Indianapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer

A criminal charge can reshape your life before a single hearing takes place. Employers run background checks, landlords pull records, and professional licensing boards open investigations the moment an arrest appears in Marion County’s public records. Those consequences do not wait for a verdict, which is why the choice of an Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer matters from the moment charges are filed or even anticipated.

Indiana criminal cases move quickly. Prosecutors begin building their case in the first hours after an arrest, evidence is preserved or lost, witnesses are interviewed, and charging decisions are made. The defense needs to match that pace and preparation. What happens in the earliest stages of a case often determines which options remain later, so the timing of your decision to hire counsel is a practical reality, not a pressure tactic.

Rigney Law LLC defends people across Indianapolis and central Indiana against charges ranging from misdemeanors, where the goal is often keeping a conviction off your record entirely, to serious felonies where your liberty is directly at stake. Every case starts with a clear look at the facts and an honest assessment of your options rather than a sales pitch about outcomes.

About Rigney Law LLC

Rigney Law LLC is an Indianapolis criminal defense firm led by attorneys Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney, who represent clients in Marion County and the surrounding central Indiana counties. The firm handles OWI and DUI defense, drug crimes, gun charges, violent offenses, theft, white collar matters, civil asset forfeiture, parole hearings, driver’s license rehabilitation, and expungement. Its philosophy is simple: excellence in the courtroom starts with effort behind the scenes. Law school provides a foundation, but the ability to spot issues, challenge evidence, and represent a client under pressure comes from years of going into court day after day. Rigney Law LLC offers free consultations to anyone facing a criminal charge in Indianapolis or central Indiana.

How Criminal Cases Move Through the Marion County Courts

Marion County handles an enormous volume of criminal cases every year. Marion Superior Court’s criminal divisions hear everything from Class C misdemeanors to Level 1 felonies and murder, and each level carries its own procedural track, sentencing range, and strategic considerations. Criminal courts, the Marion County Jail, and arrestee processing are housed at the Community Justice Campus at 675 Justice Way in Indianapolis. Federal charges are handled separately in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, also located in Indianapolis, where procedures, judges, and prosecutors differ meaningfully from state court.

What surprises many people is how much of a case is decided before trial. Charging decisions, the initial hearing, bond arguments, pretrial motions, and plea negotiations shape the outcome of most cases. Whether evidence was lawfully obtained, whether a stop or search was constitutional, and whether statements were taken in compliance with your rights are all resolved before a jury is ever seated. A defense attorney who knows Indiana suppression law and the habits of Marion County prosecutors and judges can find leverage that is genuinely available in your case.

The firm also handles cases in Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Boone, and Morgan counties. Courts sit in Noblesville for Hamilton County, Danville for Hendricks County, Franklin for Johnson County, Lebanon for Boone County, and Martinsville for Morgan County. Each courthouse has its own filing procedures, scheduling practices, and prosecutorial tendencies, and knowing those local differences is part of effective representation.

Criminal Charges Rigney Law LLC Defends

• OWI and DUI Offenses: Indiana’s operating while intoxicated statute covers alcohol, controlled substances, and certain medications. A first offense can bring license suspension, fines, and possible jail time, while prior convictions, a high BAC, an accident with injuries, or a minor in the vehicle raise both the charge level and the penalties. The details of each traffic stop, field sobriety test, and chemical test result matter enormously.
• Drug Crimes: Possession, dealing, and manufacturing charges range from misdemeanors to high-level felonies depending on the substance, the quantity, and whether distribution is alleged. The methods police use to build drug cases, including traffic stops, controlled buys, and search warrants, create multiple points where constitutional challenges can arise.
• Gun and Weapons Charges: Indiana prosecutes carrying a handgun without a valid license, carrying in prohibited locations, and possession by a prohibited person under statutes that can carry mandatory minimums. A conviction can mean incarceration and the permanent loss of your Second Amendment rights, and federal charges can arise depending on how a firearm was acquired or transported.
• Violent and Domestic Offenses: Battery, aggravated battery, robbery, and criminal confinement charges can escalate to serious felony levels based on the alleged injury, the use of a weapon, or the identity of the alleged victim. Indiana also prosecutes domestic battery under its own framework. These cases often turn on witness credibility, physical evidence, and identification issues.
• Theft and Property Crimes: Theft, burglary, criminal mischief, and retail theft charges are classified by the value of the property and the circumstances involved. They appear frequently in Marion County courts, and conviction rates are high for defendants who go unrepresented.
• White Collar and Financial Crimes: Fraud, forgery, identity deception, check fraud, and financial exploitation charges can carry felony exposure even where no physical harm is alleged. These cases usually involve detailed documentary evidence that requires careful analysis.
• Misdemeanor Offenses: A Class A or B misdemeanor conviction still creates a permanent record that affects employment, housing, and licensing. The collateral consequences can outlast the sentence itself, so misdemeanors deserve the same serious defense as felonies.

