Indianapolis Criminal Defense & OWI/DUI Lawyers

When you are accused of a crime, very few people are in a position to protect you. A skilled criminal defense attorney is one of them. Whether you are facing an OWI, a drug or gun charge, or a serious felony, the lawyer you choose will shape how your case unfolds from the first hearing to the final resolution. The Indianapolis criminal defense & OWI/DUI lawyers at Rigney Law LLC know the Indiana criminal justice system from both sides of the courtroom, and they put that knowledge to work for people across Marion County and central Indiana.

Defending a criminal charge requires careful legal analysis, and small details often make the biggest difference. A stop that lacked reasonable suspicion, a search warrant with a flaw, a breath test machine out of calibration, or a statement taken without proper warnings can change the entire direction of a case. Rigney Law LLC looks for those details in every file, because that is where results come from.

About Rigney Law LLC

Rigney Law LLC is an Indianapolis criminal defense firm founded in 2017 by Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney, a husband and wife defense team and former Marion County deputy prosecutors with over 30 years of combined criminal law experience, including extensive jury trial work. Jake supervised a major felony court at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and handled cases including murder, robbery, and burglary, while Kassi spent eight years in the major felony drug courts and trained police on narcotics and firearm search warrants. The firm defends OWI and DUI, drug, gun, and violent crime charges and handles civil asset forfeiture, expungement, license rehabilitation, and parole representation. Rigney Law LLC is located at 250 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205 and can be reached by phone at 317-623-0989.

Former Prosecutors Who Now Defend the Accused

Jake and Kassi Rigney met as deputy prosecutors in Marion County and spent more than two decades combined inside the office that now brings charges against their clients. Both held supervisory positions there. They know how cases are built, how charging decisions get made, which evidence prosecutors worry about, and where the State’s cases tend to be weakest. That perspective is hard to replicate, and it shapes every strategy the firm develops.

It also makes early involvement especially valuable. When Rigney Law LLC is brought in before formal charges are filed, the attorneys have an opportunity to influence the prosecutor’s filing decision, and in some cases help a client avoid a long-term criminal record altogether. If you know or suspect you are under investigation, that window is worth using.

Experience alone does not win cases, though. As the firm puts it, excellence in the courtroom starts with effort behind the scenes. No attorney can guarantee a result, but clients can count on Rigney Law LLC to see the issues, do the preparation, and stand and fight to protect their rights whenever it is necessary.

Indianapolis OWI and DUI Defense

Indiana calls drunk driving Operating While Intoxicated, and an OWI or DUI charge can bring a criminal record, jail time, fines, an immediate license suspension, ignition interlock requirements, and consequences that reach into your job, insurance, and family life. Penalties rise sharply for a high BAC, a prior conviction, an accident with injuries, or a child in the vehicle, and a third offense is typically charged as a felony.

Even if you are only suspected of OWI, it is important to know your rights. Field sobriety tests are voluntary, while refusing a chemical test triggers its own license suspension under Indiana’s implied consent law. The firm challenges OWI cases on the legality of the stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, the maintenance and calibration of breath test equipment, and the handling of blood samples, and it addresses the BMV suspension on its own faster track at the same time.

Drug Crime Defense

Thousands of Hoosiers are charged with drug crimes every year, and prosecutors pursue even minor alleged offenses aggressively. Charges range from possession of marijuana or paraphernalia to dealing methamphetamine, cocaine, or fentanyl, with the level of the offense driven by the substance, the quantity, and whether distribution is alleged. Kassi Rigney spent eight years prosecuting in the Major Felony Drug Courts and trained officers on how to write and execute narcotics search warrants, so the firm knows exactly how drug investigations are supposed to be conducted and where they break down. Unlawful searches, weak evidence of possession, and chain of custody problems are all grounds the firm uses to fight for dismissal, reduction, or diversion.

Gun Crime Defense

A gun crime conviction can mean thousands of dollars in fines, months or years of incarceration, and the loss of your constitutional right to own a firearm. Indiana prosecutes carrying a handgun without a license in restricted circumstances, possession by a prohibited person, possession by a serious violent felon, and firearm enhancements tied to other offenses, some with mandatory minimum sentences. Federal charges can also follow depending on how a weapon was acquired or transported. The firm defends firearm charges with close attention to how the gun was found and whether the search that produced it will hold up.

Violent Crime and Felony Defense

Serious felony charges put your liberty directly on the line. Jacob Rigney’s prosecutorial background is primarily in general felony offenses, including homicide cases, robbery, and burglary, and both attorneys bring extensive jury trial experience to the defense side. Battery, domestic violence, strangulation, criminal confinement, and robbery charges often turn on witness credibility, identification, and physical evidence, and the firm prepares each of these cases as though it will be tried in front of a Marion County jury.

Civil Asset Forfeiture

Police agencies in Indiana seize millions of dollars in cash, vehicles, and other property every year, claiming it was used in or produced by a crime. Once property is forfeited, it is gone for good, and forfeiture can proceed even if the owner is never convicted. Kassi Rigney handled civil asset forfeiture cases at the end of her tenure as a prosecutor, and the firm now helps owners fight property seizures and recover what was taken wherever possible. Deadlines to contest a seizure are short, so contact the firm as soon as property is taken.

Expungement

A criminal conviction, and even an arrest that never led to a conviction, can follow you for the rest of your life. It can keep you from getting or keeping a job, earning a professional license, renting an apartment, or obtaining credit. Indiana’s expungement statute allows many records to be sealed from public view so that, in most situations, it is as though the arrest or conviction never happened. Rigney Law LLC reviews your full history, determines what relief you are entitled to, and pursues record sealing to the maximum extent the law allows.

