Ohio Sexual Assault 

Perhaps, more than any other crime, the stigma and scrutiny that comes with allegations of sex crimes make it vital to have experienced criminal defense legal representation. A sex crime is a serious allegation with severe punishment, including possible registration as a sex offender.

If you have been arrested for a sex crime, it is important that you maintain your constitutional right to remain silent and contact our office immediately.

Ohio Sexual Assault Defense

Some of the ways a person can be charged for a sex crime include:

• Violent sex crimes, sexual abuse and sexual assault, including rape and molestation.
• Sexual battery
• Gross sexual imposition
• Public indecency
• Lewd conduct
• Exploitation of minors
• Internet crimes, such as child pornography and online solicitation

Often a person charged with a sexual assault faces these charges due to false and/or mistaken allegations. If a child is involved, the public has a natural tendency to assume guilt regardless of the prosecution’s actual evidence. This is where our firm can help.

We will thoroughly review all evidence, statements and witnesses and demonstrate flaws in the prosecution’s case. We will aggressively pursue every possible avenue of defense, while doing everything we can to protect your good name and keep your name out of the media, especially in the case of sexual battery charges where you are facing accusations in the context of your job.

Our office will explore all possible solutions, including trial, reaching plea agreements, reductions in sentences and alternatives to incarceration. If we are unable to avoid an acquittal, we will pursue possible solutions, including reaching plea agreements, reductions in sentences and alternatives to incarceration.

Internet Crimes in Ohio 

Internet crimes have increased as people use the Internet more for every part of their lives. The legislature in Ohio has also been quick to respond by enacting legislation that defines more Internet transactions as crimes. From child pornography to check fraud, when you are charged with any type of internet crime you need and internet crimes attorney who stays current with the law and who understands the complexities surround these types of cases. We believe in staying at the forefront when it comes to new legislation, and we understand how to challenge the technology used to collect evidence for these types of cases. Contact our office by phone at 330-454-1216 to speak with Attorney Coleridge.

Ohio Defense Lawyers: Internet Crimes

Our office has the knowledge and skill to handle any internet sex crime charges, including:

• Solicitation of a minor
• Viewing or downloading child pornography
• Sending, selling or buying child pornography
• Solicitation of a prostitute

Attorney Coleridge also handles Internet crime charges that involve:

• Check fraud
• Identity theft
• Money laundering
• Computer fraud
• Phishing

Child pornography, identity theft and accusations of fraud all carry stigmas that can affect every aspect of your life, from the ability to seek employment in certain professions to having a housing application approved. This is why we focus so much on understanding the circumstances surrounding the charges and probing how evidence was collected to be used against you. We will use all defense avenues possible to arrive at an acquittal in a jury trial. If this is not a possibility, we will seek out a plea agreement that may include reduced sentencing, probation or alternatives to jail time.

Help When You Need It the Most

If you have been arrested for any type of internet crime, please contact our office by phone at 330-454-1216 today.

For many people, a drunk driving arrest is the first time they have been arrested. Driving drunk was a mistake, one they would like to learn from and move on. Prosecutors are not always interested in this perspective, however, and it is important if you have been arrested for a DUI/OVI to contact an attorney who will make sure your rights are protected.

We represent everyday, hardworking people who are looking to avoid the consequences of a criminal conviction. When hired as your DUI lawyer, Attorney Coleridge and associates will examine all evidence including breathalyzer/breath tests results, police video of the stop, field sobriety administration, and verification of blood alcohol content levels to make sure your interests are defended. Our office is very much aware of the serious consequences of a drunk driving conviction and we will do all we can to get you the DUI help you need.

