Criminal Defense

Dedicated Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being prosecuted for a crime is a stressful and frightening experience. If the police have arrested you, it is important that you invoke your right to remain silent and consult a seasoned lawyer as soon as possible to assist you with your case.

Before I became a defense attorney in Newark, Ohio, I spent six years as an assistant prosecutor in Licking County and one year as a private investigator before entering law school. As a result, I have a strong practical background and understanding of the criminal defense system. I have tried more than one hundred criminal cases and I have investigated thousands.

Violent Crimes |OVI | Drug Crimes

I handle a full range of felonies and misdemeanors, including white-collar crimes such as fraud or embezzlement, violent crimes such as aggravated assault and felony murder, and traffic offenses such as OVI/DUI/DWI, and driving under suspension. I often defend individuals accused of drug crimes such as drug possession, distribution, trafficking, drug cultivation and manufacturing. Among the drugs involved in these cases are marijuana, methamphetamines or crystal meth, cocaine, crack, heroin, and prescription drugs such as OxyContin. For many drug related crimes and non-violent crimes there might be treatment or diversion options to consider that can be utilized to avoid a conviction.

If you are my client, I will take a hands-on approach to your case. I work to develop good relationships with my clients and I am a straight shooter. I will be prepared to take your case to trial and fight it out with the prosecution in court. I also help clients with appeals and other post conviction remedies such as getting your arrest record expunged.

Challenging the prosecutor's case

Most people who are charged with a crime focus on what their own case looks like. I use a different approach. I focus on what the prosecutor's case looks like. What fallacies or inconsistencies can I point out as a defense attorney? What facts can I point out to raise reasonable doubt? What evidence can we discovery to prove our case?

I will attack the technical and procedural aspects of the case against you. I will aggressively test the evidence by filing motions to suppress the evidence against you, motions to dismiss, and motions to preclude the introduction of evidence at trial, if appropriate. My cases do not end up before a jury very often. I am often successful early on for reasons that have nothing to do with guilt or innocence.

Several of my cases have received national attention. Recently, I successfully defended a father who was prosecuted for paddling his son as a form of discipline Please view the articles page for more information about this and other cases I have handled. In addition, I represented another young man wrongfully charged with murder. He was recently vindicated and the correct person was subsequently charged with the murder. Of course, the outcome in any case depends on the facts of your specific situation. I have also successfully represented a nationally known musical artist, the Yonder Mountain String Band. This video shows me on stage with them.

Each case is different, and some criminal cases can best be resolved through plea deals, rather than going to trial. I know where the battles are—and how to choose my battles. If your situation is best resolved with a plea or with diversion, then that is the path we will pursue. However, if it is in your best interest to go to trial, I have the experience and ability to fight for you. When facing a criminal trial, you need to have a perceptive and experienced courtroom attorney by your side.

Free consultation: Contact me, criminal defense attorney Robert Calesaric, to schedule a consultation about your case. I represent clients throughout central Ohio, including Columbus.