Criminal Law
We bring practical legal knowledge to the full range of cases we agree to handle.
Personal Crimes
Personal crimes are those that result in physical or mental harm to another person. They can be divided into two main categories, forms of homicide and other violent crimes. Where the physical harm to another individual is so severe that it causes death, a defendant may be charged with any one of several types of homicide, including, for example, first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or vehicular homicide. Conversely violent crimes, which are also very severe, include: assault and battery, arson, child abuse, domestic abuse, kidnapping, rape or statutory rape and such other related crimes.
Property Crimes
Property crimes typically involve interference with the property of another. Although they may involve physical or mental harm to another, they primarily result in the deprivation of the use or enjoyment of property. Many property crimes are theft crimes, including burglary, larceny, robbery, auto theft, and shoplifting.
Statutory Crimes
Statutory crimes include those crimes, in addition to the crimes discussed above, which are proscribed by statute. Three significant types of statutory crimes are alcohol related crimes, drug crimes, traffic offenses, and financial/white collar crimes. These crimes are specifically prohibited by statute because society hopes to deter individuals from engaging in them. Alcohol-related crimes include a variety of offenses regarding how and where alcohol can be consumed, such as:
Driving Under the Influence (DUI/OWI/DWI)
Open Container Violations
Minor in Possession of Alcohol
Public Intoxication
Underage DUI
Boating DUI
Selling and Supplying Alcohol to Minors
Refusing to Perform a Field Sobriety Test
Refusing to Perform a Breathalyzer or Provide a Blood Sample
And many more…
Drug crimes concern any involvement in the creation or distribution of drugs, including drug possession, drug manufacturing, and drug trafficking. One area of criminal law that is currently receiving a great deal of attention is the regulation and prosecution of drug crimes related to medical marijuana. Due to state trends toward the legalization of medical marijuana, this is an area of criminal law that is in flux.
Traffic Crimes
Traffic offenses include crimes that may arise while an individual is driving a vehicle on public roadways. Because a DUI/OWI/DWI involves both alcohol and the use of a vehicle, it is considered both an alcohol related crime and a traffic offense. Additional traffic offenses include driving on a suspended or revoked license, driving without a license, hit-and-run accidents, reckless driving, and vehicular assault. Where a traffic offense results in death, it can be charged as a far more serious crime, such as a form of homicide.
The Lanza Law Office has over 35 years of hands-on court room experience and expertise handling the highly sensitive criminal defense matters listed below.
“We take these cases to court intending to win!”