Boston Criminal Trial Lawyer
Attorney David R. Yannetti offers proven trial representation to clients charged with, or under investigation for, the following criminal offenses:
In addition to defending clients against criminal charges in courts in Boston and throughout Massachusetts, Attorney Yannetti may also:
- Represent clients who have been charged with a probation violation in probation surrender hearings
- Seek dismissal of misdemeanor criminal charges in clerk's hearings
- Work to have a client's criminal arrest or conviction sealed through a petition to seal his or her criminal record
- Seek post-conviction relief for clients, such as a new trial, reversal of a conviction, or a revised sentence through trial court motions and criminal appeals in Massachusetts and federal appellate courts.
DUI / Drunk Driving
Attorney Yannetti has been successfully handling drunk driving (DUI/OUI/DWI) cases for over twenty years. There are three elements of a DUI or OUI charge that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) operation of a motor vehicle; (2) intoxication; and (3) public way. An experienced criminal defense attorney may file a motion to dismiss, or a motion to suppress evidence, to ensure that the DUI case never gets to a trial. If you must take the case to trial in order to evade punishment, however, Attorney Yannetti has successfully tried hundreds of DUI or OUI cases. He provides top-quality representation for all clients.
Domestic Violence
If you have been arrested for domestic violence but have reconciled with the alleged victim, you may still face a criminal prosecution. Unless you are married to the alleged victim, the prosecutor may force him or her to testify against you. In many domestic violence cases, there are parallel divorce proceedings where emotions are highly charged, custody of children is at issue, and restraining orders are being sought. If you have been charged with family violence or spousal abuse during a divorce case, you need an experienced lawyer who has successfully resolved hundreds of these cases. In addition, a conviction for domestic violence is deportable for non-citizens. With so much at stake, you will need an attorney who is an effective cross-examiner and a persuasive oral advocate. Having handled hundreds of these cases, Attorney Yannetti stands ready to protect your rights and fight for your acquittal at trial.
Violent Crimes
Conviction for a violent crime can involve a prison sentence, fines, and a permanent criminal record. Attorney Yannetti possesses the investigative resources needed to challenge the integrity of the evidence collected and the thoroughness of an investigation. Attorney Yannetti will prepare the most solid defense possible for every client.
Restraining Order Violations
Attorney Yannetti represents people who have had a restraining order taken out against them. Attorney Yannetti can also defend clients against alleged violations of a restraining order, with astute legal strategies.
Drug Charges
There are many degrees of seriousness for drug charges. Possession of a small amount of a controlled substance may sometimes be resolved without a term of imprisonment. However, unlawful possession of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, or prescription drugs are more serious crimes and are prosecuted more aggressively. Drug distribution can result in prison time with mandatory minimum sentences. Mandatory minimum sentences mean that the judge has no discretion in sentencing. In drug trafficking cases, the accused could be facing mandatory-minimum sentences of several years. Attorney Yannetti has been successfully handling narcotics offense cases for over twenty years and provides top-notch trial representation for clients who have been charged with a drug crime in Massachusetts.
Felonies
If you are under investigation for a felony, it is critical that you receive a lawyer's advice as soon as possible. If consulted at an early juncture, a knowledgeable and experienced felony-defense lawyer may be able to unearth exculpatory witnesses or evidence. A thorough defense investigation may persuade prosecutors not to charge you - or to charge you with a less serious offense. Proper early investigation might also prove to be critical if the case ultimately proceeds to trial.
Misdemeanors
While a misdemeanor conviction typically subjects a person to less jail time than felony convictions, it can still have a devastating effect on your future. A misdemeanor conviction still gives you a criminal record, which can affect your reputation in the community, since any district court case is a public record and might be printed in your home town newspaper or on the internet. It also will be available to future employers and/or schools during background checks. Attorney Yannetti has helped hundreds of clients facing misdemeanor charges avoid having a criminal record.
Juvenile Offenses
Attorney Yannetti's main concern for juvenile offenders is their future. Juvenile clients are just starting out in life, with bright futures ahead of them and the last thing they need is to be convicted or found delinquent of a crime. Attorney Yannetti regularly represents young men and women in juvenile court to make sure that does not happen. Attorney Yannetti also represents so-called "Youthful Offenders" - juveniles who have been indicted for more serious crimes. Whatever the charge, it is imperative to hire an attorney who is experienced in handling juvenile criminal cases.
Motor Vehicle Offenses
Many vehicular crimes can carry jail or house of correction sentences while also resulting in a suspension of your Massachusetts driver's license. Attorney Yannetti has successfully handled countless motor vehicle matters and has appeared on behalf of clients both in district and municipal courts as well as at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. On occasion, an attorney may prevent charges from issuing in the first place by successfully representing a client at a "show cause hearing" or "clerk magistrate's hearing." Any individual facing motor vehicle offenses should retain an attorney at the earliest juncture possible to preserve all potential options.
