When you’re facing criminal charges in Lebanon, Indiana, or anywhere in Boone County, having an experienced attorney by your side can make all the difference in achieving a favorable outcome. The criminal justice system is complex, and navigating criminal matters without appropriate legal advice can put your future at risk. At Zentz Law, our Lebanon, Indiana, criminal defense lawyer understands the challenges that come with being accused of crimes, and we work closely with clients to protect their best interests throughout the legal process.
Our seasoned defense attorney has extensive experience handling cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies in both state and federal court. He recognizes that each criminal defense matter is unique, with particular facts and circumstances that require a deep understanding of Indiana law and that reflect current legal developments. Our legal services reflect current developments in criminal defense to ensure our clients receive the most up-to-date and effective representation possible. That’s why we take the time to build a strong attorney-client relationship with every person we represent.
If you need legal representation for criminal charges, don’t wait to seek help. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with an Indiana criminal defense attorney who has knowledge of the criminal law landscape in Boone County. Call us at 317-220-6056 for a free consultation or visit our office to discuss your criminal defense case and learn how we can defend your rights and protect your best interests with our legal services.
Areas of Criminal Defense Law We Handle
Our criminal attorneys have handled a wide variety of criminal cases, from public intoxication charges to serious crimes that may result in federal prison time. While we handle many different types of criminal defense matters, the following represent some of our key areas. Please note that these are not the only areas of criminal defense law we handle – our skilled attorney is prepared to take on various criminal matters that our clients may face.
Battery Charges
Battery charges in Indiana carry serious consequences that can impact every aspect of your life. Whether you’re facing charges related to domestic violence or other allegations, our criminal defense lawyer understands the complexities of these cases and the potential long-term effects on your life, including employment issues. Our criminal defense attorney works diligently to examine the evidence, challenge the prosecution’s case, and seek the best possible outcome for clients facing these serious accusations.
Failure To Pay Child Support
When individuals fall behind on child support payments, what begins as a civil matter in family court can quickly become a criminal case. Our criminal defense attorney understands how these cases transition from civil to criminal proceedings and the serious consequences that can follow, including potential jail time. We work with clients to understand their rights and options, whether negotiating payment arrangements or challenging the underlying support obligations.
Theft
Theft charges in Indiana encompass everything from petty theft to complex white collar crimes involving significant financial losses. Our criminal lawyer has experience defending clients against all types of theft allegations, including those involving money laundering, embezzlement, and other financial crimes. We understand that theft charges can range from simple shoplifting cases to sophisticated schemes that may be prosecuted as federal crimes.
If you’ve been accused of a crime, justice depends on having the right legal representation. Our criminal lawyer is ready to discuss your case and protect your interests. Call 317-220-6056 today for a free consultation. Your future is too important to wait.
Battery and Assault Are Different Criminal Cases in Indiana
In Indiana, many people mistakenly believe that battery and assault are the same offense, but they are actually distinct crimes with different elements that prosecutors must prove. Assault in Indiana involves putting another person in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery, while battery requires actual physical contact or harm. This distinction is crucial in criminal defense cases because the elements of proof, potential defenses, and penalties can vary significantly between these charges.
Our criminal defense attorney has a deep understanding of how these charges are prosecuted and the various defenses that may be available. Factors such as the alleged victim’s injuries, the defendant’s intent, and the circumstances surrounding the incident all play important roles in building an effective defense strategy.
How Domestic Battery Is Defined in Indiana
Domestic battery in Indiana is defined as knowingly or intentionally touching a family or household member in a rude, insolent, or angry manner. The law recognizes various relationships that qualify for domestic battery charges, including current or former spouses, individuals who have children together, people who are dating or have dated, and family members living in the same household.
The consequences of a domestic battery conviction extend far beyond potential jail time and fines. Convicted individuals may face restrictions on gun ownership, challenges in child custody proceedings, and difficulties with employment or housing. Court records of domestic battery convictions, which are maintained by the Boone County Clerk’s Office, can follow defendants for years, impacting their personal and professional lives.
Why Domestic Battery and Domestic Violence Are Different Charges
While the terms are often used interchangeably, domestic battery and domestic violence represent different charges with distinct legal implications. Domestic violence is typically a broader category that can encompass various criminal acts committed against family or household members, including stalking, harassment, and intimidation. Domestic battery specifically involves physical touching or contact between people in domestic relationships.
Our Indianapolis criminal lawyer has experience defending clients against both types of charges and understands how prosecutors approach these cases differently. We work to ensure that our clients understand the charges they face and the potential consequences of each. Contact us today for a free consultation: 317-220-6056.
How Child Support Amounts Are Determined
In Indiana, child support amounts are calculated using specific guidelines that take into account both parents’ incomes, the number of children involved, and various other factors such as childcare costs and health insurance premiums. The Indiana Child Support Guidelines provide a framework for determining appropriate support amounts, but judges have some discretion to deviate from these guidelines.
Our attorney works with clients to review their child support orders and ensure that the amounts are calculated correctly based on current income and living situation. Sometimes, individuals face criminal charges for failing to pay support amounts that were set based on outdated financial information or incorrect calculations. We work closely with clients to rectify such mistakes.
Enforcement Methods for Child Support Orders
When parents fall behind on child support payments, the state of Indiana has numerous enforcement tools available to collect past-due support. These enforcement methods can escalate from civil remedies to criminal prosecution, making it essential for individuals facing support issues to understand their rights and options.
Wage Garnishment
Wage garnishment is one of the most common enforcement methods used to collect unpaid child support. Employers can be required to withhold a significant portion of an employee’s wages to satisfy child support obligations. This can include both current support payments and amounts needed to address past-due support.
