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3 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Charleston (2026)

Ranked by real Google ratings and review volume · How we chose

Lorian Hartfield
By Lorian Hartfield, Real Estate and Financial Expert · ✓ Updated · 6 min read

We compared 16 criminal defense lawyers in Charleston on Google Maps · 3 listed · How we rank

A criminal charge leaves little time to shop around. The criminal defense lawyers in Charleston on this page hold more than 390 Google reviews between them, all rated 4.8 or 4.9, and each firm's own site lists other practice areas next to criminal defense, so it pays to ask who in the office handles your kind of charge.

Short answer: Pritt & Spano, PLLC leads this page at 4.9 stars from more than 150 reviews, with Zerbe & Pence also at 4.9 on more than 110 and John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC at 4.8 on more than 110. Each firm's website lists criminal defense, but each also lists other work, so confirm who would take your case. No fee figures are published.
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Charleston Defense Firms Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Pritt & Spano, PLLC 4.9 ★ 157 Largest review base View ›
2 Zerbe & Pence 4.9 ★ 118 Criminal defense plus disability appeals View ›
3 John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC 4.8 ★ 119 Felony and homicide defense View ›
3 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Charleston (2026)

Firm by firm

Pritt & Spano, PLLC logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Pritt & Spano, PLLC

4.9157 Google reviews

Pritt & Spano, PLLC practices from 1204 Virginia St E in Charleston. Its site describes three attorneys covering personal injury, family law and criminal law, with felonies, misdemeanors and DUI named under criminal work, plus estates and trusts. Google files it as a criminal justice attorney but also lists civil, family, estate and injury categories.

What people praise

  • One client who wanted a criminal record expunged says the staff were understanding and did everything possible
  • A client says the attorney and paralegal made a stressful legal process run smoothly
  • Another reviewer says the attorney handled every aspect of the case and was open about pricing and process
  • Reviewers repeatedly name the paralegal for communication and support

Worth knowing

  • Its site lists injury, family and estate work next to criminal defense, and some reviews describe a town petition and an adoption, so ask who handles criminal cases
Reputation scorecardrank in Charleston
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume157 · 91st
Confidencemoderate
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown95% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It has the biggest review base here, at a 4.9 rating. The criminal side shows up mostly in its site and one expungement review, so use the first call to confirm trial experience.

Website+1304-346-7748 Directions

1204 Virginia St E, Charleston, WV 25301

Zerbe & Pence logo
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Zerbe & Pence

4.9118 Google reviews

Zerbe & Pence, at 10 Hale St, Suite 300, pairs Social Security disability work with criminal defense, and its site title leads with DUI. The site asks visitors "Charged with a Crime?" and says the firm handles many criminal defense matters, particularly DUI cases. It says attorney David Pence is a member of the National College of DUI Defense.

What people praise

  • A client says David Pence listened and took the case after other firms had turned them away
  • A parent says the attorney helped their daughter with legal problems and the outcome beat their hopes
  • Another reviewer says David Pence helped clear a driving ticket
  • A parent says the firm never gave up on their son's case and was reachable with questions

Worth knowing

  • Disability work sits next to criminal defense on its site, and some reviews are about benefits rather than charges
Reputation scorecardrank in Charleston
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume118 · 78th
Confidencemoderate
Recency5 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.9 on more than 110 reviews. It is a two-practice shop, and its site puts DUI first in its title.

Website+1304-345-2728 Directions

10 Hale St Ste 300, Charleston, WV 25301

John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC logo
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC

4.8119 Google reviews

John J. Balenovich Law Offices, LC works from 1554 Kanawha Blvd E, Suite 100 and lists felony defense, misdemeanor defense, homicide defense and trial and appellate representation on its site. It also lists DUI defense, personal injury, divorce, child custody and abuse and neglect cases. The site cites more than 150 trials across 52 counties.

What people praise

  • One client says two sentences of 1 to 10 years were reduced to misdemeanors
  • A client who was out of state when charged says the charges were dismissed without a huge bill
  • Clients say he returns calls and keeps them updated through the case
  • One reviewer calls the fees good value for the representation

Worth knowing

  • The site lists injury and family work too, so ask how much of the practice is criminal trial work
Reputation scorecardrank in Charleston
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume119 · 84th
Confidencemoderate
Recency3 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown95% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its site leads with trial experience and lists homicide and appellate work, and one review describes a reduction in a serious case. It holds a 4.8.

Website+1304-909-7800 Directions

1554 Kanawha Blvd E Ste 100, Charleston, WV 25311

4

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What the scorecard measures

Every number here is pulled from public Google data on the date shown. Rating is the live Google average. Review volume is how many clients rated the firm, measured against other Charleston criminal defense lawyers. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from a large base counts for more than the same score from a small one. Recency shows how lately people still review.

What does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Charleston?

No fee figures are published, and criminal defense pricing depends heavily on the charge, whether it goes to trial and how long it runs. Ask each office whether it bills a flat fee or hourly, what a retainer covers, and what happens to unused retainer money. No lawyer can promise an outcome, so treat any guarantee as a red flag.

Offices around Kanawha Boulevard and Hale Street

Each firm lists a Charleston, WV address: Virginia St E, Hale St and Kanawha Blvd E. Zerbe & Pence’s site says it represents clients across the Kanawha Valley and West Virginia, while Pritt & Spano’s site says it assists clients in 48 of the state’s 55 counties. Searching for a criminal defense lawyer near me? Each card shows a phone number and map link.

Questions to bring to a defense consultation

  • How many cases like mine have you taken to trial, not just negotiated?
  • Will you handle the case yourself or hand it to an associate?
  • Is your fee flat or hourly, and what does the retainer cover?
  • What are the likely next steps and deadlines in the first few weeks?
  • Do you also handle expungement if the charge is later reduced or dismissed?

Frequently asked questions

Which of these Charleston firms lists felony and homicide defense?

Balenovich’s site lists felony defense, misdemeanor defense and homicide defense along with trial and appellate representation. Pritt & Spano’s site names felonies and misdemeanors, and Zerbe & Pence’s site speaks in general terms about criminal defense, particularly DUI.

Does any Charleston firm here mention expungement?

One reviewer credits Pritt & Spano with working to expunge their record. Ask Zerbe & Pence and Balenovich directly, since their sites do not mention it.

What other practice areas do these firms list?

Pritt & Spano also lists personal injury, family law and estates, Zerbe & Pence adds Social Security disability, and Balenovich lists injury and family law. Ask who does the criminal work.

Picking a defense firm

Pritt & Spano is the safe default on review volume and rating together. If a DUI is involved, Zerbe & Pence names it in its site title, and Balenovich’s site lists felony and homicide defense.

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