Freedom for the Innocent and Fairness for the Rest
When you need a defense attorney, you don’t just need any defense attorney. You need a defense attorney who knows how to win.
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The Need to Pass a Law to Require Prosecutors to Disclose Information from Incentivized Informants
Read about the needful things to pass a law that needs prosecutors to conceal the informants. Know this law can protect the innocent and ensure fairness.
Convicted on a Technicality: The Manipulations of the Law to Maximize Consequences to Minor Offenders
The New Rationale for Why the Police Don’t Need a Search Warrant for a Breathalyzer Breath Test
This Washington Supreme Court ruling says Police don’t need a search warrant to make you blow - drivers have no constitutional right to refuse a breath test.
The Need to Decriminalize Some Forms of Theft
The Law Office of Chris Van Vechten would like to propose passing a law creating a new category of theft that constitutes an infraction and mandating that State and Municipal Prosecutors may charge select acts of theft as infractions instead of crimes.
A New Office for a New Year
2016 was a big year for the Law Office of Chris Van Vechten, marked by some dramatic successes both inside and out of the courtroom. The highlight of course was proving the innocence of a 15 year-old-client who was framed for bringing a loaded and cocked semi-automatic pistol to his high school, in a relatively high profile case that garnered significant regional attention.
Theft in the Third Degree
Society is ready to forgive those who have struggled with addiction or anger problems, but theft is a biblical crime that is universally despised and carries with it life-long consequences in addition to serious stigmas.
Prosecutor vs Attorney: How Prosecutors Pressure Your Attorney Not To Investigate Your Case
Prosecutor vs Attorney: Prosecutors pressure attorneys not to investigate claims against their clients by offering plea deals. This is prosecutorial misconduct.
Charged as a Juvenile
The Juvenile Justice System is a strange subspecies of the criminal justice system that – for a variety of reasons – only a fraction of defense attorneys venture to try their hand at. Being charged as a juvenile means that the short term consequences of a conviction (called an “adjudication” within juvenile court lingo) are significantly diminished in terms of incarceration.
Our son was framed, and Chris Van Vechten proved it
The Law Office of Chris Van Vechten proved that a 15-year-old defendant accused of bringing a gun to Shelton High School was framed by a classmate.
Juvenile Gun Case: Van Vechten Forces Prosecutor to Drop Charges
The Law Office of Chris Van Vechten proved that a 15 year old defendant accused of bringing a gun to school was framed by a classmate, compelling the Mason County Deputy prosecutor to drop the charges.
Adult Sentencing Guidelines for Washington State
Chris Van Vechten breaks down the Washington state adult sentencing guidelines and the Sentencing Reform Act.
Drug Crimes
Despite some highly publicized moves at both the State and Federal Level, the War on Drugs is still very much alive in Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap and King County, particularly for those alleged to be involved in the use and distribution of heroine and methamphetamine.
Smoke Pot? Own a Car? You should know about this.
In 2015, the Washington State Legislature expanded its open container law to encompass marijuana. House Bill 1276, which predominately concerned one of the Legislature’s favorite criminal subjects – DUI – nevertheless made it a traffic infraction for the registered owner of a motor vehicle, or the driver if the registered owner is not then present, or any passengers in the vehicle…
No Contact Orders
No contact order restrict physical/verbal contact with other. It can be issued as a condition of bail, bond, or recognition as release or sentence or probation.
Who Does Chris Van Vechten Represent?
The Law Office of Chris Van Vechten serves clients who represent every cross-section of our community & strives to provide a powerful and personalized defense.