Criminal Defense
Criminal charges can alter the course of your entire life. We provide experienced defense at both trial and appellate levels.
We Protect Your Rights, Your Record, and Your Future
Criminal charges affect everything — your career, your housing, your relationships, your freedom. Even a minor conviction can follow you for years. Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or a serious felony, whether you are guilty or innocent, you need defense attorneys who will fight for the best possible outcome at every stage.
With two former prosecutors on our team, Cook Attorneys understands how the Commonwealth builds its cases, because we used to build them ourselves. We use that knowledge to identify weaknesses, challenge evidence, and develop well-planned strategies for every client we represent. From our offices at 71 Court Square, steps from the Rockingham County courthouses, we defend clients in state and federal courts throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
If you are facing a criminal charge or are under investigation, contact Cook Attorneys before you speak to law enforcement. What you say, and when you say it, matters.
Our Services
Drug Crimes
Defense against charges involving the manufacturing, distribution, sale, possession, or use of controlled substances.
Sex Crimes
Aggressive, confidential defense against serious allegations that carry life-altering penalties and lasting consequences.
Assault, Domestic Violence & Violent Crimes
Experienced representation for assault, battery, domestic violence, and other violent crime charges.
Theft, Fraud & Property Crimes
Strategic defense for theft, breaking and entering, fraud, arson, and other property-related offenses.
In Addition to
DUI / DWI Defense
Federal Crimes / Federal Offenses
Murder & Homicide Defense
Kidnapping & Abduction
Juvenile & Student Offenses
Appeals & Post-Conviction
Experienced Attorneys for Students
We are located in Harrisonburg near JMU, EMU, and Bridgewater College, and our criminal defense attorneys have helped many students accused of drug crimes, alcohol violations, underage drinking, and other criminal offenses. We understand how a single incident can have a devastating impact on a student’s academic career and future. If your son or daughter is facing charges in the Shenandoah Valley, our team provides experienced, local representation to help get them back on track.
Drug Crimes
Drug charges in Virginia carry severe penalties — and they escalate quickly depending on the substance, the quantity, and the circumstances of the arrest. We defend clients charged with the manufacturing, distribution, sale, possession, or use of illegal substances such as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs.
Drug cases often hinge on how law enforcement obtained evidence. Was the search legal? Was the chain of custody maintained? Were your rights violated during the stop or arrest? We scrutinize every detail of the prosecution’s case to find the strongest path to a favorable outcome.
Sex Crimes
Sex crime allegations carry some of the most severe penalties in the Virginia criminal code — including lengthy prison sentences, lifetime sex offender registration, and permanent damage to your reputation and relationships. Regardless of the circumstances, every defendant deserves an aggressive, confidential defense. We hold the prosecution to its burden of proof at every step.
Cook Attorneys represents clients charged with:
- Rape
- Sexual abuse (any form of non-consensual contact of a sexual nature)
- Sexual battery (unlawful sexual physical contact)
- Indecent exposure
- Child molestation
- Child pornography
- Internet sex crimes
- Prostitution
- Human trafficking
- Sex with animals
If you are under investigation or have been charged, contact us immediately. Early representation is critical in sex crime cases.
Federal Crimes / Federal Offenses
Federal criminal charges are prosecuted in the United States District Court and often carry penalties more severe than state-level offenses. Federal investigations are typically led by agencies like the FBI, DEA, or IRS, and these cases move quickly once charges are filed.
All of our attorneys are admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, bringing decades of experience to federal defense. We represent clients charged with:
- Mail fraud
- Aircraft hijacking
- Carjacking
- Kidnapping
- Bank robbery
- Credit card fraud
- Identity theft
- Hate crimes
- Computer crimes
- Obscenity
- Tax evasion
- Counterfeiting
- Violations of the Espionage Act
- Violations of the Patriot Act
- Illegal wiretapping
- Art theft from a museum
- Damaging or destroying public mailboxes
- Electoral fraud
If you are facing a federal charge or believe you are under federal investigation, contact Cook Attorneys immediately.
Assault, Domestic Violence & Violent Crimes
Violent crime charges in Virginia range from Class 1 misdemeanors to serious felonies carrying years — or decades — in prison. The stakes in these cases are exceptionally high, and the prosecution often pursues maximum penalties.
We defend clients facing charges including assault and battery, domestic violence, aggravated assault, manslaughter, murder, and kidnapping. Every case has context — self-defense, misidentification, false accusations — and we investigate the full picture to build a defense tailored to your situation.
Theft, Fraud & Property Crimes
Property crime convictions can result in significant prison time, heavy fines, and restitution orders that follow you for years. Whether you are facing charges for petty theft or a complex fraud scheme, we work to reduce your exposure and protect your record.
Our attorneys represent clients charged with theft, shoplifting, breaking and entering, fraud, embezzlement, arson, and destruction of property across Harrisonburg and the surrounding jurisdictions.
Don’t Risk Your Defense
Many of our clients are surprised by how harsh penalties can be, even for charges they initially considered minor. A criminal conviction in Virginia can carry consequences far beyond the courtroom:
- Jail time or imprisonment
- Substantial monetary fines
- Lengthy terms of probation
- Potential forfeiture of property and assets
- Loss of firearm rights
- Loss of voting rights (felony convictions)
- Difficulty finding employment or housing
- Immigration consequences, including deportation
- Community service requirements
- A permanent criminal record visible to employers and landlords
- Legal standing for a civil suit
The earlier you involve an experienced defense attorney, the more options you have. Contact Cook Attorneys before making any statements or decisions about your case.