Top Criminal Defense Attorneys
If you are facing criminal charges, it is crucial to know your rights and aggressively defend your case. Our team of tenacious defense attorneys have won national acclaim and are standing by to review your case.
Criminal Defense FAQs
How much will representation cost?
Nearly all criminal cases are handled on a flat fee basis so that you know exactly what your defense will cost. That cost depends on the charges, the history, the exposure, and the complexity of your case. At your free consultation, we will provide you with the cost to see your case to its best conclusion based on an individualized assessment of your case and your needs.
Do you have payment plans?
Financing and payment plans are available in some instances – your options can be discussed at your free consultation.
What happens next? Will I go to jail?
Every case and client is different and must be treated as such – your attorney will be able to tell you how much jail time you could be looking at. Because Ehrhardt, Elsner, & Cooley have handled thousands of cases locally we can give you a good idea of whether jail time could be in your future at your free consultation. We always fight to keep jail off the table.
Can you get my case dismissed?
There are many ways in which an attorney can have a case dismissed: violations of your rights, mitigating factors, your history, and development of the facts are only some of them. As always, every case and client is different. Dismissal is always the goal.
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Who you hire makes a difference when your future is at stake. You deserve experienced, tenacious legal representation to protect your freedom…
Free consultation
Award-winning legal representation, as seen on A&E
Trained as public defenders
Proven success in Alaska courtrooms on the Peninsula and beyond
ASSAULT
MURDER
ROBBERY
POSSESSION
HOMICIDE
SEX CRIMES
Notable cases
2018 – State v. Minor Child
Our very young client was charged with five felonies, stripped from his parents, and taken to jail based on the bare allegations of his classmates. Through extensive discovery and investigation, we determined that a tight knit group of individuals and family members had banded together to make false claims. The State was ultimately forced to dismiss all of the charges in the face of our demand for a jury trial.
2018 – State v. Minor Child
The State arrested our client on allegations that he had stolen a firearm and traded it for drugs. Our team worked the case mercilessly and prepared for trial without taking any continuances. The State was ultimately forced to abandon all of the charges and release our client.
2017 – State v. A.T.
As a young man our client was charged with serious felonies arising from allegations of drug trafficking in southeast Alaska. He left the jurisdiction and moved south where he improved his lot in life and went on to help others with their struggle and addictions – but the charges and warrants haunted him from Alaska. He contacted our office after being denied a passport due to the outstanding warrants. We were able to convince the prosecutor that dismissing the charges, and the warrants, in their entirety was the right thing to do. Our client continues to positively impact the community without the fear of arrest.
2017 – State v. S.F, J.F, & J.L.
Our clients were accused of violating river permitting requirements. Despite simultaneous municipal action, the State also sought to prosecute criminally. By engaging in discovery and investigation, developing a strong defense and closely tracking the municipal action, the State was ultimately compelled to dismiss all of the criminal charges filed against each of our clients.
I was wrongly accused by a state institution…When representatives of the state institution opted to play hardball, Josh knocked it out of the park.
Amazing service – best lawyers on the Peninsula!
Criminal Defense FAQs
How much will representation cost?
Nearly all criminal cases are handled on a flat fee basis so that you know exactly what your defense will cost. That cost depends on the charges, the history, the exposure, and the complexity of your case. At your free consultation, we will provide you with the cost to see your case to its best conclusion based on an individualized assessment of your case and your needs.
Do you have payment plans?
Financing and payment plans are available in some instances – your options can be discussed at your free consultation.
What happens next? Will I go to jail?
Every case and client is different and must be treated as such – your attorney will be able to tell you how much jail time you could be looking at. Because Ehrhardt, Elsner, & Cooley have handled thousands of cases locally we can give you a good idea of whether jail time could be in your future at your free consultation. We always fight to keep jail off the table.
Can you get my case dismissed?
There are many ways in which an attorney can have a case dismissed: violations of your rights, mitigating factors, your history, and development of the facts are only some of them. As always, every case and client is different. Dismissal is always the goal.
What is the difference between a civil offense and criminal offense?
The difference between a civil and criminal offense is generally defined by the nature of the offense and the type of punishment levied. Civil offenses usually come from violations of administrative matters. One common example of a civil violation is contempt of court. For example, if one parent is ordered to pay child support but doesn’t make any attempt at payment, the other parent can move for contempt sanctions. The non-paying parent’s failure to pay child support is a civil or administrative dispute, not a violation of a criminal statute.
A criminal offense, on the other hand, arises from the violation of a local, state, or federal statute. Punishment can involve a fine, arrest, or jail, depending on the circumstances of the case and the subject’s criminal history.
