Charged With a Crime in Central Ohio? You Have Rights — We Can Help.
Being charged is not the same as being guilty, and the burden is on the State to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
From the moment you are arrested, you have rights — to remain silent, to be free from unlawful searches, and to be represented by an attorney who will hold the prosecution to its burden. The firm protects those rights from day one, examining how the evidence was gathered and whether police followed the law at every step.
A criminal charge — whether a misdemeanor or a felony — puts your job, your freedom, and your reputation at risk all at once. The State has prosecutors, investigators, and resources working to build a case against you. You need someone on your side who knows how to challenge that case: how the evidence was gathered, whether your rights were respected, and where the prosecution's proof is weak.
Criminal Defense Cases We Handle in Columbus & Surrounding Counties
Mr. Fox defends a broad range of misdemeanor and felony charges across Central Ohio. Each area below has a dedicated page with the detail you need:
Theft & Shoplifting
Shoplifting, petty theft, grand theft, and robbery — misdemeanor to felony.
Assault
From simple assault to felonious assault, including domestic situations.
Drug Offenses
Possession, paraphernalia, and trafficking — often turning on the search.
Domestic Violence
Protection orders and DV charges that affect your home and family.
Underage Drinking / OVUAC
Charges that can follow a student's record and future for years.
Disorderly Conduct
A common charge that can still leave a lasting mark if mishandled.
Probation Violations
Defense against alleged violations and a return before the judge.
Expungement & Sealing
Clear an eligible record and reopen doors to jobs and housing.
How Ohio Grades a Felony
Felonies in Ohio are sentenced by degree, and each degree carries its own prison range set by statute:
- Fifth-degree felony (F5): 6 to 12 months
- Fourth-degree felony (F4): 6 to 18 months
- Third-degree felony (F3): 9 to 36 months, or 12 to 60 months for certain offenses
- Second-degree felony (F2): 2 to 8 years minimum, with an indefinite maximum
- First-degree felony (F1): 3 to 11 years minimum, with an indefinite maximum
For some fourth- and fifth-degree felonies, Ohio law requires the court to impose community control rather than prison when the defendant does not have certain qualifying prior convictions. Whether prison is mandatory, presumed, or discretionary depends on the specific offense and the defendant's record.
For a closer look at how these ranges apply — including mandatory, presumed, and discretionary prison terms, firearm specifications, and post-release control — see our Ohio Felony Sentencing Guidelines page.
More Practice Areas
The firm also handles a range of additional criminal matters, including serious traffic-related felonies, weapons charges, and post-conviction relief:
Vehicular Assault
Felony charges from a serious injury accident.
Vehicular Homicide
The most serious traffic-related charges under Ohio law.
Weapons & Firearm Charges
From Having Weapons Under Disability to firearm specifications.
Firearm in a Motor Vehicle
Felony and misdemeanor firearm-in-vehicle charges.
Criminal Damaging & Vandalism
Property-damage charges from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Tampering With Evidence
A felony charge that can outweigh the original offense.
Protection Orders
Violating a protection order is a separate criminal charge.
Search and Seizure
Challenging how evidence was obtained.
Intervention in Lieu of Conviction
A path to dismissal instead of conviction.
Judicial Release
Asking the court to reduce a prison sentence.
Why Choose Steven T. Fox as Your Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A focused practice, a deliberately limited caseload, and direct attorney access mean your case receives genuine personal attention — not a hand-off to junior staff. Mr. Fox personally oversees every aspect of the cases his firm accepts, communicates by phone, text, or email, and charges flat fees so you know the cost of your defense from the start.
He is recognized by Super Lawyers, the National College for DUI Defense, and the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and brings that experience to every client.
What Happens After a Criminal Arrest in Ohio?
Understanding the process removes some of the fear. After an arrest, your case typically begins with an arraignment, where charges are read and you enter a plea. The case then moves into a pretrial phase, where your attorney reviews the evidence, files any appropriate motions, and negotiates with the prosecutor.
The vast majority of criminal cases are resolved without a trial, often through a negotiated resolution — but if a fair outcome is not possible, your attorney can take the case to trial. Whether a charge is a misdemeanor or a felony shapes which court hears it and what is at stake.