For over a decade, Harvard-educated Attorney Joseph Rhea has personally defended thousands of criminal cases on the state and federal level, with a record of not guilty verdicts, dismissals and negotiated plea deals. He has garnered a reputation for being an honest and friendly attorney who is a tireless advocate for his criminal defense clients throughout the California desert. His reputation for being an articulate and meticulous criminal lawyer has earned him respect amongst judges, prosecutors and local law enforcement personnel alike.
Criminal acts can be prosecuted on the state or the federal level, with federal offenses being prosecuted under federal criminal law. While the majority of crimes are prosecuted on the state level, some crimes such as those involving certain white collar crimes and drug crimes, as well as violent crimes such as kidnapping can be prosecuted in federal court and incur harsh sentencing and penalties for the accused upon conviction. What's more, federal cases are often investigated by large government agencies such as the FBI, the ICE, the DEA, the IRS or the Secret Service. Attorney Rhea has extensive experience representing clients in minor misdemeanor cases involving everything from assault to serious felony cases and white collar crimes such as embezzlement, bank fraud, robbery, manslaughter and murder.
Whether you're arrested for a lower level misdemeanor crime or a felony, it will certainly be a life-altering event due to the fact that a permanent criminal record can affect your ability to find employment, housing, certain educational loans and professional licenses. Perhaps one of the most common reasons for an arrest in California is DUI, and this can involve driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal street drugs, or even lawfully prescribed medications (including sleeping pills such as Ambien and Sonata).
Attorney Joseph Rhea has been consistently ranked as one of the top DUI and Criminal Defense lawyers in the area; winning awards from Palm Springs Life magazine ever year from 2010-2015. Over the years he has successfully defended DUI cases with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels ranging anywhere from 0.08% to 0.41%.
Along with DUI representation, Attorney Rhea frequently represents individuals who have been arrested on drug charges in the California desert. Whether you have been arrested for drug possession, sales, or for cultivating marijuana or a prescription drug-related crime, Attorney Rhea is actively involved the field of drug defense.
Attorney Rhea is a longstanding member of the Legal Committee of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), and has devoted a considerable amount of time defending people against all types of drug charges. Each year a large number of young people are arrested while attending festivals such as Coachella and Stagecoach. These arrests of high school and college students have the potential to result in life-altering consequences such as losing the right to vote, to bear arms, and the right to receive certain government benefits such as student aid.
Attorney Joseph Rhea is a proud member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the California Public Defenders Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and he is an active member of NORML. Furthermore, he is the only criminal lawyer in California with a doctorate from Harvard University.
Contact a California Desert criminal defense lawyer for legal advice and proven representation if you are facing criminal accusations.
Attorney Joseph Rhea has been doing business from his office in downtown Palm Springs for nearly a decade and is a proud member of the Palm Springs Desert Business Association as well as a local sponsor of many community-based events. When you are facing criminal charges on a state or federal level, it's important to hire a local attorney such as Joseph T. Rhea who has an excellent reputation in the legal community for success inside and outside the courtroom. Over the course of his esteemed career he has handled thousands of criminal cases, including several hundred violent crime cases. He has successfully helped his clients achieve favorable plea bargains, sentence reductions, dismissals and acquittals throughout his years in practice.
While he can handle all types of criminal cases ranging from domestic violence to white collar crimes and murder, Attorney Rhea spends a significant amount of time representing clients against DUI and drug charges. He has achieved such great success in these areas that he was named Top DUI Lawyer in the Coachella Valley by Palm Springs Life magazine. Not only is he well-respected in the legal community, he has also taught at Harvard University, Williams College, Boston College and Arizona State University.
“Mr. Rhea was extremely knowledgeable which, without a doubt, was the reason the Judge dismissed my case without any fines, probation, etc. Additionally, his vast knowledge helped lay out all the scenarios which helped relieve my anxieties. He was extremely prompt and reliable which made working with him a pleasure. I would highly recommend Mr. Rhea’s services to anyone and everyone.” – Former Federal Drug Possession Client