Criminal Defense

Think you need a criminal defense attorney? 

If so, you probably do. You should give us a call or schedule a free consultation now. We can give you an honest assessment of your charges and help you understand what you’re facing.

An arrest can be a scary thing. You’ve found yourself here because either you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with a crime. 

While a felony is far more serious, even a misdemeanor can mean a criminal record, fines, court fees — even jail time.

At Ben Byers Law Office, we understand that there are two sides to every story. With over 13 years of experience in the legal arena we have fought tooth and nail to ensure our clients get justice. 

We can give you an honest assessment of your charges and help you understand what you’re facing. You should give us a call or schedule a free consultation now.

After An Arrest, Get An Owensboro Criminal Defense Attorney That Will Fight for Your Future

The possibility of going to jail or prison can be scary. One mistake has the power to completely change your life for the rest of your life

A conviction can permanently scar your record, eliminate employment opportunities and be devastating to your family and relationships.

No matter where in Western Kentucky you have been arrested, we can help. We serve clients in Owensboro and all surrounding towns as well as all of Daviess, Ohio, Henderson, McLean, Hopkins and Hancock counties.

Our #1 goal is — and always will be — to get you the best possible outcome for your case. This is why it is important to speak to an Owensboro criminal defense attorney immediately. Now is not the time to waste time on making a decision. Your best next step is getting experienced legal help on your side, so you have someone to advocate on your behalf and ensure that your rights are not violated.

Call us today for a 100% confidential, free case evaluation.

Do I Need An Owensboro Criminal Defense Attorney?

Have you been charged with a felony or misdemeanor? Do you have a loved one in jail right now? Don’t know what to do next? We can help!

You can work with an Owensboro criminal defense attorney who is a fierce advocate with the dedication and know-how to get you or your loved one the best possible outcome.

No matter the charges or situation, we can help.

DUI Defense

Being arrested for driving under the influence in Kentucky can have lasting consequences. A DUI is more than a traffic violation. A DUI can have a snowball effect that impacts other areas of your life, like your job, employment prospects, and ability to operate a vehicle.

If you have been arrested for DUI, call us now for fast help.

Learn more about DUIs

Drug Possession and Sales

The sale or possession of drugs is a serious offense. If you have been arrested for possession of any illegal substances, you should contact an experienced Owensboro criminal defense attorney immediately. 

We have experience defending clients for both misdemeanors and felony charges, as well as offenses that involve selling and trafficking drugs.

Here are some common charges we have successfully defended:

  • Possession and trafficking of methamphetamine
  • Possession and trafficking of marijuana
  • Possession and trafficking of heroin
  • Possession of ecstasy
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Possession and trafficking of synthetic drugs like bath salts, K2 or Molly
  • Possession and trafficking of cocaine

If you or someone you know needs help, book a consultation now.

Assault Charges

When you intentionally use physical violence against another person, the consequences can be severe. If the person was hurt badly, this will aggravate your charges, which means longer potential jail time — or even a prison sentence. 

Of course, there are a number of tried and true legal methods that a successful Owensboro criminal defense attorney can use to defend you in court. The real question is do you have a plausible defense? If you do, it’s quite possible that we can pursue a dismissal of charges.

In order to get a free evaluation of your case, you should contact us.

Domestic Violence

We are not family law attorneys. We are the lawyers you call when you have been charged with domestic violence and need help defending yourself in court against criminal charges.

And we do that well.

One thing you should know: while it is against the law to threaten, assault or batter anyone, domestic violence charges are taken much more seriously when the assault involves the parent of your child, a cohabitant, spouse or significant other.

Not only that, being convicted of domestic violence can have a lasting impact on your ability to see your children.

If you are facing charges related to domestic violence or “DV”, please contact our office immediately to get insight into how we can help.

Wanton Endangerment

When you engage in conduct that puts another person in danger, you can be charged with Wanton Endangerment. Depending on how your actions were interpreted by the arresting officer or the prosecutor, and the evidence that was obtained, you can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony. 

Of course, in order for the prosecutor to win a conviction they must prove that you willingly and purposely engaged in behavior with wanton indifference that did or may have caused danger to others.

If you need help evaluating the possibility of dismissal, give us a call.

Theft 

Theft and shoplifting are viewed by the general public as insignificant crimes because, more often than not, the crime itself involves taking something of relatively little value. Prosecutors often do not take this position.

The reality is a theft conviction can carry jail time and can negatively impact your life for years to come. It’s something that will prevent you from being employed in certain industries and is an embarrassment you will have to relive every time you fill out an application for a job, an apartment or a home.

