Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped Without Going to Court in Virginia? скачать в хорошем качестве

Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped Without Going to Court in Virginia?

James Abrenio | Abrenio Choe | Fairfax, Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney 📅 January 16, 2026 I get this question all the time: “James, can’t we just get the charge dropped? Do I really have to go to court?” Whether it’s an assault, a domestic violence charge, or a traffic offense, many people assume that if the complaining witness changes their mind, the case just goes away. 👉 That is not how it works in Virginia. In this video, I walk through actual legal authority—including a formal Virginia Attorney General legal opinion—to explain why criminal charges cannot simply be dropped without court involvement, even when everyone wants them dismissed. ________________________________________ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & common client question 01:30 – “Can’t the charge just be dropped?” (Short answer: no) 02:00 – Why Virginia criminal cases must go to court 02:32 – Role of the Virginia Attorney General & legal opinions 03:35 – 2003 Attorney General Legal Opinion (03-025) explained 04:43 – Who does not have authority to dismiss charges 05:16 – Can police or prosecutors “unarrest” someone? 06:19 – Virginia Code §§ 19.2-72 and 19.2-73 (warrants vs. summons) 07:58 – Failure to appear & Virginia Code § 19.2-128 09:08 – No-pros explained (Virginia Code § 19.2-265.3) 09:47 – What this means for defendants in real life 10:53 – Are Attorney General opinions “law”? 11:25 – Why you still need a criminal defense attorney 11:57 – Final thoughts, public defenders, and next steps ________________________________________ ⚖️ Key Takeaways • In Virginia, only a court can dispose of criminal charges • Police officers and prosecutors cannot unilaterally dismiss charges • A complaining witness changing their mind does not end the case • Even a no-pros requires court approval and good cause shown • Attorney General legal opinions are not statutes, but they carry significant weight ________________________________________ 📚 Legal Authority Discussed • Virginia Attorney General Legal Opinion 03-025 (May 30, 2003) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.oag.state.va.us/files/Opi... • Va. Code § 19.2-72 – Arrest warrants https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/t... • Va. Code § 19.2-73 – Summons in misdemeanor cases https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/t... • Va. Code § 19.2-265.3 – Nolle prosequi (“no-pros”) https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/t... ________________________________________ If you find this video useful, please like, subscribe, and share. And comment below! Also, make sure to follow Abrenio Choe on social media: Facebook:   / abreniolaw   Instagram:   / abreniochoe   Twitter: https://x.com/AbrenioLaw Of course, you can reach out directly to Abrenio Choe at our website (www.abreniolaw.com) Attorney Advertising Notice & Disclaimer: All information provided by Abrenio Choe on social media, to include YouTube, is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any information here as legal advice or that it creates an attorney-client relationship with our firm. If you have a case, you need to consult directly with an attorney about the specific facts of your case as proper legal advice requires a nuanced understanding about the facts of your situation. Further, any discussion we may present about prior results does not guarantee any particular outcome in any other matter. Ultimately, when facing a legal matter, we recommend that you consult an attorney directly to discuss your specific circumstances. ________________________________________ #VirginiaCriminalDefense #FairfaxCriminalLawyer #CriminalChargesVirginia #CanChargesBeDropped #VirginiaLaw #DomesticViolenceVirginia #AssaultChargesVirginia #NoProsVirginia #VirginiaAttorneyGeneral #KnowYourRightsVA #CriminalDefenseAttorney #NorthernVirginiaLawyer #FairfaxVA #LegalExplainer #VirginiaCourts