Lebanon Criminal Defense Lawyer

Boone County courts move quickly, and so does the criminal justice system in Lebanon. From the moment police make contact to the moment a judge reads a verdict, decisions are being made, evidence is being compiled, and your future is being shaped. If you are caught up in that process without a lawyer who understands how Boone County prosecutors think and how Lebanon-area courts operate, you are at a significant disadvantage before you ever set foot in a courtroom.

A Lebanon criminal defense lawyer at Rigney Law LLC brings Indianapolis-level courtroom experience directly to Boone County residents. Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney have spent years going into court day after day to represent people facing misdemeanor and felony charges. That accumulated courtroom experience matters enormously when you are dealing with a situation where the outcome could mean the difference between going home and serving time.

Criminal charges in Lebanon can arise from traffic stops on I-65, arrests at local businesses, domestic disputes in residential neighborhoods, or investigations that have been building for weeks before police knock on your door. Whatever brought you to this point, the path forward starts with understanding what you are actually facing and what realistic options exist. That requires a candid conversation with someone who knows Indiana criminal law, not a generic overview found on a legal information website.

Criminal Charges Commonly Prosecuted in Boone County

Boone County is a growing community, and its courts handle a wide range of criminal matters. The specific charges that come through Lebanon’s courts reflect the area’s mix of rural stretches, suburban growth along the I-65 corridor, and the increased traffic that comes with proximity to Indianapolis. Understanding what you are charged with, and what Indiana law attaches to that charge, is the starting point for any defense strategy.

• OWI and Alcohol-Related Offenses: Operating While Intoxicated charges arise frequently from traffic stops on I-65, State Road 32, and county roads throughout Boone County. Indiana’s OWI statutes carry penalties that include jail time, mandatory license suspension, fines, and the potential for a permanent criminal record. A prior OWI on your record can elevate a new charge to a felony.
• Drug Possession and Dealing Charges: Indiana classifies drug offenses by the type of controlled substance and the amount involved. Possession charges can range from a Class A misdemeanor to a Level 2 felony depending on the drug and quantity. Dealing charges carry even steeper exposure. Boone County law enforcement actively pursues drug cases both on their own and in cooperation with multi-jurisdictional task forces.
• Domestic Violence and Battery Charges: Battery charges involving family or household members trigger additional legal consequences under Indiana law, including mandatory arrest policies and protective orders that can remove you from your home before any conviction occurs. These charges also carry firearm restriction consequences that extend well beyond the criminal case itself.
• Theft and Property Crimes: Shoplifting, auto theft, and receiving stolen property are prosecuted in Boone County with varying levels of severity depending on the value of the property involved. What begins as a misdemeanor retail theft can escalate to a felony if the facts support a higher-value allegation.
• Gun Charges: Indiana’s gun laws have evolved in recent years, but federal prohibitions still apply, and state charges for unlawful possession or carrying in restricted locations carry serious penalties. A firearms conviction can permanently strip your right to possess a weapon and leave you with a felony record.
• Probation Violations: Many people in Boone County face criminal exposure not from new conduct but from alleged violations of existing probation. A violation hearing moves quickly, and the judge has broad discretion to revoke probation and impose a previously suspended sentence. Having a defense attorney at that hearing is not optional if you want the best chance at staying out of custody.
• Traffic Crimes and Habitual Traffic Violations: Driving while suspended, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident can all result in criminal charges in Indiana, not just civil traffic infractions. Boone County prosecutors treat habitual traffic offender designations seriously, and the consequences for accumulating convictions can include extended license suspension and jail time.

What to Do After an Arrest in Lebanon or Boone County

The first hours and days after an arrest are often where criminal cases are won or lost, and most people do not realize that until it is too late. What you say to police, whether you submit to certain tests, and what you do before your first court date can all affect the outcome of your case in ways that are difficult or impossible to undo later.

The most important thing to do immediately after an arrest is to stop talking to police. This is not about guilt or innocence. It is about the reality that statements made during questioning are routinely used in ways that defendants do not anticipate when they make them. Invoking your right to remain silent and asking for an attorney ends the interrogation and does not make you look guilty to a judge or jury. It simply closes a door that prosecutors otherwise love to walk through.

Criminal cases in Lebanon are handled at the Boone County Courthouse, located on Lebanon’s town square at 100 West Washington Street. Depending on the nature of the charge, your case may be assigned to Boone County Superior Court or Boone County Circuit Court. Both courts handle felony and misdemeanor matters. The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office is the entity that makes charging decisions and controls any plea negotiations, which means early attorney involvement gives your lawyer time to assess those decisions before positions harden.

