A criminal charge can appear without warning and carry consequences that reach into every part of your life—your employment, your housing, your family, and your future. Most people don’t plan for a moment like this, and they don’t know where to turn when it arrives. Inman & Strickler has defended clients facing charges at every level of the criminal system, from misdemeanors handled in Norfolk General District Court to federal charges prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia.
We start from the position that our clients are innocent. That’s not just a legal posture—it’s a genuine commitment to building the most aggressive defense strategy possible for every case we take on. We don’t assume our clients want to plead down. We assume they want the best possible outcome, and we work backward from there.
Norfolk is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base, and thousands of active-duty service members who live and work in the area. Our criminal defense team has experience handling cases involving military personnel, where civilian criminal charges can intersect with military justice proceedings and affect careers and security clearances.
Misdemeanor charges in Virginia can carry up to a year in jail and leave a permanent mark on your record that affects employment, housing, and professional licensing. These charges are taken seriously by prosecutors, and you should take them just as seriously. Our attorneys have helped clients get misdemeanor charges dismissed entirely, reduced to non-criminal infractions, or won at trial. Common misdemeanor charges we handle include DUI, reckless driving, simple assault, petty theft, and trespassing.
Virginia felonies range from Class 6—carrying up to five years in prison—to Class 1, which can result in life imprisonment. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the defense strategy has to match that reality. Our attorneys explore every available angle: constitutional challenges to the charges or evidence, affirmative defenses including self-defense, alibi defenses, and challenges to witness credibility and forensic evidence.
We handle assault and weapons charges, drug offenses, burglary and theft, DUI felonies, and violent crime charges. If you’ve been arrested, the most important thing you can do right now is exercise your right to remain silent and contact an attorney before speaking to law enforcement.
Federal criminal charges are a different category of legal challenge. Prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia—known among defense attorneys for its demanding pace and high conviction rates—typically have been investigating a case for months or years before charges are filed. The resources of the federal government are considerable, and the complexity of charges like money laundering, healthcare fraud, embezzlement, securities fraud, and RICO violations requires attorneys with sophisticated knowledge and trial experience at the federal level.
Our attorneys defend clients against federal charges and understand the procedural and strategic demands of that environment. If you are the subject of a federal investigation or have been charged in federal court in Norfolk or Eastern Virginia, contact us immediately.
Time matters in criminal cases. Evidence can be preserved, witnesses can be reached, and defenses can be developed—but only if you act quickly. Contact Inman & Strickler today to speak with an experienced Norfolk criminal defense attorney. We are ready to help, no matter what you are facing.
