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Rochester Criminal Defense Attorneys

When you are charged with a serious crime in the Rochester area, King Law is ready to defend you and protect your rights. We are a team of experienced criminal defense lawyers, with the knowledge, passion, and grit that it takes to defend your case. If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony or are facing federal charges, you deserve an attorney who will fight for the best possible outcome for your case.

Our attorneys have local experience that matters if you are accused of a serious crime. Our team includes former prosecutors, a judge, and trial lawyers who are prepared to defend your case at any level. With combined decades of experience practicing criminal law, King Law has earned a reputation in the Rochester area for being one of the most prepared, strategic, and aggressive criminal defense firms in the region.

We have the experience to handle cases of varying complexity. We are ready to support you through investigations, negotiations, and trials. Our results speak for themselves, and testimonials can be found at the bottom of this page. Regardless of your guilt or innocence, you can be sure that we will provide the best defense we can to resolve your case in the most favorable way possible. 

When Should You Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney in Rochester, NY?

If you have been accused of a crime, you should act quickly to secure legal representation. Consulting with an attorney can help protect your rights, including the right to remain silent, protection from illegal searches or seizures, the right to due process, and the right to a fair trial.

If you find yourself in one of the following scenarios in the Rochester area, you may benefit from hiring a defense attorney:

• Being arrested by the Rochester police or another local police force
• Being questioned or investigated
• Receiving a summons or appearance ticket
• Charges filed by the Monroe County District Attorney
• Federal investigation in the Western District of New York

Retaining an attorney as early as possible can ensure you have proper representation during critical moments in your case. Without legal guidance, people sometimes unknowingly give statements or consent to actions that harm their case.

Our team will help you understand the crime you have been charged with, possible sentences and fines, possible impacts to your employment or licensing, and long-term impacts on your record. We will take charge and limit those impacts using honest legal tactics and build a strong defense.

Criminal Charges We Defend in Rochester, New York

King Law handles the full spectrum of criminal cases, from minor offenses to the most serious charges prosecuted in local and federal courts. Being accused of a serious crime can have lasting impacts on your life. You can trust our team of attorneys to vigorously investigate your case. We take the time to review each detail of your proceedings to reveal possible mistakes made by law enforcement, investigators, and the courts. We work hard to make sure your legal rights were being protected and that you were treated fairly. Our team at King Law can represent you if you are faced with serious allegations.

DWI and DUI Defense

Being arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving while under the influence (DUI) can have major impacts on all areas of your life. Being found guilty of either of these crimes can have major impacts on your employment, future ability to drive, finances, and well-being.

If you have been charged with DWI or DUI, our team will help fight the charges by:

• Challenging the traffic stop and arrest
• Reviewing breath, blood, and sobriety tests
• Handling court filings and deadlines
• Negotiating reduced charges or penalties
• Trying to protect your driver’s license
• Representing you in court

We will work to minimize the impact on your life and build a legally defensible case.

Drug Crime Defense

Being accused of a drug crime has major implications for your life and wellbeing. King Law is ready to defend you if you have been accused of possession, distribution, or trafficking of a controlled substance. We have real-world experience with how Monroe County and surrounding counties prosecute drug cases. If you choose King Law, we will explain your rights, options, and case strategy clearly and work tirelessly to minimize your penalties and the long-term consequences to your life.

If you are accused of a drug crime, our attorneys can help you:

• Challenge possibly illegal searches, seizures, and arrests
• Review evidence, laboratory reports, and chain of custody forms
• Request evidence dismissal or suppression
• Handle court filings
• Adhere to procedural deadlines
• Negotiate a reduced charge or admittance to a treatment program
• Represent you in court and at trial

Being charged with a drug-related crime is serious and life-altering. Trust the team at King Law to fight for your future. Here is one of our client’s stories.

Violent Felony and Weapons Charges

If you are accused of a violent crime or facing weapons charges, our team at King Law is ready to take charge of your case. We understand the possible severe penalties associated with a felony conviction. If you have been accused of assault, robbery, murder, manslaughter, or a weapons offense, talk to our team about how we can defend your rights.

