Wheeling Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense in Wheeling

Wheeling is the seat of Ohio County and the busiest criminal docket in the Northern Panhandle. Ohio County’s circuit court, magistrate court, and Wheeling Municipal Court all sit within a block of each other downtown, around the City-County Building on Chapline Street.

Our Wheeling cases run the full range, from DUI and drug charges coming off I-70 stops to domestic battery, theft, revoked-license, and probation violation cases filed by city police and county deputies.

Where Wheeling Criminal Cases Are Heard

Arrests in Wheeling come from several agencies: the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police, along with stops on I-70 and I-470. City ordinance violations written by Wheeling police are heard in Wheeling Municipal Court; state charges are filed in Ohio County Magistrate Court, where four magistrates sit, and felonies move to Ohio County Circuit Court.

A small part of Wheeling lies in Marshall County. Charges arising there are filed in Marshall County’s courts in Moundsville rather than in Ohio County.

Ohio County Magistrate Court, 26 Fifteenth Street, Wheeling. Clerk: (304) 234-3709. Misdemeanors, first appearances, bond, and preliminary hearings.
Ohio County Circuit Court, City-County Building, 1500 Chapline Street. Circuit clerk: (304) 234-3611. Felony cases (First Judicial Circuit).
Wheeling Municipal Court, City-County Building, Room 112: city ordinance violations.
Sources: West Virginia Judiciary and county offices. Cline & Singh is a private law firm and is not affiliated with the courts or the prosecutor. Confirm details with the office before you go.

Who Prosecutes the Case

State charges in Ohio County are prosecuted by the Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, on the second floor of the City-County Building at 1500 Chapline Street. The office handles adult felony cases and juvenile delinquency cases, and it has a victim coordinator who works with complaining witnesses.

Plea offers, diversion, and reduced charges in a state case are negotiated with that office, so knowing how it handles a given type of charge is part of evaluating any offer. Misdemeanor vs. felony in West Virginia.

Treatment Courts and Juvenile Cases

Ohio County is part of the adult drug court program shared with Hancock and Brooke counties, which includes a veterans treatment court track. Ohio County also has its own juvenile drug court. Admission is not automatic, but for someone whose charge is tied to addiction, a treatment court can lead to a very different result than an ordinary plea. Drug charges. Juvenile defense.

Common Questions

Where will my case be heard if I was arrested in Wheeling?

City ordinance charges go to Wheeling Municipal Court. State misdemeanors start in Ohio County Magistrate Court at 26 Fifteenth Street, and felonies move to Ohio County Circuit Court in the City-County Building. Arrests in the Marshall County part of Wheeling go to Moundsville.

Does Ohio County have a drug court?

Yes. Ohio County is part of the Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio County adult drug court program, which has a veterans track, and it has its own juvenile drug court. Eligibility depends on the charge and an assessment.

I was arrested on I-70. Is that a Wheeling case?

Most I-70 arrests in Ohio County are made by the State Police and filed in Ohio County Magistrate Court, not Wheeling Municipal Court.

Meet Your Attorneys

Both of our attorneys were raised in the Northern Panhandle and appear regularly in its courts. We offer phone and video consultations for clients who would rather not make the drive to Weirton.

Tyler Cline → Tejinder Singh →

This page provides general information about West Virginia law and local courts and is not legal advice. Court locations and procedures can change; check your citation or court paperwork for the controlling details, and consult a licensed attorney about your situation.