Riccio Law Criminal Defense Overview

Anthony Riccio is a talented and well-respected criminal defense lawyer in Massachusetts. He is passionate about representing people facing criminal charges at the federal and state levels. With offices located in Quincy and Attleboro, Attorney Riccio’s criminal defense practice extends throughout the Greater Boston area, Southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape and Islands, and neighboring towns and cities.

Founding attorney Anthony Riccio at Riccio Law has an excellent reputation as a criminal defense lawyer with a proven record of results. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for six years running (2016-2021). Attorney Riccio began his legal career as a prosecutor, which laid the foundation for a successful criminal defense practice. At trial, Attorney Riccio has a nearly 85% acquittal rate as lead defense counsel.

Versatile Criminal Defense Lawyer In Massachusetts

At Riccio Law, we understand the impact criminal charges can have on one’s livelihood and the importance of establishing an aggressive defense from the outset of a case. While charges may be inevitable, we explore all avenues of defense to prevent a possible criminal complaint.

When charges issue, we review all the possible defense strategies before engaging in plea negotiations. Anthony Riccio’s capacity to determine a case’s viability and develop an effective defense in response is second-to-none.

Attorney Riccio’s clients benefit from his experience as lead counsel on 50+ trials when a case goes to trial. Anthony is a skilled trial attorney with an in-depth knowledge of the rules of evidence and the inner workings of a trial.

Defendants are presumed innocent, and it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Attorney Riccio vigorously fights for his clients in court and believes in holding the government to their burden of proof.

Learn more about why clients hire Attorney Anthony Riccio .

Massachusetts Criminal Defense Services

Riccio Law represents individuals who have been charged with the following crimes:

Motor Vehicle / Driving Offenses

Domestic Violence/ Abuse-Based Lawsuits

Drug and Substance-Abuse Offenses

Sexual Assault/ Sex-Related Offenses

Firearm / Gun Offenses

Felonies

  • Murder / Homicide / Manslaughter
  • Home Invasion
  • Kidnapping
  • Robbery (Armed Robbery & Unarmed Robbery)
  • Armed Assault in a Dwelling

What You Should Do When Faced With a Criminal Indictment

Whenever you are the defendant in a criminal indictment, criminal complaint, or are the subject of a criminal investigation in Massachusetts, you should retain the services of a reputable criminal defense attorney before meeting with or talking to the authorities.

You have the right to remain silent and have an attorney present when speaking with the police or government. Whether innocent or guilty, one should always exercise these rights when confronted by the police or any government agency.

Why hire our law firm for criminal cases in Massachusetts?

Extensive Experience

Anthony R. Riccio, Esq., Founder & Lead Attorney at Riccio Law, started his legal career as a prosecutor. He routinely went to trial against some of the best defense attorneys in the state. Spending countless hours in the courtroom, Attorney Riccio gained experience at handling all types of criminal cases.

For the first two and a half years of his legal career, Attorney Riccio only handled criminal cases. Anthony handled all stages of the criminal complaint, including the arraignment, pretrial and motion hearings, and trial. During that time, his knowledge of criminal law, the rules of evidence, and courtroom procedure became second to none.

In-depth Knowledge

Being an experienced MA criminal defense lawyer, Attorney Riccio applies his extensive knowledge of criminal law when representing individuals facing criminal charges in Massachusetts. Whether it’s a dismissal or a not guilty verdict at trial, Riccio Law aggressively represents its clients with the goal of winning. Attorney Riccio has served as lead counsel in over 50 trials, including 35+ jury trials, with a nearly 85% acquittal rate.

In addition to his trial success, Attorney Riccio has obtained numerous dismissals after successfully arguing motions to dismiss and motions to suppress. With a willingness to go to trial, Anthony regularly receives favorable plea offers for his clients and fights for the best available outcome when a client does not want to go to trial.

Determination

While not all cases result in a dismissal or not guilty verdict, Riccio Law explores all potential defenses for their clients before recommending a plea deal. Rather than accepting the prosecution’s allegations, Attorney Riccio often employs his own private investigator to speak with potential witnesses and gather evidence. In more complex cases, Riccio Law hires experts to evaluate scientific evidence and analyze potential trial defenses.

Fearlessness
Whenever a new client hires Riccio Law to represent them, we provide first class representation whether negotiating a settlement/plea deal or litigating in the courtroom. With extensive trial experience and an aggressive approach to defending individuals facing criminal charges, Riccio Law gets results for its clients.

Our Criminal Defense Process

Over the years, Riccio Law has built up a solid criminal defense process for our clients. The methods are simple, easy to understand, and apply. Our criminal defense process methodology includes:

