Your freedom is not a negotiating chip.

A criminal charge is the most disorienting moment many people will ever face. The vocabulary is unfamiliar, the timelines move quickly, and every decision in the first seventy-two hours has consequences for the next year. Early representation matters more in criminal cases than in almost any other area of law. Statements made before counsel arrives, consents given without understanding, and missed bond opportunities all become permanent features of the file. The sooner we are involved, the more options remain on the table.

Stroebel & Stroebel defends clients facing the full range of criminal accusations in West Virginia. That includes felony and misdemeanor charges in state court, DUI and DWI matters, drug possession and distribution cases, theft and property crimes, assault and domestic battery, sexual offenses, weapons charges, and white collar matters involving fraud, embezzlement, and financial crimes. We also defend clients facing federal indictments in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia, where the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and federal procedural rules change every aspect of the strategy. Where convictions need to be challenged, we handle direct appeals and post-conviction proceedings.

The West Virginia criminal process operates on multiple tracks. Magistrate court handles misdemeanors and conducts preliminary hearings on felonies. These proceedings move fast and require careful early decisions about plea offers, discovery, and pretrial release conditions. Circuit court handles felony cases after grand jury indictment, including motions practice, suppression hearings, and jury trials. Federal court adds the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Sentencing Guidelines, which often determine the realistic exposure long before trial. We work all three tracks regularly and know the prosecutors, judges, and procedural customs of each.

Effective defense begins with discovery and investigation. Police reports, body camera footage, lab results, search warrant affidavits, witness statements, dash camera video, and forensic analyses are scrutinized for inconsistencies, procedural defects, and constitutional violations. Where we identify Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment issues, we file motions to suppress, motions to dismiss, and motions in limine. These motions are often where cases are won. A successful suppression order can dispose of the case entirely, and even a partial victory can transform the plea posture overnight.

How we are different starts with trial readiness. Many criminal defense lawyers handle high volumes of pleas and rarely see a jury. We do not. Trial readiness is what makes plea offers improve, suppression motions credible, and sentencing arguments persuasive. Prosecutors and judges know which lawyers will actually try a case, and that knowledge changes the conversation. We negotiate from a position of preparation, not from weakness, and we tell prosecutors plainly that the case will be tried unless the offer reflects the actual strength of the evidence.

What you can expect from us is direct counsel about the evidence, the law, and the realistic range of outcomes. Criminal cases affect housing, employment, immigration status, professional licensing, and family relationships, and we consider all of those collateral consequences before any plea is recommended. If the case is hard, we say so. If the right move is to negotiate, we explain why. If the right move is to fight, we do not flinch. Strategy that ignores reality is malpractice dressed up as confidence, and we have no interest in either the strategy or the dressing.

What We Handle

• Felony charges in West Virginia circuit court, including violent crimes, drug distribution, and serious property offenses.
• Misdemeanor matters in magistrate court, including domestic battery, simple assault, and minor drug offenses.
• DUI and DWI cases, including refusal hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings and license restoration.
• Drug possession, distribution, and conspiracy charges under both state law and the federal Controlled Substances Act.
• White collar matters, including fraud, embezzlement, tax offenses, and federal financial crimes.
• Federal charges in the Southern and Northern Districts of West Virginia, with full Sentencing Guidelines analysis.
• Weapons charges, including possession by prohibited persons and firearm enhancements in federal cases.
• Direct appeals to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the Fourth Circuit, plus post-conviction motions.

“The motion to suppress took the case apart. The state dismissed the next morning.”

What to Expect

1. 01

   Immediate consultation and bond strategy

   We meet with you or your family as soon as possible. If you are in custody, we work to secure reasonable pretrial release conditions at the earliest opportunity, often before the first formal court appearance.

2. 02

   Discovery and constitutional review

   We obtain and analyze every piece of evidence the state has gathered, including police reports, body camera footage, lab results, and warrant materials. Each is reviewed for suppression and dismissal grounds.

3. 03

   Motions practice and negotiation

   Where we identify constitutional or evidentiary issues, we file motions to suppress, dismiss, or limit the state's case. Plea negotiation, where appropriate, is conducted from this position of strength rather than from weakness.

4. 04

   Trial or sentencing advocacy

   If the case proceeds to trial, the same lawyers prepare and try it. If sentencing is the path forward, we present a comprehensive mitigation case designed to protect your future, your family, and your record.

Frequently Asked Questions