10 Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Valparaiso, IN

This guide compares 10 criminal defense attorneys and law firms that represent people charged with crimes in Valparaiso and the rest of Porter County, Indiana. Firms were evaluated on three things: professional background (especially time spent as a deputy prosecutor, public defender, or judge), depth of experience across the charges that most often reach the Porter County courts (OWI, drug offenses, theft, domestic battery, violent felonies, and probation violations), and practice focus, meaning whether criminal defense is the firm’s core work or one area among several. Entries include firms based in Valparaiso as well as nearby Crown Point and Hammond firms that regularly handle Porter County cases.

When comparing options, three practical questions matter most. Does the attorney appear regularly before the Porter Superior Courts at the Porter County Courthouse in downtown Valparaiso, so they know the local judges and prosecutors? Has the attorney seen how cases are built from the State’s side, as a former deputy prosecutor, or from the public defender’s side? And does the firm also handle the parallel proceedings that follow many charges, such as specialized driving privileges after an OWI or expungement after a case closes?

Quick View: Top 3 Criminal Defense Law Firms in Valparaiso, IN

Here is the list of criminal defense lawyers in Valparaiso:

1. Blankenship Law, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Eric Blankenship, Founder
• Headquarters: 2803 Boilermaker Ct., Suite 2E, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (additional office in Carmel, IN)
• Phone: 219-961-4061
• Website: ericblankenshiplaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, DUI/OWI, drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, theft, robbery, burglary, homicide, fraud, gun crimes, white collar crimes, domestic violence, expungements, college student defense, probation violation, reckless driving
• Firm Size: Boutique criminal defense firm with offices in two Indiana markets; virtual consultations available
• Social Profiles: Avvo

About the Firm: Eric Blankenship founded Blankenship Law, LLC as a firm that does nothing but criminal defense. Before moving to the defense side, he worked as a prosecutor in both Hamilton and Marion counties, and a fellow prosecutor from that period describes him on Avvo as an effective and talented trial lawyer. That experience gives clients a defense attorney who has sat at the State’s table and knows how charging decisions and plea offers get made.

The firm’s Valparaiso office serves Porter and LaPorte counties, and its practice runs from OWI and drug charges through homicide, sex crimes, and white collar cases. It also handles expungements and probation violations, so clients can stay with one firm from the initial hearing through record clearing. On FindLaw, the Valparaiso office holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating from client reviews, and the firm offers free consultations along with virtual meetings for people who cannot come in person.

2. Worthley Law LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Mark Worthley, Attorney and former Deputy Prosecutor
• Headquarters: 103 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383 (additional office at 610 Monroe St., La Porte, IN 46350)
• Phone: (219) 575-8565
• Website: worthleylegal.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (DUI, drug possession, assault and battery, domestic battery, felony cases, sex crime charges, expungement, federal offenses), family law, personal injury, estates and trusts, municipal law
• Firm Size: Small firm with two attorneys (Mark and Tara Worthley)

About the Firm: Mark Worthley handles the firm’s criminal defense work and has more than 14 years of experience in the field. He previously served as an Indiana deputy prosecutor and as a public defender, which means he has worked both sides of the courtroom in Northwest Indiana. The firm has operated in the region since 2014.

Worthley Law lists a long menu of criminal matters on its site, from drug possession and burglary to guns and weapons charges, appeals, and post-conviction relief. The firm also reports results in license restoration after multiple DUIs, theft charges that were dropped after negotiation with the State, and reduced sentences argued on mitigating factors. Because the firm also practices family and personal injury law, attention is spread across several areas rather than concentrated on criminal defense alone.

3. Harper and Harper, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Harold T. Harper, Managing Partner
• Headquarters: 304 West US Highway 6, Suite A, Valparaiso, IN 46385
• Phone: 219-733-8837
• Website: harperattorneys.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (drug crimes, DUI/DWI, probation violations, theft, violent crimes, domestic battery, murder, weapons crimes), personal injury
• Firm Size: Mid-size local firm with several attorneys; the firm reports over 90 years of combined experience across criminal defense and personal injury

About the Firm: Harold Harper is a Valparaiso native who co-founded Harper and Harper with his father, Robert Harper. The firm serves clients across Porter, Lake, and LaPorte counties and has handled cases in both state and federal court. FindLaw lists Harold Harper as a Super Lawyers selectee with roughly 27 years of experience.

