Criminal Defense Lawyer in Zionsville
Facing criminal charges can be overwhelming. You need experienced legal representation from a skilled criminal defense attorney with a strong reputation to defend your rights and interests. For a committed criminal defense attorney representing clients throughout Boone County are Indianapolis, Zionsville, and the Indiana state court system, contact Zentz Law.
Board-certified Attorney Matthew Zentz can assist you with your strategic defense and protect your legal rights throughout the criminal litigation process. Contact our practice today for a consultation at 317-220-6056. Our legal office will handle your criminal defense case with the education, training, and understanding you need to navigate this trying time and secure the best possible outcome.
Areas of Criminal Defense Law We Handle
Our attorney assists clients living in Zionsville, Indianapolis, Fishers, and other areas of Central Indiana with criminal cases in many areas of criminal law, including DUI and disorderly conduct and the following:
Domestic Violence
In Indiana, domestic violence is a broad legal category that can include battery, intimidation, stalking, criminal confinement, and sexual assault against a current or former household member, spouse, partner, co-parent, or relative. A domestic violence allegation in Zionsville, Indiana, can severely impact your life, jeopardizing your freedom and rights. You require an experienced criminal defense attorney to help reduce or dismiss domestic violence charges.
Failure To Pay Child Support
An Indiana parent may fail to pay child support due to overwhelming financial issues or other circumstances. Zentz Law can facilitate communication between you and your co-parent to seek an agreeable settlement in these child support cases.
Attorney Matthew Zentz has years of experience handling complex family law and divorce court cases in Zionsville and Indianapolis, Indiana, making him a uniquely qualified lawyer to address these legal issues and handle them in the best way possible.
Theft
A Zionsville criminal defense lawyer can help you with theft charges by reviewing the evidence and identifying problems in the prosecution’s criminal case. Your Boone County criminal defense attorney will work to reduce your sentencing or obtain an acquittal by cross-examining prosecution witnesses, presenting contradicting evidence, and moving to suppress evidence obtained illegally in your criminal matter. Schedule a meeting with our legal practice today: 317-220-6056.
What Family Violence Is in Indiana
The state of Indiana defines domestic and family violence under Indiana state law as:
- Hurting a family or household member, unless acting in self-defense
- Threatening or attempting to cause physical harm to a family or household member
- Causing a family or household member to fear physical harm
- Forcing or pressuring a family or household member into sexual activity through violence, threats, or intimidation
- Harming or killing a vertebrate animal to scare, threaten, or control a family or household member
Indiana includes stalking and sex offenses in this category, even if the alleged assailant acted against a non-family or household member.
If you’ve been charged or are under investigation for family violence charges in Zionsville or Indianapolis, Indiana, you require a board-certified attorney who can create a robust strategic criminal defense for your case. At Zentz Law, our legal team focuses on protecting Boone County clients accused of family violence. With an initial consultation, our criminal lawyer can provide invaluable legal guidance to our clients in and out of the courtroom. Contact us today for a consultation with our criminal defense attorney.
Indiana Domestic Violence Penalties
Domestic violence criminal cases in Zionsville can result in legal penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor to a Level 3 felony. The criminal penalty will depend on the circumstances surrounding the case.
Class A Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 fine.
Offenses include:
- Domestic battery (first offense)
- Violating a protection order (first offense)
- Harassment
Level 6 Felony: Up to 2.5 years in prison and $10,000 fine.
Offenses include:
- Domestic battery with previous conviction
- Domestic battery with weapon use
- Strangulation
- Criminal confinement
Level 5 Felony: Up to 6 years in prison and $10,000 fine.
Offenses include:
- Domestic battery causing moderate bodily harm
- Domestic battery in front of child
- Criminal confinement
Level 3 Felony: Up to 16 years in prison and $10,000 fine.
Offenses include:
- Aggravated domestic battery causing serious bodily harm
- Aggravated domestic battery with weapon use
If you’ve been charged or are under investigation for domestic violence, contact an experienced and understanding Indianapolis and Zionsville criminal attorney at Zentz Law.
Contempt Proceedings for Failure To Pay Child Support
If you’re found in contempt for failing to pay child support, the court can sentence you to up to 180 days in jail. To be held in contempt, the violation must be willful, meaning you could pay and knowingly refused to do so.
To avoid being found in contempt in Zionsville, you must demonstrate that you were unable to pay child support and provide a clear explanation for why you could not comply with the Indiana child support order.
A criminal defense attorney in Indianapolis can help you demonstrate that you were unable to pay child support due to financial hardship or circumstances change. Your lawyer can also petition for payment modification to reflect your income in divorce proceedings or child support matters.
It’s critical to be proactive in child support cases, so contact Indiana family law and criminal attorney Matthew Zentz for a consultation. Our law practice has the education and legal experience needed to handle your Indianapolis or Zionsville criminal or divorce case. Let us begin representing you today: 317-220-6056.
FAQs
What Is an Arraignment?
An arraignment refers to your first courtroom date after being charged with a crime. Here, the court will explain the criminal charges against you as well as your constitutional rights in the criminal litigation process. You’ll then enter your plea with the assistance of your attorney: guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Depending on the charges, you may be released afterward to await your future court date, or you may be required to pay bail. During the arraignment, the prosecution attorney may argue that you should be held in custody while awaiting trial due to being a flight risk or a danger to others.
Can the Police Conduct a Search for Drugs Without a Warrant?
Zionsville and Indianapolis police officers must either have a warrant or probable cause to search your home or vehicle for drugs. Probable cause means the officer has reasonable belief that a crime is occurring or that there’s evidence of a crime present. For example, if your car smells like marijuana, an officer can cite probable cause to search your vehicle without a warrant. An Indianapolis attorney will fight if an unlawful search was conducted.
Can You Refuse To Take a DUI Field Sobriety Test?
You are not legally obligated to consent to DUI field sobriety tests in Indiana, but refusing can lead to serious consequences. The officer may arrest you for non-compliance, and the state may revoke your license for a year. Unlike field sobriety tests, you cannot refuse a DUI breathalyzer test. Indiana’s implied consent laws require you to undergo chemical tests if the officer has probable cause to believe you were operating a vehicle while under the influence during a DUI investigation.
Zentz Law: Legal Representation in Zionsville and Boone County
If you’ve been accused of a crime, like a DUI, it is crucial to consult with a criminal defense attorney immediately. At Zentz Law, our Boone County legal team understands that your future is on the line, and you deserve a lawyer who will provide the commitment and expertise necessary to protect your rights, whatever the criminal issue.
Our legal team can also represent you in related matters, such as divorce, DCS cases, business law matters, DUI cases, and other civil proceedings in Zionsville, Indianapolis, and Boone County. Take the first step today by scheduling your consultation with our knowledgeable and board-certified criminal lawyer: 317-220-6056.