When a person is charged with a crime, they are often most concerned about their immediate future. However, that is only half the story. The other half is the long-term effect a conviction can have on your life. Employers, lenders, landlords and others will treat you differently if you have a criminal record.
At Cataldo Law Offices, L.L.C., our lawyers are here to look out for your best interests in the short and long term. What sets us apart from many other criminal defense law firms is that we take the job of informing and preparing you for what’s ahead as seriously as we do the task of preparing your defense and aggressively representing you in court. From our office in Franklin, or Wellesley location, we represent clients throughout the Boston metro area and all of Massachusetts.
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defense
- Homicide Charges
- Sex Crimes
- DUI/OUI Defense
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Offenses
- Driver’s License Suspensions
- Juvenile Delinquency
Minimizing The Consequences Of A DUI/OUI Arrest
What If I Was Over The Limit?
Even if you were drinking and your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the limit, you may have a strong defense based on the facts of your case.
- Police may not have been justified to pull you over.
- The tested blood alcohol level may not have been accurate due to flaws in the Breathalyzer or how the test was administered.
- Police procedural errors may result in evidence being suppressed.
Our lawyers understand the law and the protections you have under our constitution. We will aggressively challenge the evidence against you with a goal of obtaining dismissal of the charges or a favorable plea bargain.
Representing Massachusetts And Out-Of-State Drivers
In Massachusetts, the criminal charge for drunk driving is OUI (operating under the influence). In other states, the charge is DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated).
Whether you are from Massachusetts or another state, you need an attorney from the state where you were arrested. A drunk driving conviction in Massachusetts can result in loss of your driving privileges in your home state. It can also lead to loss of your employment if you need to drive a company car or your own car on the job.
In addition to the drunk driving charge, our lawyers will also represent you before the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to prevent driver’s license suspension or get your license back after a suspension.
Drug Charges Can Have Long-Term Consequences
Out attorneys handle all types of drug charges, including:
- Drug possession: Though drug possession may be charged as a misdemeanor, you will still have a damaging criminal record if you plead guilty.
- Possession with intent: You may be charged with possession with intent to distribute even if you had no intent of selling the drugs.
- Drug sales: These charges can be enhanced if you possessed a weapon or sold drugs near a school or playground.
- Drug manufacturing: Manufacturing of meth or another chemical is an extremely serious charge that can mean a lengthy prison sentence
- Drug trafficking or distribution: Depending on the quantity and other factors, you could face a serious jail sentence if convicted.
We defend clients facing charges involving marijuana, cocaine/crack cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), heroin and other illegal drugs. We also represent clients facing prescription drug charges. You can be charged with illegal possession of a prescription drug simply for carrying a friend’s or family member’s prescription.
Whatever the charges against you, we will apply an aggressive defense. We will:
- Determine whether police had a right to stop
- Determine whether or not the police conducted a proper search and seizure
- Investigate whether the drugs were actually in your possession
- Analyze the arrest to determine if police made errors