Driver’s License Rehabilitation

A suspended license is more than an inconvenience. It can upend your commute, your job, getting your kids to school, and nearly every task of daily life in a city built around driving. Indiana’s reinstatement rules depend on why your license was suspended, and options such as specialized driving privileges may be available. The firm will explain exactly what it will take to get your license back at the earliest possible moment.

Parole Board Representation

Having an attorney for your appearance before the Indiana Parole Board can mean the difference between serving out the remainder of a sentence and going home. Whether you are seeking release, seeking re-parole after a violation, or defending against a new allegation that you broke your conditions, Kassi Rigney provides knowledgeable advice and skilled parole representation aimed at the best outcome possible.

Other Criminal Charges the Firm Defends

Rigney Law LLC also handles theft and burglary, sex offense allegations, fraud and white collar charges, juvenile cases, probation violations, criminal appeals, and federal prosecutions in the Southern District of Indiana. Whatever the charge, the firm starts with the same question: what is your goal? Some clients need the charge off their record entirely, some need to avoid incarceration above all else, and some need to protect a professional license or immigration status. The defense is built around that goal.

Why You Should Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney

Anyone charged with a crime should hire a lawyer. Even when the State appears to have a strong case, there are almost always weaknesses that can be used to your advantage, but spotting them requires training and experience. Without that, you have little chance of convincing a prosecutor or a judge that your side of the story matters.

An experienced defense attorney identifies problems with the evidence, files motions to suppress what was unlawfully obtained, gathers and presents evidence in your favor, negotiates from a position of strength, and knows when a case should be tried. Just as important, a good lawyer guides you through a confusing system, helps you understand what matters and what does not, and makes sure you never face a decision without knowing your real options. Early offers from prosecutors, for example, can look attractive while hiding how weak the case against you really is.

Criminal Defense Across Indianapolis and Central Indiana

Rigney Law LLC represents clients throughout Marion County, from Broad Ripple, Meridian-Kessler, and downtown to Fountain Square, Irvington, Lawrence, Speedway, Beech Grove, and Southport. The firm also regularly appears in courts across the surrounding region, including Hamilton County in Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield, Hendricks County in Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, and Danville, Johnson County in Greenwood and Franklin, Boone County in Zionsville and Lebanon, and Hancock, Madison, and Morgan counties. Each courthouse has its own procedures and tendencies, and the firm’s attorneys know those local differences.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rigney Law LLC

Who are the attorneys at Rigney Law LLC?

The firm was founded by Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney, a husband and wife team who both served as Marion County deputy prosecutors before moving to criminal defense. Together they bring over 30 years of combined criminal law experience and extensive jury trial experience to every case.

Why does it matter that the attorneys are former prosecutors?

Former prosecutors understand how the State builds its cases, how charging and plea decisions get made, and what weaknesses make prosecutors willing to negotiate or dismiss. Both Rigneys held supervisory roles at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, which gives them an inside view of the process their clients are now facing.

What is the difference between OWI and DUI in Indiana?

They describe the same thing. Indiana law uses the term Operating While Intoxicated, or OWI, which covers driving impaired by alcohol, controlled substances, or certain medications. DUI is the more common everyday term, and people use the two interchangeably.

Can you help before I am formally charged?

Yes, and it is often the best time to get involved. If the firm is retained before charges are filed, the attorneys can advise you before you make statements, preserve evidence, and in some cases influence the prosecutor’s decision about whether and what to file.

What should I do if I have been arrested in Indianapolis?

Stay silent about the facts of your case and ask for a lawyer. Do not discuss the incident on jail phone calls, with friends, or on social media. Write down witness names and the details of any search, and contact a defense attorney before your initial hearing, where bond and release conditions are set.

Do you handle cases outside Marion County?

Yes. Rigney Law LLC represents clients in Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Boone, Hancock, Madison, and Morgan counties and elsewhere in central Indiana.

Can police keep my money or car even if I am not convicted?

They can try. Civil asset forfeiture is a separate civil proceeding, and property can be forfeited without a criminal conviction if the owner does not contest it in time. An attorney can challenge the seizure and push the government to justify it.

Can my criminal record be sealed in Indiana?

Many arrests and convictions can be expunged after a waiting period that depends on the type of record. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction usually qualify, and many misdemeanor and felony convictions do as well, though some violent and sex offenses are excluded.

How can I get my driver’s license back after a suspension?

It depends on why the license was suspended. Some drivers qualify for specialized driving privileges, and others must meet specific reinstatement requirements through the BMV or the court. The firm reviews your driving record and explains the fastest lawful route back to driving.

Should I have a lawyer at an Indiana Parole Board hearing?

It is strongly recommended. A lawyer can help you prepare, present evidence and mitigation, and argue against revocation. The outcome of that hearing can decide whether you go home or return to prison.

Is the first consultation really free?

Yes. You can speak with an attorney about your situation, get an honest assessment of the charges and your options, and decide on representation without any obligation.

Contact Our Indianapolis Criminal Defense and OWI/DUI Lawyers

If you have been arrested for OWI or any misdemeanor or felony in Indianapolis or central Indiana, or you believe you are under investigation, talk to a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney will review your situation, explain what you are facing, and fight to have your charges reduced or dismissed. Call Rigney Law LLC at 317-623-0989 or contact the office online to schedule your free, easy consultation.