We will thoroughly review your case to see if any of the following apply to your case:

• Illegal searches or seizures
• Unlawful traffic stops
• Errors with issuing or executing a warrant
• Unlawful interrogations
• Statements were coerced or obtained illegally
• Mishandling of evidence
• Errors in witness testimonies

We will build a legal defense strategy and negotiate with prosecutors. If you are accused of a violent felony, our team at King Law will fight to improve the outcome of your case.

Sex Crime Allegations and Investigations

If you have been accused of a sex crime, there are real-world consequences to your life and career. Our team at King Law understands the sensitive nature of these cases. We will work with you to understand the specifics of your case, including any investigations that occur before or after your arrest. If you are accused while at college or on-the-job, we will work to understand if your disciplinary hearings and associated consequences were lawful.

If you were accused of a sex crime, including rape or sexual assault, you have legal rights. Our team will work with you to ensure that your case is handled with the utmost discretion and dedication.

White Collar and Financial Crimes

Our team at King Law represents clients who are accused of white collar or financial crimes. Our defense attorneys are ready to defend clients in Western New York who are accused of fraud, theft, embezzlement, forgery, and economic crimes. Our attorneys have experience representing clients accused of such crimes by local or federal authorities.

Charges related to these crimes can begin as investigations. If you retain our firm, we can help early-on in the process. We can do things like communicating with investigators, advise on proper questioning and disclosure, and work to halt or limit any forthcoming charges.

We will develop a defensible legal strategy and fully examine your case. We can defend your case by collecting evidence that you: used good-faith business practices, lacked intent, or were coerced or entrapped. We can also identify errors in evidence in the case against you. We will review all possible angles to support you before and after you are accused of a financial crime.

Federal Criminal Charges in Western District of New York

Some of our clients are facing federal criminal charges. Federal charges are different from charges brought by local courts and judges. Federal charges are typically filed by federal prosecutors from the U.S. Department of Justice. If you are accused of a crime in federal court, you may be investigated by officials from government agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

If you have been accused of drug trafficking across state lines, wire fraud, tax evasion, or financial crimes by federal investigators, talk to King Law. We will work to defend your case in the Western District of New York.

Other Types of Criminal Defense Services

Whether you are charged with a crime or suspect that you may soon be, our experienced team of attorneys is ready to fight for you. We take every case seriously, regardless of the charges pending against you. We are committed to resolving your case with your best interests in mind.

Because every criminal case is different and surrounded by unique and factual circumstances, we make it our business to obtain and analyze all of the evidence we can. This is what sets us apart from other firms or national firms trying to represent local cases. Rather than recycle the most popular legal defenses, we work diligently to carefully construct the best personalized defense strategy, based on the specifics of your case.

We have represented thousands of clients who have been charged with everything from traffic violations to murder. The following list of criminal charges we have experience defending:

• Misdemeanors
• Student Offenses (High school & College)
• Internet Crimes
• Burglary/Theft Crimes
• Assault

Our team at King Law takes cases of varying complexity. Regardless of your charges, we work hard in an attempt to get you the best possible outcome, whether that means a reduction in sentencing or charges.

No case is too complex for Attorney King. Some of our results include:

How Are Criminal Cases Prosecuted in Rochester and Monroe County?

Criminal cases in Rochester, New York, are prosecuted by the District Attorney’s office in the county in which the crime was committed. People accused of violations or misdemeanors in the Rochester area often have their cases heard in Rochester City Court. People accused of felonies may have their cases heard in Monroe County Supreme & County Court. Both of these courts are part of the New York State Unified Court System for Monroe County.

If you are charged with a crime, you will likely be arraigned, there will be a decision on bail, and you may be held in jail or released. Depending on your charges and criminal record, you may be held in Monroe County Jail prior to your trial. If you are accused of a state crime, the office of the Monroe District Attorney will prepare to prosecute your case.

At King Law, we are ready to represent clients throughout every step of the legal process. We can be present at your arraignment, advise on posting bail, review evidence, prepare a defense, and work with the prosecutors to ensure you receive a fair sentence or have your charges reduced or dismissed.

