Criminal Defense

Every year the Ohio Supreme Court proposes rules changes every year, and this year one of the rule changes impacts bail reform and Ohio Criminal Rule 46. One of the major proposed changes is a requirement that defendants have a bail hearing within two business days of...

Yes, police officers and detectives can lie. It is not illegal for them to do so. This does not mean all police officers do lie. But often times when they do, officers or detectives will employ deceptive tactics to suspects or people who they believe have knowledge of...

On March 22nd of this year, indefinite sentencing returned to Ohio through Senate Bill 201 known as the "Reagan Tokes Law." Indefinite sentencing is where a defendant is sentenced to an indefinite range or term of years, with release determinations made by the Parole...

Ohio Revised Code § 2941.148 outlines Ohio's sexually violent predator specification. It can be applied to sexually violent offenses-namely homicide, assault, and kidnapping. This specification can be used to add onto or enhance sentences. The exact enhancement...

Many Ohio drivers find themselves charged with "driving under suspension" after a routine traffic stop. Many of those same drivers had no knowledge that their license was even suspended until they were informed of the suspension by a police officer.There are many...

The attorneys at frequently represent people accused of crimes in Eaton Municipal Court. It is not uncommon for John R. Bernans and Neal Schuett to each have numerous cases pending in Eaton Municipal Court. Our Oxford office is quite close...

Despite Ohio being an open-carry State (meaning individuals do not need a license to carry a firearm openly in public if they are eligible to carry it), concealed carry (or "CCW") permits have become popular. These licenses permit individuals to possess a concealed...

If you have been exposed to the criminal justice system, you've likely witnessed the tremendous power of the prosecution. In a criminal case, the prosecutor has a substantial amount of influence, even before a trial begins.A current example of the prosecution's power...

Criminal charges are scary. A criminal conviction, even a misdemeanor, carries several collateral consequences including employment restrictions, incarceration, lost school opportunities, and reputational costs. Fighting criminal charges can be costly and stressful.If...

In Ohio, a person charged with murder is accused of killing another human being purposefully; in other words, "murder" is when someone intends to kill another person. If no intent to kill exists, then it's not "murder." Anyone that is convicted of murder must be...