The firm’s size is its main practical feature: with multiple attorneys on staff, it can staff cases that need more than one lawyer, such as serious felonies with heavy discovery. Its criminal docket spans drug crimes, OWI, violent offenses, and weapons charges. The trade-off is that the firm splits its work between criminal defense and personal injury, so it is not a criminal-defense-only practice.

4. Stracci Law Group

• Attorney/Key Figure: Paul G. Stracci, Founder and President
• Headquarters: 11890 Broadway, Crown Point, IN 46307
• Phone: 219-525-1000
• Website: straccilaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (state and federal, including sex crimes, white collar, domestic violence, gun crimes), personal injury, civil litigation
• Firm Size: Mid-size firm; reports 80 years of combined criminal law experience among its criminal defense attorneys

About the Firm: Paul Stracci has practiced criminal defense in Indiana since 1997 and formed Stracci Law Group in 2019 after years at other area criminal defense firms. The firm describes his experience in the federal system as a particular strength, and it handles both state and federal matters. Attorney J. Michael Woods was recently elected Section Chair of the Lake County Bar Association Criminal Defense Section, a sign of the firm’s standing among regional defense lawyers.

The firm’s Porter County page lists Valparaiso, Portage, and Chesterton among the communities it serves. For a Valparaiso resident, the main consideration is location: the office is in Crown Point in Lake County, so meetings in person mean a drive, though the firm’s Super Lawyers recognition and federal depth suit cases with higher stakes.

5. Bennett & Catsadimas, P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Andrew L. Bennett, Partner
• Headquarters: 205 E. Jefferson St., Valparaiso, IN 46383
• Phone: (219) 228-8886
• Website: abennettlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (misdemeanor and felony trial work), DUI/OWI, domestic violence, traffic tickets, expungement; bankruptcy and debt (Nicholas Catsadimas)
• Firm Size: Two-partner firm; Bennett has been licensed for about 27 years

About the Firm: Andrew Bennett spent 2001 through 2014 as a deputy prosecuting attorney in the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office, after starting his career as a deputy prosecutor in Lake County. He has also served as a public defender in Lake County, so he has handled criminal cases from both sides in the two counties that make up most of the Region’s caseload. His Avvo rating is 9.1, and a local client review describes him as one of the more experienced criminal defense attorneys in Porter County.

The firm’s criminal work centers on trial-level misdemeanor and felony cases, with OWI defense and traffic matters making up a large share. As a two-partner practice, it offers direct access to the attorney handling the case, though it has less bench depth than the larger firms on this list for matters that call for a bigger team.

6. Acosta Law Office, P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: John M. Acosta Jr., President and Attorney
• Headquarters: 205 East Jefferson Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383
• Phone: (219) 228-8899
• Website: jacostalaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, family law, immigration, military and veterans law
• Firm Size: Solo practice; veteran-owned small business

About the Firm: John Acosta served as a deputy prosecutor for the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office and later as Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Starke County before concentrating on defense work at his own firm. During law school he also completed externships with the Federal Community Defender’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the Lake County Public Defender’s Office, giving him early exposure to both prosecution and defense.

Super Lawyers has named him to its Rising Stars list every year from 2021 through 2026. He speaks English and Spanish, which matters for Spanish-speaking clients and families navigating a first arrest. He has been licensed since 2016, so he brings less seniority than some firms on this list, and as a solo practitioner he also covers family and immigration matters alongside criminal cases.

7. Rodriguez Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Frank A. Rodriguez and Mladenka Rodriguez, Attorneys
• Headquarters: 609 Michigan Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350
• Phone: 219-444-4322
• Website: therodriguezlawoffice.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug crimes, white collar crime, family law (custody, visitation, divorce)
• Firm Size: Small firm with three attorneys (Frank Rodriguez, Mladenka Rodriguez, and Hannah Schuster); Spanish spoken

About the Firm:Frank and Mladenka Rodriguez are a husband and wife team who describe their practice as serving all of Northwest Indiana. Both are admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and both belong to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Indiana Public Defender Council. Frank Rodriguez is also a member of the National College for DUI Defense, a credential that matters for OWI cases, where breath and blood test challenges often decide the outcome.

