Criminal Defense
Strong courtroom advocacy begins long before trial.
Decisions made during an investigation, bail proceedings, discovery, motions drafting, and negotiations can shape both the immediate result and what remains available for review on appeal. A sound defense begins with a complete understanding of the facts, the evidence, and the law—and is built through disciplined work outside the courtroom.
Zernhelt Law represents people under investigation or charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses. We examine how the investigation was conducted, what elements of a crime the prosecution must prove, what the evidence actually shows, what the government omitted or assumed, and which issues must be raised before they are lost. We independently review police reports, witness accounts, statements, body-camera footage, digital and geolocation data, forensic testing, identification procedures, searches, expert opinions, and the chronology of the case. We test the State’s theory against both the evidence it has and the evidence it failed to obtain. When useful, we secure additional records, consult experts, challenge discovery failures, and contest inadmissible evidence. We hold the prosecution to its burden on every count.
Criminal matters we handle include:
Serious felonies and misdemeanors
White-collar offenses and financial crimes
Fraud allegations
Murder and manslaughter
Violent-crime allegations
Assault and domestic charges
Firearm offenses
Drug possession and distribution cases
DUI, DWI, and serious traffic matters
Probation violations
Investigations before charges are filed
Cases involving suppression, forensic evidence, constitutional questions, or expert testimony
Direct advice. Deliberate strategy.
The loudest defense is not always the strongest. Palpable emotional arguments that feel decisive may carry little legal significance, while a technical rule can change the course of a case. Criminal law is built from interconnected statutes, rules, and judicial decisions. The strongest strategy comes from understanding how they fit together—and where they leave room to act.
Effective representation requires knowing how to investigate, when to negotiate, what to file, and when to force an issue. We explain the evidence, available defenses, potential consequences, and risks of each path in plain terms. Clients make the ultimate decisions informed by an accurate understanding of the case—not false assurances or pressure to accept the easiest resolution. We pursue each client’s individual goals from a position built on preparation.
We do not wait for an appeal to identify appellate issues. Constitutional and suppression claims, discovery violations, evidentiary rulings, proffers, jury instructions, sentencing disputes, and other objections often must be raised while the trial court can still address them for them to be reviewable in an appeal. Therefore, an issue that is not properly preserved may never receive meaningful appellate review.
Our appellate experience shapes how we investigate, litigate, and preserve a criminal case from the beginning. We prepare for the proceeding ahead while protecting the record that may later determine whether an error occurred and a case warrants reversal.
Our trial work is strengthened by appellate experience.
Early involvement creates more opportunity to preserve evidence, protect against pressured or ill-advised statements, investigate witnesses, advocate on charging decisions, seek release, and shape the record before positions harden.
Tell us the charges or investigation involved, the court and case number if one exists, the next scheduled court date, and whether you are currently represented.