An Experienced Advocate to Stand Up for Your Rights:
For more than 35 years, Louis A. Kleiman, Attorney at Law, has dedicated his practice to serving criminal and traffic defendants.

Often referred to as the “people’s lawyer,” criminal defense attorney Kleiman strives to ensure that all of his clients receive fair and impartial representation in both federal and state courts. With skill, compassion, and respect, Mr. Kleiman specializes in handling all types of criminal matters, including domestic violence, shoplifting and credit card fraud, and traffic offenses—drunk driving, reckless driving, and driving on suspended license.

Mr. Kleiman has a well-earned reputation for fighting hard for clients, who work directly with him--no paralegals, no associates. Attorney Kleiman strives to obtain the best possible results--whether that means preventing a charge from being filed, taking a case to trial, or negotiating the best possible outcome. 
 
Contact Attorney Louis A. Kleiman today for exceptional legal representation in  Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. within the following areas:

• Felony & Misdemeanor Crimes, including:
  • Homicide
  • Armed Robbery
  • Arson
  • Assault
  • Burglary
  • Kidnapping
  • Theft (including by fraud or by contractor)
• Traffic Offenses, including:
  • Driving under the Influence (DUI)
  • Vehicular Manslaughter
  • Reckless Driving
  • Hit & Run
• Drug Offenses, including:
  • Trafficking
  • Manufacturing
  • Possession
• Domestic Violence
• Guns & Weapons Violations
• Sex Crimes
• White Collar Crimes

The law office of Louis A. Kleiman serves residents of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Reston, Vienna, Tyson’s Corner, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudon County, Prince Williams County, Stafford County and Washington, DC.

A Strong Defense is Important to Your Case:
The outcome of any criminal case depends upon the facts surrounding the crime charged, the strength of the evidence, the legal validity of law enforcement and courtroom procedure, and the goals and strategy of the government and defense. Attorney Louis A. Kleiman will navigate you through this complicated legal process.

Individuals convicted of a crime may be subject to--among other penalties--fines, imprisonment, probation, and community service. Defending your criminal case in the strongest possible way is Attorney Kleiman’s premium objective.

If you or someone you know needs the skilled legal representation of an experienced Northern Virginia criminal defense lawyer, call Louis Kleiman today at 866-733-5978, or complete the contact form provided on this site to arrange for your free initial consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

DUI/Driving Under the Influence:
"DUI" stands for Driving Under the Influence and occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit. Even for a first offense, penalties can include license suspension, substantial fines, community service, mandatory attendance at a state or DMV approved alcohol program, mandatory overnight incarceration and the required installation (at the offender's expense) of a car ignition locking device. In addition, a DUI conviction stays on a DMV record for several years, it typically results in higher insurance premiums and an offender may become ineligible for credit. Plus, a DUI could also jeopardize your employment opportunities.

However, if someone was injured as a result of the drunken driving accident, it is possible the defendant will be charged with a felony (and if the victim dies, the driver may be charged with vehicular manslaughter). Further, a DUI conviction will likely be raised to a felony if it is the driver's fourth DUI offense or the driver has had a prior felony DUI offense within 10 years of the new charge.

Traffic Crimes:
Traffic crimes are specifically addressed in state statutes. The complex body of law that regulates the operation of motor vehicles on the streets and highways can be difficult to interpret and apply. Examples of traffic crimes include reckless driving, aggressive driving, drag racing, and driving with a suspended license.

Felony Crimes:
Felony Crimes involve drug and narcotics charges, arson, burglary, armed robbery, murder and/or attempted murder, rape and/or sexual assault, kidnapping and aggravated assault and battery. A felony conviction is a serious matter that can result in a substantial state prison sentence and the potential loss of certain privileges and Constitutional rights of U.S. citizenship, such as the right to possess a firearm or the right to vote.

Misdemeanors:
Misdemeanors are more serious than petty offenses, but much less serious than felonies. Misdemeanors typically result in imposition of such punishments as a fine or a jail sentence not exceeding a year. If a jail sentence is imposed, it is served at a local, city or county jail rather than a state or federal prison (penitentiary). In many jurisdictions and in certain types of cases defendants who can't afford an attorney are not entitled to a court-appointed attorney in a misdemeanor case. Unlike felonies, misdemeanors are usually handled by special courts with abbreviated procedures, such as a city court or municipal court.

Drugs and Narcotics Charges:
Drugs and Narcotics laws have tried to keep up with the changing perceptions and real dangers of substance abuse. By 1970, over 55 federal drug laws and countless state laws specified a variety of punitive measures, including life imprisonment and even the death penalty. To clarify the situation, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 repealed, replaced, or updated all previous federal laws concerned with narcotics and all other dangerous drugs.