What to Do After an Arrest or Investigation in Indianapolis

Do not talk about the facts of your case with anyone but your attorney. That includes detectives who say they just want to talk, family members, friends, and people in a holding cell. Jail calls are recorded, and statements made in custody or within earshot of officers regularly end up as evidence. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Politely and clearly invoke both.

After an arrest in Marion County, you will typically be booked and brought before a judge for an initial hearing within about 48 hours. At that hearing the charges are formally addressed and bond and release conditions are set. Conditions set early often stay in place for the life of the case, so having an attorney present to argue for reasonable terms is valuable and frequently overlooked. Early defense involvement can also influence what is formally charged.

Preserve everything connected to the incident. Write down the names of witnesses, the location and time of the stop or encounter, and whether officers searched your person, vehicle, or home. Note whether you gave consent or whether officers claimed another basis for the search. Save text messages, photos, and receipts, and act quickly on surveillance footage from nearby businesses, which is often recorded over within days. Stay off social media, since prosecutors and investigators monitor it.

Watch the deadlines. Indiana has strict timelines for challenging OWI-related license suspensions, filing pretrial motions, seeking diversion, and pursuing expungement. Missing a window can eliminate options that would otherwise be available.

Do not accept an early plea offer before consulting defense counsel. Early offers can look attractive next to the charged offense while failing to reflect the real weaknesses in the State’s case. An attorney who reviews the discovery, including police reports, body camera and dash camera video, and lab results, is in a far better position to judge whether an offer is worth taking.

How Indiana Criminal Cases Actually Get Resolved

Most Indiana criminal cases do not go to trial. They resolve through dismissal, negotiation, diversion, or plea agreements, and the quality of that resolution depends on the strength of the defense being presented. Prosecutors offer better outcomes when they face real legal challenges.

Defense work starts with the evidence. Was the traffic stop lawful? Did officers have a valid warrant, and did they stay within its scope? Was consent freely given? Were your rights honored during questioning? Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment can be suppressed, and a successful motion to suppress can make prosecution impossible. Beyond constitutional issues, an attorney examines witness reliability, the accuracy of field sobriety and chemical tests, chain of custody, and whether the facts actually satisfy every element of the charged offense. Prosecutors often charge at the high end of what the facts arguably support, and experienced counsel knows where charges can be reduced or dismissed.

Indiana also offers alternatives to traditional prosecution for eligible defendants, including pretrial diversion and problem-solving courts such as drug court and veterans treatment court. Successful completion can mean dismissal and no conviction on your record. Eligibility varies by charge and by prosecuting office, and knowing how to access these programs is part of effective representation.

When a case goes to trial, preparation is everything. Jury selection, cross-examination of the State’s witnesses, challenges to forensic evidence, and a coherent defense narrative for a Marion County jury all require work that begins long before the trial date.

Help With the Issues That Follow a Criminal Charge

Criminal charges rarely arrive in isolation. An OWI arrest triggers a separate BMV suspension. A drug case may come with a seizure of cash or a vehicle. A conviction can follow you for years. Rigney Law LLC handles these connected matters so clients do not need a different firm for every issue arising from the same situation.

Police agencies in Indiana regularly seize cash, vehicles, and other property they claim is tied to criminal activity, and civil asset forfeiture can proceed even without a conviction. Owners who do not file a timely claim usually lose the property by default. When driving privileges are suspended, license reinstatement help can restore them as quickly as Indiana law allows, which matters in a city where most people depend on a car for work and family. The firm also represents clients before the Indiana Parole Board, whether seeking release, re-parole, or defending against a parole violation. And for people living with an old arrest or conviction, sealing a criminal record can reopen doors to jobs, housing, and professional licenses.

Questions People Ask About Criminal Charges in Indianapolis

When should I hire a criminal defense attorney?

As soon as you learn of an investigation, an arrest, or the possibility of charges. Early involvement lets an attorney preserve evidence, advise you before you make statements, argue bond at the initial hearing, and engage with prosecutors while more options are still open.

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Indiana?

Misdemeanors are Class A, B, or C, with Class A carrying up to one year in jail. Felonies are Levels 1 through 6, with Level 1 the most serious, and murder is classified separately. Level 6 felonies can sometimes be entered or later reduced as misdemeanors depending on the circumstances. The classification affects not only jail or prison exposure but also firearm rights, professional licensing, and long-term record consequences.

Can my criminal charge be reduced or dismissed?

Yes, and it happens in a significant number of cases. Charges can be dismissed when police violated your rights during a stop, search, or interrogation, reduced through negotiation when the evidence has weaknesses or mitigating factors exist, or resolved through diversion that ends in dismissal. Which outcomes are realistic depends on the specific facts and the strength of the State’s case.

Do I have to answer police questions if I am stopped or arrested?

No. You have the right to remain silent, and using it is not an admission of guilt. A driver must provide a license and registration during a traffic stop, and Indiana law requires you to give your name in certain stops, but you are not required to answer questions about what happened or where you were. Clearly stating that you are invoking your right to remain silent and want a lawyer is the most protective step you can take.