What Happens After a Criminal Arrest in Rochester, NY?

What happens to you after being arrested for a crime in the Rochester area depends on the type of crime you are accused of. For example, criminal arrests in the City of Rochester are prosecuted by the Monroe County District Attorney’s office. Federal cases that occur in Rochester will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York. Our attorneys at King Law are ready to represent you in County, state, and federal courts and trials.

After you are arrested, you will likely be booked. You will then have an arraignment, which is your first court appearance, during which your charges will be read to you. During your arraignment, the judge will decide to release you, set bail, or hold you without bail. The courts will likely set your next court date.

When you or someone you love has been arrested and accused of a crime, it is normal to feel scared, panicked, and unsure about next steps. At King Law, we are experienced criminal defense attorneys who take charge and bring calm and order to a difficult situation. Our attorneys will help you understand your charges and possible next steps. We can build your case and help you feel confident going forward.

Why Hiring Former Prosecutors Matters in Criminal Defense Cases

At King Law, our attorneys have experience as former prosecutors. That experience is a strategic advantage if you are accused of a crime. We understand charging decisions, the prosecution’s discovery strategy, and how prosecutors engage in discovery and evidence gathering. We understand how prosecutors prepare for negotiations and trials. We know how Monroe County prosecutors think, because we were Monroe County prosecutors. That gives us a strategic advantage over many local firms and helps us defend your case.

About Our Criminal Defense Attorneys

Our criminal defense team serves clients throughout the Western New York region, including clients in Buffalo, the Finger Lakes, Orchard Park, and Niagara Falls. We have local roots and years of experience with local courts and investigators. We use the knowledge gained as Monroe County prosecutors throughout your trial and during negotiations.

Our team of criminal defense attorneys in Rochester, New York, advocates for our clients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Each member of our team at King Law stakes their reputation on delivering successful and tailored legal strategies to meet the needs of our clients. For 5 consecutive years, Robert King has been acknowledged as a Super Lawyers Rising Star – an honor only achieved by 2.5% of attorneys in the state of New York. This recognition is, no doubt, due to Mr. King’s high level of experience, achievements, and long track record of favorable results.

Each attorney in our criminal law practice has experience as a prosecutor. And, we use this experience to our advantage. Because we have an intimate understanding of how criminal charges are filed, pursued, and prosecuted, we also know the strengths and weaknesses of these practices. We know exactly the sort of information prosecutors don’t want us to know. This knowledge can only serve to benefit you and protect you against any unlawful or unethical practices. Meet our team of criminal defense attorneys.

Robert King

All of our criminal defense attorneys were born and raised in the Rochester area. Robert King grew up in Wayne County and graduated from Wayne Central High School. He earned his undergraduate degree locally at St. John Fisher College. Mr. King spent several years working as an assistant district attorney in Monroe County, where he was promoted to the Special Victims Unit. During his time with the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, he successfully took more than 30 trials to verdict. Since establishing his private criminal defense practice in Downtown Rochester in 2013, the firm has represented thousands of clients. Our clients have faced charges ranging from minor misdemeanors to extremely serious cases of murder, drugs, and guns. We have represented clients in local courts, state courts, and federal courts. We understand what it takes to defend clients facing serious charges.

Jerry King

Jerry King, also a Rochester-area native, graduated from Wayne Central High School and earned his undergraduate degree at St. John Fisher College. He spent 2 years as a prosecutor in Schuyler County, 2 years in Steuben County, and 2.5 years in Ontario County. Jerry worked on a variety of cases, including traffic matters, violation-level offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies. Jerry handled thousands of cases during his time as a prosecutor and gained valuable experience with strict discovery requirements, bail reform, motion practice, hearings, trials, and sentencing. Jerry transitioned to a criminal defense lawyer in 2021, handling cases in both Rochester, New York, and surrounding counties.