Weapons Charges
Massachusetts is a state with stringent gun and weapons laws. For example, the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in Massachusetts carries a mandatory minimum eighteen-month prison sentence, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders. If the firearm in question was loaded at the time that the police seized it, an additional charge will likely follow, carrying additional, mandatory time in the house of correction or state prison. An experienced criminal defense attorney will know how to attack the Commonwealth's case at trial and will prepare the most vigorous defense. Attorney Yannetti has been handling firearms and related cases for over twenty years and puts his clients in the best position to succeed.
Theft Crimes
There are many different types of theft crimes, e.g., larceny, armed robbery, conversion, embezzlement, receiving stolen property and shoplifting. Any theft conviction can have a negative impact on your future, especially if handled incorrectly by an inexperienced lawyer. Attorney Yannetti has handled hundreds of theft cases and has successfully helped many clients avoid a criminal record.
Armed Robbery
There are many possible defenses to an armed robbery charge. For example, many armed robbery cases are identification cases. The main evidence comes from an alleged victim or a witness viewing a photo array or a lineup and identifying the accused. In eyewitness-identification cases, there are certain procedural safeguards that have been put in place both by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts to make sure the identification is not unnecessarily suggestive and that the defendant receives due process to protect his or her rights. To effectively defend a client against an armed robbery charge, a criminal defense attorney must be well versed in the law of joint venture. An attorney must, in short, be both experienced and up-to-date on recent legal developments. Attorney Yannetti has twenty years of experience preparing the best legal representation obtainable anywhere, right here in Boston.
Murder / Homicide
Attorney Yannetti is well versed in how the police put a murder case together. As a former prosecutor, he has been called to murder scenes in the middle of the night and has personally witnessed how the police preserve evidence, how murder investigations unfold, and what techniques the police use. That experience has been invaluable as Attorney Yannetti now represents clients on trial for their lives. Very few attorneys have tried twelve murder cases, as Attorney Yannetti has, and very few have succeeded in the face of overwhelming pressure. Attorney Yannetti is, in short, battle-tested and ready to provide unparalled representation to those charged with the most serious crime of all.
Sex Offenses
Merely being accused of a sex-crime is devastating. In addition to a potentially long prison sentence, you face the prospect of lifetime registration with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry. Your picture could be placed on a police sex offender website, so everyone in your neighborhood would know that you are a sex offender. A sex-crime conviction is the modern-day equivalent of the Scarlet Letter A. Attorney Yannetti has successfully handled charges of rape, assault with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery and other sex crimes. Attorney Yannetti has helped many clients to avoid the horrific consequences of a sex-crime conviction.
White-Collar and Federal Crimes Defense
White-collar crimes are often known as "paper" cases, because state and federal prosecutors often use overwhelming documentation to back up their charges. A criminal defense attorney must file crucial discovery motions to put his client in the best possible position to defeat white-collar charges such as fraud or embezzlement. In federal cases, recent case law has changed the sentencing guidelines from mandatory to advisory. An experienced defense attorney working on your behalf now has more power to successfully resolve a case through an effective sentencing argument made directly to a judge.
Probation Violations
Individuals who have violated the terms of probation are often faced with a potential prison sentence, despite having avoided one at time of their original sentencing. It is crucial to retain an experienced lawyer to obtain the best result possible. Attorney Yannetti has successfully represent his clients in court during both initial and final probation surrender hearings. Attorney Yannetti has been very effective in helping clients find an alternative to returning to jail by working with the court to explore other, less severe sentencing options.
Clerk's Hearings
A Clerk Magistrate's Hearing is a terrific opportunity for a client to end a criminal case before it begins. The stakes in a clerk's hearing are high: Either a complaint will issue against you (and therefore, sully your criminal record), or it will not (and your record will therefore remain clean). Too many clients have waited to retain counsel until after they have attended clerk's hearings without counsel -- and after those hearings have gone badly. If you have been summonsed for a clerk's hearing, you should not make the same mistake. You should hire an experienced and competent attorney who has handled dozens of clerk's hearings. Attorney Yannetti does some of his best work at the clerk's hearing stage of a case.
Motions to Seal
If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, it may be possible to seal your criminal records. Depending on the circumstances of your case, Attorney Yannetti can advise you regarding the feasibility and desirability of having your criminal record sealed. In Massachusetts, these motions are called "petitions to seal." There is a very precise procedure that must be followed, or else permanent mistakes could be made that may haunt you in the future. Having successfully handled many petitions to seal over the last ten years, Attorney Yannetti stands ready to make sure no such mistakes are made in your case.
Criminal Appeals
Attorney Yannetti has successfully handled many appeals and other post-conviction matters in Massachusetts, including motions for new trial, motions to revise and revoke sentences, and motions to expunge criminal records. If you have been convicted, as an experienced lawyer Attorney Yannetti may use many different methods to attempt to reverse your conviction. When hiring an attorney to appeal your conviction, you should make sure that the attorney has had extensive appellate experience. Ask if the attorney has argued orally before the Supreme Judicial Court - and ask him or her whether you can view a video of the oral argument in which he or she participated. Feel free to call Attorney Yannetti to discuss your rights and options for appeal.
Free Phone Consultation: Contact Boston criminal trial lawyer David Yannetti.
