Tacoma Legal Defense

Do you need legal help? Dealing with a criminal charge can be a terrifying process, especially if you’re unsure of how to proceed. Attorney Matthew Leyba specializes in criminal legal defense and can help you take the right steps after a DUI or criminal arrest.

Located less than 30 minutes from Tacoma in Downtown Seattle, Leyba Defense provides a full range of legal defense services. Attorney Matthew Leyba has extensive experience dealing with a range of charges, from DUIs to marijuana DUIs, BUIs, reckless driving, and more.

Rated a perfect 10 out of 10 on online lawyer rating website Avvo, Matthew Leyba is also listed as a Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyer by the American Society of Legal Advocates.

Would you like to learn more about how Leyba Defense can help you? Continue reading below for a full list of our legal services, or contact us or use our email form to schedule a free consultation.

If you’re arrested for driving while intoxicated, you’ll likely be charged with DUI. A DUI arrest can be an extremely difficult experience, especially if it’s your first encounter with the criminal justice system. Luckily, there are options available to help you after your arrest.

As a specialist in DUI defense, Matthew Leyba can help you take the next steps after an arrest for a DUI. From gathering evidence to preparing your case, Matthew Leyba works efficiently and effectively to ensure you receive the strongest possible defense to any DUI charge.

In addition to conventional DUI arrests, Matthew Leyba and Leyba Defense can also help you deal with marijuana DUI (also known as “Green DUI”) arrests, BUI charges and other driving offenses.

Throughout the process, the focus is always on you, from locating and presenting evidence to reduce your risk of facing a conviction to forming a complete, robust, and effective defense for you as a client.

Although alcohol is the substance most commonly associated with DUI, it’s also possible to be arrested for driving while under the influence of marijuana—an event that’s widely known as a “green DUI” arrest.

Despite laws such as Initiative 502, it remains illegal to operate a car, motorcycle, or any other type of motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. This means that if you’re pulled over after ingesting or smoking marijuana, you could face a marijuana DUI charges.

Like with an alcohol DUI, you’ll be asked to provide a blood sample after being arrested for a marijuana DUI. As an individual, you have the right to turn down this test. Being found guilty of marijuana DUI can also result in a range of penalties:

• A license suspension of 90 days to four years
• Up to 364 days in jail
• A fine of between $944.50 and $5,000
• Up to five years of probation
• A requirement to complete a chemical dependence assessment

As a DUI specialist, Matthew Leyba also deals with marijuana DUI cases. If you’re arrested for driving while under the influence of marijuana, Leyba Defense can ensure you receive the full, complete and effective defense to which you’re entitled under the law.

If you’re under the age of 21, you can be arrested for DUI even if your blood alcohol level falls below the adult limit of 0.08 percent. In fact, as a minor, any blood alcohol level that exceeds 0.02% is enough for you to be arrested for driving under the influence.

Under 21 DUI arrests are known as Minor DUI and can carry a range of penalties. If you’re found guilty of a minor DUI charge, you can be face up to 90 days in jail, as well as a fine of $1,000 or less.

So it’s extremely important to contact the right attorney if you or a family member are arrested for minor DUI. As with other DUI charges, Matthew Leyba can help you prepare a thorough, effective defense against a minor DUI charge to achieve an optimal legal outcome.

Have you been arrested for operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol? The law in Washington forbids the operation of a vessel with under the influence of alcohol or drugs—a crime that’s often referred to as a BUI charge.

Despite not carrying a mandatory minimum penalty, if you’re found guilty of BUI, you could face a fine of up to $5,000 and as much as 364 days of jail time. Because of this, it’s important that you seek out a qualified, competent, and experienced lawyer if you’re arrested for a BUI.

As a DUI specialist, Matthew Leyba can represent you in your BUI case and ensures you receive a complete, thorough defense.

If you’ve been charged with a DUI, you may be able to enter into a deferred prosecution, allowing you to potentially avoid all of the fines, jail time, and other legal penalties that are associated with a DUI.

Not everyone can enter into a deferred prosecution for a DUI. In order to be eligible, you must not have entered into a deferred prosecution before. You also need to agree to a range of terms outlined in RCW 10.05.

In order to enter into a deferred prosecution, you will also need to agree to complete an alcohol and drug assessment as well as a comprehensive treatment program.

If you’re interested in entering into a deferred prosecution after your DUI arrest, it’s important to speak to a qualified, experienced attorney. As an expert in DUI cases, Matthew Leyba can help you learn more about whether the deferred prosecution process is suitable for your case.

Have you been charged with a criminal offense? If you’ve been arrested and now face criminal charges, it’s essential that you contact an experienced, reliable, and capable criminal lawyer to advise you about your legal options.

Matthew Leyba specializes in criminal defense and can help you learn more about the options that are available to you after an arrest. From minor crimes to serious criminal charges, Leyba Defense can provide the advice and assistance you need for a successful legal outcome.

A major traffic violation, you can be charged with reckless driving as a result of driving in a way that creates a risk for other road users. Reckless driving charges are also often negotiated as a result of a DUI (despite being a criminal charge, reckless driving is less serious than a DUI).

Whether you’ve been charged with reckless driving or face a DUI charge and wish to reduce the charge to reckless driving, attorney Matthew Leyba can help you learn more about your options and prepare a complete and effective defense.

Often the result of a DUI case being refiled, negligent driving is a criminal offense that carries less severe penalties than a DUI. Because the penalties of a negligent driving 1st-degree (Neg 1) charge are less severe than a DUI, it’s often sought by lawyers as a negotiated charge.

Unlike a DUI, a negligent driving 1st-degree suspension does not result in your license being suspended. You are also not required to carry SR22 insurance after being found guilty of 1st-degree negligent driving.

These factors all make a negotiated charge of negligent driving 1st degree a desirable outcome following a DUI arrest. As a specialist in DUI and other driving charges, Matthew Leyba can help you learn more about your best options after a Neg 1, DUI or other criminal driving arrests.

Physical control refers to a type of DUI arrest in which the individual arrested is not actively driving a motor vehicle, but is in physical control of the vehicle at the time of arrest.

Have you been arrested for physical control? A physical control arrest typically results in two separate legal actions. The first is filed by the Department of Licensing and could potentially lead to a license suspension. The second is a criminal charge filed by the court system.

In the State of Washington, the penalties for physical control are the same as for a DUI. As a specialist in DUI and other criminal driving charges, attorney Matthew Leyba can provide the legal advice and assistance you need for a successful defense to physical control charges.