Seizures
When other enforcement methods prove ineffective, the state may pursue more aggressive collection tactics, including seizing various assets belonging to the non-paying parent.
Tax Refunds: The state routinely intercepts tax refunds from individuals who owe past-due child support. This includes both state and federal tax refunds, which can be seized and applied toward outstanding support obligations.
Stimulus Checks: Federal stimulus payments and similar economic relief funds can also be subject to seizure for unpaid child support obligations. During recent economic relief programs, many individuals were surprised to learn that their stimulus payments had been intercepted to satisfy child support debts.
Property: Real estate, vehicles, and other valuable property can be subject to seizure and sale to satisfy unpaid child support obligations. These actions can have devastating effects on families, particularly when the seized property serves as the family’s primary residence or transportation.
Bank Accounts: Financial institutions can be required to freeze and turn over funds from bank accounts belonging to individuals who owe child support. This can include checking accounts, savings accounts, and other financial instruments. Account seizures can create immediate financial hardship.
Professional and Driver’s License Suspension
Indiana law allows for the suspension of various licenses when individuals fall behind on child support payments. Professional licenses necessary for employment can be suspended, creating a cycle where individuals lose their ability to earn income needed to pay support. Similarly, driver’s license suspensions can make it difficult or impossible to maintain employment.
Our seasoned criminal defense attorney understands how these license suspensions can create additional barriers to compliance with support orders. We work with clients to address these issues promptly and explore options for license reinstatement while working toward a resolution for the underlying support obligations.
Credit Score
Unpaid child support obligations are reported to credit agencies and can significantly damage an individual’s credit score. Poor credit can make it difficult to obtain housing, employment, or financing needed to address financial difficulties that may have contributed to the support arrearage.
Types of White Collar Theft
White collar crimes represent a significant area of criminal law that involves sophisticated financial schemes and complex legal issues. These cases often involve extensive investigations, detailed financial records, and potential prosecution in court. Our criminal defense attorney has experience handling these complex matters.
Embezzlement: Embezzlement involves the theft of money or property by someone who was entrusted with those assets as part of their employment or position of responsibility. These cases often involve employees, trustees, or other fiduciaries who allegedly used their access to steal from employers, clients, or beneficiaries. Embezzlement charges can range from relatively minor amounts to significant financial losses that may be prosecuted as serious felonies with potential federal prison time.
Our Indianapolis criminal attorney understands the complexity of embezzlement cases and the detailed financial analysis often required to mount an effective defense. We work with financial experts and investigators to examine the evidence and challenge the prosecution’s theories.
Fraud: Fraud encompasses a broad category of white collar crimes involving deception or misrepresentation for financial gain. This can include securities fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, credit card fraud, and numerous other offenses that may be prosecuted in either state or federal court.
Our criminal lawyer has experience defending clients against various types of fraud allegations, from simple credit card fraud cases to complex multi-defendant conspiracies involving substantial financial losses. We understand that fraud cases often involve disputed interpretations of business relationships and financial transactions. For a free consultation to discuss your case call 317-220-6056.
FAQs
Can you go to jail for failing to pay child support?
Yes, failure to pay child support can result in criminal charges and potential jail time in Indiana. When individuals consistently fail to make court-ordered support payments, prosecutors may file charges for contempt of court or non-support. The criminal justice system treats these cases seriously, particularly when there is evidence that the non-paying parent can pay but willfully refuses to do so.
The transition from civil to criminal enforcement typically occurs after multiple missed payments and failed attempts at civil enforcement. The recipient’s state of residence may also impact how enforcement actions are pursued. Our experienced attorney works with clients to address these issues promptly.
Can child support payments be modified?
Child support orders can be modified when there has been a substantial change in circumstances that affects either the parent’s ability to pay or the child’s needs. Common reasons for modification include changes in income, changes in custody arrangements, or changes in the child’s needs. However, modifications must be approved by the court and generally require formal legal proceedings to be effective.
It’s important to note that child support obligations continue to accrue even when modification proceedings are pending. Our attorneys help clients navigate the modification process while also addressing any enforcement actions that may be pending.
Can a person convicted of domestic battery own a gun?
A conviction for domestic battery in Indiana can result in federal restrictions on gun ownership under the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act. This federal law prohibits individuals convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
These gun ownership restrictions can have significant implications for individuals whose employment requires firearm possession, such as law enforcement officers, security personnel, or military personnel. Our criminal defense attorney understands the serious consequences of domestic battery convictions and works diligently to protect our clients’ rights and future opportunities with our legal services.
Protect Your Future With Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys
When you’re facing criminal charges in Lebanon, Indiana, or anywhere in Boone County, don’t leave your future to chance. The criminal justice system can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our criminal defense team at Zentz Law brings a deep understanding of Indiana criminal law to every case we handle. We are committed to providing criminal defense against all types of charges while ensuring access to quality legal representation.
Our Lebanon Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer understands that being accused of a crime can impact every aspect of your life, from your employment and family relationships to your standing in the community. Whether you’re dealing with a simple misdemeanor charge or facing serious felonies that could result in significant prison time, our criminal defense team has the extensive knowledge and experience necessary to provide effective representation and legal services.
Contact our office today at 317-220-6056 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney who will listen to your concerns, review your case, and provide you with honest, straightforward legal advice and a top-notch attorney-client relationship. Our criminal defense attorney is licensed to practice in Indiana courts and has the experience necessary to handle even the most complex criminal matters. Let us put our knowledge and dedication to work for you during this challenging time.