301
John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC
3818 MacCorkle Avenue Southeast, Charleston, WV 25304
Walters Law Firm, PLLC
16 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301
Pritt & Spano, PLLC
716 Lee Street East, Charleston, WV 25301
Zerbe & Pence, PLLC
205 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301
Carey, Scott, Douglas & Kessler, PLLC
707 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25323

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Charleston, WV Criminal Defense FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Charleston, West Virginia?

    The non-emergency contact number for the Charleston Police Department is 304-348-8111.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Charleston, West Virginia?

    You may get a copy of the police report for incidents related to your case at the Charleston Police Department's Records Division, located on the Court Street side of City Hall at 501 Virginia Street.

  • What are the commonly reported crimes in Charleston?

    The most commonly reported crime in Charleston is theft, with a rate of 13.11 per 1,000 residents in a standard year. Other commonly reported crimes are vandalism, with a rate of 8.153, and burglary, with a rate of 3.019. Assault, drug crimes, identity theft, and arson also occur more than other criminal offenses.

  • What are the safest neighborhoods in Charleston?

    According to data culled from local law enforcement agencies, the safest neighborhoods in Charleston are Rocky Fork, Loudon Heights, Sissonville, South Hills West, and Derricks Creek. Other relatively safe areas in the metro include Tyler Heights, Guthrie, Blount, and Loudendale. In general, however, Charleston has one of the highest crime rates in the country for its size.

  • What is the criminal process for Charleston DUI charges?

    Following a DUI arrest in Charleston, the defendant will be arraigned and released from jail within 24 hours of their arrest. After the release, he or she will receive a hearing notice from the local municipal or magistrate court. Failure to appear at one’s hearing may lead to the issuing of bench warrants and many of one’s rights being waived.

  • How does Charleston penalize drug offenses?

    Possession of marijuana, which is the most common drug crime in Charleston, is punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. Other drug crimes, such as the manufacturing, transport, distribution, and sale of illegal substances are considered felony offenses. The penalties are also increased if there is death or bodily injury involved.

  • Who investigates Charleston federal crimes?

    Depending on the nature of the crime, federal offenses in Charleston are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service. These authorities often work together with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston. Examples of federal crimes include fraud, tax evasion, and bribery.