Don’t Let a Criminal Charge Scare You Away From Fighting for Your Freedom

When facing a criminal charge, your life suddenly becomes up for debate. You just don’t know what the future holds until you receive that final verdict. For this reason, you need to ensure you have skilled and aggressive legal defense to protect your future and your freedom.

Criminal Defense Law Firm 317-636-7514

Criminal Defense Law Firm 317-636-7514


Defense Attorney, David E. Lewis, Will Fight Your Indiana Criminal Charge Using Every Resource in His Power! When it comes to representing clients, he is the skilled Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer who has what it takes to protect your rights and preserve your freedoms! You can avoid the maximum penalties for your charges with his aggressive legal representation!

What He Can Do For You

David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, provides aggressive criminal defense for anyone charged with a crime in Indiana. His office is based out of Indianapolis, but his legal services are available for all cities and counties within the state. He is a licensed defense lawyer with more than 25 years of experience practicing criminal law, and has developed an extensive understanding of the how the justice system works in Indiana.

He is Always Present for His Clients

He has a passion to reunite his clients with their loved ones so they can get back to leading a happy and law-abiding life after a distressing criminal case. Call his office at 317-636-7514 if you have been charged with a crime in Indianapolis. Whether your case is small or highly complex, Attorney David E. Lewis treats all cases as if they are his own charges, and maintains an unbreakable respect for his clients.

How to Get Started

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

For a more in-depth look at the Law Office of David E. Lewis, call our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm at 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation and case evaluation. During this meeting, which is free of charge, you have the opportunity to sit down with Attorney David E. Lewis and discuss your Indiana criminal charges and the best strategies for your defense. Call as soon as today!

Basic Information About Record Sealing and Expungement in Indiana

Indianapolis Criminal Record Expungement Lawyer 317-636-7514

Criminal Record Expungement 317-636-7514

In Indiana, criminal record expungement is now legal, but under very specific circumstances. And petitioners only get one chance at filing for expungement in a lifetime. To make things even sterner, only certain offenses can be expunged, and courts will only grant record expungement based on several key requirements. Not all will qualify, but for those who do, criminal record expungement can open up new doors and new possibilities in various facets of life, including employment, housing, bank loans, financial aid, and more. Continue reading to learn some fundamental information about sealing and expunging
arrest records in Indiana.

What is Expungement?

Expungement refers to the erasure or elimination of criminal convictions and/or arrests from one’s permanent record. Only under certain circumstances does a person qualify to expunge criminal records. Records that are not eligible for expungement, however, may be eligible for criminal record sealing. Records that may be expunged include but are not limited to:

Arrest Records
Misdemeanor Convictions
Level 6 Felony Convictions
Level 6 Felonies Reduced to Misdemeanors

What is Record Sealing?

Sealing criminal records means to restrict them from certain access. The only authorities that can access sealed records are criminal justice agencies, and at times, childcare agencies. Records that may be sealed with restricted access include but are not limited to:

Arrest Records
Misdemeanor Convictions
Level 6 Felony Convictions
Level 6 Felonies Reduced to Misdemeanors
Other Felonies

Which Crimes CANNOT Be Expunged?

Convictions that cannot be expungement or sealed include murder, sex crimes, feticide, manslaughter, reckless homicide, human trafficking, assisting or causing suicide, transfer of contaminated bodily fluids, registered sex offender status, and inappropriate communication with a child or minor.

Where Can I Find Indiana Criminal Record Expungement Petition Forms?
Right Here: Indiana Division of State Court Administration

The process that is required of the petitioner for record sealing or expunging is highly complicated, and revolves around a stringent schedule that’s difficult to follow. One little filing mistake or missed deadline, and a person loses their chance at sealing their public criminal history forever. For these reasons, it is imperative to retain the professional legal counsel of a licensed attorney that’s familiar with the Indiana expungement laws and provides services for filing and petitions.

For Expungement Assistance, Call Attorney David E. Lewis!

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law at 317-636-7514 to seal or expunge arrest records in Indiana. He works around the clock to ensure your petition is carefully managed and filed in every aspect. And his services start as low as $850, so virtually anyone can afford to clear their criminal records or petty crimes and arrests. Call 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation, today.

Who Creates the Law?

When it comes to law creation, it all starts with the United States Congress. They create and pass “bills”, which the President of the Unites States must sign to make it into law. However, not all bills signed into law are created equal. The federal court system can challenge these bills, and even have laws overturned, if they deem them unconstitutional. This has happened several times in our country’s history, most recently, in California regarding same-sex marriages.

