Criminal Defence
We believe that if you’ve been charged with a criminal offence, you deserve to be represented by knowledgeable lawyers who will give your file individual care and attention, conduct an exhaustive investigation, challenge the prosecution’s case from every possible angle, defend your rights, and seek the most favourable outcome for you. We also recognize the cost involved in retaining quality legal counsel, and Aitken Robertson provides flexible fee arrangements.
Domestic Assaults
A ‘domestic assault’ refers to an assault that occurs during a domestic relationship, such as between married partners, common-law partners, dating couples, and parents and children. They are treated more severely than other assault offences.
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Sex Assaults
A ‘sexual assault’ refers to an assault that involves some nature of sexual touching, or a sexual overtone. These can range from merely touching a body part up to and including something such as rape.
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Other Assaults & Threats
In general terms, an ‘assault’ is the use of force or attempted use of force on another person. These offences could include general assault, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and criminal harassment.
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Internet Crimes
In today’s day and age, the Internet and social media have opened up new pathways for new types of offences. These can be widely varied: many common charges include child pornography, revenge porn, and libel/defamation.
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Bail Hearings
A bail hearing will determine whether an accused will be released from custody for the period leading up to the actual trial. Here is an overview of the hearing procedure and what you can expect during the process.
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Drug Charges
Drug charges are laid for ‘possession’ and/or ‘trafficking’. Each comes with its own set of penalties as per the Criminal Code of Canada. Click to learn more about the specific Code provisions and what they entail.
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Young Offenders
Individuals under the age of majority who have been charged will be treated under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Youth matters are generally treated with a greater focus on rehabilitation rather than deterrence, and more on reparation than on retribution.
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Shoplifting Charges
Shoplifting involves the offence of theft under $5,000 as per the Criminal Code of Canada. While it may not be considered as serious as other crimes, penalties can still include jail time, fines, and the burden of a criminal record.
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Fraud Charges
Simply put, ‘fraud’ occurs when someone knowingly tricks a person or the larger public out of some kind of property, such as money, an item, land, a service, or shares in a company.
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Mischief Charges
Mischief occurs when someone wilfully destroys or damages property, or if they render it dangerous, inoperative or ineffective. It can also be considered mischief if one’s actions obstructs, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.
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Criminal Appeals
If you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence, here are the Ontario criminal appeal rules you need to know to appeal your criminal conviction or sentencing. Keep in mind you only have a short period of time to serve and file your appeal.
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Pardons
An official pardon (also known as a “Record Suspension”) could erase your criminal record history, giving you peace of mind, better job prospects, and remove other burdens such as difficulties immigrating or crossing the border.
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Theft Charges
Theft occurs where anyone fraudulently and without colour of right, either takes or converts anything with the intent to deprive the owner or the person who has a special interest in it.
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Peace Bonds
A ‘peace bond’ is an order made by a judge, where the defendant is subjected to obey certain conditions to prevent them from committing an offence. Common conditions include no-contact orders, abstaining from owning a weapon, and/or a good behaviour requirement.
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Dangerous Driving and Traffic Charges
Some Highway Traffic Act Offences (HTA) carry very serious consequences. Here are some of the ones that we deal with most frequently.
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Recent Successes for Our Clients with Criminal Charges
CASE STUDY: Spousal Assault in Belleville
Our client Mr. C, and the complainant were involved in a long-term relationship. Despite being in a committed relationship, both parties resided separately, neither had a criminal history, and there were no previous reports of physical violence between the two beforehand.
CASE STUDY: Sexual Interference, Sexual Assault, & Invitation to Sexual Touching
Our client, Mr. T, was the subject of an investigation in relation to allegations that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor over an approximate two-year period. Following reports from the complainant that indicated repeated inappropriate sexual contact, Mr. T provided a cautioned statement to the police admitting to certain acts, with the complainant also corroborating some aspects of the allegations.
CASE STUDY: Invitation to Sexual Touching & Child Luring
Our client, Mr. S, became the focus of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigation following allegations made against him by a young complainant. According to her, she met Mr. S for the first time at a convenience store, who identified himself by using a false name and age. Mr. S was said to have requested the complainant’s phone number and offered to give her a ride. It was alleged that during the drive, Mr. S directed inappropriate remarks toward her, commented on her clothing, and tried to persuade the complainant to spend more time together. Mr. S was also alleged to have contacted her through an online platform as a means to meet again in the coming weeks.
CASE STUDY: Acquittal of Criminal Harassment and Distributing Intimate Image Without Consent
Mr. G was charged following a difficult separation with Ms. X, the mother of his child. They were going through oppositional family court proceedings in a dispute over access to his growing child when Ms. X went to the police making allegations that he had shared intimate images of her without her consent.
CASE STUDY: Acquittal of Charges Related to Domestic Assault
Our client, Mr. B contended that the allegations made against him were untrue and did not reflect the reality of the situation. The goal going into things was to get an acquittal.
CASE STUDY: Statement Found Involuntary & Inadmissible
Our client was investigated in connection with serious allegations arising from unexplained injuries sustained by his infant child. The investigation began following a referral to child protection authorities (CAS) and police, after pediatric medical professionals identified multiple fractures in the child, prompting a criminal investigation into the cause of the injuries. Both parents were interviewed during the early stages of the investigation, and Mr. K voluntarily participated in a police interview at a hospital setting.
CASE STUDY: Assault of Ex-partner
Our client, Mr. I, was charged with assault following an incident at a bar that he was visiting with his previous partner. Mr. I was having a conversation with his ex-partner when the complainant approached and began forcing himself on her.
CASE STUDY: Domestic Assault Conditional Discharge
It was alleged that Mr. G struck his wife in the head one time, leading her to bleed and eventually need stitches. This unfortunate incident led to Mr. G being charged with domestic assault.
CASE STUDY: Assault and Forcible Confinement
Our client, Mr. D, found himself in a difficult situation after being charged with assault and forcible confinement.
CASE STUDY: Domestic Assault x2 in Picton
Our client, Mr. W, found himself in a stressful situation following an incident with his wife, Mrs. W, who was the complainant in this case. The couple had been married for a few years, shared two children and were expecting another when they let their anger get the best of them and got into a physical altercatio
CASE STUDY: Alleged Assault Charge Unsubstantiated
Our client had been serving in the military for over twenty years when he found himself in a difficult situation following years of turmoil with his son. His son claimed that he assaulted him several times during his childhood and teenage years, consequently resulting in our client being charged with assault and assault causing bodily harm.
CASE STUDY: Acquittal for Sexual Assault Charge in Brampton
Our client, Mr. S, found himself in a difficult situation after the complainant, a close family member, contacted police claiming that he sexually assaulted her in the 1980s. The complainant had told police that there were several incidents in which Mr. S had inappropriately touched her when she was a child and he was a teenager. Mr. S adamantly denied these allegations and claimed that the complainant had a potential motive to fabricate.















