Ohio Criminal Defense — FAQ

No. Exercise your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer. You cannot talk your way out of charges, and statements made without counsel are the single most common way strong cases are lost. Be polite, do not resist, do not consent to searches, and call us.

Misdemeanors are less serious offenses (up to 180 days in jail) heard in municipal or county courts. Felonies are serious offenses heard in Common Pleas Court that carry prison terms from 6 months up to 11 years or more, plus a felony record with lasting consequences.

Frequently. Suppressing an unlawful stop or search, exposing weak proof of intent or identity, contesting the value in a theft case, or negotiating from a position of trial readiness can all lead to reduced charges, diversion, or outright dismissal.

Very. First-degree felonies carry 3–11 years (indefinite under Reagan Tokes for qualifying offenses), and many felonies carry mandatory prison or firearm specifications. See our Ohio penalty ranges page for the full framework.

Yes — across all of those categories and more, including traffic and vehicular crimes, juvenile cases, probation violations, and record sealing. We do not handle sex offenses. Browse our practice areas for detail on specific charges.

ILC lets eligible defendants whose offense was related to drug or alcohol dependence complete treatment and supervision instead of being convicted. Successful completion results in dismissal. Eligibility is technical and should be evaluated by counsel early.

Often, yes — and Ohio's S.B. 288 (2023) dramatically expanded eligibility and created true expungement. Most misdemeanors and many non-violent felonies are now eligible after a waiting period. See our record sealing & expungement page.

We serve nine Southern Ohio counties — Lawrence, Scioto, Jackson, Gallia, Athens, Adams, Meigs, Pike, and Ross — from our Ironton and Chesapeake offices, and appear in courts throughout the region regardless of where the case is heard.

It depends on the charge, the evidence, and whether the case is likely to go to trial. We discuss fees openly at the free initial consultation. The cost of a strong defense is almost always far less than the lifelong cost of a conviction.

Yes. OVI is its own technical practice and we maintain a dedicated site for it at mfcdui.com. Our attorneys are NHTSA Field Sobriety Instructors and National College of DUI Defense members.