Criminal Defense Attorney in Fairfax County

how is virginia criminal law classified?

As a commonwealth, Virginia has different rules regarding criminal offenses. For example, minors and those declared criminally insane who are convicted of a capital crime are exempt from the death penalty. Because some criminal laws are different, those accused of a crime in VA need an attorney who is knowledgeable about state law specifically. 

Most crimes fall into one of two major categories: misdemeanors or felonies. Less severe offenses, or misdemeanors, are punishable by lesser fines and no more than one year in jail. These crimes are divided into four classes depending on the egregiousness of the crime and aggravating factors. 

The four misdemeanor classes are as follows: 

• Class 1: The most serious misdemeanor charges can result in up to 12 months in jail and a fine of $2,500. Aggregating factors like the use of a firearm, injury, or death could elevate the crime out of the Class 1 misdemeanor category. 
• Class 2: If convicted, a person could face up to six months in jail and fines of no more than $1,000. 
• Class 3: These misdemeanors are punishable by a fine of up to $500 and no jail time. 
• Class 4: The least serious misdemeanor charges may be punishable by a fine of up to $250 with no jail time. 

Felonies, on the other hand, have harsher consequences and include five classes: 

• Class 1: The most serious felony charges are punishable by life imprisonment and fines of up to $100,000. 
• Class 2: These crimes are punishable by fines of up to $100,000 and a prison sentence of 20 years to life. 
• Class 3: Felonies in this class also carry a maximum fine of $100,000 and potential imprisonment for five to 20 years. 
• Class 4: Most Class 4 felonies result in fines and between two and ten years imprisonment in a state facility. 
• Class 5: These crimes are “wobblers” and can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor depending on the circumstances. For example, harassment could be a misdemeanor, but it may become a felony if a firearm was used to harass and threaten someone. If convicted, a person could be imprisoned for up to 12 months and may be required to pay fines up to $2,500. 
• Class 6: Crimes in this class are also wobblers and are considered the least serious felonies in the Commonwealth. A conviction could result in one to five years in prison or no more than 12 months for a misdemeanor.

Unlike misdemeanors, felonies also carry further implications. Felons are not permitted to hold certain jobs and may be rejected from interviews, housing opportunities, scholarships, government assistance, and other privileges. A person convicted of a felony may have some of their rights stripped away even when they have completed their sentence. 

HAVE YOU BEEN ACCUSED OF A Fairfax county CRIME? 

If you have been accused of a crime, you could be facing severe consequences including time behind bars. Dischley Law, PLLC believes that those accused of a crime deserve legal counsel with their best interests in mind. Our Fairfax County criminal defense lawyers are here to help.

Our firm handles a variety of criminal law cases including: 

• Drug offenses
• Gun charges 
• Violent crimes
• Fraud
• Reckless driving
• Property and theft 
• Misdemeanors 
• Felonies 
• DUI/DUI 
• Expungement 
• And more

Our team of experienced and compassionate legal advocates works with clients to investigate their cases and determine the most optimal strategy. As a boutique firm, we tailor our services to fit the needs of our community while maintaining a personalized approach to each case. Our award-winning firm has a reputation for excellence, and we use our knowledge, strategy, and innovation to produce favorable results. 

What Local fairfax county court information do you need to know?

Courthouse Address

4110 Chain Bridge Road

Fairfax, VA 22030.

**The City of Fairfax has its own court clerical office, while the Towns of Herndon and Vienna are staffed by clerks who travel from Fairfax only on days when court is scheduled.

City of Fairfax

Address: 10455 Armstrong Street, Room 1, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. 
Phone: (703) 385-7866 
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday 
Court: Tuesdays and Thursday only, 9:30 a.m.

Town of Herndon

Address: 765 Lynn Street, Herndon, Virginia 22070 
Phone: (703) 246-3305 [Criminal]; (703) 246-3764 [Traffic]. 
Court: Wednesdays only, 9:30 a.m.

Town of Vienna

Address: 127 Center Street, S., Vienna, Virginia 22180 
Phone: (703) 246-3305 [Criminal]; (703) 246-3764 [Traffic]. 
Court: Mondays only, 9:30 a.m

Judges

Fairfax Circuit Court

• Hon. Bruce D. White, Presiding Judge, Chief Judge
• Hon. Penney S. Azcarate, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Randy I. Bellows, Presiding Judge
• Hon. David Bernhard, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Dontae L. Bugg, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Grace Burke Carroll, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Michael F. Devine, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Richard E. Gardiner, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Brett A. Kassabian, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Thomas P. Mann, Presiding Judge
• Hon. David A. Oblon, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Daniel Eric Ortiz, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Stephen C. Shannon, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Robert J. Smith, Presiding Judge
• Hon. John M. Tran, Presiding Judge

Fairfax General District Court

• Hon. Lisa A. Mayne, Presiding Judge, Chief Judge
• Hon. Harry Michael Cantrell, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Manuel A. Capsalis, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Michael Joseph Cassidy, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Susan Friedlander Earman, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Michael Joshua Lindner, Presiding Judge
• Hon. William J. Minor Jr., Presiding Judge
• Hon. Mitchell I. Mutnick, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Mark C. Simmons, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Tina L. Snee, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Susan J. Stoney, Presiding Judge

Fairfax Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court

• Hon. Todd G. Petit, Presiding Judge, Chief Judge
• Hon. Gayl Branum Carr, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Glenn L. Clayton II, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Kimberly J. Daniel, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Janine M. Saxe, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Thomas P. Sotelo, Presiding Judge
• Hon. Maha-Rebekah Ramos Abejuela
• Hon. Jonathan D. Frieden

Contact Numbers:

Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk: (703) 246-4111  
Fairfax General District Court Clerk: (703) 246-2153  
Fairfax Juvenile and Domestic Relations Clerk: (703) 246-3367

Courts Website:

Fairfax Circuit Court: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit 
Fairfax GDC: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/gendist/

Parking & Other Important Information:

The courthouse has a parking garage, which charges $2 an hr or $10 for more than five hours. The parking facility accepts cash and debit/credit, but be sure to bring at least $10 in cash as the machine has been known to fail and ATMs are not in the area. If you are taking public transportation, ride the metro to the Vienna stop on the orange line and transfer to a bus heading towards the courthouse. Free parking lots can be located at businesses around the Courthouse; however, those spaces are extremely limited and many businesses will tow your car if you are not a patron of their establishment.

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES are PERMITTED in the Courthouse.

The Courthouse has a cafe (located on the main floor near the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office) and a cafeteria (located on the ground floor). Within walking distance from the courthouse you can find Hard Times Cafe, Red Hot & Blue, Panera, and Potbelly’s.

Our goal is to make this process as convenient and painless as possible for our clients, while aggressively obtaining the best results. Contact ustoday!