Most states have laws that give different treatment to possession of different categories of drugs (i.e. prescription drugs, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine), and also make a distinction in the offense charged as to whether a small amount of the drug was found with the defendant (personal use) or a larger amount (intent to sell or distribute, trafficking). A conviction on a drug charge of any magnitude, even a small amount of marijuana, can seriously affect your present and future employment chances, your education, your reputation and your freedom.

Domestic Violence:
Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, sexual or other violence that takes place between people who may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating. Domestic violence can be criminal and include physical assault: hitting, pushing and shoving, etc., sexual abuse: unwanted or forced sexual activity, and stalking. Domestic violence charges can have a serious impact on your life.

Serious Violent Crimes and Murder:
By definition, a violent crime is a behavior by persons, against persons or property that intentionally threatens, attempts or actually inflicts physical harm. The seriousness of the injuries to the victim(s), whether or not guns or other weapons were used and/or whether or not the alleged perpetrator has a criminal record will determine the seriousness of the charge. Most violent crimes are considered felonies and are subject to be considered a "strike" in a state that has adopted three strikes laws. Violent criminal charges can include: aggravated assault, arson, assault and battery, domestic violence, hate crimes, homicide, larceny, rape, manslaughter, mayhem and murder.

One of the most serious areas of violent crime is homicide - killing a person, whether lawfully or unlawfully. Justifiable homicide and excusable homicide are lawful homicides, while criminal homicide, negligent homicide, reckless homicide and vehicular homicide are unlawful homicides. Unlawful homicide comprises the two crimes of murder and manslaughter.

Sex Crimes:
Sex crimes can include such charges as: Child Abuse, Child Pornography, Date Rape, Failure to register (as a Sex Offender), Indecent Exposure, Internet Porn, Lewd Conduct, Marital Rape, Molestation, Obscenity, Pedophilia, Pornography, Prostitution, Rape, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sodomy and Statutory Rape. Many sex crimes are considered felonies and require convicted defendants to continually register themselves as publicly recognized sex offenders with the local and state authorities where they live and work. Charges of sexual misconduct carry extremely serious penalties and these crimes are commonly punished more severely than any other crime except murder. Sexual misconduct is seldom witnessed by anyone other than the accuser and accused and the risk of conviction of an innocent person is drastically higher in these cases.

White Collar Crimes:
High-tech professionals, corporate executives and clergy who are criminally charged for offenses such as corporate theft, counterfeiting, embezzlement, forgery, hacking, fraud, tax evasion or bad checks are often referred to as "white collar" offenders and are prosecuted for white collar crimes. In some cases, first-time offenders are convicted and sent to prison, even with no prior criminal history. An arrest and conviction for one of these crimes can have a serious impact on your life.

Fraud:
In criminal law, fraud is the crime or offense of deliberately deceiving another in order to damage them — usually, to obtain property or services from him or her unjustly.  Fraud can be accomplished through the aid of forged objects. In the criminal law of common law jurisdictions it may be called "theft by deception," "larceny by trick," "larceny by fraud and deception" or something similar. Fraud can be committed through many methods including mail, wire, phone and the internet.

If you or someone you know needs the skilled legal representation of an experienced Arlington, Virginia criminal defense attorney, call Louis Kleiman today at 866-733-5978, or complete the contact form provided on this site to arrange for your free initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a criminal defense lawyer?
This is the first and most important question. And the best way to answer this question may be to rely on instinct: if your gut feeling is that you should talk to a criminal defense lawyer, you probably are right – seek advice.

The main reasons prompting the need for a criminal defense lawyer are:

• You have been charged in court with a crime. This may occur following an arrest or through a summons to appear in court and answer a criminal complaint or indictment. All people have an absolute constitutional right to the assistance of a lawyer in a criminal court case.
• You have been arrested. If arrested for a potential criminal charge, a referral for criminal charge(s) may be made to the District Attorney in the county of the alleged law violation, or to the prosecutor for the federal district of the alleged violation. If an in-custody interrogation follows the arrest, the person being questioned has an absolute constitutional right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present during the questioning.
• You are being investigated for a crime. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors often contact people directly to answer questions about their alleged involvement in a crime.

Generally, the sooner a criminal defense lawyer is brought into a criminal case or investigation, the better potential results for the client. Do not take a wait-and-see approach to a criminal situation. Do not seek answers to questions about your rights and legal status from police officers and prosecutors who do not have a legal duty to act in a suspect’s best interest.

What is a Miranda warning?
Police generally read these rights to individuals about to be questioned in custody. "You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you desire an attorney and cannot afford one, an attorney will be obtained for you before police questioning."

The Miranda rule was developed to protect the individual's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The Miranda warning ensures that people in custody realize they do not have to talk to the police and that they have the right to the presence of an attorney.

