What Should I Do If I Miss Court in Norfolk? What are the Penalties for Failing to Appear in Court in Virginia? How Do Failures to Appear Affect My Bond or Any Future Criminal Cases?

According to the Code of Virginia “whoever…willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required, shall, after notice to all interested parties, incur a forfeiture of any security which may have been given or pledged for his or her release, unless one of the parties can show good cause for excusing the…

How are Shoplifting and Concealment of Merchandise Punished in Virginia?

In Virginia, whoever, without authority, with the intention of converting goods or merchandise to his or her own or another’s use without having paid the full purchase price thereof, or of defrauding the owner of the value of the goods or merchandise, (i) willfully conceals or takes possession of the goods or merchandise of any…

What Types of Powers Do Law Enforcement Officers Have During Times of Rioting in Virginia?

According to the Code of Virginia, if it appears to the Governor that the power of the locality is not sufficient to enable the sheriff or other officer to execute process delivered to him or to suppress riots to preserve the peace, he may order law-enforcement agencies, National Guard, militia or other agencies of the…

2020 Legislative Update From LeCruise Law – New Virginia Laws Go into Effect This Summer

2020 Legislative Update from LeCruise Law – New Virginia Laws Go into Effect in this Summer The following legislation has been approved during the 2020 Virginia General Assembly Session and will become effective laws on July 1, 2020. The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) has published very useful summaries of these new laws and here…

What Should I Do if I am in a Car Accident? What are the Punishments for Hit & Run in Virginia?

If you are in a car accident and someone is injured or there is property damage, Virginia law requires that you immediately stop as close to the scene of the accident without impeding traffic and call the police. You must give the police your name, address, driver’s license number, and vehicle registration number. You must…

New Firearm Crimes in Virginia Go into Effect July 1, 2020

On April 10, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that he signed five (5) new gun control laws, which will go into effect on July 1, 2020. New Virginia gun laws include: A requirement of background checks on all firearm sales, which includes specific criminal punishments for gun buyers and sellers The establishment of an…

What are the Punishments for Giving a False Name to a Police Officer in Virginia?

There is a misdemeanor and felony version of this type of crime in Virginia. Specifically, under Virginia Code Section 19.2-82.1, “any person who falsely identifies himself to a law enforcement officer with the intent to deceive the law enforcement officer as to his real identity after being lawfully detained and after being requested to identify…

What Types of Charges and Convictions Can Be Expunged or Sealed From My Criminal Record?

Expungement laws in Virginia are very limited. While other states are more lenient with regard to expungements, Virginia is not among them. Specifically, Virginia courts do not allow for the expungement of any conviction from your record no matter how old. You are only eligible to petition the court to expunge a charge from your…

How Can I Be Violated While I Am on Supervised Probation?

How Can I Be Violated While I Am on Supervised Probation? If you are convicted of a felony offense in Hampton Roads (whether you plead guilty or go to trial and are found guilty), it is likely that a judge will order that you complete a term of supervised probation. Courts allow probation officers a…

We’ve Moved

We’ve moved (just across the street to the PNC building) – Our new address is 555 East Main Street, Suite 1106 Norfolk, Virginia 23510.