Do I have to take field sobriety tests or a breath test in Indiana?

Field sobriety tests are voluntary, though officers may not make that clear. Chemical tests are different. Under Indiana’s implied consent law, refusing a breath, blood, or urine test after a lawful OWI stop triggers an automatic license suspension separate from the criminal case. Both decisions carry consequences worth understanding before you are in that situation.

What happens to my driver’s license after an OWI or drug arrest?

A failed or refused chemical test can trigger an administrative suspension through the BMV before your criminal case is resolved, and certain convictions carry their own suspensions. The administrative track runs on a separate, faster timeline, so addressing both tracks promptly matters. Specialized driving privileges may be available in some cases.

If police found evidence in my car or home, can it be thrown out?

Potentially. Evidence obtained through an unreasonable search or seizure can be suppressed and excluded from trial. Whether suppression is available depends on whether there was a warrant, whether a valid exception applied, whether consent was freely given, and whether officers stayed within their authority.

Can I fight a drug charge if drugs were found near me?

Yes. Possession requires proof of both knowledge and control, and the location of the drugs, who else had access to the area, and how they were discovered all go to the strength of the case. An unlawful search can make the evidence inadmissible altogether.

Does Indiana have diversion programs that keep a conviction off my record?

Yes, for eligible defendants. Pretrial diversion is often available for first-time, lower-level offenses and typically ends in dismissal after the conditions are completed. Marion County also runs problem-solving courts, including drug court and veterans treatment court. Access depends on the charge, your history, and the prosecutor’s office.

How long does a criminal case take in Marion County?

Misdemeanor cases can resolve in a few months. Felony cases often take six months to a year or longer, especially with extensive discovery, expert witnesses, pretrial motions, or trial. The assigned judge, the complexity of the charges, and scheduling on a heavy docket all affect the timeline.

Will a criminal conviction affect my professional license?

It can. Indiana licensing boards for nurses, teachers, attorneys, real estate agents, financial professionals, and many other occupations can deny, suspend, or revoke licenses based on convictions, and sometimes act on pending charges. If you hold or are seeking a license, your defense strategy should account for how each possible resolution will be treated by your board.

Can a criminal charge affect my immigration status?

Yes. Certain convictions can lead to deportation, inadmissibility, or bars to naturalization, and offenses that seem minor under state law can still carry serious immigration consequences. Non-citizens should make sure their defense attorney knows their status so it can be factored into any plea or resolution.

Can my record be sealed if my case is dismissed or I am acquitted?

Generally yes. Indiana’s expungement statute allows arrest records that did not result in a conviction to be sealed, usually after a waiting period. Convictions can also qualify after longer waiting periods, though some violent and sex offenses are excluded. Once a record is expunged, it will not appear on most employer and landlord background checks.

Is it worth contesting an asset forfeiture if the amount seized was small?

It depends on the facts and the value involved, but Indiana law allows you to contest a seizure regardless of amount, and the government must justify the forfeiture. Owners who do not respond in time usually lose the property by default, so it is worth getting the seizure evaluated quickly.

Is a public defender enough, or should I hire a private attorney?

Public defenders are licensed attorneys who know Indiana criminal law, but heavy caseloads, particularly in Marion County, limit the time they can give any single case. A private attorney can generally devote more time to investigation, motions, client communication, and trial preparation. For felonies or charges with serious collateral consequences, that capacity deserves serious consideration.

What if I was charged outside Marion County?

Rigney Law LLC regularly appears in courts in Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Boone, and Morgan counties and throughout central Indiana. Each county’s court has its own culture and practices, and local familiarity matters in day-to-day case handling.

What happens during a free consultation with Rigney Law LLC?

You speak with an attorney about your situation, get an honest assessment of the charges and your realistic options, and decide on representation with no financial obligation. It gives you concrete information to work with instead of making decisions in the dark.

Serving Criminal Defense Clients Across Indianapolis and Central Indiana

Rigney Law LLC represents clients throughout Marion County, from Broad Ripple, Meridian-Kessler, and Butler-Tarkington on the north side through downtown, Fountain Square, Bates-Hendricks, and Irvington, to Southport and Beech Grove on the south side. The firm also serves clients from Speedway and the west side, Clermont, Lawrence, and the east side through Warren Township and Cumberland.

Beyond Indianapolis, the firm handles cases in Hamilton County communities including Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield, and in Boone County communities including Zionsville, Whitestown, and Lebanon. Clients from Hendricks County, including Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, and Danville, are regularly represented, along with Johnson County communities such as Greenwood, Franklin, Bargersville, and Whiteland, and Morgan County communities including Mooresville and Martinsville.

Talk to an Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney Today

A criminal charge forces real decisions with real consequences, and you are better positioned to make them with accurate information and experienced counsel behind you. Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney will review what you are facing, explain your options, and give you a clear assessment of where your case stands. Contact Rigney Law LLC to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an Indianapolis criminal defense attorney. The sooner you have that conversation, the more options remain on the table.