Long before a charge reaches a defense lawyer, somebody in a prosecutor’s office has read the file and decided what it’s worth. Two of our attorneys used to be the person doing that reading — one as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, one as a public defender across the hall. Decker Law defends misdemeanors and felonies in the Virginia Beach courts, from two offices in the city. Call 757-622-3317 — free and confidential, any hour.
TWO OF OUR ATTORNEYS ONCE SAT ON THE OTHER SIDE
George Neskis served four years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. Cole Roberts started out as a public defender. Between the two of them they have seen a case charged, screened and worked up long before it ever landed on a defense desk.
That is a practical advantage, not a relational one. It amounts to knowing which files the Commonwealth is privately uneasy about, what a reduction generally takes in this court, how the General District morning actually proceeds on the day you have been told to attend, and how much of that day you will spend sitting.
We take misdemeanors and felonies through the Virginia Beach General District Court, the Circuit Court, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — from the bond hearing to a jury’s verdict. Cole has put charges from assault and battery through to murder in front of juries, and that alters the calculation on a file. A prosecutor anticipating a trial treats a case differently from one anticipating a plea.
WHAT THAT IS WORTH TO YOU
Four years on the other side
Assessing which cases the Commonwealth could carry. That judgment does not leave when you change chairs.
A former public defender
Cole Roberts learned this work carrying the heaviest caseload in the building. Nobody sees more of a docket than a public defender does.
A record of going to trial
Prosecutors keep track of which attorneys actually try cases. What gets offered tends to reflect it.
WHAT FOLLOWS AN ARREST IN VIRGINIA BEACH
Most people who contact us have never done this before and have no clear picture of what comes next. In short: an arrest here usually means a magistrate’s bond decision, then an arraignment in the General District Court, and after that either a trial date in that court or — where the charge is a felony — a preliminary hearing to determine whether the matter is certified to a grand jury and passed up to the Circuit Court.
In front of every one of those stages sits a period in which something useful can be done, and every one of those periods closes. Filing the discovery request. Arriving with a bond argument prepared rather than assembled at the podium. Reaching a witness while the recollection is still reliable. The one thing that cannot be done is recovering the time afterwards.
Which is the entire reason to call before the first hearing rather than after it. Nobody at this firm will tell you what you would like to hear about a charge — but on that first call you will be told the realistic range of outcomes, and what has to be done this week to protect the better end of it.
A Chesapeake native and former prosecutor, Joseph Rigney focuses on personal injury and criminal defense, including traffic law. He tries both civil and criminal cases in the courts of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joel Weintraub
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for over 40 years and focuses his practice on civil litigation involving disputes between individuals and corporations. Joel’s recent cases involve corporate litigation, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests and interpretation, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
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Martin Thomas, Jr.
Martin Thomas, Jr. focuses on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law, along with contract law and civil litigation. He tries cases in the courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, and serves on Norfolk City Council.
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Cole Roberts
A Norfolk native and former Public Defender, Cole Roberts represents clients in criminal defense and traffic matters, from reckless driving and DUI to serious felonies. He has tried numerous jury cases across the seven Hampton Roads cities.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
George Neskis
George Neskis represents clients charged with criminal and traffic offenses — from DUI and reckless driving to felony matters — and also handles personal injury. A former Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, he practices across all seven Hampton Roads cities and has been named to Super Lawyers for criminal defense.
offices in the city, on Haygood Road and in Kempsville
65+
years practicing in Hampton Roads courts
HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE DECKER LAW HAS HELPED
Tyeisha R.
I highly recommend the Decker Law Firm to anyone needing legal help or dealing with an accident. They are reliable, dedicated, and made a difficult time much easier for me. A special thank you to my lawyer Jeff P. and his paralegal for their hard work and support throughout the process.
Mr Pete Decker is very professional and honest, it was a pleasure working with him. He definitely keeps it real and sugar coats NOTHING! His assistant is very involved in making sure request and contact with Mr Decker is as prompt as possible, she play a major role and does it well. Thank you for everything Decker Law Firm.
The BEST!I met Michelle Parker during 2007 when I hired her to handle my mothers estate and affairs. During such a difficult time for us, Michelle Parker has always shown me respect, compassion and kindness. She is very personable, approachable and has a good relationship with the court, clients and other attorneys. Michelle Parker is an outstanding attorney, knows every aspect and is there for you every step of the way.I highly recommend Michelle Parker.
Decker law firm and Joe Rigney are outstanding. I called with a legal issue that I needed help with. Joe spent 15 minutes on the phone telling me how to proceed and protect myself. At the end of the- he charged me zero dollars for his valuable time.Thank you Joe!
My family and I have used Peter Decker law firm for many years for different types of cases. We have always achieved great results with positive experiences. Mr Deckers law firm has a reputation built on many years of outstanding client service and reputation Peter Decker the III is my favorite gentleman. I’ve had other attorneys from that firm represent my family in court with great results. But I must say Mr Decker is my favorite. The most reputable man ever!
I was very happy with the work Jeff Partington did on my case, and the Decker law firm , confidently and meticulously covering all the details of my case, when we stepped into the courtroom that day, I was glad he was my lawyer. He actually took the time to make sure, i understood and had no questions, thank you for ALL your help.
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