Misdemeanor theft involves taking something with the intent to steal that has a value of $500 or less. 

You can even be charged for the intent — you don’t have to successfully remove the property from the store for the crime to occur under Kentucky law.

Other felony theft charges involve the theft of property in excess of $500 in value.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all crimes that constitute theft in the State of Kentucky, but one thing is for certain — we can help you mitigate any charges and mount a solid defense.

We have experience helping clients in many areas:

  • § 514.030    Theft by unlawful taking or disposition 
  • § 514.040    Theft by deception
  • § 514.050    Theft of property lost
  • § 514.060    Theft of services
  • § 514.080    Theft by extortion
  • § 514.100    Unauthorized use of automobile 
  • § 514.110    Receiving stolen property
  • § 514.140    Theft of mail matter
  • § 514.150    Possession of stolen mail matter
  • § 514.160    Theft of identity
  • § 514.170    Trafficking in stolen identities
  • § 434.650   Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card

If you have been charged for theft or any related offense, call now.

Burglary 

Burglary charges are much more serious. There are three different types of burglary charges.

The three statutes are § 511.020, § 511.030, § 511.040. 

  • Burglary 3rd is entering a building with an intent to commit a crime.
  • Burglary 2nd is entering a dwelling with the intent to commit a crime.
  • Burglary 1st is entering a building with the intent to commit a crime while armed with explosives or a deadly weapon, or having caused physical injury to a person who was not a participant in the crime, or used or threatened the use of a dangerous instrument against someone who was not a participant in the crime. 

If you have been charged with burglary, do not lose hope. There are more elements to the crime that the prosecutor must prove without a doubt in order to convict. Even with a case that may seem hopeless, with the right representation, it is still possible to have charges dismissed if the evidence is unclear, the evidence was obtained and handled in a way that would affect the reliability of the evidence, or the arresting officer violated your constitutional rights.

Burglary charges can also be pleaded down to lesser charges, like criminal trespass or even trespassing. The only way to know what’s possible is to speak to a competent Owensboro criminal defense attorney about your case.

If you need an honest assessment of your charges, reach out now.

Traffic Offenses

Have you received a speeding ticket or moving violation in Kentucky? We can help. It’s pretty common for an officer to make a mistake when citing you for a traffic violation, and these types of offenses are often the easiest to get dismissed or plead down, so you walk away with no points off your license and, at most, a small fine and maybe some traffic school.

No one wants higher insurance or extra points taken off their license. In fact, the cost of legal fees to defend (and win) your traffic ticket are more cost-effective than pleading guilty or not defending yourself. 

We help out-of-state drivers too. Just because you do not live in Kentucky does not mean that a Kentucky traffic citation cannot affect your license. Fortunately for you, if you retain our services, you will not even need to appear in court. We handle the entire matter for you, so you do not have to worry about a thing.

Contact us today to see if we can get your ticket dismissed or the penalty lessened.

Probation Violations

Once you are on probation, it can be very easy to violate your probation and be taken into custody. This is just the reality. It doesn’t mean it is fair, or right, or just. In fact, more times than not, a probation violation can be outright unjust and have a huge impact on your ability to lead a productive life and move beyond the mistakes of the past.

If you have been violated (or are worried about a probation violation) you should contact us right away to discuss your concerns. An Owensboro criminal defense attorney will analyze the situation and give you an honest assessment. 

If you feel like you may be facing probation violation charges, it’s likely time is not on your side, so contact us right away to talk to an attorney now. The call is free.

Expungement 

Part of moving on with life is being able to move forward with the life you are leading today, and forget about the mistakes of the past. The problem, however, is that no matter how productive a person you are today, your past still haunts you.

At the end of the day, you still have a criminal record.

The good news is some mistakes you can erase.

Expungement is the legal process of having your criminal history completely removed from your criminal record. It will be as if it never happened. A successfully expunged record means you are no longer required to notify or inform anyone of your prior conviction. This means that employment opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to you in the past, can now be possible.

There are certain time limits and requirements that need to be honored in order to qualify for expungement in Kentucky.

If you are interested in the expungement process, book a free consultation.

Learn more about expungements

Speak to a Owensboro Criminal Defense Attorney Now

If you need a professional and knowledgeable Owensboro criminal defense attorney, Ben Byers Law Office can help.

We have successfully represented clients in all matters of criminal defense and would like to help you through this difficult and challenging time. For immediate help, pick up the phone to talk to an attorney now. Otherwise, please schedule a time to talk with a lawyer.