If I am innocent, why do I need a lawyer?
Innocent people get accused of committing crimes, and people who may have committed one crime often get accused of committing additional, more serious crimes. The accused have a constitutional right to counsel, and it is always advisable to seek the expertise — whether you are innocent, guilty, or somewhere in between — of an Alaska criminal defense team to learn about the accusation, discuss it in detail, and develop a strategy for responding to the charge.
What does 'beyond a reasonable doubt' mean?
Beyond a reasonable doubt is the legal standard that the prosecution must meet in order to successfully find a criminal defendant guilty of a crime. This standard applies to each element of the crime.
No matter the type of charges you’re dealing with, we can help.
Call 907-283-2876 or fill out the form below to schedule your legal consult
Our attorneys have a broad range of skills and expertise. With a combined 50 years of legal experience, you can be sure you’re getting the best legal advice in Alaska.
Attorney at Law
Peter graduated from the University of Minnesota law school in 1980. He moved to Alaska the same year and began working for a small personal injury firm in Bethel. He founded 907 Legal to meet growing demand on the Kenai Peninsula.
Attorney at Law
After graduating cum laude from Northwestern Law, Katie continued developing her practice at the Miami Dade Public Defender’s Office and then with Alaska Legal Services and as a contract attorney on the Peninsula.
Attorney at Law
Josh shaped his practice in Miami, where in his first year he received the Statewide Public Defender College Best Advocate Award. In less than five years, he moved from the Juvenile and Misdemeanor Crimes Divisions to being an “A” Felony Attorney.
Peter R. Ehrhardt
Peter Ehrhardt, Attorney at Law, graduated from the University of Minnesota law school in 1980. He moved to Alaska that same year and began working for a small personal injury firm in Bethel, Alaska. In 1983, Mr. Ehrhardt moved to Sitka, Alaska, and worked for a small general practice firm there. In 1984, Mr. Ehrhardt moved to Kenai, Alaska, where he resides today.
In 2002, Peter started a Kenai law firm to meet growing demand on the Kenai Peninsula. Since then, the office has expanded to include three local attorneys committed to providing honest, accommodating, and timely service throughout the Kenai Peninsula. Peter continues to fight for his clients’ rights and support the staff to this day.
Katie A. Elsner
Katie completed her undergraduate education in 2004 at New York University where she graduated cum laude. Katie then went on to the prestigious Northwestern University School of Law. It was here that Katie learned, while working on death penalty cases, that the client is the most important focus in each and every case.
After graduating cum laude from Northwestern Law, she continued developing her practice at the Miami Dade Public Defender’s Office. During her five years in Miami, she represented thousands of adult and juvenile clients charged with misdemeanor offenses, like DUI and assault, to life felonies, including homicide and sexual assault. She was a founding member of the Task Force on Forensic Litigation and received national attention when she was featured on an episode of the A&E TV show ‘After the First 48’ where she successfully convinced a judge to dismiss her client’s murder case.
Having grown up in the mountains of Colorado, Katie ultimately decided to leave Miami for the scenery and seasons for which Alaska is so well known. Since arriving in the Kenai area, she has worked for Alaska Legal Services, where she expanded her practice to include civil litigation in areas such as divorce and custody, child in need of aid, probate, protective proceedings and estates and later provided the same services as a contract attorney at Walton, Theiler & Winegarden. From attacking eye-witness identifications and the forensic sciences to resolving a family dispute, Katie is adept at litigating the particular issues involved in your criminal or civil case. With experience trying dozens of jury and non-jury trials, negotiating hundreds of case resolutions, and taking thousands of depositions, Katie is a vigorous advocate who will fight for you.
Josh B. Cooley
Josh Cooley, Attorney at Law, graduated from the The George Washington University Law Center in Washington, D.C. While in Law School, Mr. Cooley fell in love with criminal defense and Alaska while interning at the Alaska Public Defender Office here in Kenai.
Immediately after graduating, however, Mr. Cooley set out to shape his criminal defense and litigation practice in one of the biggest and busiest markets in the country: Miami. In his first year, he received the Statewide Public Defender College Best Advocate Award. In less than five years, Mr. Cooley moved from the Juvenile and Misdemeanor Crimes Divisions to being an “A” Felony Attorney handling only murder, attempted murder, armed robbery with a firearm, and “capital” sexual battery cases. Those first four years of Mr. Cooley’s practice helped shape him into the seasoned, aggressive, and strategic litigator that he is today.
