Category: Criminal Defense

A criminal charge carries consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom. Jail time, fines, and probation are the most visible penalties, but the permanent record left by a conviction often does the most lasting damage — affecting employment, housing, professional licensing, immigration status, and firearm rights for years after the case is closed. At Shapiro Freitas, we represent clients facing criminal charges with one goal in mind: protecting both the immediate outcome and the long-term record.

Why Early Representation Makes a Difference
The most consequential decisions in a criminal case often happen before the first court appearance. Statements made to investigating officers, social media posts that should have been removed, voluntary interviews with detectives, and evidence that was preserved or lost during the early days — all of these shape what the case looks like months later. Bringing in defense counsel quickly preserves options that disappear over time.

Criminal Cases We Defend
Our criminal defense practice represents clients facing a broad range of allegations, including:

• DUI and DWI offenses
• Drug possession, distribution, and trafficking
• Assault charges, including domestic violence allegations
• Theft, shoplifting, and other property crimes
• Burglary, robbery, and breaking and entering
• Weapons and firearms charges
• Sex offenses
• Probation and parole violations
• Juvenile and youthful offender proceedings
• White collar offenses and fraud allegations
• Federal criminal matters
• Misdemeanor and felony appeals

Whatever the charge, the defense begins in the same place: a careful review of the police report, the underlying evidence, and every detail of how the arrest was conducted.

How Shapiro Freitas Approaches Criminal Defense
We challenge unlawful stops and searches under both federal and state constitutional standards, scrutinize identification procedures, examine forensic evidence and laboratory practices, and develop trial strategy based on the actual weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Where appropriate, we pursue diversion programs, deferred adjudication, and alternative sentencing arrangements designed to minimize long-term consequences.

Contact Shapiro Freitas Today
If you have been arrested or charged with a criminal offense, contact Shapiro Freitas immediately for a confidential consultation. The earlier we are involved, the more options we have to protect your rights, your record, and your future.