If you were arrested and released on your own recognizance or on a bond, your next required court date is your initial hearing. Missing that date will result in a warrant being issued, which compounds your situation significantly. Write down the date, confirm it with your attorney, and appear on time. Courts in Boone County do not respond sympathetically to failures to appear, and the resulting warrant can result in additional charges.

Gather anything that might be relevant to your defense: your own recollection of events written down while your memory is fresh, names and contact information for any witnesses, photographs, text messages, or other records that could matter. Bring all of this to your consultation with a criminal defense attorney in Lebanon. Your attorney cannot evaluate the strength of your case without the facts, and the more complete your account, the better the analysis will be.

Avoid discussing your case on social media or with anyone other than your attorney. Prosecutors have used social media posts, group texts, and casual conversations with acquaintances as evidence in criminal trials. The privilege that protects your communications exists only with your lawyer.

How Rigney Law LLC Approaches Criminal Defense in Boone County

The attorneys at Rigney Law LLC have built their reputation on the foundation of preparation and courtroom experience. Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney are not attorneys who treat criminal defense as one of many services they offer. It is their focus. The firm’s approach centers on the conviction that what happens before trial, behind the scenes and in preparation, determines what is possible when the case reaches a courtroom.

When Rigney Law takes a case in Boone County, the work begins with a close review of everything the prosecution has: police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, lab results, and any other evidence that may exist. Evidence can be suppressed if law enforcement violated constitutional protections during a stop, search, or arrest. Charges can sometimes be reduced when the evidence does not support the full weight of what prosecutors initially alleged. Cases occasionally get dismissed outright when the legal analysis reveals a fatal flaw in the government’s theory. None of these outcomes are guaranteed, but none of them are possible without an attorney who is actually doing the work to look for them.

The firm also handles matters that intersect with criminal defense in ways people do not always consider at the time of arrest. OWI charges trigger immediate license consequences that run on a separate track from the criminal case itself. A criminal conviction can create barriers to professional licensing, housing, and employment that persist for years. Indiana’s expungement statute offers a path to seal qualifying convictions and arrests from public record, and Rigney Law handles that process as well. For clients dealing with parole matters, the firm represents individuals before the Indiana Parole Board in hearings that can determine whether they return home or serve out the remainder of a sentence.

When you hire a Lebanon criminal defense attorney from Rigney Law LLC, you are hiring attorneys who will come in early, work late, and do what is necessary to put you in the best position possible, as the firm puts it directly on its website. That is not a tagline. It is how they operate.

Questions Lebanon Residents Ask About Criminal Charges

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

Indiana classifies misdemeanors into three levels: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Felonies are classified into six levels, from Level 6 (the least serious) through Level 1, plus Murder as a separate category. The level of offense determines the sentencing range. Misdemeanors carry maximum jail terms measured in days and months, while felonies carry potential prison terms measured in years. Even a Level 6 felony, the lowest felony classification, can carry a sentence of six months to two and a half years and leave you with a felony record that affects your life long after the sentence ends.

Will I have to go to jail if this is my first offense?

Not necessarily. Indiana law allows for alternatives to incarceration in many first-offense situations, including probation, community service, treatment programs, and deferred prosecution arrangements. The availability of these options depends on the specific charge, your criminal history, the strength of the evidence, and the approach your attorney takes during negotiations with the prosecutor’s office. A Boone County criminal defense attorney can assess what alternatives may be available in your specific case.

What happens to my driver’s license after an OWI arrest in Indiana?

Indiana has an administrative license suspension process that operates independently of the criminal case. If you refused a chemical test or failed one at or above the legal threshold, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles can suspend your license even before you are convicted, or in some cases even if you are not convicted. There are deadlines attached to challenging that suspension, which is one reason why contacting an attorney immediately after an OWI arrest matters so much.

Can my criminal record affect my ability to get a job in Boone County?

Yes, and significantly. Many employers in Indiana conduct background checks, and a criminal record, including arrests that did not result in conviction, can appear in those results. Certain industries, including healthcare, education, financial services, and any position requiring a professional license, have specific restrictions that can disqualify applicants with particular types of convictions. Indiana’s expungement law offers a way to limit public access to qualifying records, and Rigney Law LLC assists clients in pursuing expungement after they become eligible.

Can charges be dismissed if police made a mistake during my arrest?

