Notable Cases

Notable Cases from Central, Virginia

Dear Prospective Client,

Here is a representative sample of some good results I have obtained in some very difficult cases.

-Steven P. Hanna

Commonwealth v. V.Y.; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, 3rd offense, conspiracy, obstruction of justice.  Jury trial, July 25, 2022.  Alleged drug house raided by multiple police with battering ram.  Cocaine, phones, scales, baggies, and $30,000 found in house.  Acquitted by the jury in 44 minutes.


Commonwealth v. Y.A.; petit larceny from Walmart.  July 18, 2022, Colonial Heights General District Court.  Case dismissed.


Commonwealth .v N.W. ; petit larceny from Walmart.  June 14, 2022, Chesterfield General District Court.  Case dismissed.


Commonwealth v. S. B.; peeping Tom, March 14, 2022, Hopewell General District Court.  Case dismissed.


Commonwealth v. M.M.; first-degree murder mass shooting case.  Jury trial, April 29, 2021.  One victim died, two others badly injured, and shooter attempted to kill everyone else in house from his vehicle.  Defendant's cell phone was electronically tracked to the crime scene.  Jury deliberated for 1.5 hours before acquitting on all charges.


Commonwealth v. L.B.; Dinwiddie Circuit Court, jury trial on January 7, 2022.  Multiple counts of fraud and larceny.  All charges dismissed.


Commonwealth v. E.E.; Chesterfield General District Court; June 11, 2021.  Unlawfully disseminate images of another via electronic device.  Case nolle prossed.


Commonwealth v. J.L.; first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder. Client admitted he shot decedent in the back during a large fight then fled to NC.  Petersburg Circuit Court, March 2, 2020, jury deadlocked on second-degree murder vs. manslaughter, mistrial declared.

Commonwealth v. J.C., rape, forcible sodomy, abduction with intent to defile, strangulation; Caroline Circuit Court, December 18, 2019. Case set for trial by jury. I discovered serious problems with the Commonwealth's case. Rape reduced to simple assault & battery, 12 months all suspended, no probation, other charges dropped.

Commonwealth v. B.J.; malicious wounding. Client admitted to severely striking alleged victim in the head with a large wrench causing serious injury. Client faced 5-20 years in prison.  Dinwiddie Circuit Court, June 11, 2019, jury reduced the charge to simple assault & battery with $500 fine.

Commonwealth v. F.W., Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment, trial by jury on June 26, 2007 in Petersburg Circuit Court, judgment for defendant. Case later became one of the preeminent cases on expert witness testimony in Virginia in Commonwealth v. Wynn, 277 Va. 92 (2007).
Commonwealth v. C.B., First Degree Murder and 3 related felonies, trial by jury on April 23, 2015 in Hopewell Circuit Court, acquitted on all charges. Jury deliberated for 26 minutes before returning a verdict.

Commonwealth v. D.P., possession of a firearm by convicted felon.  Client caught with firearm on his person after confrontation with police and faced up to 5 years in prison.  Hopewell Circuit Court, October 21, 2020.  Negotiated offer of misdemeanor and time served.  (P.S.  client was genuinely a good guy who was literally at the wrong place and at the wrong time.)

Commonwealth v. S.S., felony failure to returned leased property, failure to appear.  Client leased rental car, took it out of state, kept it 4 months past return date, wrecked the car, then failed to appear in court.  June 25, 2020, Chesterfield Circuit Court, after extensive negotiations, all charges dropped.
Commonwealth v. T.P., Possession of Cocaine, client had numerous prior drug convictions. Charge reduced by agreement to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia on August 19, 2015 in Hopewell Circuit Court.
Commonwealth v. Q.D., Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment, trial by jury on November 14, 2014 in Petersburg Circuit Court, judgment for defendant.
Commonwealth v. C.B., 2 Counts of Attempted Capital Murder on Police Officers and 4 related felonies, trial by jury on February 18, 2014 in Petersburg Circuit Court, acquitted on 5 charges, jury hung on sixth with said charged later being nolle prossed.
Commonwealth v. M.R., 1 count of Rape and 1 count of Forcible Sodomy, trial by jury on March 9, 2012 in Prince George Circuit Court, acquitted on both charges. Expungement later granted to client.

Commonwealth v. D.W., stalking and protective order sought.  Dinwiddie General District Court, November 16, 2020, after lengthy  trial, stalking charge and protective order dismissed.
Commonwealth v. T.H., Felony DUI 3rd within 5 years in Dinwiddie General District Court. Client had no prior felonies. Came to agreement with the Commonwealth to reduce the DUI to misdemeanor 2nd within 5 years. Client sentenced to time served on March 14, 2016.
Commonwealth v. T.H., Felony shoplifting 3rd or subsequent offense in Henrico Circuit Court on February 3, 2015, client had a significant record. Client plead guilty as charged and sentenced to the low end of the state sentencing guidelines of 9 months but allowed to serve said sentence on home incarceration with work release. Said case triggered a probation violation in Colonial Heights Circuit Court, client had 9 years previously suspended. On December 1, 2015 the court revoked 30 days for the violation but allowed client to serve said sentence on work release or weekends.
Commonwealth v. A.W., Misdemeanor Assault and Battery, Dinwiddie General District Court. Acquitted by judge on March 21, 2016.
Commonwealth v. J.W., Misdemeanor Assault and Battery, Dinwiddie General District Court. Acquitted by judge on July 27, 2016.
Commonwealth v. W.D, Reckless Driving resulting in accident, Petersburg General District Court. Trucker ran through light hitting another vehicle. On February 11, 2016, case reduced to defective equipment which is not a moving violation.
Commonwealth v. M.P., Reckless Driving, Prince George General District Court. Charge reduced to defective equipment on January 27, 2016. Charge is not a moving violation.
Commonwealth v. J.P., Red Light Violation, Petersburg General District Court. Charge dismissed on April 7, 2015.
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