Criminal defense in Abingdon, Tazewell, Bristol, and Southwest Virginia counties.

Facing criminal charges in Southwest Virginia?

A criminal charge should be met with clear advice, careful review, and a defense plan tied to the facts. Letsen Law Firm helps people understand what comes next before choices are made.

Call 276-525-4370 or 276-385-1111

Mountain road winding through the forested ridges of Southwest Virginia

Start with the kind of charge you are facing.

Charge pages

Assault and batteryA fact-specific review of the allegation, witnesses, and context.
Drug chargesPossession, distribution allegations, evidence, and search issues require careful review.
Sex crimesA discreet, non-sensational path for sensitive allegations.
Murder and homicideSerious allegations require immediate confidential counsel.

Charge pages

Criminal-case orientation

The charge name is only the beginning of the review.

Virginia criminal cases can begin through different kinds of warrants, summonses, indictments, or arrests. The court, classification of the allegation, procedural stage, and available evidence determine which questions need attention first.

Start with the paperwork and the current stage.

An arraignment, bond hearing, misdemeanor trial, preliminary hearing, and circuit-court proceeding serve different purposes. Virginia’s General District Courts hear traffic matters and misdemeanors and conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases. The paperwork and online court information can help identify where the case stands.

Keep warrants, summonses, bond papers, and release conditions together.
Confirm the court name, case number, and next date.
Preserve messages, photographs, video, records, and witness information.
Follow every protective order, bond condition, and no-contact instruction.

Evidence is reviewed in context, not by label.

Witness statements, physical evidence, digital communications, searches, laboratory work, medical records, and recordings can raise different factual and legal questions. Early review helps identify what exists, what should be preserved, and what the Commonwealth may rely upon.

A former-prosecutor perspective can help organize those questions, but it does not create special access or guarantee a result. The analysis remains tied to the evidence and current law.

Use the charge pages to prepare better questions.

The pages below explain the kinds of facts that may matter in the areas the firm handles. They provide general information only. A confidential consultation is where the exact statute, procedural posture, and available options can be discussed.

Read criminal-defense questions →Browse Letsen Law Firm’s legal articles →About Michael J. Letsen →

Official sources

Virginia General District Court overview ↗Virginia court-system overview ↗

Statutes and court information can change. These links are provided for general reference; the current law and the documents in an individual case require separate review.

Why Letsen Law Firm

A former prosecutor explains the pressure points.

Michael J. Letsen started his career prosecuting cases. Today, that perspective helps him ask how the Commonwealth may frame a case and where the defense review should focus.

“I want to help you fight to achieve the best possible result in your case.”

– Michael J. Letsen

Every defense starts with a careful review of the facts.

The defense process

The first steps should be understandable.

1.
Talk through what happened in confidence.
2.
Review the charge, court date, and paperwork.
3.
Identify evidence, witnesses, and context that may matter.
4.
Discuss case-dependent options before deciding how to proceed.

Speak with the office before the case moves further.

The first conversation is free, confidential, and focused on helping you see the next step.

Abingdon

276-525-4370

Tazewell

276-385-1111

Prefer to write first? Visit the contact page.