Salem is a historic Essex County city on the coast of Massachusetts with a population of 44,480. Popular sites around the city include the Pioneer Village, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the House of Seven Gables. However, the city also has a high crime rate—it’s higher than 91% of all the state’s cities. Becoming a victim of a property crime in the city is more likely than becoming the victim of a violent crime; one in 75 people becomes a property crime victim. Meanwhile, one in 431 people becomes a victim of violent crime.
If you were charged with an offense, your freedom is at stake. You should contact an effective Salem criminal defense lawyer, like Murat Erkan or Ryan P. Sullivan, to build the strongest available defense based on the particular facts and law. As former prosecutors and award-winning Assistant District Attorneys with an unimpeachable reputation among prosecutors and judges alike, they bring skill, insights, and experience into how the state thinks about cases to provide a vigorous defense to the accused. We handle all offenses, including violent crimes, sex crimes, weapons charges, drug crimes, and DUI.
At Erkan & Sullivan, P.C., our clients benefit from the combined power of two seasoned attorneys and their support staff. We bring decades of courtroom knowledge and a strong prosecutorial background. Together, our team has over 40 years of criminal defense experience. This firm structure means every client receives more than just one attorney’s perspective—they receive the full backing of a strategic defense team that does not back down against the Commonwealth.
When the government charges you with a crime, it must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a high standard, but the state typically has significant resources at its disposal. To stay on a level playing field when you’ve been accused of a crime in Salem, it is crucial to retain a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to represent you.
Often, the consequences of a criminal conviction, particularly a felony conviction, are truly life-altering. Your sentence could include prison time, fines, probation, along with a record that follows you long into the future and affects your prospects in employment, housing, and education. We can look at the circumstances of your case and tailor a defense to the criminal charges. The defense could involve your procedural or substantive rights, errors in your case, or exceptions under the law.
Our firm goes further by examining collateral consequences that many clients are unaware of until it is too late. Immigration issues, driver’s license suspensions, and restrictions on professional licenses can all result from a criminal conviction in Massachusetts. By taking these into account, we craft defense strategies that not only focus on avoiding conviction but also protecting your life outside the courtroom.
Violent crimes are those acts that involve the use of physical force, verbal threats of violence, or weapons against another person. These charges, which are often aggressively prosecuted, include:
Defenses our attorneys may be able to raise in your Salem criminal case include self-defense, defense of others, or reasonable doubt. In some cases, the credibility of the alleged victim or constitutional and procedural violations of your rights can be used to build a strong defense at trial or to negotiate a plea deal.
Violent crime allegations carry some of the harshest mandatory minimum sentences. Our team is relentless in reviewing police reports, questioning witnesses, and challenging forensic evidence. We know that prosecutors build these cases to appear irrefutable, and it takes experienced defense lawyers to expose their weaknesses.
Sex crimes include:
Convictions can result in harsh sentences, including a requirement that you register as a sex offender, a requirement that can haunt you far into the future, as this information is readily available to the public. Many sex crimes in Salem boil down to conflicting personal testimony, and it is critical to retain a criminal defense lawyer who understands how to investigate an alleged victim’s credibility.
At Erkan & Sullivan, P.C., we treat these cases with the urgency they deserve. Our attorneys act quickly to investigate alleged victims, review digital evidence, and identify procedural errors. Because being accused of committing sex crimes results in long-term stigma, we also work discreetly, safeguarding your reputation while fighting to protect your freedom.
Property crimes include:
Larceny is a broad group of many different kinds of theft crimes governed by Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 266 § 30. It occurs whenever someone takes possession of property belonging to another person without their consent. Sentencing in these cases, as with other criminal charges, depends on the circumstances surrounding the case and the particular charges. Our Salem defense attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience in criminal law and know how to avoid a conviction, or, if not possible, minimize the impacts of sentencing.
We defend against both misdemeanor and felony theft cases, including white-collar property crimes, such as embezzlement and fraud. Our attorneys know how to challenge intent, ownership, and identification issues, often securing reductions or dismissals.
Prosecutors take drug and operating under the influence (OUI, sometimes known as DUI or DWI) charges seriously. As in other states, prior offenses can result in an enhancement in your case, though the state does not have a “look-back period” per se. However, even a first-time DUI charge can result in a hike in insurance rates, loss of driving privileges and license suspension, mandatory participation in certain programs, and significant fines. When certain other factors, such as injuries or death, are involved, prison or jail time is also a possibility. To avoid these harsh consequences, hire a Salem defense lawyer from Erkan & Sullivan, P.C., where we offer criminal defense without compromise.
Massachusetts OUI laws also carry collateral penalties beyond court fines and suspensions. Employers, schools, and licensing boards may review these convictions in background checks. Our firm carefully examines every detail of your arrest, from the stop to field sobriety tests and lab reports, and challenges unlawful police conduct. In drug cases, we also evaluate search and seizure violations and improper lab procedures, which can completely change the outcome of your case.
Whether you were charged with a violent crime, a sex crime, or a drug crime, you should call a seasoned and effective Salem criminal defense lawyer, like the ones at Erkan & Sullivan, P.C., for a strong criminal defense. With over four decades of combined experience, we will investigate every angle of your case in order to develop the best strategy for your defense. Call us today at (978) 579-3048 or get in touch through our online form to schedule your consultation.
At Erkan & Sullivan, P.C., we have built our reputation on being relentless, strategic, and honest. From our offices in Lowell and Andover, we are positioned to represent clients across the county. We understand the challenges you are facing, and we do not back down. Contact us today to work with a defense team committed to protecting your freedom.
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