Criminal Defense Lawyer in Attleboro, MA
Charged with a crime in Massachusetts or Rhode Island? The system moves fast — and the work done in the first days of a case often shapes how it ends.
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MA & RI
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Defense
A criminal charge can put your job, your reputation, and your freedom on the line — and the system moves fast. A conviction can mean incarceration, fines, a license suspension, immigration consequences, and lasting damage to your reputation.
As a criminal defense attorney based in Attleboro, Meaghan H. Fiske represents people charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses throughout Bristol County, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. From the moment you call, the focus is simple: protect your rights, challenge the state’s evidence, and pursue the best possible outcome in your case.
Every case is different, and every detail matters. Attorney Fiske takes the time to understand exactly what happened, examines how the police gathered their evidence, and builds a defense strategy early — because the work done in the first days of a case often shapes how it ends.
Results That Matter
OUI & Negligent Operation
Body camera evidence contradicted the officer’s observations at trial.
Kidnapping, Domestic Assault & Witness Intimidation
The District Attorney declined prosecution based on insufficient probable cause.
Assault & Battery, Disorderly Conduct
Surveillance footage cleared the client and charges were dropped the same day.
See all case results → · Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Charges I Defend
Whatever you’ve been charged with, you don’t have to face it alone. Attorney Fiske regularly defends clients across Massachusetts and Rhode Island in cases involving:
Domestic Violence Offenses
Allegations of domestic violence can carry serious consequences, including incarceration, restraining orders, firearm restrictions, and long-lasting effects on employment and family relationships. These cases are often built on one person’s account of events. Attorney Fiske defends them carefully and discreetly, protecting both your record and your reputation, including charges involving:
- Assault and battery on a family or household member
- Domestic assault and battery
- Strangulation and suffocation
- Violation of an abuse prevention or restraining order
- Witness intimidation
- Stalking and criminal harassment
- Threats and intimidation offenses
- Related probation violations and surrender proceedings
Assault & Battery Offenses
Attorney Fiske represents clients charged with a range of assaultive offenses, from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including:
- Assault; assault and battery
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
- Assault and battery causing serious bodily injury
- Assault with a dangerous weapon
- Assault with intent to commit a felony
- Indecent assault and battery
- Other felony assault offenses
Drug Offenses
From simple possession to charges involving intent to distribute, drug cases often turn on how the evidence was obtained. Illegal searches, questionable stops, and chain-of-custody problems can all be challenged — and when they are, charges can be reduced or dismissed. Attorney Fiske looks closely at whether your constitutional rights were respected before a single fact is taken for granted. She handles:
- Possession of controlled substances
- Possession with intent to distribute; distribution
- Drug trafficking and conspiracy to distribute
- School zone offenses
- Manufacturing
- Drug-related probation violations
Motor Vehicle Offenses
A motor vehicle charge can bring fines, license suspensions, higher insurance rates, and even jail. Attorney Fiske handles the full range of serious traffic and motor vehicle offenses, including negligent operation, operating after suspension or revocation, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, driving without a license, and RMV/license-suspension matters.
Charged with drunk driving? That’s a defense of its own — see the OUI & DUI Defense page.
Property Crimes
Theft, larceny, vandalism, breaking and entering, and similar property crimes can carry lasting consequences for your record and your future. Attorney Fiske works to keep a single mistake from defining the rest of your life – negotiating where it helps you and fighting where it counts.
Probation Violations & Surrender Hearings
A probation violation doesn’t come with the same protections as a new criminal charge, which makes fast, experienced representation critical. A probation surrender is not a new charge, and the Commonwealth still bears the burden of proving an alleged violation at a formal hearing. Whether the allegation involves a new charge, a missed appointment, a failed drug screen, or other alleged noncompliance, Attorney Fiske moves quickly to challenge the violation, present mitigating evidence, and advocate for alternatives to incarceration.
Firearms Offenses (FID Cards & Large-Capacity Firearms)
Massachusetts has some of the most restrictive firearm laws in the country. Simply possessing a firearm, ammunition, or a magazine without the proper license can result in serious felony charges, mandatory jail sentences, and the permanent loss of firearm rights. Firearm cases often involve complex issues of licensing status, constructive possession, search and seizure, and motor-vehicle stops. Attorney Fiske carefully examines every aspect of the Commonwealth’s case and aggressively challenges unlawful searches, unconstitutional seizures, and insufficient evidence.
Charged with OUI or DUI? That’s a defense of its own — see the OUI & DUI Defense page. Facing a possible charge that hasn’t been formally issued yet? A clerk magistrate hearing may be your chance to stop it before it starts.
Arrested? Protecting Your Rights From Day One
The period right after an arrest is often the most important. At arraignment, the court decides whether you’ll be released before trial and under what conditions. Attorney Fiske advocates for release on personal recognizance or the lowest reasonable bail and opposes unnecessarily restrictive conditions.
When circumstances change, she files bail-review petitions and motions to modify conditions of release so clients can stay employed, meet family responsibilities, continue treatment, and help prepare their defense while their case is pending.
