Akron Criminal Defense Attorneys — Former Prosecutors Who Know How the State Builds Its Case

DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder offers free initial consultations for criminal cases. Fees depend on the charge level and whether the case proceeds to trial; the firm offers alternative fee arrangements. Under Ohio Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5, all fees must be reasonable and communicated to the client, preferably in writing, before or within a reasonable time after starting representation.

Exercise your right to remain silent and ask for an attorney — both are protected by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments and Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution. Do not answer questions or consent to searches. In Ohio, you must generally be brought before a judge without unnecessary delay under Criminal Rule 5, where bail is set under Criminal Rule 46. Call 330-762-7477 before speaking with investigators.

Under Ohio Revised Code 2901.13, most felonies must be charged within six years. Major exceptions: there is no time limit for aggravated murder or murder, and rape carries a 25-year limitations period, with DNA-related extensions. Certain offenses against minors are tolled until the victim turns 18.

They describe the same offense. Ohio law uses the term OVI — Operating a Vehicle Impaired — under Ohio Revised Code 4511.19, which covers operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination, or with a prohibited concentration such as 0.08% BAC. A first-offense OVI carries a mandatory minimum of three days in jail or a driver intervention program, fines, and a license suspension.

Yes — the pre-charge stage is often the most important. Statements made to investigators before charges are filed are admissible and frequently drive the charging decision. Rape under Ohio Revised Code 2907.02 is a first-degree felony carrying up to 11 years or more in prison, and most sex offense convictions require registration under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2950. Retaining counsel before any interview protects your rights.

Yes, if the attorney is admitted to federal practice. Federal cases in the Akron area are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and follow the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Attorney J. Reid Yoder is admitted in the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Many convictions can be sealed under Ohio Revised Code 2953.32 after a waiting period — generally one year for misdemeanors and one to three or more years for eligible felonies, depending on degree. Certain offenses, including most sex offenses and first- and second-degree felonies, are not eligible. Ohio also allows expungement of records in limited circumstances. Eligibility is fact-specific; an attorney can review your record.

The firm is based at 209 South Main Street, 3rd Floor, Akron, OH 44308, and represents clients throughout Northeast Ohio, including Summit, Portage, Medina, and Tuscarawas Counties — with city pages for Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Kent, Green, Medina, Brunswick, Barberton, Ravenna, and Wooster — plus federal matters in the Northern District of Ohio.