Panama City Criminal Defense Lawyer

Defending Your Rights and Your Freedom

Contact us at Virga Law Offices, P.A. immediately after an arrest, whether your loved one is in jail or if you have already been released from custody. The consequences you face if convicted on the charges could have a devastating impact on your future, but you can vastly improve your chances of a favorable outcome by retaining legal representation early in the defense process. When you work with us, you will have a former prosecutor on your side, guiding you through the court system and fighting to defend your rights. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can resolve this situation on your own by explaining yourself to the police-they already think you are guilty. Let our experience and dedication to results work for you. Call or visit us today for a confidential consultation, to learn about your legal options and begin working on a strategy for clearing your name.

DUI
Drinking and driving is a serious problem in our state, and we have one of the highest rates of DUI related fatalities in the nation. For this reason, law enforcement agencies at all levels are cracking down on drunk drivers, and if you have been caught under the influence or with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit, you must take action now to avoid jail and a driver's license suspension.

Drug Crimes
If you have been charged with a drug crime such as possession, cultivation, manufacturing, sales or trafficking, you cannot afford any delay in retaining legal representation. Even if there is positive evidence against you, it may be possible to resolve the charges by proving that your rights were violated in the investigation, or we might be able to negotiate a favorable plea bargain.

Expungements
Living with a criminal record can be difficult, as your conviction will appear on background checks for credit or housing, and you have to disclose the fact when requested by a potential employer, in addition to possible restrictions on gun ownership or voting. Fortunately, you may be eligible to petition for an expungement to clear your criminal record.

Federal Crimes
The number of federal crimes on the books is virtually endless, and the list expands every year. If you are under investigation for any type of violation of federal statutes or regulations, you need an attorney who is prepared to take on the federal prosecutor and fight to keep you out of jail or prison.

Juvenile Crimes
When your child has been arrested for any type of criminal offense, you cannot afford any delay in taking action to resolve the charges and remove your child from the Juvenile Justice System. The consequences of an adjudication of delinquency could result in academic penalties, loss of employment opportunities or even being sent to a juvenile detention center.

Sex Crimes
A conviction for a sex crime can mean steep fines and a lengthy sentence in jail or prison, but even after your release you would still have to register as a sex offender, with the result that your photograph, home address and details about your conviction would be posted on a website and made available to the public.

Spring Break Crime Defense
Have you, or your son or daughter recently been arrested while visiting Panama City Beach on spring break? If so, it's critical that you take this situation seriously because a criminal conviction can negatively influence entrance into certain colleges, it can affect scholarships, and it can ruin future job opportunities; you don't want any of this to happen to you.

Violent Crimes
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a violent crime was committed once every five minutes in 2011 in our state, with 915 reported offenses in Bay County alone. Whether you are charged with assault and battery, robbery or even murder, we are ready to take decisive action to fight for you.

White Collar Crimes
Before founding our firm, Mr. Virga served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida, and he focused his efforts on prosecuting economic crimes. This background makes us uniquely well-suited for defending you on white collar crime charges such as embezzlement, fraud or identity theft.