Cleveland Criminal Defense Lawyers

If You've Been Accused of a Crime, Act Now

Our criminal defense attorneys in Cleveland are available 24/7. If you've been arrested or are under investigation for a crime, call us for a free consultation. 

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Pre-Arrest Investigation Defense: Getting Ahead of the Charges

When law enforcement targets you for a criminal investigation, the clock is already running. Every interview they conduct, every piece of evidence they collect, every witness they speak to is part of a case being built against you. Do not sit and wait to be arrested.

Most people don't realize that the time before charges are filed is often the most critical phase of a criminal case. 

Before the district attorney’s office or the U.S. Attorney can charge you with a crime, they must compile investigative evidence that outlines why the charges against you are justified. If the prosecuting attorneys cannot provide compelling evidence for your charges, the case against you could fall apart.

Our criminal defense attorneys can work to dismantle the opposition’s case before they ever formally bring charges against you. During pre-arrest investigations, we may be able to challenge the supposed evidence and get the case dropped, meaning there would not even be a mark on your arrest record.

Our defense lawyers in Cleveland can represent you in:

• Pre-arrest interviews
• Responding to official written inquiries
• Interactions with law enforcement

Remember: you have the right to remain silent, but this does not mean it is always the best option. We can thoroughly analyze the situation and advise you whether you should cooperate with investigators or remain respectfully and legally quiet about what is going on.

Plea or Trial: We'll Help You Make the Right Call

A criminal case in Ohio can be resolved in one of two ways: through a negotiated plea or litigation at trial.

The first avenue involves your attorney negotiating with the prosecutor to seek a just outcome on your behalf. This process happens out of court. The second avenue, litigation, is when your case is heard in court, meaning it goes to trial. Your attorney and the prosecutor will present evidence before a judge or jury to support their assertions.

While the prosecutor is trying to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, your lawyer will be countering their accusations and defending your innocence.

Although the litigation stage is what many people think about when they hear about a criminal case, most matters aren’t resolved at trial. The majority of cases are settled out of court through negotiations and plea deals. This is mainly because there is more personal control in talks with the prosecutor. Also, bargaining is often quicker and less costly than taking a case to trial.

Risks & Benefits of Taking Your Case to Trial

Accepting a plea or going to trial both have pros and cons. For instance, taking a deal is advantageous in that it is less time-consuming than a trial. Additionally, it can mean that the defendant is convicted of a lesser charge or spends less time in jail and or prison. However, plea bargains also have their disadvantages.

The prosecutor’s case might be too weak to prove that the defendant committed the alleged offense, so they'll offer a deal that allows them to “win” the case. When the defendant accepts the plea, they lose out on the possibility of being acquitted of a criminal charge.

One of the advantages of going to trial is that the defense has more time to prepare for the case and build a compelling strategy. Litigation also allows the defendant to seek an acquittal. However, when a case goes to trial, the defendant’s fate is decided by a judge or jury, meaning they lose the more personal control they had during negotiations.

Your legal team will meet with you to discuss the possible risks and benefits of proceeding to trial. We will also discuss how we can mitigate the risk of trial by entering a plea. You will be counseled as to the possible consequences of each of your choices. This critical decision must be made by the client with our experienced advice.

We are here to answer your questions and to ensure you understand your options.

As Joe Patituce puts it: “There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we're going to get you there. We're not going to mislead you along the way.”

We're Not Afraid of a Courtroom — And Prosecutors Know It

A lot of firms will take your money, hand you a plea deal, and move on to the next client. 

We prepare every case as though it is going to trial. If a client looks at us and says they want to fight, the answer is “Let's go. We're ready.”

That level of preparation matters even when a case never reaches a jury. Prosecutors negotiate differently when they know your attorney has done the work and has a track record in the courtroom. 

Our founder and lead attorney, Joe Patituce, has taken over 400 cases to trial and achieved a 95% success rate. He has secured full acquittals in triple-homicide cases. He has argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio and won. When we sit across the table from a prosecutor, they know we are not bluffing.

Strategic Defense at Every Step: How We Defend Criminal Cases

Every case is different. The approach we take for a DUI/OVI case is not the same approach we take on a felony drug charge or a federal investigation. What does not change is our standard: we prepare every case as if it is going to trial, regardless of how it ultimately resolves.

• Thorough case review. From the moment we take your case, we examine every piece of evidence the prosecution has, including how it was obtained, how it was handled, and whether any of it can be challenged or suppressed.
• Constitutional challenges. Law enforcement does not always follow the rules. If your rights were violated, such as an unlawful traffic stop, an illegal search, or a coerced statement, we will file the appropriate motions to have that evidence excluded. Evidence that cannot be used in court is evidence that cannot convict you.
• Evidence investigation. We don't rely solely on what the prosecution provides. We conduct our own investigation: gathering physical evidence, reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and consulting expert witnesses where appropriate. The prosecution is only required to give you what they have. We go looking for what they missed.
• Strategic negotiation. When a negotiated resolution is in your best interest, we pursue it from a position of strength. Prosecutors negotiate differently when they know your attorney has done the work and isn't afraid to go to trial. The preparation we do at every stage is what gives you real leverage.
• Trial. If you want to fight, we fight. Joe Patituce has secured full acquittals in triple-homicide cases. He has argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio and changed state law on criminal evidence. He has beaten the federal government. When we say we are trial lawyers, we mean it in the most literal sense.

When Everything Is on the Line, Call Us

If you are under investigation or have been charged with a crime in Cleveland or anywhere in Cuyahoga County, do not wait. Call Patituce & Associates for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will call you back within 12 hours, and we will give you an honest assessment of your situation — not empty promises, but real answers.

Give us a call 24/7 – it’s free