Yearly Archives: 2016

LFO's and Indigency

It is well known that upon a criminal conviction a person faces the possibility of spending time in jail, but what most folks don’t know is that there is another consequence that follows a criminal conviction – legal financial obligations (‘LFO’s’). LFO’s are designed to pass court costs and prosecution costs onto the convicted person instead… Continue Reading »

Arrest v. Conviction

Frequently when we first meet with a potential client at SQ Attorneys they are initially confused about the difference between what is an arrest, and what is an actual conviction. So … in an effort to clear up the misunderstanding, we explain below: An Arrest: An arrest happens when a police officer has what is… Continue Reading »

Establishing a Theory for Trial

Soon after a defendant explains his or her story to a criminal lawyer, they will probably collaborate with each other to come up with a strategy that will work best in court. Generally speaking, this strategy will be based upon the story that the defendant tells his or her attorney, but in most cases will… Continue Reading »

How Serious/ Very Serious

How serious is a domestic violence related charge? This is a question commonly inquired about when someone initially calls SQ Attorneys. The answer is that a domestic violence allegation is incredibly serious and can be a misdemeanor, a gross misdemeanor or even a felony; if the person is arrested (which is often the case when… Continue Reading »

Pet Friendly Haven Granted

Just a quick reminder that domestic violence is taken extremely serious in Washington State. This is so regardless of how small or insignificant someone may think the incident is, or whether someone is actually physically, or even emotionally, injured. The government is always looking at ways to curb domestic violence and protect the aggrieved party;… Continue Reading »

The Drug World

One of the most common offenses found in Courts across the United States, are drug offenses. Both the Federal and State drug possession laws make it a crime to willfully possess illegal controlled substances such as marijuana (with exception to certain states), methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, heroin and other controlled substances. These laws also criminalize the… Continue Reading »

CIMT

What is a crime involving moral turpitude (‘CIMT’)? Generally speaking, there is not an enumerated list of CIMT. That said, ‘moral turpitude’ is generally defined as conduct that “is inherently base, vile, depraved, and contrary to accepted rules of morality and the duties owed to other persons, either individually or to society in general.” In… Continue Reading »

What Happens After My Arrest?

When a defendant gets arrested and is taken to jail, typically their first concern is how they can get out as quickly as possible. Several things must happen before a jail facility can release an individual from jail. The process typically involves a “booking” process and a bail hearing that determines whether the person arrested… Continue Reading »

No You Cannot Come In!

Recently SQ Attorneys has been receiving inquiries about one’s safety from police invasion into their living space. In other words, ‘do I have to let the police into my home’? It seems most folks think the answer is ‘yes’, if they are asked, they must permit an officer into their abode. Well, the answer is… Continue Reading »

The Sixth Amendment Explained

So you have been charged with a crime and now you are in need of an attorney? A criminal defendant’s right to an attorney is found in the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires the “assistance of counsel” for the accused in all criminal prosecutions. This means that a defendant has a constitutional… Continue Reading »