Mr. Cooley has conducted over 1,000 depositions and defended more than 50 cases at trial. Mr. Cooley has defended clients charged with crimes including: murder, attempted murder, DUI, armed robbery, theft, burglary, home invasion robbery, mortgage fraud, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, fleeing and eluding, drug possession, distribution, and trafficking, assault, sexual assault, and all manner of domestic violence allegations. While in Miami, Mr. Cooley was a founding member of the “Task Force on Forensic Litigation,” and conducted presentations and training to attorneys on how to defend against weapons and drug charges.
Peter’s Cases of Note
EXXON VS. BAKER
Peter was a member of the plaintiffs’ trial team which obtained a $5 billion verdict in the Exxon Valdez litigation. For his work on that case, Mr. Ehrhardt, as a member of the trial team, received the 1995 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, a national organization of trial lawyers.
GLACIER BAY
Peter was co-council in Re: Glacier Bay, a class action arising out of a 1987 oil spill in upper Cook Inlet which resulted in a $51 million settlement.
SITKA PULP MILL
Peter and a very small team of lawyers aggressively researched and challenged the odds to win the fight against the pollution causing factory in the early 90’s.
Katie’s Cases of Note
STATE V. SOSA-PALMA
Mr. Sosa-Palma was accused of murdering his brother. If convicted, he would have spent the rest of his life in prison. By challenging and attacking the forensic, medical, and crime scene evidence, Katie was able to successfully convince the judge that, despite the State’s theory of the case, Mr. Sosa-Palma was acting in self-defense. When the Judge granted Mr. Sosa-Palma’s request for immunity under Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law, Mr. Sosa-Palma’s murder charge was dismissed and he was released from jail.
STATE V. RANDALL
Successfully challenged a CSSD administrative child support order leading to the reversal of tens of thousands of accrued child support arrearages, invalidating an administrative driver’s license suspension for non-payment of support and securing a dismissal of criminal charges for driving while his license was suspended.
MERRILL V. MERRILL
Prevailed on a theory of equitable rescission at trial resulting in the client keeping sole possession of all of the property acquired during the marriage without having to divide anything with his former spouse.
STATE V. WASHINGTON, ET AL
Challenged the constitutionality of Florida’s controlled substance laws and obtained a court order on behalf of over 30 defendants finding the statutory scheme unconstitutional and dismissing their cases. Although a stay was entered and the trial court reversed on appeal, the cases were able to resolve with negotiated resolutions that avoided felony convictions and lengthy prisons sentences for the defendants.
Josh’s Cases of Note
STATE V. T.D. (2016)
T.D., a juvenile, was charged with multiple sexual assault charges carrying mandatory minimum penalties upwards of 20 years per charge. Mr. Cooley was able, through the use of an expert and pretrial management, to provide substantial mitigating evidence to the District Attorney. In the end, T.D.’s case was handled in juvenile court and he was placed on probation, avoiding a lengthy adult prison sentence and a lifetime of sex offender registration.
STATE V. HYATT (2014)
Hyatt was charged with assaulting his wife with a kitchen knife. Mr. Cooley vigorously prepared the case for trial and presented his defense through cross examination of the State witnesses. At the conclusion of the State’s evidence Mr. Cooley was able to convince the Judge that no reasonable juror could find Mr. Hyatt guilty and the Judge dismissed the case.
The State, upset at having the assault thrown out, then sought to charge Mr. Hyatt with a DUI from an accident nearly a year prior. Mr. Cooley prepared legal briefing and filed it with the Court, arguing that too much time had passed to pursue the DUI. The State was eventually forced to dismiss the DUI as well.
STATE V. HENSEL (2014)
Hensel was charged with Felony Driving Under the Influence after being contacted in the driver seat of a truck stuck in the snow near Kasilof: he faced a minimum sentence of 3 years. At a pretrial hearing, Mr. Cooley was able to elicit testimony from the officer that conflicted with his prior reports and helped to show that Mr. Hensel had not in fact been driving or in physical control of the truck. Mr. Cooley was able to use these newly uncovered facts to convince the District Attorney to drop the charges.
STATE V. WHITAKER (2012)
Whitaker was charged with two counts of Murder in the shooting death of two individuals outside of a Chili’s restaurant in Miami. Through the use of expert witnesses and tireless preparation, Mr. Cooley was able to present evidence at a pretrial hearing that Whitaker had acted in self-defense. The Trial Court refused to grant Whitaker immunity from prosecution, but the Court of Appeals was persuaded by the evidence Cooley put forth in the hearing and granted Whitaker immunity from prosecution.