Greg Colavecchia

Greg Colavecchia was born in the Rochester area and graduated from Gates-Chili High School before earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Rochester. Mr. Colavecchia spent several years as a Monroe County prosecutor, where he was promoted to the Major Felony Bureau, prosecuting more than 300 violent felony offenses. He then moved to the Economic Crime Bureau, where he prosecuted felony-level white-collar crimes, including forgery, embezzlement, grand larceny, and counterfeit money cases. Now, Greg is a leading criminal defense and personal injury attorney at King Law.

How We Handle Criminal Defense Cases at King Law

When you choose King Law, your case will be handled by real people in our local offices. You will be treated with respect, care, and dignity by anyone you communicate with at our firm.

Here is what to expect when you contact King Law with questions about representing you against criminal charges:

1. Our team will obtain basic information about you and your charges.
2. Our attorneys will provide a free consultation to determine if we are able to represent your case.
3. If you move forward, you will sign a retainer to have us represent you.
4. We will work with you to obtain evidence and represent you in court.
5. We will work to provide the best possible outcome for you, given the specifics of your case.

As soon as you contact our office, a member of our team will ask you some general questions about you and your case. This will likely include your name, contact information (phone number & email), date of birth, and a brief description of your circumstance that includes any criminal charges you may be facing.

Once this information is gathered, our attorneys may ask to speak with you for a free consultation in order to determine whether or not the circumstances of your case require representation. If both you and the attorney agree that our representation will provide you with the help you need, we will start working on your case immediately. Because defense lawyers need to move fast in order to secure all the evidence they need, we will work quickly to begin building a case.

Our office prides itself on the work it does to uncover critical facts about your case that other attorneys might easily overlook. Because the consequences of receiving a criminal conviction can be devastating, we are not willing to take any chances. Our dedication to finding evidence and legal defenses that other firms may overlook is something that sets us apart from the competition.

Areas We Serve Around Rochester and Western New York

Our attorneys represent clients throughout Rochester, Western New York, and beyond. We are ready to defend cases for people accused of crimes in Greece, Irondequoit, Gates, Henrietta, Brighton, Webster, and various areas throughout the Finger Lakes region.

We also represent clients in Monroe, Erie, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Orleans, Genesee, Niagara, and Yates counties.

Our Rochester office is centrally located in the heart of the city, next to the Monroe County Office building. Our Address is 650 Clinton Square, Rochester, NY 14604. We are also available by phone 24 hours a day at (585) 270-8882. Feel free to drop in or give us a call. We also have offices in other areas, including the Finger Lakes region.

How to Choose the Right Criminal Defense Attorney in Rochester, NY

Not all law firms provide the same level of service to their clients. At King Law, we want you to feel confident in your choice of legal representation. We listen to our clients, break down complicated legal proceedings so our clients understand what is happening, and treat each client with the respect they deserve.

As former local prosecutors, we are trial-ready. We are available and responsive when our clients truly need us. If you retain King Law to defend your case, we will fight the charges against you aggressively. We want to earn your business and your trust.

King Law’s Criminal Defense Results and Client Experiences

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Rochester, NY

If you have been charged with a crime or think you will be charged with a crime, now is the time to contact King Law and retain the representation of a proactive and highly experienced lawyer. Our firm can vigorously investigate your case to ensure that your rights were and are protected throughout every step of legal proceedings. We take the time to needed to properly defend your case and fight your charges.

A Note From Founding Attorney, Robert King

Sometimes, criminal cases face appeals. It is important to choose a criminal defense lawyer who crafts a legal strategy that protects you if the decision in your case is appealed. Given the extremely high degree of ineffective assistance of counsel arguments raised on appeal, making sure you retain effective representation from the outset is imperative. Many individuals find out too late that the attorney representing them throughout the initial stages of the criminal process missed out on critical information, failed to properly advise them of their rights, or neglected to pursue alternate strategies that could have completely changed the outcome of their case. You need an attorney who can defend your case, no matter what happens throughout the legal process.

It is not uncommon for routine practices like searches and seizures, interrogations, and photo arrays to be conducted illegally or unethically. Therefore, seeking out the guidance of qualified and experienced legal counsel should be done immediately. If you have been subjected to any of these situations, our experienced team of Rochester criminal attorneys can provide the help you need.