New Hampshire Criminal Defense Attorneys
Aggressive Advocates Since 1997
Most clients who contact Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C. after being arrested or charged with a crime or some other wrongdoing are anxious. Not knowing the outcome can be highly stressful. A conviction can impact your family, career, and reputation.
If you have been arrested for a crime, it is important to retain an experienced New Hampshire criminal defense attorney who can give you specific legal advice regarding your situation and can help you build your best defense.
At Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C., we have over 140 years of collective experience in helping clients safeguard their legal rights in the courtroom and can lend that experience to you.
Call (603) 288-1403 for a free consultation today, or contact us online.
Trust Our Track Record
If you have been accused of a crime, New Hampshire police and prosecutors will be aggressive. They have a team of people working for them to prove their case against you.
Many people ask, “Do I need a lawyer?” You want someone with experience and a proven track record. We think you deserve that and more. Our lawyers include a former state Supreme Court and Superior Court Judge.
He even wrote the New Hampshire Evidence Manual, which is used by judges and lawyers across the state regarding evidence in a court case.
It is important to listen to your side and understand the facts. After we know this information, we can develop solutions that are best for you. We’re not here to judge you.
Once we are involved, we handle all communications with prosecutors, police, or other officials and bring the peace of mind that you are not alone dealing with this burden. We’re here to bring an end to your legal problem.
Criminal Defense Practice Areas
There are a variety of criminal defense matters, including:
Possession of Drugs
You can be charged with illegal possession of drugs for having possession or control of any “controlled substance.” This includes not just street drugs, but also prescription drugs that were not prescribed for you by your doctor. NH RSA 318-B:1 and 318-B:1-a and b define what drugs are illegal.
Possession with Intent to Distribute
Police officers can charge you for possession with intent to distribute even if no drugs were sold. These charges are often based on the quantity of drugs found or the paraphernalia found with the drugs. Possession with intent is covered by NH RSA 318-B:2.
Simple Assault
Simple assault is charged as a crime when a person purposely causes physical contact with another person without permission to do so. Simple assault does not require injury to result in a misdemeanor or criminal charge. NH RSA 631:2-a.
Second Degree Assault
Second Degree Assault is a felony and is charged when a person assaults another and that assault results in serious bodily injury. NH RSA 631:2.
Reckless Conduct
Felony reckless conduct is charged when a person, by their actions, places another person in danger of serious bodily injury by use of a deadly weapon. For these purposes, a car can be considered a deadly weapon. NH RSA 631:3; State v. Cheney, 165 N.H. 677 (2013).
Criminal Threatening
A person can be charged with misdemeanor criminal threatening when he or she, by words or actions, places another person in fear of imminent injury or assault. Criminal threatening is a felony if it involves use of a deadly weapon. NH RSA 631:4.
Misdemeanor Sexual Assault
Misdemeanor sexual assault is often charged when there is sexual contact (usually touching, not penetration) where one of the participants is 13 or older but under the age of 16, and the age difference between the two is 5 years or more. If there is non-forcible penetration and the age difference is 4 years or less, it can also be charged as misdemeanor sexual assault. NH RSA 632-A:4.
Misdemeanor Sexual Assault
Misdemeanor sexual assault is often charged when there is sexual contact (usually touching, not penetration) where one of the participants is 13 or older but under the age of 16, and the age difference between the two is 5 years or more. If there is non-forcible penetration and the age difference is 4 years or less, it can also be charged as misdemeanor sexual assault. NH RSA 632-A:4.
Age of Consent to Have Sex
The age of consent for sex in New Hampshire is 16. This means that, for example, if a 17-year-old boy has “consensual” sex with his 15-year-old high school girlfriend, he can be charged with misdemeanor sexual assault. The fact that she was a willing participant is not a defense to the crime charged. NH RSA 632-A:4.
Felonious Sexual Assault
Felonious sexual assault is most often charged when there is sexual penetration with a person who is at least 13 but less than 16 years of age and the difference in ages is 4 years or more. Felonious sexual assault is a class B felony (3 ½ – 7 years in prison) and consent is not a defense in the circumstance described above. NH RSA 632-A:3.
Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault (AFSA)
AFSA is what is most often thought of as rape. In an AFSA, there is no consent. AFSA is a class A felony punishable by 7 ½ – 15 years in state prison. NH RSA 632-A:2, 651:2.
Theft by Unauthorized Taking
This type of theft is what you might think of as shoplifting, which is also covered by willful concealment or NH RSA 637:3-a. These types of thefts can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the value of the items involved. NH RSA 637:4. Theft crimes are charged as misdemeanors if the value is less than $1,000, and felonies if more than $1,000.
Theft by Deception
Theft by deception is charged when a person obtains property or money from another by trickery, misrepresentation, or stealth. Many times, theft by deception is charged for what you might think of as embezzlement. NH RSA 637:4.
Call (603) 288-1403 now to consult with our New Hampshire criminal defense attorneys.
Our Services How We Can Help
- Civil Rights
- DWI/DUI
- Drug Crimes
- Aggravated DWI
- Drivers License Reinstatement
- Appeals
- Trials
- Field Sobriety Tests
- DWI Second Offense
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