Columbus, Ohio, Criminal Defense Attorneys
Criminal charges can result in serious penalties. At Siewert & Gjostein Co. LPA, we understand the complexities of criminal cases and have 65 years of combined trial experience.
We are known for never giving up on a case and always mounting an aggressive criminal defense. We have a strong track record in obtaining not guilty verdicts, the dismissal of charges and negotiating plea deals.
Besides interviewing witnesses and reviewing all of the evidence, we work with qualified experts and have a full-time private investigator. Our process allows us to anticipate all possible outcomes in your case.
In a criminal defense case, the state or the government, through the prosecutor, must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — the highest burden of proof in our legal system. Often, criminal cases are decided by juries.
Criminal offenses vary greatly in terms of severity, with misdemeanors carrying potential penalties of no more than six months in county jail and felony convictions running six months or longer in state or federal prison.
Some of our common criminal defense strategies include:
- Arguing that the facts presented by the prosecution are untrue or fail to rise to the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt
- Presenting an affirmative defense, such as self-defense, which shows that a client was defending himself from harm as caused by the state’s witness
- Obtaining evidence from a thorough investigation to determine weaknesses and inconsistencies in the State’s case
- Arguing that police coerced the defendant into making incriminating statements
- Arguing that the prosecution did not bring charges within the statute of limitations — or amount of time allowed by law — so the charges must be dismissed
