Kristin Etter sits at the head of the table discussing a legal case
Criminal Defense
We don’t defend DWI charges or assault charges – we defend you.
At Sumpter & Gonzalez, we start removing labels and reversing the damage the police report caused to your reputation the minute you hire us. To do that, we’ve developed a unique and highly effective method of practicing criminal law called the “Integrity Approach.”
This legal approach uses your own innate integrity as the foundation for your defense. The Integrity Approach starts by assigning one of our experienced and compassionate social workers to understand the strengths and virtues of our clients and comprehend the circumstances that led to them being arrested and charged. Once we have a complete picture of who our client is, we then apply the proven principles behind the Integrity Approach to put together the best possible strengths-based legal defense.
This approach has allowed us to successfully defend just about every kind of case for people from just about every background.
DUI/DWI
Our social work team works diligently to help the prosecutor and the judge understand who you really are. Whether you made a mistake in driving home that night, or whether you were completely sober, the Integrity Approach ensures that they see the whole picture.
We’ve successfully defended hundreds of clients accused of DWI/DUI, including cases related to:
DWI · DUI · Intoxication Manslaughter · Felony DWI · Boating While Intoxicated · DUI with Child Passenger · Intoxication Assault · Civil Liability · Total Refusal · Breath Test · Blood Test · Ignition Interlock · SCRAM Device · DWI Court · ALR Hearing · Drivers License Suspension · Occupational Licenses · DWI Surcharges · Resources · Case Profiles · Emergency Instructions
Sex Offense
We’re aware of the challenges that come with being charged with a sex offense: serious consequences that stigmatize a person and threaten everything from your job to your relationships. We’re also aware that sex offense allegations are never as black-and-white as they appear in the police report.
Depending on our client’s needs, we focus our defense on either investigation or treatment. In either situation, we defend sex cases by assembling a mountain of mitigation that shows the person you really are: everything from reference letters from your friends and family to your school records.
Contact us if you have been charged with any of the following offenses:
Sex Offender Registration · Public Lewdness · Indecent Exposure · Sting Operations · Targeting Gay Men · Sexual Assault · Aggravated Sexual Assault · Proving Sexual Assault · Improper Pornography or Video Recording · Defense Approach · Defense Approach · Sexual Assault Against a Child · Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child · Indecency with a Child by Contact · Indecency with a Child by Exposure · Improper Relationship Between Educator and Child · Statutory Rape · Evidentiary Issues · Mistake of Fact · Relevant Ages · Consent · Age · Marriage
Assault
There are two sides to every story, and that is especially true with assault cases. With the help of our social work team, we defend assault cases by assembling a mountain of mitigation that shows the person you really are: everything from reference letters from your friends and family to your school records.
We make sure that our clients have their side of the story told – and heard. If you have been charged with any of the following, we’re here to help:
Assault by Contact · Assault by Threat · Terroristic Threat · Offensive Touching · Assault with Bodily Injury · Aggravated Assault · Aggravated Assault – Serious Bodily Injury · Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon · Assault on a Public Servant · Assault on a Peace Officer · Assault on EMS · Assault Family Violence · Self-Defense · Protective Orders · Emergency Protective Orders · Sentences · Case Profiles · Emergency Instructions
Homicide
Being arrested for a homicide offense is a traumatizing event that can bring about serious consequences that affect the rest of your life. It is crucial to have an experienced criminal attorney on your side to help strategize your next steps and achieve the best outcome for your future.
If you have been charged with any of the following homicide offenses, call our team immediately:
Capital Murder · Murder · Attempted Murder · Intoxication Manslaughter · Failure to Stop and Render Aid · Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense · Defense Initiated Victim Outreach · Sentencing · Mitigation · Case Profiles · Emergency Instructions
Drugs
The war on drugs has become a war on the liberties of all Americans, and our place is on the frontline of that war, where we can protect your most fundamental rights.
Sometimes that involves fighting to make sure that evidence obtained illegally is suppressed, and sometimes it means that a client who needs help with a drug problem has their charges resolved through intervention or treatment. We work diligently to make sure that your charges are dealt with in the way that best fits you.
If you have been charged with any of the following (or something not listed), we’re here to help:
Possession of a Dangerous Drug · Possession of Marijuana · Possession of a Controlled Substance · Possession of Methamphetamine · Possession of Cocaine · Possession of Marijuana · Possession of Medication Without a Prescription · Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (PDP) · Possession in a Drug Free Zone · Possession with Intent to Distribute · Fraudulent Prescriptions · Manufacturing · Conspiracy · Delivery · Drug Court · Drug Conviction Sentences · Case Profiles · Emergency Instructions · Distribution
Misdemeanors
While Class A, B, and C misdemeanors are less serious than felony offenses, they still stay on your record, come with a range of fines, and can affect many aspects of your life. If you are dealing with any of the following misdemeanor charges, let our experienced team help:
Resisting Arrest · Evading Arrest · Failure to ID · Fake ID · Reckless Driving · Criminal Mischief · Possession of Marijuana · Possession of a Dangerous Drug
Alcohol
Many people charged with alcohol-related offenses are first-time offenders, but these charges can come with serious consequences, like stiff fines or jail time. We’re here to understand your story to help the court see the real you — not your alcohol charge. If you have been arrested for any of the following, contact us as soon as possible:
Minor in Possession · Minor in Consumption · Public Intoxication · Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor · Open Container of Alcohol
Theft
While a theft charge is only a misdemeanor, it’s one of the most serious misdemeanors a person can be charged with. It’s considered a “crime of moral turpitude”, which means that it involves intentional deception, fraud, or deceit. A conviction can impact your ability to get housing and employment in the future. When we defend you, we make sure that our social work team gets to know you and your background, so we can show the prosecutor that you don’t deserve a theft conviction on your record.
If you have been arrested for any of the following, contact us for help. We have solved many cases like these right out of the gate:
Theft by Check · Credit Card Abuse · Crimes of Moral Turpitude · Employment Consequences · Shoplifting · Fraud · Embezzlement
Federal Criminal Defense
Often referred to white collar crime, this kind of offense refers to abuse of fiduciary trust, fraud, corporate offenses and a wide range of unethical business practices. These are highly sophisticated cases that require creativity, detail, research and persistence.
Criminal Defense
From DUI to drug charges to theft and assault, we will work to defend you based on who you truly are — not how you’re defined by your charge.
Juvenile
Holistic advocacy is crucial to protect and defend a child and their families. Our approach sets up clients to prepare their children for successful adult life.
Civil Plaintiff
You want us on your side, no matter which side you’re on. Our background in criminal defense law gives us the experience to anticipate challenges from both sides, making our team of Plaintiff attorneys incredibly well-rounded.
Consulting and Training
Sumpter & Gonzalez is frequently sought out by other lawyers to advise their most complicated, out-of-the-box cases. Our depth of knowledge in all areas of the law and our passion for education make us effective consultants and trainers.
Victim Representation
The team of lawyers and social workers at Sumpter & Gonzalez advocates for survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse as they navigate the criminal system and seek justice through civil lawsuits.