  • Initial Contact: When contacting Riccio Law, you will speak with an attorney during the initial phone call or receive a phone call back from an attorney within 24 hours of the initial call. During the phone call, the attorney will obtain general information about your case and offer to schedule free 30-minute consultation. In-person and virtual (Zoom) consultations are available.
  • Free Consultation: To uphold the attorney-client privilege, the free consultation is a private one-on-one meeting between the potential client and attorney. We take this opportunity to ask a number of questions to better understand the details of the case. We will offer an initial analysis on the strengths and weaknesses of the case, including potential available defenses. We this time to allow potential clients of Riccio Law to better understand Massachusetts Criminal Law and Procedures.
  • Arraignment / Bail Hearings / Dangerousness Hearing: Attorney Riccio regularly represents clients at arraignment and dangerousness hearings in district and superior court. It is important to have an experienced defense lawyer to effectively advocate for bail, conditions of release, or personal recognizance in cases where the government is requesting to have a defendant held without bail or on a high cash bail.
  • Pretrial: Initial Analysis & Investigation: Once hired, we will immediately begin working on your case and conduct our own investigation and in-depth analysis of the evidence. The investigation process is necessary to explore and analyze all possible avenues of defense. During this time, we will look into whether law enforcement may have violated any of our client’s constitutional rights and determine what motions must be filed.
  • Motions: In many cases, we file evidentiary motions in an attempt to exclude potential evidence or obtain a dismissal on some or all of the charges. Additionally, evidentiary motions often allow the defense to cross-examine the Commonwealth’s witnesses during a hearing prior to trial. By doing so, the defense will develop a better understanding of the evidence and be able to devise an effective defense for trial.
  • Plea bargaining: While the goal is to obtain a dismissal or not guilty verdict, plea negotiations are an important aspect of a criminal case as statistics show that over 90% of cases resolve short of trial. Depending on the nature and circumstances of the case, the goal of a plea agreement may be to avoid jail/prison time, negotiate a dismissal on some charges, or obtain a plea deal on reduced or amended charges.
    When we are unable to obtain a dismissal or acceptable plea agreement, the case will proceed with a trial before a judge (“bench trial) or jury. While some cases may call for a bench trial, Riccio Law believes the majority of criminal cases should be tried before a jury.
  • Trial: At trial, a defendant is presumed innocent of all charges brought against them and the burden is on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. At trial, a defendant has the right to remain silent and does not have to present any evidence in his/her defense.

However, trial is the opportunity for a defendant to present their “defense” against the charge(s) through the cross-examination of the government’s witnesses and the introduction of their own evidence. If the government fails to prove each element of a criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendant must be acquitted of that respective charge.

  • Bench Trial: Defendants have the right to have their case tried before a judge as opposed to a jury in what’s known as a bench trial. During a bench trial, there is no jury and the judge alone determines whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
  • Jury Trial: In district court, defendants have the right to a trial before a jury of six. In these trials, all six jurors must unanimously agree on the verdict whether guilty or not guilty. In federal court and superior court, defendants have the right to a trial before a jury of twelve (12) and the verdict must also be unanimous.
  • Jury Selection: Empaneling a jury is the process of selecting the individuals who will serve as the jury pool / jurors at trial. Voir dire involves asking questions to the jury pool as a group and individually to identify biases that may prevent potential jurors from being fair and impartial.
  • Sentencing: Whether a plea agreement, bench trial, or jury trial, a judge determines the sentence after a conviction in a criminal case (except in death penalty cases). The defense, prosecution, probation department, and any victims and family members of victim(s) all play a part in the sentencing phase. During sentencing, it is the defense attorney’s job to present mitigating evidence or factors that support a lighter sentence, including possible statements from the defendant and his/her family.

Riccio Law makes it a priority to keep close contact with our clients throughout the entirety of a case. We provide regular updates on the status of the case and explain any developments as they occur. We honor attorney-client privilege and take steps to make sure our communications are private and secure. We are available by telephone or email 7 days a week.

Integrity Goes on A Long Way

At Riccio Law, we believe it is necessary to take an aggressive approach when defending our clients against criminal charges. However, it is equally important to do so with honesty and integrity at every stage of the process. By doing so, Attorney Riccio has earned the trust and respect of prosecutors and judges in courts throughout the state.

We take the same approach with our clients as we do with prosecutors and judges. We are honest and maintain transparency with our clients when discussing the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, including the positives and negatives of a plea deal or trial. While cases often resolve in a change of plea and we will always honor a client’s decision to enter into a plea agreement, our main goal is to win the case through a dismissal or acquittal at trial.

Timely, Efficient & Easily Accessible
Balancing a client’s wishes to resolve their case as quickly as possible with the time needed to investigate and effectively defend an individual against criminal charges is a constant battle. Nonetheless, we never take any shortcuts and make sure to explore all avenues of defense in a timely and efficient manner.

At Riccio Law, we are easily accessible and offer clients the ability to track their cases by communicating with us via email or telephone. We also offer in-office or virtual meetings via Zoom upon request of the client. At times, we will reach out to our clients to schedule meetings to provide updates on their case.

Contact Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer

With offices in Quincy and Attleboro, Riccio Law offers services to individuals all over Massachusetts. Attorney Riccio regularly handles cases in the Greater Boston area, Norfolk County, and Bristol County, including the following cities and towns: Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Fall River, Foxboro, Mansfield, Milton, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Plainville, Somerset, Taunton, Walpole, Westwood, Weymouth, and Wrentham.

Our services also extend to Boston and Suffolk County, Worcester County, Barnstable County, the Cape & Islands, and Plymouth County including Bridgewater, Brockton, Hingham, Middleboro, and Plymouth.

Fight your criminal case with an experienced, committed, and knowledgeable Massachusetts criminal defense attorney. Contact Riccio Law immediately to schedule a free case evaluation or visit our website for more information on our legal services.