Federal Crime Defense 317-636-7514

Federal Crime Defense 317-636-7514

State Law

As for state law, a similar process ensues, but it ensues on a state level, versus a federal one. Rather than congress, it is the state legislatures that create and pass on bills, which may or may not turn into state law. And rather than the U.S. President signing off on them, it is the state Governor instead. Similarly, however, state courts have the jurisdiction to review such bills and laws, and even have them overturned if they challenge or contradict the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Hierarchy

When it comes to pecking order, judicial hierarchy starts with the federal court system, which includes district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. There are 94 district courts within the federal court system. These are trial courts that handle both civil and criminal cases. The federal court system also includes 12 court of appeals, also known as circuit and appellate courts. Appellate courts are in place to review the rulings of trial courts, which means they actually have more judicial influence than district courts.

The Supreme Court is the federal court that has ultimate power over all rulings within the United States judicial system. As the only court that was established by the Constitution, it has the power to judge whether federal, state, and local governments are acting within law, and can even decide if the President’s actions are constitutional or not. Mostly, the Supreme Court generally handles cases of National importance.

When They Conflict

There are several examples in which state and federal law conflict with one another, like in the case of medicinal and recreational marijuana usage, same-sex marriage, and even seat belt laws. Here are some possible scenarios:

❖ If state law provides a defendant with more privileges than federal law, state law will legally presume in that state. For example, if a person lives in a state in which medical marijuana is legal on a state level, but illegal on a federal level, the state law will prevail because it gives citizens more civil rights.

❖ In contrast, if state law allows for something that the federal law explicitly prohibits, such as possession of marijuana, the federal law will prevail in court cases.

❖ Also, if a state enforces more accountability on its residents than the federal law does, the state law will presume. This is common in regards to state and federal seat belt laws.

An Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney You Can Trust

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your criminal charges with a seasoned Indianapolis criminal defense attorney you can trust. We work around the clock to ensure your rights are protected and your freedoms are preserved. You can avoid the maximum penalties for your charges with our aggressive legal representation! Call 317-636-7514 to get started, today.

Possible Court-Ordered Penalties for Felonies and Misdemeanors in Indiana

If you were recently arrested on felony or misdemeanor charges, it would be wise to review some of the possible penalties you will face in court if found guilty. The most common court-ordered penalties include probation, ignition interlock devices, electric monitoring, home detention, community service, legal fines, and more. Violating any court-ordered terms and conditions can result in a separate set of criminal charges, including actual jail time. Continue reading to learn about some common court-ordered penalties, and which steps to take next if you are facing criminal charges.

Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514

Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514

Probation

For anyone facing a misdemeanor charge, it is common to be sentenced to probation in lieu of serving jail time. Probation is a “probationary period” in which defendants must comply with all laws and court-ordered rules, while also completing all court-ordered tasks before their probation period is up. This period can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the type of convictions. It can also involve routine visitation to a probation headquarters to meet with a court-assigned probation officer. A probation officer’s job is to supervise an individual’s behavior, activity, and progress. Violation of any probationary terms, such as skipping a scheduled probation meeting or coming up positive on a drug test, can put a person back in front of another judge for additional sentencing.

Ignition Interlock Device (IID)

A common outcome for a convicted individual is an ignition interlock device (IID), which is much like a built-in breathalyzer inside a car. This device is generally reserved for habitual offenders, and installed in a person’s primary vehicle for the purpose of preventing them from driving drunk. An ignition interlock device is near the size of a mobile phone and usually installed in a car’s engine. It locks the ignition and prevents the vehicle from starting up until the driver breathes into the device, and renders a BAC level that is lower than 0.04 percent. If the offender has a BAC higher than that, the car engine will not start up. If the device reads a test that is over 0.04%, it records it and prints it out to local authorities. It is often treated as a violation, which can result in more penalties.

House Arrest

In place of jail time or imprisonment, a judge may order an offender to home detention, also known as house arrest. Those sentenced to home detention are not permitted to leave their premises under any circumstances, other than for work, rehabilitation treatment, drug/alcohol classes, court-ordered services, doctor visits, and other pre-approved activities. In fact, they are usually mandated to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, also called an ankle monitor, which uses GPS to monitor where an individual is located. Overall, the main purpose of house arrest is to prevent a convicted individual who is under state supervision from committing more crimes or being involved in more illegal activity.

Additional Possibilities May Include:

☑ Random Drug Testing
☑ Victim Impact Panels
☑ Alcohol / Drug Education
☑ Substance Abuse Rehabilitation
☑ And More

Indianapolis Criminal Defense That Fights For You

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 for Indianapolis criminal defense that never stops fighting to preserve your rights and your freedoms. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your charges and the best strategies for defense. Contact us today to learn your rights and how to get started on your defense.