Facing the Challenge of Criminal Charges in Northern Virginia
If you have been arrested or chartged with a serious criminal offense in Northern Virginia, contact the Sprano Law Firm in Fairfax to learn how experienced criminal defense lawyers can make a difference in your case.
Trial attorneys Michael and Alene Sprano have almost 30 years of criminal defense experience between them. Each started their career as a public defender, where they handled thousands of cases for both juvenile and adult defendants charged with a wide variety of felony and misdemeanor offenses including drug crimes, violent crimes and sex crimes . Both made the move into private practice in order to provide more individualized and intensive advocacy for people accused of criminal offenses.
A Personalized Approach Can Make the Winning Difference
At the Sprano Law Firm, we believe that providing individual attention to each client is an essential part of being a successful criminal defense attorney. We therefore begin each case by listening carefully to our clients. We will take the time to hear your side of the story, your personal circumstances, the outcome you hope to achieve in the current case, and your short and long-term goals. We then work with you to develop and pursue the most effective strategy for your case.
Every case presents options, and every client's situation is unique. We make sure that our work for you meets the demands of the case at hand while looking out for broader personal, family or professional goals.
For example, our first objective in a felony case is to seek a not guilty verdict or a dismissal of the charges. When the facts of the case and the evidence against a defendant make that impossible, the next best alternative may be to negotiate either a reduction of the felony charge to a misdemeanor, or sometimes an agreement that the client will not serve any time in jail or prison, depending on the client's particular circumstances and goals.
When It Makes Sense to Go to Trial, We Fight to Win
There is nothing we like more than to take a case to trial. the reality, though, is that most cases in the criminal justice system are resolved by a plea bargain to reduced charges or lighter sentence. There are times, however, when a person has just simply been wrongly accused and is actually innocent of the charge; or has a good legal defense based on suppression of the prosecution's evidence because of an unlawful search, or insufficient evidence to prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Whatever your situation, you will benefit from having a capable and experienced trial lawyer on your side.
The fact that prosecutors know we are formidible courtroom oponents - and not afraid to take a case to trial - gives us extra negotiating leverage at every stage of the case. Even whent the facts and the law are against us, prosecutors know we will not make it easy for them if the case goes to trial. They also know that we are fair, honest and reasonable people, and it is the combination of these two factors that often helps us get a favorable plea bargain for our clients even in cases that at first glance seem relatively hopeless.
When we do have a strong defense to present, it is sometimes possible to convince the prosecutor to drop the charges completely (resullting in a dismissal or nolle prosequi) without even going to trial.
When neither of those options (plea bargain or pre-trial dismissal) are available, that's when you really need a trial lawyer who know how to win - and experience matters. From our early days as public defenders and continuing into over a decade of private practice devoted exclusively to criminal defense work, we have tried hundreds of cases. Along the way we successfully defended clients against seemingly overwhelming evidence including DNA, taped confessions, eyewitness identifications, and co-defendants' testimony. If your case can be won, we can win it.
Our law firm's criminal defense practice covers the full range of charges in Northern Virginia, from shoplifting, domestic violence, and DUI to serious felony charges involving violent crimes, sex crimes or white collar charges. We represent people in both adult and juvenile courts, state and federal courts. Contact the Sprano Law Firm for a free consultation about the ways we can go to work for you. Our office is located near the Fairfax County courthouse. We're open for appointments Monday through Friday, and we are available by phone and e-mail seven days a week.
