Athens County Criminal Defense Attorney

Charged with a crime in Athens County? McCown, Fisher & Cremeans defends felony and misdemeanor cases in the Athens County Common Pleas Court and the local municipal court — with the same procedural rigor we bring to every courtroom in our nine-county Southern Ohio footprint.

Reviewed by Brian M. Cremeans, Esq. · Updated October 2026

Criminal Defense in Athens County

Home of Ohio University, Athens County sees an active criminal and student-related docket — including underage-alcohol, drug, and disorderly-conduct cases — particularly around the academic calendar.

Athens County sits in the Hocking River valley and US-33 corridor, home to Ohio University. We defend clients in Athens and throughout the county, including Athens, Nelsonville, The Plains, Glouster, Albany, Chauncey, Coolville, Amesville, and Jacksonville. Charges in this part of Southern Ohio commonly arise from traffic stops along the county’s main routes, searches of homes and vehicles, and incidents involving the Athens County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Charges We Defend in Athens County

We handle the full range of felony and misdemeanor charges in Athens County, in both the Common Pleas and municipal courts:

How a Athens County Criminal Case Works

Charging. Misdemeanors are filed in the Athens County Municipal Court; felonies are presented to a Athens County grand jury and indicted into the Athens County Common Pleas Court in Athens.
Arraignment & bond. We address bond and release conditions early so you can keep working and living your life while the case is pending.
Discovery & investigation. We obtain the reports, body-camera and dash-camera video, lab results, and witness statements, and conduct our own independent investigation.
Suppression. Where the facts support it, we move to suppress evidence obtained through an unlawful stop, search, or interrogation — which can gut the State’s case.
Resolution. We negotiate for dismissal, diversion, or reduction from a position of trial readiness — and try the case to a Athens County jury when that is the right call.

Local Courts & Law Enforcement

Athens County criminal matters move through the Athens County Common Pleas Court (felonies) and the Athens County Municipal Court (misdemeanors), with the Athens County Prosecuting Attorney representing the State. Arrests are made by the Athens County Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. We know these courthouses, the local docket practices, and how cases actually move in Athens County.

Free Athens County Consultation

Call (740) 532-8744 for a free, confidential review of your Athens County charge. Both attorneys take Athens County cases personally, and we respond the same business day in most cases.

Local Court Information

Athens County Courts, Prosecutor & Sheriff

Common Pleas Court

Felony cases & indicted matters.

Athens County Common Pleas Court
1 South Court Street, 3rd Floor, Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-3591

Municipal Court

Misdemeanor & traffic cases.

Athens County Municipal Court
8 East Washington Street, Athens, OH 45701
(740) 592-3328

Prosecutor & Sheriff

The State’s case & arresting agency.

Athens County Prosecuting Attorney
1 South Court Street, First Floor, Athens, OH 45701
(740) 592-3208

Athens County Sheriff's Office

Drive from Ironton (HQ): ~45–50 miles. Athens County seat: Athens. County population (2020): 62,431.

Athens County — Common Questions

Athens County Criminal Defense FAQ

Where will my criminal case be heard in Athens County?

It depends on the level of the charge. Felony cases are prosecuted in the Athens County Common Pleas Court in Athens, while misdemeanors and most traffic offenses are heard in the Athens County Municipal Court. We appear regularly in both courts and handle the case wherever it is filed.

Do you represent clients throughout Athens County, Ohio?

Yes. McCown, Fisher & Cremeans defends clients across all of Athens County — including Athens, Nelsonville, The Plains, Glouster, Albany, Chauncey, and the surrounding communities. No matter where in the county your charge originates, we can represent you.

How quickly can I reach a Athens County criminal defense lawyer?

Right away. Call (740) 532-8744 for a free, confidential consultation. We respond the same business day in most Athens County matters, and the first 48 hours after an arrest are when an attorney can do the most to protect your rights and your record.

How far is your office from Athens?

Our Ironton headquarters is ~45–50 miles from Athens, and we also have an office in Chesapeake. We routinely travel to the Athens County courts, and we offer virtual appointments and texting (text us at (220) 215-0832) — so distance is never a barrier to representation.

The Short Version.

What this page covers: Athens County, Ohio criminal defense — felony and misdemeanor charges in Athens and surrounding communities (Athens, Nelsonville, The Plains, Glouster, Albany, Chauncey).

Bottom line: If you have been charged with a crime in Athens County, call (740) 532-8744 before speaking with anyone. The first 48 hours matter most.

Where this comes from: the Athens County Common Pleas Court, the Athens County Municipal Court, the Ohio Revised Code, and 50+ years of combined criminal-defense experience at McCown, Fisher & Cremeans LPA, with offices in Ironton and Chesapeake.

For specific advice on your case: call (740) 532-8744 for a free, same-day Athens County consultation.

Free, Confidential Consultation. Same-Day Response. Two Offices.

An arrest is not a conviction. The sooner an attorney is reviewing the stop, the search, and the State’s evidence, the more options you have. Call now or request a free case review — there is no cost and no obligation.

Call (740) 532-8744 Free Case Review