Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer

Trust is never more important than when facing allegations of committing a criminal offense. You must trust your attorney, and that means you must find a law firm worthy of your confidence.

Right Path Law Group, led by Founder Pierre Prialé, is a team of fierce, intelligent legal professionals with experience representing clients in Fairfax’s criminal courts. We have helped many clients overcome daunting charges and will help you, too.

Call Right Path Law Group today at (703) 637-9999. Let us introduce you to our firm, answer your questions, and provide much-needed information about how our criminal defense team will fight for you.

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Hire Right Path Law Group to Defend You Against These Criminal Charges

Our criminal defense lawyers are passionate about helping clients overcome their legal entanglements. Because of this passion, we constantly research new strategies, sharpen our familiarity with the case types we handle, and strive to become better lawyers for our clients.

This growth mindset allows us to effectively defend clients charged with:

If you do not see your charges listed here, we still urge you to call Right Path Law Group. Because our lawyers always amass experience and expand their repertoire, we can effectively represent you.

Your Defense Is Beyond Important. You Can Trust Right Path Law Group with Your Reputation.

Who you choose as your attorney matters, just like you would if hiring any other professional, do your due diligence. Considering the stakes of criminal defense, you deserve a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer who meets all your criteria.

The lawyers at Right Path Law Group believe we are the right team to represent you because:

We Have Defended Clients for More Than 15 Years

We believe the more clients you defend, the more skilled you become as a lawyer. This is why we point out that Right Path Law Group has defended clients in the Fairfax area for 15 years and counting.

You can lean on our experience during this critically important time.

An effective criminal defense lawyer requires respecting the judge and prosecutor. We do that.

At the same time, we never lose sight of the fact that:

  • Our foremost responsibility is to you, the client
  • Judges and prosecutors do not always act as they should, and we always stand up for our client’s rights
  • You have a lot to lose—potentially your freedom, financial security, good reputation, and more—and we are the ones responsible for preventing these immense losses
  • We can defend you aggressively while still respecting the criminal justice system, and that’s precisely what we will do

We are professional attorneys with a fighting spirit. That’s the combination you deserve in your law firm of choice.

Lawyers are often referred to as “counselors.” We take this to mean that great criminal defense attorneys focus on their legal duties and prioritize their clients’ well-being and mental health.

Rest assured that we will work hard on legal arguments, motions, and other details of your defense.

We will always:

  • Ensure you have all the information and instruction necessary to protect yourself throughout the legal process
  • Contact you regularly throughout your case
  • Be available at all times to answer your calls, return your texts, and respond to emails
  • Fight for you and serve you with the same fervor with which we’d fight for our own loved one

Excellent legal work does not have to come at the expense of excellent service. In fact, we never provide one without the other.

The Criminal Division of the Fairfax County General District Court May as Well Be Right Path Law Group’s Second Office

No two courts or jurisdictions are identical.

They all have their own unique:

  • Procedures
  • Judges
  • Prosecutors
  • Layouts
  • Reputations 
  • Degrees of leniency

Right Path Law Group has many years of experience leading thousands of cases in Fairfax General District Court. This experience matters.

Because this specific court is like our second officer, we:

  • Are familiar with local judges, one of whom may oversee your case
  • Know the prosecutors who work in the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney (OCA), which is the office that tries criminal cases
  • Have dealt with the prosecutor’s office on behalf of many clients, which may help us in negotiating a favorable plea agreement or even benefit us if your case goes to trial
  • Know the unique formatting guidelines and procedures the court requires of us

Familiarity does not guarantee the success of a criminal defense, but it can certainly benefit you. Right Path Law Group’s long history defending clients in Fairfax is another reason you should choose us as your attorneys.

Call Right Path Law Group today at (703) 637-9999 to learn more about why our Fairfax criminal defense attorneys are more than qualified to represent you.

Now Is the Time to Fight—Let an Experienced Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer Help.

Once you’re convicted, you lose your claim to innocence.

We have to emphasize: Now is the time to fight. You owe it to your current and future self to make the most of this defense window. We believe that hiring the Right Path Law Group to handle your case is the most effective, self-serving step you can take.

We must point out that:

  • If you do not have a strategy for your defense, the prosecutor will likely try to impose the most severe sentence they can
  • Once you are convicted, you cannot undo it (unless on successful appeal, which is a worst-case strategy for any defendant)
  • Your conviction may remain on your record for many years, as Virginia makes expungement challenging to obtain
  • While you have a right to a Court-appointed attorney, wise defendants proactively choose the law firm they want to represent them. A criminal case is not a time to simply accept the lawyer the court assigns you

Virginia’s Code of Criminal Procedure accurately states that a conviction can hinder a Virginian’s ability to obtain employment, an education, and credit. These significant consequences of a conviction are far from the only fallout you may face if you do not effectively defend yourself.

