Fairfax Criminal Lawyer
Criminal defense attorney Jonathan R. Oates wins extraordinary no-jail result for client facing six counts of felony drug distribution in Fairfax County Circuit Court in May 2014.
Mr. Oates’ client had touched an illegal substance or had a sip of alcohol, six felony drug distribution charges from Fairfax County continued to haunt him. Up against six felony drug distribution charges, Mr. Oates’ representation whittled them down to only two in the Circuit Court. Even with only two felonies at sentencing, the client was still facing sentencing guidelines of a minimum of 9 months, and as much as 18 months in a Virginia state penitentiary.
With odds stacked heavily against them, Mr. Oates and his client kept hope for a no-jail sentence that would allow the client to keep working, return to college, and continue his remarkable rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol as a free man.
On the day of sentencing, with the prosecutor pushing for more than one year of penitentiary time, Mr. Oates presented the judge with a courtroom packed full of support, evidence of clients progress and commitment to being drug and alcohol free, and the argument that this was a person who is moving forward beyond past demons and is better suited progressing as a free man. The judge was persuaded by Mr. Oates ‘ argument and presentation. Ruling against the strong recommendation of the prosecutor, and looking beyond the sentencing guidelines, the judge granted Mr. Oates’ request that the defendant not receive any active jail sentence.