One of the attorneys who would work your file grew up in this city, and used to be the one deciding what charges like yours were worth. Joseph Rigney is a Chesapeake native and a former prosecutor. Decker Law defends misdemeanors and felonies through all three Chesapeake courts. Call 757-622-3317 — free and confidential, any hour.
A CHESAPEAKE NATIVE WHO USED TO PROSECUTE
Joseph Rigney grew up here. He spent part of his career as a prosecutor before he spent it defending people, and he now tries civil and criminal cases across all seven Hampton Roads cities. This is the one he is from. That is not sentiment — it means the streets in your file are streets he knows, and the way this courthouse actually runs is something he learned from the other side of it.
He is not alone in that history. George Neskis spent four years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, and Cole Roberts began as a public defender, which is the heaviest caseload anybody in a courthouse carries. Between them they have watched cases get charged, screened and priced long before a defense lawyer ever saw the file. That is a practical advantage, not a relational one.
What it buys you is specific. Knowing which files the Commonwealth is quietly unsure of. What a reduction usually takes here. How a General District morning genuinely unfolds on the day you were told to show up, and how much of that day you should expect to spend waiting. Cole has put charges from assault and battery through to murder in front of juries, and a prosecutor who expects a trial handles a file differently from one who expects a plea.
WHAT WE BRING TO A CHESAPEAKE FILE
Someone who is from here
Joseph Rigney is a Chesapeake native and a former prosecutor. Both halves of that matter, and they are hard to hire for.
A former public defender
Cole Roberts learned this work under the heaviest caseload in the building, which is where you see every version of every charge.
A record of going to trial
Prosecutors keep track of which attorneys try cases and which ones do not. What gets offered tends to reflect it.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A CHESAPEAKE ARREST
Most people who call us have never done this and have no picture of what comes next. Broadly: a magistrate decides bond, an arraignment follows in the General District Court, and after that either a trial date in that court or — if the charge is a felony — a preliminary hearing to decide whether the matter is certified to a grand jury and sent up to the Circuit Court.
What matters more than the sequence is the timing. A bond argument is a different animal prepared than assembled at the podium. A witness reached in March remembers the evening; reached in August, they remember being asked about it. And the record built in the lower court is read in the higher one, which means the early appearances are not warm-ups for the real thing. They are part of it.
So the reason to call early rather than late is not urgency for its own sake. It is that the things worth doing have to be done while there is still a stage in front of them. Nobody here will only tell you what you want to hear about a charge — but on the first call you will hear the realistic range of outcomes, and what has to happen this week to protect the better end of it.
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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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
Martin Thomas is the firm’s president and managing attorney, concentrating on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law. He handles multimillion-dollar injury cases throughout Virginia and has been named to Super Lawyers for personal injury.
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Jeffrey Partington
A Virginia Beach native, Jeffrey Partington serves clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and business law, and has worked both sides of the aisle. He practices in the courts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Suffolk.
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Peter Decker, III
Peter Decker, III focuses his practice on criminal, traffic, and personal injury. He regularly practices in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News.
years defending these charges in Hampton Roads courts
HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE DECKER LAW HAS HELPED
Scott S.
Martin Thomas Jr and his paralegal were incredible at getting me my settlement for top dollar. I didn’t have to do anything they made it super easy. Highly suggest for anyone’s attorney needs! I will be telling everyone.
I was very pleased with this law firm! Martin Thomas Jr. And Martin Thomas represented me when I was injured in a car accident. Everyone was extremely professional and helpful. Martin Thomas Jr. really took the time to fully understand the impact of my injuries and expressed them perfectly to a jury. After all I had been through they got me what I deserved to be compensated. I felt like they were completely on my side throughout the process and when we went to court I felt prepared. I highly recommend them and will use them again in the future should I ever need to.
I highly recommend Mr. Cole Roberts for anyone needing expert legal representation. I was facing a speeding charge of 20 mph over, and he successfully got it reduced to a non-moving violation for faulty equipment.Although his firm is based in Norfolk, he personally came up to Yorktown to handle my case, which I truly appreciated. As someone on active duty, it was a huge relief that the firm understood the unpredictability of my work. They were fully prepared to handle everything and work around my schedule if I had been sent out of town for my court date.Their communication was top-notch. They always picked up the phone or responded quickly, which gave me a lot of peace of mind throughout the process. If you need a firm that is efficient, proactive, and delivers results, this is the one to call.
George Neskis is on speed dial when it comes to anything related to law. He gave me the best possible outcome for a traffic ticket on one occasion. A year later he has helped me get a great settlement for a car accident I endured. He is the best in the business and I highly recommend him for any of your needs!
Absolutely the best attorney I’ve ever worked with! George Neskis was professional, responsive, and genuinely cared about my son’s case. George’s guidance and persistence delivered results beyond what I expected. It’s a rarity to find someone so skilled yet so approachable. I’m forever grateful and will always recommend George Neskis to anyone who needs a dedicated advocate.
I cannot express enough my gratitude to the Decker Law Firm, specifically Mr. George Neskis for his assistance in my case. I have been represented once before prior to this most recent time by George, and both times he worked diligently to ensure not only the best outcome for my situation but also a dismissal of the charges. I knew I was in good hands when every time I brought up his name, he received nothing but praise from his peers. He is competent, a professional, treats you with respect, and has my full trust in any matter. Thank you again George.
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