You Must Face What’s Truly at Stake in Your Criminal Case—Every Legal Matter Is Serious

We empower clients with complete information. This extends to the potential consequences of a conviction.

The worst mistake you can make is downplaying the seriousness of your case, so we have no reservations about sharing these penalties and non-legal consequences with you.

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The legal penalties you may face will depend on the nature of the charges against you. Virginia law differentiates felony and misdemeanor offenses by class, with Class 1 the most serious and Class 6 the least serious.

The maximum penalties associated with each felony Class are:

  • Class 1 felony: If convicted of a Class 1 felony, you may face life imprisonment without parole and a fine of up to $100,000.
  • Class 2 felony: You may face life in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 and a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted of a Class 2 felony.
  • Class 3 felony: A Class 3 felony conviction may expose you to up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
  • Class 4 felony: The maximum penalty for a Class 4 felony conviction is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.
  • Class 5 felony: Even a Class 5 felony conviction can expose you to a ten-year prison term and a fine of up to $2,500.
  • Class 6 felony: A Class 6 felony conviction may result in a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $2,500.

This is not to say you would receive these penalties if convicted, but you need to know the maximum penalty for each Class of felony. At the very least, this can help you accept the gravity of your case and the critical importance of having a capable defense.

Remember that variables, such as your criminal history (if you have one) and the unique details of circumstances that led to your charges, may lead to the escalation of charges against you.

You need one of our Fairfax criminal defense lawyers to evaluate your case and explain exactly what is at stake.

Misdemeanor offenses are also sorted into several classes, and the maximum legal penalty for each of those classes is:

  • Class 1 misdemeanor: A Class 1 misdemeanor conviction can result in a jail term of up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500.
  • Class 2 misdemeanor: A Class 2 misdemeanor conviction may result in a sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
  • Class 3 misdemeanor: A Class 3 misdemeanor conviction can cause a fine of up to $500.
  • Class 4 misdemeanor: A conviction for this Class of misdemeanor can result in a fine of up to $250.

As you can see, misdemeanors—often portrayed as minor compared to felonies—can be quite serious. That said, getting a charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor or a serious misdemeanor to a lesser misdemeanor can constitute a win in certain cases.

The Extra-Legal Consequences of a Conviction

Defendants must be just as cognizant of extra-legal consequences as the penalties a judge can hand down. In many cases, the non-legal consequences of being convicted in Virginia are substantially more severe than the formal sentence.

Some of the unpleasant realities you might have to face after a criminal conviction include:

  • Losing your job, which can stunt your career progress and earning power
  • Losing your housing, as well as having trouble being approved for housing in the future
  • Losing custody of children and potentially not regaining custody
  • Suffering the mental health challenges that can arise from personal problems, financial difficulties, and reputational loss

People you care about—and people you may need to thrive, like employers and landlords—may view you differently following a conviction. Take these potential consequences seriously because we certainly do at Right Path Law Group.

How a Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer from Our Team Will Fight for You

We are a full-service criminal defense firm. We will waste no time in building your defense, which will likely mean:

Counseling You as Soon as We Become Your Attorneys

You deserve a meeting with your lawyer at the start of your case, as this conversation will:

  • Establish mutual expectations
  • Allow us to learn your vision for your defense
  • Give us the chance to evaluate the facts and evidence with you
  • Serve several other vital purposes

Direct access to your lawyer is one of the greatest benefits of hiring Right Path Law Group, and that benefit is effective immediately.

Formulating a One-of-One Strategy for Your Case

Once we have secured all relevant evidence and information, we will present you with our case strategy, which we create from scratch and personalize for you.

Gauging Your Tolerance for a Plea Agreement and Negotiating the Best Possible Deal (If You’re Open to It)

We believe the tenacity of our fight is unrivaled. Whether we are negotiating a plea agreement or presenting your defense in court, we will be your most impassioned advocate.

Call Right Path Law Group Today to Connect with a Fairfax Criminal Defense Attorney

Pierre Prialé - Attorney
Pierre Prialé, Fairfax Criminal Defense Lawyer

Your Fairfax criminal defense lawyer should care about your case just as much as you do. The attorneys at Right Path Law Group put ourselves in our client’s shoes and are motivated to get the best possible outcome for you.

You will be better able to sleep knowing our qualified attorneys are fighting for you. Call Right Path Law Group today at (703) 637-9999.

Fairfax Office
10387 Main St #204,
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-637-9999