Warren County Common Pleas Court

Court Information

The Warren County Common Pleas Court handles felony charges. It also utilizes two specialty courts, the Drug Court and the Veterans Intervention Court in certain cases. Be sure to double check where your case is being handled before your court date.

The prosecution’s office is known for being tough on crime. If you have been charged with a crime that may be charged as a felony, you can expect the prosecutor’s office to seek a felony indictment through a grand jury.

Court Process Information

Warren County includes numerous local Ohio courts, including Lebanon, where the Warren County Common Pleas Court is located. The county has a population of more than 228,800 individuals. If you are one of the residents of Warren County or were visiting, and you were arrested for a felony offense, then you should contact a Warren County criminal defense lawyer from Luftman, Heck & Associates.

Whether you are facing felony charges for a violent offense, a sex crime, or another offense, you can and should have legal representation. Attorney Brad Groene will independently investigate your case and advise you on the best course of action. He may try to have your case moved to a specialty court or seek a pretrial diversion program to avoid a conviction or to mitigate the consequences of a conviction.

Contact LHA at (513) 338-1890 or online to schedule a free initial consultation.

The Warren County Common Pleas Court

The Warren County Common Pleas Court is located at 500 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45037. It is open from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Common Pleas Court has three judges: Donald E. Oda, Timothy N. Tepe, and Robert Peeler. The court administrator is Jennifer Burnside. When you go to the court, you may also meet a number of other court administrators, employees, and law enforcement personnel.

A felony charge can be extremely intimidating, particularly since most felonies are punishable with a term of imprisonment. If you are arrested for a felony, the best thing you can do for yourself is to contact Warren County criminal defense lawyer Brad Groene.

The Process for a Felony Charge

If you are arrested for a felony crime, your initial court appearance will be before a municipal court or magistrate judge. During this hearing, you are told the charges against you and your basic rights. If the judge believes there is probable cause you committed the crime, your case may move on to the common pleas court.

To be charged with a felony, the prosecutor must convene a grand jury, which is made up of random residents of the county. The jurors listen to the prosecutor present evidence against you and determine whether there is probable cause that you committed the crime. Your case could also begin with a grand jury. You do not have to be arrested first.

If the jurors believe there is enough evidence you committed the grand, they will issue an indictment. After this, you may receive a summons to court. If you have not hired an attorney at this point, it is critical that you contact a Warren County criminal defense attorney. Instead of a summon, an arrest warrant may follow the indictment. This gives law enforcement the ability to arrest you or request that you turn yourself in. Then you are held in jail until your arraignment, at which you must enter your initial plea and you will learn the requirements for your release, such as a bail bond.

Following your arraignment are a number of pretrial steps, including discovery, conferences, motions, and hearings. Depending on your defense attorney’s analysis of your case at this point, you may enter into plea bargain negotiations. If you accept a plea bargain, you agree to plead guilty in return for a predetermined sentence.

If you do not accept a plea agreement, then your attorney will prepare the strongest possible defense for trial.

Tips for Appearing in Court

Appearing in court often makes people anxious. The best way to prepare for going to court is to work with a Warren County criminal defense attorney. You can also follow these tips:

• Plan ahead for your trip to the courthouse
• Take time off work or obtain a babysitter for your children
• Confirm you have transportation to your hearing
• Plan to leave early and arrive at the courthouse at least 30 minutes before your hearing
• Dress appropriately – casual clothing is not appropriate for the courtroom
• Leave all weapons at home

Call a Warren County Criminal Defense Lawyer for Help

Whenever you have been arrested for a serious crime or you have been charged with a felony, the first thing you should do is call experienced Warren County criminal defense attorney Brad Groene. He is the lead criminal defense attorney for Luftman, Heck & Associates’ Cincinnati criminal defense law firm. He has years of experience handling tough and complicated criminal cases, including many that were tried in Warren County. Brad understands how frightening this situation can be, which is why he makes himself available to his clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He is always there to answer your questions and protect your rights.

To learn more about how Brad can help you, call (513) 338-1890 to request a free case consultation.