Potentially, yes. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fifth and Sixth Amendments protect against self-incrimination and guarantee the right to counsel. If police violated your constitutional rights during a traffic stop, search, interrogation, or arrest, the evidence they obtained through that violation may be suppressed. When key evidence is suppressed, prosecutors sometimes cannot sustain the charge, which can lead to a dismissal. Whether a constitutional violation occurred and whether it is grounds for suppression requires a close factual and legal analysis of your specific case.

I was charged with a drug offense, but the drugs were not mine. Does that matter?

It can, but constructive possession is a legal theory that allows prosecutors to charge you with possession of drugs that were in an area under your control, even if you did not physically have them on your person. Whether that theory holds up depends on the specific facts, including who else had access to the location, whether there is evidence connecting you specifically to the drugs, and what statements, if any, were made at the time of the arrest. These cases require careful examination of the evidence.

How long does a criminal case typically take to resolve in Boone County?

It varies considerably. A straightforward misdemeanor resolved through a plea agreement might conclude within a few months. A felony that goes to trial can take a year or longer, depending on the complexity of the evidence, the court’s docket, and the progress of pretrial motions. Boone County courts handle a mix of criminal matters, and scheduling can affect timelines in ways that are not always predictable at the outset. Your attorney can give you a realistic sense of the timeline once the case is underway and the procedural posture becomes clear.

What should I bring to my first meeting with a criminal defense attorney?

Bring any paperwork you received at the time of arrest or afterward, including your charging document, bond conditions, and any notices about upcoming court dates. If you have a police report, bring that as well. Write down your recollection of events in as much detail as possible before the meeting, while your memory is fresh. If there were witnesses, bring their contact information. If you have text messages, photographs, or other electronic evidence that might be relevant, note that so your attorney can discuss how to preserve and use it.

Can a domestic battery charge be dropped if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?

In Indiana, the decision to pursue criminal charges belongs to the prosecutor, not to the alleged victim. Once law enforcement is involved in a domestic situation and an arrest is made, the prosecutor’s office can proceed with charges regardless of whether the alleged victim wants to move forward. Alleged victims who later recant or refuse to cooperate complicate the prosecution’s case but do not automatically end it. This is one of the reasons why these charges require serious legal attention from the beginning.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a misdemeanor charge?

Yes. The assumption that misdemeanors are minor enough to handle without counsel is one of the most costly mistakes people make. A misdemeanor conviction is a permanent criminal record entry unless expunged. It can affect your ability to obtain or maintain professional licenses in Indiana. It can show up on background checks for housing and employment. In some cases, a misdemeanor conviction also has immigration consequences for non-citizens. The short-term cost of legal representation is almost always less significant than the long-term cost of a conviction that follows you for years.

Boone County and Greater Indianapolis-Area Criminal Defense Representation

Rigney Law LLC serves clients facing criminal charges throughout central Indiana. The firm’s Lebanon criminal defense clients come from communities across Boone County, including Zionsville, Whitestown, Thorntown, Jamestown, Advance, and Whitestown’s rapidly growing residential corridors. The firm also represents clients from the communities along the I-65 corridor that feed into Boone County courts, as well as individuals whose cases originate in Lebanon but involve charges or facts that cross county lines.

Beyond Boone County, the firm handles criminal matters throughout the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area. This includes clients from Hamilton County communities such as Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, and Carmel, as well as Hendricks County residents from Avon, Plainfield, Danville, and Brownsburg. The firm represents clients in Marion County, including throughout Indianapolis itself, across neighborhoods from Broad Ripple and Meridian-Kessler to Fountain Square, Lawrence, Pike Township, and Decatur Township. Clients also come to Rigney Law from Hancock County, Morgan County, and Putnam County for matters requiring experienced Indianapolis-area criminal defense representation.

No matter which Boone County courtroom or Indianapolis-area courthouse your case is assigned to, Rigney Law LLC brings the same preparation and commitment to the representation.

Talk to a Lebanon Criminal Defense Attorney About Your Case

A criminal charge in Boone County is not something to sit with and hope resolves itself. Courts move on their own timelines, prosecutors make decisions based on what they see in front of them, and your ability to influence the outcome shrinks as time passes without representation. Rigney Law LLC offers free consultations so you can get a candid assessment of your situation before making any decisions.

Jacob Rigney and Kassi Rigney are Lebanon criminal defense attorneys who understand what is actually at stake when someone faces charges in Indiana courts. They handle cases throughout Boone County and the surrounding region, and they bring real courtroom experience to every client they represent. Call Rigney Law LLC today to schedule your free consultation and start getting answers.