Attorney Joseph T. Rhea has been named Top Criminal Defense and DUI Lawyer by Palm Springs Life Magazine every year since 2010. He has been a lawyer in the desert for over a decade and has personally defended over a thousand of criminal cases at the state and federal evel. Attorney Rhea has an excellent record of not guilty verdicts, dismissals and negotiated plea deals. You can see a list of recent results here.
Attorney Rhea has represented many cases from the Indian Wells community. By far the two most common types of case are DUI and domestic violence. Over the years Attorney Rhea has successfully defended DUI cases with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels ranging anywhere from 0.08% to 0.41%. Many Indian Wells DUI cases also involve prescription drugs, and these are among the most defensible of DUI cases. You can read more about his DUI-defense work here.
Domestic violence cases, in turn, are often among the most defensible of all criminal cases. The District Attorney is usually willing to discuss domestic violence charges before a filing decision has even been made. Mitigating evidence can often be presented before a filing decision occurs. Even filed domestic violence cases can often be resolved without a criminal conviction. You can read more about domestic violence cases here.
Attorney Rhea has had his office in downtown Palm Springs since 2005 and he meets with every client personally. Attorney Rhea represents every client personally and he has garnered a reputation for being a tireless advocate for his criminal defense clients. His reputation for being an articulate and meticulous criminal lawyer has earned him respect amongst judges, prosecutors and local law enforcement personnel alike. Attorney Rhea is the only criminal defense lawyer in California to have been awarded a doctorate from Harvard University and he has devoted his entire legal career to criminal defense.
“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