Ohio Drug Crime Defense 

A drug crime arrest can have devastating effects on your life. You could face a significant amount of time in prison and years of probation. A mistake many people make is that they speak with the police and the prosecutor’s office before discussing the charges with an attorney. Avoid this mistake by contacting Coleridge Law Firm, we will help make sure that you are aggressively represented, and that your rights are protected. Our firm has been helping people who are arrested for drug crimes in the Canton, Ohio, area for nearly since we opened our doors. Let us help you. We represent clients facing various drug charges including the following:

• Possession of narcotics or drug paraphernalia
• Distribution of illegal drugs
• Drug trafficking
• Manufacture or growth of illegal drugs
• Large drug conspiracies including those charged as a federal crime
• Drugs DUI/OVI

If you have been charged with a drug crime, it is very likely you will be facing a prison sentence if you are convicted. In addition to jail time, a conviction of a drug crime leads to a mandatory suspension of your driver’s license. And if you are not a United States citizen, a conviction for a drug crime can lead to your deportation. Our firm will work to prevent you from suffering these serious consequences by lodging Constitutional challenges to stops and searches. Once you have hired us, our office will immediately start working on your case to make sure that your rights are protected. We will work closely with detectives, FBI investigators, and ATF and DEA agents. Our knowledge of threshold amounts, testing equipment, proper police procedures, and Constitutional law can help you in your legal battle with the government.

Domestic Violence in Ohio 

Many people who are facing a domestic violence or spousal abuse charge made a mistake -one they wish they could take back but cannot. Even if your loved one is willing to forgive you, law enforcement will not. All it takes is one incident for charges to be filed, and once this happens, restraining orders, protective orders and the inability to come back to your home are the typical results.

In addition, there are numerous collateral consequences because of a domestic violence or assault conviction, including child custody issues and visitation rights, the right to own a handgun and deportation if you are not a United States citizen. Attorney Coleridge will work with you to help you move on with your life, whether it is reuniting with your family or having the right to be with your children.

Contact our office by phone at 330-454-1216 to speak with Attorney Coleridge. We will speak with you honestly and confidentially about any violent crime charges you are facing that occurred within a domestic situation.

Ohio Domestic Violence Attorneys

Our firm will conduct a thorough investigation of your case. We will interview witnesses and determine what the prosecution’s case consists of and the evidence they have against you. We have considerable experience in working with domestic relations attorneys and in resolving issues involving child custody and marriage. Our office understands how important it is that you get to spend time with your loved ones. We have experience obtaining and defending these critical matters.

A divorce can be an emotional process for everyone involved. Not only does the couple have to go through the difficulty of splitting assets and the pain of a break in the relationship, but if children are in the picture, their emotions come into play as well.

Whether the split is a mutual decision or painful for one person in particular, the steps that need to be taken can be lengthy and stressful, especially if one person is unwilling to cooperate. The divorce is a huge hardship as it is, but we can make it easier for you. We strive to make the divorce process as smooth and hassle-free as possible for everyone.

We will work day and night to make sure that everyone is treated with respect and is satisfied with the outcome. Attorney Coleridge has experience helping his clients get through this difficult time. He will stand by your side throughout the entire case, should you have any questions or concerns about the process.

You have to make numerous decisions during a break-up, such as who will get alimony, child support, and child visitation. We can take care of that for you, make the necessary phone calls and process the paperwork so that neither party has additional troubles to worry about in their case.

Dissolution Of Marriage 

When spouses agree that their marriage can no longer continue and can agree on the terms for property division, spousal support, child support, allocation of parental rights (custody and visitation) and related issues, they may consider getting dissolution rather than a divorce. Coleridge Law has assisted many clients in pursuing dissolutions of marriage.

A Dissolution of Marriage is Ohio’s form of no-fault divorce and, unlike divorce proceedings, does not require that either spouse be at fault for the downfall of the marriage. Dissolution is much faster and less stressful than divorce because the spouses must agree on everything.

In order to file for dissolution with the court, you and your spouse must be in total agreement as to:

• Your children: their custody, support, visi­tation, medical care, tax exemptions and credits and life insurance designee;
• Your property: both real estate and personal goods such as motor vehicles, bank accounts, household goods and furnishings, stocks/bonds, pensions/retirement/profit sharing plans, recreational equipment, everything you have earned or purchased during the marriage;
• Your debts: who pays what, when, and in what amounts; and
• Spousal support: amount, frequency and method, both temporary and permanent.

