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Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense

Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense

Violent Crimes

Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense

Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense

Federal Crimes Defense

Facing allegations of a violent crime is an incredibly serious situation that can significantly impact your life, freedom, and future. At The Law Office of Christopher Leibig, we understand the gravity of violent crime charges and provide experienced, proactive defense representation aimed at securing the best possible outcome for you.

Appeals are an academic proposition. When seeking an appellate attorney, one should be considering intellect, sophistication, and patience. One phone call with most firms is enough to tell an educated consumer to move along. If the lawyer mentions the fee, or how to pay, within the first hour, or over the phone, they do not care about winning the case or helping you. It takes many hours to even understand what is involved with each individual appellate case. If the firm is too busy to meet with you to discuss details without being paid, the firm should not be taken seriously for an appeal. Anyone who goes to trial and loses a criminal case is forced to face the reality that his or her freedom, reputation, or both rests on the success of their criminal appeal. Appeals rarely win. Creativity is everything, It’s important that attorneys tell clients the truth about that. Importantly, when we take on an appeal the client will understand the strategy and why it is worth employing before moving forward.
 
 Chris has regularly handled appeals in the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond. In 2023 he and Meghan Shapiro won reversal of a 25 year Arlington sentence in a child sex abuse case. (Alberto-Rodriguez v. Commonwealth). Some of his other appellate cases include Foltz v. Commonwealth, the first warrantless GPS tracking case in Virginia history, Rogers v. Commonwealth, a death penalty case that resulted in a life sentence; Commonwealth v. Pannell, a case that heightened protections for juveniles charged with probation violations and provoked the General Assembly to change the Juvenile Code; Brown v. Commonwealth, a DWI case reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals because of faulty breath test procedures; Hernandez v. United States, a case that challenged the federal rule not requiring a jury trial in DWI cases; and, United States v. Jeffery, an appeal of a conviction for a multi-million dollar oil theft scam in Iraq and Commonwealth v. Bjerke, a case challenging the government use of DNA evidence in a genetic genealogy case. The firm handles appeals by charging an initial fee for an extensive review of the record to determine whether the case contains issue meritorious enough to warrant expenditure of the costs for the whole appeal. After such a review,and once a client decides to appeal, the fee can be structured over time.

How Do I Find the Best Violent Crimes Lawyer?

From Chris' interview on ReelLawyers.com

  • You know, most of the time—quite often—that’s going to be in state court. It could be either one, but there isn’t, in my opinion, sort of a niche. There aren’t really niches for lawyers, for example, where this is a person that defends people for rape and this is a person that defends people for murder, as though they’re completely different things. What you want is someone who has vast experience handling hard cases in general.

    ​

    There are some niches where a person has an expertise, but mostly, you’re wanting to see a holistic picture of that lawyer. You want someone who knows that jurisdiction, or at least that state, and also has a depth of experience and knowledge about how these cases are handled. What kinds of investigation do you need to do? What doesn’t work? What negotiating strategies have no chance? What pre-trial motions build toward the theory you want to use to win the case in the end?

    ​

    And you want someone who’s proactive instead of just reactive. The thing that wins these big cases—or gets a good result—is having a theory of the case that’s true, that works well, that incorporates all the pieces of the case. That requires investigation. In other words, finding information that the police and prosecutors do not have. You’re looking for that kind of experience, that kind of work ethic.

    ​

    But it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s defined by how many of a certain kind of case the person has done. I could tell people the number of cases of certain types I’ve done, and it would probably seem like a lot. But that’s not really it. Some people who have done a very high number of cases don’t approach them the right way—it’s just how it is.

    ​

    Again, when choosing a lawyer for anything, take your time with it. Listen to how they talk about the case. Listen to their approach. Get the sense that they’re spending time with you to really learn what you’re saying, instead of just trying to get paid and move on.

    But when you’re talking violent crimes, you are definitely wanting to have somebody with experience at that level.

Types of Violent Crimes

Violent offense cases can encompass a wide range of charges, including:

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  • Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter)

  • Assault and Battery

  • Armed Robbery

  • Domestic Violence

  • Kidnapping

  • Weapons Charges

  • Violent offenses involving federal property or personnel

Appeals are an academic proposition. When seeking an appellate attorney, one should be considering intellect, sophistication, and patience. One phone call with most firms is enough to tell an educated consumer to move along. If the lawyer mentions the fee, or how to pay, within the first hour, or over the phone, they do not care about winning the case or helping you. It takes many hours to even understand what is involved with each individual appellate case. If the firm is too busy to meet with you to discuss details without being paid, the firm should not be taken seriously for an appeal. Anyone who goes to trial and loses a criminal case is forced to face the reality that his or her freedom, reputation, or both rests on the success of their criminal appeal. Appeals rarely win. Creativity is everything, It’s important that attorneys tell clients the truth about that. Importantly, when we take on an appeal the client will understand the strategy and why it is worth employing before moving forward.
 
 Chris has regularly handled appeals in the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond. In 2023 he and Meghan Shapiro won reversal of a 25 year Arlington sentence in a child sex abuse case. (Alberto-Rodriguez v. Commonwealth). Some of his other appellate cases include Foltz v. Commonwealth, the first warrantless GPS tracking case in Virginia history, Rogers v. Commonwealth, a death penalty case that resulted in a life sentence; Commonwealth v. Pannell, a case that heightened protections for juveniles charged with probation violations and provoked the General Assembly to change the Juvenile Code; Brown v. Commonwealth, a DWI case reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals because of faulty breath test procedures; Hernandez v. United States, a case that challenged the federal rule not requiring a jury trial in DWI cases; and, United States v. Jeffery, an appeal of a conviction for a multi-million dollar oil theft scam in Iraq and Commonwealth v. Bjerke, a case challenging the government use of DNA evidence in a genetic genealogy case. The firm handles appeals by charging an initial fee for an extensive review of the record to determine whether the case contains issue meritorious enough to warrant expenditure of the costs for the whole appeal. After such a review,and once a client decides to appeal, the fee can be structured over time.

​

Segio A. Alberto Rodriguez v. Commonwealth of Virginia  2022  Virginia Court of Appeals - Unpublished Opinions Decisions  Virginia Case Law  Virginia Law US Law Justia

Comprehensive and Experienced Representation

Violent crime cases require a holistic approach and a lawyer who deeply understands the nuances of criminal law. Attorney Chris Leibig believes that effective representation in violent crime cases isn’t about specializing narrowly in one type of offense, but rather having extensive experience handling complex and high-stakes criminal cases overall.

Attorney Leibig provides:

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  • Detailed knowledge of state and federal jurisdictions

  • Extensive experience with complex investigations

  • Skilled negotiation and plea bargaining

  • Aggressive trial advocacy

Successfully defending violent crime charges requires more than reacting to prosecution tactics. Attorney Chris Leibig emphasizes proactive defense strategies that include thorough, independent investigations aimed at uncovering information that law enforcement and prosecutors may have overlooked or failed to discover.

This proactive approach involves:

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  • Conducting thorough investigations and evidence gathering

  • Developing a strong, comprehensive theory of defense

  • Filing targeted pre-trial motions that strengthen your case

  • Negotiating strategically and effectively

Importance of Choosing the Right Attorney

Proactive Defense Strategy

Selecting the right defense attorney is crucial. Rather than solely considering the number of similar cases an attorney has handled, it’s important to evaluate their overall approach, depth of experience, and dedication to understanding and advocating for your specific situation.

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Attorney Chris Leibig is committed to providing personalized attention, taking the time to genuinely listen to your circumstances, and crafting a tailored defense strategy designed to achieve favorable outcomes.

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