Brian M. Latuga
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Brian M. Latuga dedicates his practice to Criminal Defense in state and federal courts. He is a skilled trial attorney who is well-versed in a variety of fields to meet your legal needs. Brian zealously fights to maintain your liberty and protect your rights when you are facing serious felony, DUI, or white collar criminal charges, and will provide experienced and knowledgeable representation in civil litigation and forfeiture matters.
Brian became a Police Officer in 2005 and served with both the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Third Police Precinct and its Traffic Safety Unit. During his policing career Brian made hundreds of criminal arrests, conducted well over 400 DUI investigations and issued thousands of summonses. He is certified and proficient in RADAR, LIDAR, Commercial Motor Vehicle Weighing, the Alco-Sensor FST (the Preliminary Breath Test), Advanced Crash Investigations, Interview and Interrogation Techniques, and Advanced SWAT. He was a licensed and active operator of the current DUI breath alcohol instrument for over six years. Brian has a thorough working knowledge of police training, certifications, procedures and the intricacies of criminal law. He is willing and ready to passionately attack the accusations facing you using his extensive experience to your advantage.
Brian is also a former Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the City of Virginia Beach. While there he tried traffic, misdemeanor and felony cases of all types. In both judge and jury trials Brian has litigated nearly all crimes, including Involuntary and Voluntary Manslaughter, Larceny, Burglary, Robbery, Malicious and Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Rape, Robbery, DUI-Manslaughter, DUI-Maiming and Murder.
Brian graduated 2nd from Regent University Law School with Summa Cum Laude honors. As a former EMT-Intermediate, Virginia Beach Police Officer and Virginia Beach Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Brian will exceed your expectations.
- Criminal Law
- DUI & DWI
- Domestic Violence
- Traffic Tickets
- Juvenile Law
- White Collar Crime
- Cannabis & Marijuana Law
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Law
- Family Law
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Contingent Fees
- Virginia
- 4th Circuit
- English: Spoken, Written
- Senior Assistant Commonwealth Attorney
- Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney
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- Prosecutor of all levels of criminal offenses including larceny, burglary, drug offenses including distribution, rape, robbery and murder. Hundred of trials conducted including many jury trials. Inaugural member of the first Virginia Beach dedicated DUI Prosecution Team
- Police Officer
- Virginia Beach Police Department
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- Patrol Officer; Traffic Safety Unit (DUI/ DWI) Officer for three years; Intox EC/IR -II Licensed Operator; RADAR and LIDAR Certified
- Regent University School of Law
- J.D. (2013) | Juris Doctor
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- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
- James Madison University
- B.S. (2004) | Chemistry
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- Top Lawyer of 2018/2019
- Costal Virginia Magazine
- Readers' Choice Award
- Virginia Pilot
- Top Lawyer of 2017/2018
- Coastal Virginia Magazine
- Virginia State Bar # 86300
- Member
- Current
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- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Member
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- Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorney's
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- The Fight Over a "Deadly Weapon"
- Website Blog
- DUI Bootcamp , Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association - CLE , Norfolk
- Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association
- Panelist with a Norfolk General District Court Judge and a fellow defense attorney on DUI defense
- Hotel Safety, Security and Liability , Virginia Beach Hotel Association Annual Meeting , Virginia Beach Oceanfront - Mariott
- Virginia Beach Hotel Association
- Panelist for the Virginia Beach Hotel Association's Annual Meeting covering topics on safety, security, liability of innkeepers, liability to third-parties, evictions and other topics concerning innkeepers
- Police Officer
- CSCJTA; VBPD
- Q. I currently have two charges that deal with marijuana. One for possession of paraphernalia and the other for possession
- A: Good morning. Is there a question associated with this?
- Q. will officers in VA be able to use marijuana smell as probable cause to search a vehicle when the new law is in effect.
- A: Yes. It is not legal, but merely a lesser penalty (civil infraction) for smaller amounts of plant marijuana.
- Q. Indicted by the grand jury
- A: One has nothing to do with the other. Indictment by a Grand Jury results in a charging document. Miranda rights are required after a custodial arrest and questioning about the subject of the arrest. A police officer can make an arrest on an indictment and simply not ask any questions about the subject of the indictment to lead to incriminating statements. Police officers don’t need to read Miranda quite as often as the general public believe.