When pursuing dissolution, it is best for each spouse to have an Ohio divorce attorney who can guide them through negotiations with the other spouse. Experienced attorneys understand which strategies for property division, support obligations, custody and visitation agreements work best and can skillfully represent your point of view and reasoning to the other spouse and his/her attorney when negotiations get difficult. Attorney Coleridge has extensive experience effectively negotiating these matters while helping clients maintain peaceful relationships with their former spouses. Contact Coleridge Law to schedule an initial consultation.

Civil Protection Orders are sometimes called “Stay Away” Orders, and they can result from accusations which may include spousal abuse or child abuse, whether it is physical, mental or verbal. These types of issues are generally handled in common pleas court domestic relations division, however, in certain circumstances the can be handled in common pleas court, general division. Whether or not the accused abuser and alleged victim are related or have lived together is the factual issue which determines where to file for the Civil Protection Orders. Civil Protection Orders can limit the accused abuser’s contact with the alleged victim or any minor children at issue for extended periods of time, as well as restricting the accused abuser’s ability to enter the family residence.

If the Civil Protection Orders are violated, the violating party can face jail, fines, as well as additional penalties. If you have been charged with, or victimized by, a crime involving domestic violence or threats to family or a household member, it is absolutely critical to obtain advise from an experienced domestic violence attorney as soon as possible. It is also extremely helpful to have an attorney who is also experienced in the collateral family law matters which should always be considered in conjunction with any Domestic Violence issue where children or a marriage are involved.

A Better Approach to Family Law 

Financial Plans for Children 

When your family structure is changing, it is important to make provisions for the financial support of your children. The amount of support is calculated by a worksheet, but there is a lot of room for interpretation of exactly what numbers should go into the formula. We are dedicated to digging deeply into the issues in order to obtain a positive result for you. Part of this is done through the determination of income.

What Is Income?

There are many provisions in the Ohio Revised Code devoted to defining income. Your pay stub is not the sole means of defining gross income. Income also includes your earning potential. For example, if you are a physician, but you are currently working at a lower income job, the court can impute income to you. Based on your earning potential, it might be more appropriate and in the best interests of your children to use an income of $200,000 instead of the $20,000 in wages you are currently earning.

What Is Reasonable?

Is it reasonable to expect someone to pay $8,000 in child care expenses when that person's income is only $10,000 per year? The same argument can be made concerning health care expenses and education expenses. Orders are also made in regard to health care premiums and non-covered expenses, such as orthodontia, psychological and dental needs. Additionally, the schedule that helps parents determine child support tops out at a certain level. Parents with a high income need an Ohio family law lawyer to help them determine an appropriate level of support since this is done on a case-by-case basis. The court does not have to follow the formula set forth in the guidelines. We will explore options for deviating from the guidelines for reasons such as the sharing of child-related expenses, parenting time allocation, court-ordered payments, extraordinary medical expenses or parenting time travel expenses

Over the years, we have found that people frequently have misconceptions about what shared parenting is. Many believe shared parenting means a 50/50 split of the child's residence with no child support paid to either party.

Shared parenting can mean just about anything you want it to mean, but usually it means that both parents make all of the decisions regarding the children jointly. We will help you consider alternatives and develop a parenting plan that works for you and your children.

Our approach is to be very specific in the parenting plans we help you develop. When both parties clearly understand their rights and responsibilities, there is less cause for conflict. It is said that children do better when the conflict between the parents is reduced. Our goal is to develop agreements that work in the real world, not just on paper. Our experience in observing and solving many child-related disputes will help you avoid problems in the future by drafting documents that build in as much specificity as your situation requires.

While we are often successful in settling custody and parenting time issues outside of court, we are willing to take your case through mediation and before a judge, if necessary.