If the Miranda warning is not given before questioning, or if police continue to question a suspect after he or she indicates in any manner a desire to consult with an attorney before speaking, statements by the suspect generally are inadmissible at trial—they cannot be used against the suspect.

Must a police officer always advise a person of their Miranda rights before asking a question?
No. The Miranda warning is only in effect during a custodial interrogation. This means that the person being questioned is in custody or in an environment in which the person does not believe that he is free to leave.

For example: Officer Jones is investigating a robbery at the local supermarket. The cashier indicates that a patron named Mary Smith may have seen the robber. When Officer Jones interviews Mary, Mary makes statements implicating herself in the robbery as a lookout. Can Mary`s statements be used against her later, even though she was not read her Miranda Warning? The answer is yes, because Mary was not in custody when she was being asked the questions. Therefore, Mary was free to leave if she wanted to.

If I am in custody, how do I assert my right to remain silent?
A suspect who has been arrested need only say I want to speak with an attorney or I have nothing to say now. If the police continue to question the suspect, the police have violated the suspect`s 5th Amendment rights. Anything that the suspect says after the violation is generally inadmissible as evidence in court.

What is a search warrant?
A search warrant is a written order issued by a judge that authorizes police officers to conduct a search of a specific location and seize any evidence. Under the Fourth Amendment searches must be reasonable and specific.  This means that a search warrant must be specific as to the specified object to be searched for and the place to be searched.  Before a search warrant may be issued, there must be a showing of probable cause.

What is probable cause?
There is not a bright-line rule establishing precisely what is and what is not probable case.  Probable cause is defined as facts sufficient to support a reasonable belief that criminal activity is probably taking place or knowledge of circumstances indicating a fair probability that evidence of crime will be found. It requires more than a mere "hunch," but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

If a police officer knocks on my door and asks to search my home, do I have to let the officer in?
Unless the officer has a warrant, you are under no legal obligation to let the officer search your residence.  Police are permitted to search your home without a warrant if there are sufficiently exigent circumstances.  These include the police have reason to believe that someone's life is in danger, a suspect is about to escape or someone might destroy the evidence (flush illegal drugs down the toilet).  In cases such as these when there is no time for the police to get a warrant, they may search your home without permission.

If I am arrested, can the officer search me?
Yes. Police officers do not need a warrant to conduct a search after making an arrest.  After making an arrest, the officer can legally search the person being arrested and the area in the immediate control of the person.  Under this exception to the search warrant requirement, an arresting officer may search only the person arrested and the area within which that person might gain possession of a weapon or might destroy or hide evidence

Can they use force to arrest me?
They are not permitted to use excessive force or brutality when arresting you.  If you resist arrest or act violently, however, the police are allowed to use reasonable force to make the arrest or keep you from injuring yourself. Unreasonable force is assault.  After arrest, a police officer may handcuff you if you attempt to escape or the officer considers it necessary to prevent you from escaping.  If you claim that force was used to arrest you, a judge will decide whether or not the force used was reasonable in the circumstances.

Professional Profile

After completion of his Master of Law Degree from Duke University Law School, Attorney Louis Kleiman fell in love with the Washington metro area in 1972. He began his legal career as a criminal trial lawyer in Durham, North Carolina in 1971, by representing one of the largest drug dealers in the state, resulting in no convictions. This notorious trial and subsequent trials received media attention and catapulted his carrier as a successful trial lawyer. With more than 35 years of litigation experience, Mr. Kleiman's track record for winning cases is exceptional. Often referred to as the "people's lawyer", Kleiman strives to ensure that all of his clients receive fair and impartial representation .

Legal Education and Distinction

• North Carolina Central University School of Law combined law degree program with Duke University Law School, Durham, North Carolina. Graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1971 received L.L.B.
• In 1973 received L.L.M. in criminal law from Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina.
• Member of Phi Delta Phi-most prestigious and scholarly legal fraternity

Bar Admissions

• Virginia
• District of Columbia
• North Carolina

Court Admissions

• North Carolina Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit;
• United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• United States District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
• United States Court of Military Appeals
• United States Tax Court
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• Virginia Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Membership

• Virginia State Bar,
• District of Columbia Bar
•  North Carolina State Bar
•  Superior Court Trail Lawyers Association
•  Arlington County Bar Association

Community Service

Mr. Kleiman demonstrates his continued commitment to community through his support of Sarah Circle, a non-profit organization serving the needs of the elderly poor of the Adam Morgan Area of Washington, D.C. In addition he supports Hexagon, a non-profit organization established for the purpose of presenting original musical comedy revues with proceeds benefiting Washington metropolitan charities

If you or someone you know in Arlington or throughout Virginia needs the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer, please contact Louis A. Kleiman, Attorney at Law today at 866-733-5978, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.