The firm handles DUI/DWI, drug crimes, and white collar charges, and offers Spanish-language service for clients and families. Its office is in La Porte, so Valparaiso clients should expect some travel or a virtual meeting, and FindLaw shows the firm’s work split about evenly between criminal and family law.

8. Law Office of Eduardo Fontanez

• Attorney/Key Figure: Eduardo Fontanez, Attorney and former Judge and Deputy Prosecutor
• Headquarters: 7127 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, IN 46324
• Phone: (219) 554-0282
• Website: eflawoffice.com
• Practice Areas: OWI/DUI, drug dealing and possession, murder, criminal traffic violations, domestic battery, theft, sex crimes, probation and parole revocation, expungement
• Firm Size: Solo practice; Spanish spoken

About the Firm: Eduardo Fontanez describes himself as a former judge and deputy prosecutor, and his practice covers OWI, felony, and misdemeanor cases throughout Northwest Indiana. His firm has a dedicated page for Valparaiso that explains how Porter County cases move through the Porter Superior Courts and the courthouse at 16 Lincolnway, and it notes that he regularly travels to Valparaiso for hearings and trials.

His Valparaiso-specific work includes OWI and reckless driving cases, drug charges, probation revocation hearings, and petitions for specialized driving privileges and expungement. The office is in Hammond, which means Valparaiso clients meet in person at a distance or by phone, and as a solo attorney he carries the whole caseload himself.

9. Westland & Bennett P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Nicole A. Bennett and David W. Westland, Partners and Owners
• Headquarters: 2929 Carlson Drive, Suite 300, Hammond, IN 46323
• Phone: 219-809-6670
• Website: westlandbennett.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, DUI/OWI, drug crimes, speeding and traffic tickets, personal injury, municipal law
• Firm Size: Small firm of roughly eight employees; Spanish spoken

About the Firm: Westland & Bennett is a husband-and-wife firm that handles criminal defense and personal injury cases across Northwest Indiana. Nicole Bennett has practiced as a partner in the firm and its predecessors since 2004, and Avvo lists her as licensed for 27 years. The firm has added associates with public-service backgrounds, including attorneys who worked in public defense before joining.

Its team approach means more than one lawyer can be on a case, and the firm serves Spanish-speaking clients. It is located in Lake County and its published profiles lean toward Lake County matters, so Valparaiso clients should ask how often the team appears in Porter County courts. Like several firms here, it splits time between criminal and injury work.

10. Pribyl Law

• Attorney/Key Figure: Steven R. Pribyl, Attorney
• Phone: 219-242-8484
• Website: pribyllaw.com
• Practice Areas: Family law, criminal defense, personal injury, mediation
• Firm Size: Solo practice

About the Firm: Steven Pribyl joined the Valparaiso firm Langer & Langer in 2001 and has practiced as an attorney since 2004, earning his law degree from Valparaiso University. He later opened Pribyl Law & Mediation, where he serves Valparaiso-area clients in family, criminal, and personal injury matters. Avvo lists him as licensed for 21 years and shows a 5.0 client rating.

His criminal work sits alongside a practice that centers on family law, which can suit someone whose charge is tied to a custody dispute, a protective order, or a divorce. A person facing a serious felony with no family-law angle may prefer a firm where criminal defense is the main focus.

Valparaiso, IN Criminal Defense Law Resources

• Porter County Courts: Access information about local criminal proceedings, court schedules, and judicial services through the Indiana Judicial Branch – Porter County.
• Porter County Clerk’s Office: Find criminal case forms, court records, and filing information through the official Clerk’s Office website.
• Porter County Prosecutor’s Office: Learn about criminal prosecution, pretrial diversion programs, and victim assistance through the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office.
• Indiana MyCase: Search available court records and review case information through the Indiana MyCase portal.
• Porter County Sheriff’s Office: Find information about arrests, jail services, and law enforcement through the official Sheriff’s Office website.
• Indiana General Assembly: Review Indiana criminal statutes and applicable legal provisions through the Indiana Code resources.

