Salem

Trustworthy Salem Criminal Defense Lawyer to Represent You

Salem is a historic Essex County city on the coast of Massachusetts with a population of 44,480. Popular sites around the city include the Pioneer Village, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the House of Seven Gables. However, the city also has a high crime rate—it’s higher than 91% of all the state’s cities. Becoming a victim of a property crime in the city is more likely than becoming the victim of a violent crime; one in 75 people become property crime victims. Meanwhile one in 431 people become victims of violent crime. If you were charged with an offense, your freedom is at stake. You should contact effective Salem criminal defense lawyer Ryan P. Sullivan to build the strongest available defense based on the particular facts and law. As a former prosecutor and award winning Assistant District Attorney with a good reputation among prosecutors and judges alike, Mr. Sullivan brings skill, insights and experience into how the state thinks about cases to providing a vigorous defense to the accused. He handles violent crimes, sex crimes, traffic violations, weapons charges, drug crimes, and DUI.

Defending Crimes in Salem

When the government charges you with a crime in Salem, it must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a high standard, but the state typically has significant resources at its disposal. To stay on a level playing field when you’ve been accused, it is crucial to retain a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to represent you.

Often, the consequences of a criminal conviction, particularly a felony conviction, are truly life-altering. Your sentence could include prison time, fines, probation, along with a record that follows you long into the future and affects your prospects in employment, housing, and education. Mr. Sullivan can look at the circumstances of your case and tailor a defense to the Salem criminal charges. The defense could involve your procedural or substantive rights, or errors in your case, or exceptions under the law.

Violent Crimes

Violent crimes are those acts that involve the use of physical force, verbal threats of violence, or weapons against another person. These charges, which are often aggressively prosecuted, include:

• murder,
• homicide,
• assault, battery,
• domestic violence,
• strangulation or suffocation,
• kidnapping,
• home invasion,
• carjacking,
• and mayhem.

Defenses we may be able to raise include self-defense, defense of others, or reasonable doubt. In some cases, the credibility of the alleged victim or constitutional and procedural violations of your rights can be used to build a strong defense at trial or to negotiate a plea deal.

Sex Crimes

Sex crimes include:

• rape,
• child pornography,
• sexual assault,
• battery,
• lewdness,
• indecent assault,
• prostitution,
• Internet sex crimes,
• and human trafficking.

Convictions can result in harsh sentences, including a requirement that you register as a sex offender, a requirement that can haunt you far into the future as this information is readily available to the public. Many sex crimes boil down to he-said/she-said accounts, and it is critical to retain legal counsel that understands how to investigate an alleged victim’s credibility.

Property Crimes

Property crimes include:

• larceny,
• burglary,
• trespass,
• shoplifting,
• buying stolen goods,
• arson,
• forgery,
• and robbery.

Larceny is a broad group of many different kinds of theft crimes governed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Section 30. It occurs whenever someone takes possession of property belonging to another person without their consent. Sentencing in these cases, as with other criminal charges, depends on the circumstances surrounding the case, and the particular charges.

OUI and Drug Crimes

Prosecutors take drug and operating under the influence (OUI, sometimes known as DUI or DWI) charges seriously. As in other states, prior offenses can result in an enhancement in your case, though the state does not have a “lookback period” per se. However, even a first time DUI charge can result in a hike in insurance rates, loss of driving privileges and license suspension, mandatory participation in certain programs, and significant fines. When certain other factors such as injuries or death are involved, prison or jail time is also a possibility.

Call an Experienced Salem Attorney to Defend You Against Criminal Charges

Whether you were charged with a violent crime, a sex crime, or a drug crime, you should call seasoned and effective Salem attorney Ryan P. Sullivan for a strong criminal defense. Mr. Sullivan has more than a decade of experience and will investigate every angle of your case in order to develop the best strategy for your defense. Call him today at (617) 997-7597 or get in touch through our online form to schedule your free consultation.