Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Attorney

Being charged with a crime doesn’t have to change the course of your life, but it can. Having the right criminal defense attorney, DUI attorney or drug lawyer working with you to minimize the charges can make all the difference in whether or not your criminal charge plagues you for years to come. For example, receiving your first DUI can be a terrifying ordeal, but there are many options available to you. It helps to have an experienced Pittsburgh defense attorney who knows not only the law, but the prosecutors, law enforcement, and the ins and outs of the courts.

I have a decade of experience successfully defending clients in trial and resolving cases outside of court. My career has been 100 percent dedicated to defending the rights of people who have been accused of a crime right here in the Pittsburgh area. I will walk you through the Pennsylvania legal system and lay out the options available to you under the law. You might be scared or stressed, but I can help alleviate your worries and demystify the consequences.

What sets me apart from other defense lawyers? I will never convince you to take a plea or settle if you want a trial. When you’re a client, we’re a team. I help you understand the options so you can make the best decision for your situation. If you want a trial, I will fight for you. Other attorneys might try to discourage trial because it can be anxiety-inducing or costly for them. I care most about the best possible outcome so you can move on with your life.

If you have recently been pulled over, you need experienced counsel to protect your rights.

Even for a first offense DUI charge, you may face hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines, probation or prison time, and other penalties if convicted. You may have heard about restricted driving privileges or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) as potential alternatives to maintaining your rights. The best way to negotiate these options is to have a skilled Pittsburgh DUI attorney on your side to help defend you.

What happens when you hire a Pittsburgh DUI lawyer to handle your case? The first thing we do is request police reports and any footage from your traffic stop. This will show us if there are any errors with the evidence that can be thrown out in court. We also use this information to start crafting your DUI defense. We have over 15 years of combined experience in analyzing chemical and physical evidence to help our clients achieve the best possible outcome for their DUI cases. To learn how we have successfully represented individuals with their serious DUI cases, read our successful DUI results.

The good news is you don’t have to do this alone. We can answer your questions and much more. At Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC, our Pittsburgh DUI attorneys are skilled at evaluating evidence, building an effective defense, and fighting to reduce your charges. Need help fighting your Pennsylvania DUI? Call us today for a free consultation at (412) 281-2146. We are here 24/7 to learn the details of your case and fight for your rights.

Many criminal defense attorneys will shy away from a trial. In all honesty, they tend to be more costly for attorneys to prepare for a trial since they’re more complex. On the other hand, I’m an experienced Pittsburgh trial attorney who enjoys representing clients in trials and would never encourage you to take a plea if a trial is what you want.

Once you become a client, I’ll work with you to evaluate your case and the Commonwealth’s evidence against you. We’ll discuss every possible option so you can make the right decision for your situation. If – after reviewing the options – you decide you would like to go to trial, I’ll start preparing your defense for court. I will also guide you through the Pennsylvania criminal trial process and the federal criminal trial process so you know exactly what to expect, when to arrive, and more.

Most importantly, I believe in your rights. You have a right to a fair and speedy trial under our nation’s Bill of Rights, and I feel strongly that protecting your rights and your life is important.

You might think that your criminal conviction is a permanent stain on your record. In some instances, this is true – but in others, it’s possible to have your conviction appealed or your record expunged. Call Pittsburgh expungement attorneys today!

If you’ve been convicted of an offense and you feel that you have been wrongly convicted or sentenced, I can review your case to determine if there are legal grounds to appeal your criminal conviction and preserve the legal issue for appeal. If this is the case, I can walk you through the Pennsylvania criminal appeals process and work to improve your legal situation to the best possible outcome I can achieve. This is a complex process that can take up to a year, so a knowledgeable Pittsburgh criminal appeals lawyer (like myself) can be useful.

As you might already know, having a criminal conviction on your record can be problematic for keeping your job, getting hired, obtaining or maintaining security clearances, and more. You might not be able to drive your car for months or years, and you have a shadow following you for wrongdoing. I work with clients to see if they’re eligible for pardons and records expungements. I can assist you in gathering the exhibits to clear your record and your name. Your past doesn’t have to be your future.