Understanding Valparaiso, IN Criminal Defense Court Procedures

• Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, law enforcement processes the individual and records the alleged offense.
• Initial Hearing: The court advises the defendant of the charges, explains applicable rights, and considers release conditions.
• Arraignment: The defendant enters a plea in response to the criminal charges.
• Pretrial Proceedings: Attorneys review evidence, file motions, and negotiate potential plea agreements.
• Evidence Review: The defense examines police reports, witness statements, and other evidence to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
• Trial: If the case proceeds to trial, the prosecution presents evidence, and the defense challenges the allegations. The prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Sentencing: If the defendant is convicted or pleads guilty, the judge determines the appropriate sentence under Indiana law.
• Appeals: Eligible defendants may challenge certain legal errors through the appellate process.

Note: Criminal procedures and deadlines vary depending on the charges and circumstances. An experienced criminal defense attorney can explain the applicable procedures and available legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which court handles criminal cases arising in Valparaiso?

Nearly all state criminal cases that start in Porter County are filed at the Porter County Courthouse, 16 Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso. Felony and misdemeanor cases are heard in the Porter Superior Courts, and minor city ordinance matters may go to Valparaiso City Court. Attorneys such as Eduardo Fontanez and Mark Worthley of Worthley Law note on their sites that familiarity with the local judges and prosecutors is part of what they bring to these cases.

How serious are the charges in Indiana, and does the classification change who I should hire?

Indiana divides misdemeanors into Classes A, B, and C and felonies into Levels 1 through 6, with Level 1 the most serious. The level drives the potential sentence, the plea options, and how much trial experience you want in your lawyer. For low-level misdemeanors and traffic offenses, a firm such as Blankenship Law, LLC or Spence Law Office, which handle high volumes of that work, may fit. For serious felonies, firms with larger teams or federal experience, such as Stracci Law Group or Harper and Harper, can matter more.

Is hiring a former prosecutor actually an advantage?

Many of the attorneys on this list, including Eric Blankenship of Blankenship Law, LLC, Andrew Bennett, John Acosta Jr., and Katrina Spence-Smock, began their careers as deputy prosecutors. The argument for this background is that they understand how the State evaluates evidence, sets plea offers, and decides which cases to push. It is not a guarantee of outcome, so it is worth asking any attorney, whatever their background, how often they take cases to trial and what recent results look like.

What happens after an OWI arrest besides the criminal case?

An OWI charge usually runs on two tracks: the criminal case in court, and the effect on your driver’s license. Attorneys often handle both, including petitions for specialized driving privileges that allow limited driving during a suspension. Eduardo Fontanez lists these petitions among his Valparaiso services, and Worthley Law reports restoring a client’s full driving privileges after multiple DUIs.

Can a past criminal record be cleared?

Indiana allows expungement of certain records, with eligibility and waiting periods depending on the offense and how the case ended. Several firms on this list handle expungement, including Blankenship Law, LLC, Bennett & Catsadimas, and Worthley Law. If you have an older conviction that is affecting work or housing, ask about expungement when you hire, since an attorney who handled your case already knows its history.

Should I choose a Valparaiso firm or one from Crown Point or Hammond?

Firms in Crown Point and Hammond, including Stracci Law Group, Westland & Bennett, and the Law Office of Eduardo Fontanez, serve Porter County and list Valparaiso among their service areas. A Valparaiso office makes in-person meetings easier and signals daily presence at the local courthouse, while a Lake County firm may offer a bigger team or specific depth, such as federal court experience. Ask any firm how many of its recent cases were in Porter County and whether virtual consultations are available.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Criminal charges in Indiana are subject to strict legal procedures, court deadlines, and potential penalties that vary depending on the nature and circumstances of each case. Attorney availability, experience, and office locations may change over time. Verify all attorney credentials, licensing status, and disciplinary records directly with the Indiana Supreme Court and relevant state licensing authorities before hiring legal counsel.