Dangerousness hearings (G.L. c. 276, § 58A). In more serious matters, the Commonwealth may seek to hold a defendant without bail. Because a § 58A motion can result in detention for up to 120 days, experienced counsel is critical. Attorney Fiske litigates these hearings aggressively — challenging the Commonwealth’s evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and presenting favorable evidence and workable conditions of release.
Arrest Warrants in Massachusetts
If you believe there may be a warrant for your arrest, understanding the type of warrant matters — it can affect how the matter is resolved and whether you can address it voluntarily before being arrested.
Default Warrants
A default warrant is issued when a person fails to appear in court after receiving notice of a scheduled date — for example, after being released on bail or personal recognizance, or after missing a pretrial conference, hearing, or probation appointment.
Straight Warrants
A straight warrant is generally issued when a judge authorizes law enforcement to arrest an individual immediately rather than issuing a summons to appear voluntarily. These are common when police apply for a criminal complaint and believe an arrest is necessary, and in probation matters where a person absconds from supervision.
What to do: If you think there may be an outstanding warrant, speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. In many cases, Attorney Fiske can arrange for you to appear before the court voluntarily, potentially avoiding the stress and uncertainty of an unexpected arrest.
How an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help
Being charged with a crime is overwhelming, and a pending case can affect employment, family, finances, and reputation. Depending on the circumstances, Attorney Fiske may:
- Provide an honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the case
- Explain the criminal process and applicable law in clear, straightforward terms
- Investigate the facts and review police reports, body-worn camera footage, and other evidence for inconsistencies or constitutional violations
- File motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence or statements
- Seek dismissal of charges where appropriate
- Negotiate with prosecutors for reduced charges, diversion, or favorable plea agreements
- Advocate aggressively at bail hearings, motion hearings, and trial
- Assist eligible clients with sealing or expunging their criminal records
The Stages of a Criminal Case
Critical decisions are made at every stage, so it’s important to get representation as early as possible.
Arraignment
Charges are formally read, a plea is entered, and the court sets conditions of release, including bail.
Pretrial Proceedings
Defense counsel reviews the prosecution’s discovery, investigates, and negotiates. Many cases resolve here through dismissal, diversion, or a negotiated disposition.
Motion Practice
This is the time to challenge the evidence and the legality of the investigation — motions to suppress evidence or statements, motions to dismiss, and discovery motions.
Evidentiary Hearings & Trial
Disputed factual issues may be decided at an evidentiary hearing. If the case isn’t resolved earlier, it proceeds to trial, where the Commonwealth must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Prosecution Must Prove Every Element Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
In every criminal case, the burden of proof rests entirely with the prosecution. You are presumed innocent, and that presumption stands unless and until the government proves each element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt — the highest burden recognized under the law. You are not required to prove innocence, testify, or call witnesses. If the prosecution fails to prove even one element, you cannot be convicted.
Attorney Fiske analyzes every case to find weaknesses in the government’s evidence and aggressively protects her clients’ constitutional rights at every stage.
Sentencing Advocacy & Mitigation
A conviction does not automatically mean the harshest sentence. Effective sentencing advocacy can significantly affect the outcome. Attorney Fiske develops and presents mitigating evidence to give the court a complete picture of the person beyond the allegation:
Employment historyMilitary serviceEducationFamily responsibilitiesMedical & mental-health concernsTreatmentCommunity involvementLack of prior recordEfforts toward rehabilitation
Even in cases involving mandatory minimums, experienced counsel can often argue for how a sentence is structured and position a client for the most favorable outcome available.
Not a case number.
This is not a high-volume firm that treats you like a case number. Attorney Fiske handles matters personally, with detailed preparation and straightforward communication, so you always understand where your case stands and what comes next.
A criminal charge is not a conviction — police don’t always follow proper procedure, evidence isn’t always as strong as it first appears, and prosecutors don’t always have the case they think they have.
Serving Attleboro, Bristol County & Beyond
Based in Attleboro, Attorney Fiske represents clients in courts across Southeastern Massachusetts — including Attleboro, Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford — and throughout Rhode Island, including Providence, Warwick, and the surrounding areas. She knows these courts and the people who work in them, and uses that experience to your advantage.
Massachusetts
- Attleboro
- Taunton
- Fall River
- New Bedford
Rhode Island
- Providence
- Warwick
- Cranston
- Surrounding areas
Ready to Protect Your Future?
If you’ve been arrested or charged with a crime, the sooner we talk, the more can be done to help. Consultations are free and confidential.
Criminal Defense FAQ
What should I do if I’ve been arrested in Massachusetts?
Stay calm, remain silent, and politely ask to speak with an attorney. Don’t answer questions or give a statement to police without a lawyer present — anything you say can be used against you. Then call a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible so your defense can begin right away.
Do you handle criminal cases in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island?
Yes. Attorney Fiske represents clients in courts throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and across Rhode Island, in both state systems.
Can a criminal charge be dismissed or reduced?
Often, yes. Depending on the facts, charges can be reduced or dismissed — for example, when evidence was obtained through an unlawful stop or search, or when the prosecution can’t meet its burden of proof. Every case is different, which is why each one is reviewed in detail.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost?
The cost depends on the complexity of the case. Attorney Fiske is always upfront about pricing and offers free consultations so you get a clear picture before deciding anything.