10 Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Carmel, IN

This guide covers 10 criminal defense law firms serving Carmel, Indiana and the rest of Hamilton County, including firms with offices in Carmel and firms in Noblesville and Indianapolis that regularly defend Carmel residents. Each firm was evaluated on the background of its attorneys (including time spent as prosecutors, public defenders or federal counsel), the depth of its criminal defense practice compared with general practice that lists criminal law as one of many areas, its experience in Hamilton County and Central Indiana courts, and the range of matters it handles, from misdemeanors and OWI to major felonies, federal investigations and expungements.

When comparing firms, three practical questions matter most. First, does the attorney appear regularly in Hamilton County courts, or would your case be their first there? Second, has the attorney seen how the State builds a case from the inside, as a prosecutor or as a lawyer who defends investigations early? Third, does the firm handle the parallel issues that follow an arrest, such as specialized driving privileges after an OWI or a later expungement of the record?

This list is not ranked and is not sponsored. Firm details come from each firm’s own website, cross-checked against attorney directories such as FindLaw and Martindale-Hubbell and business listings such as Google Business and Yelp.

1. Blankenship Law, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Eric Blankenship, Founder and Managing Attorney
• Headquarters: 11405 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 115, Carmel, IN 46032 (additional office in Valparaiso, IN)
• Phone: (317) 669-9010
• Website: ericblankenshiplaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, DUI/OWI, drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, domestic violence, theft, robbery, burglary, homicide, fraud, gun crimes, white collar crimes, college student defense, probation violations, reckless driving, expungements
• Firm Size: Boutique criminal defense firm with nearly 50 years of combined legal experience
• Social Profiles: Facebook

About The Firm: Blankenship Law is the only firm on this list with its headquarters in Carmel and a practice built entirely around criminal defense. Founder Eric Blankenship spent seventeen years as a prosecutor before opening the firm, and the firm says its attorneys, including Alec Baker and Kevin Kelly, draw on former prosecutor experience when they defend clients. That background shapes how the team reads a police report, weighs a plea offer and decides which evidence to challenge.

The firm’s published case results show a habit of testing the State’s proof. In a LaPorte County robbery case charged as a Level 5 felony, a deposition of the alleged victim showed that many details in the police report were not accurate, and the State dismissed the charges. In a Level 4 felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, the State could not show the client possessed the weapon and moved to dismiss. The firm takes calls around the clock, and it also handles the work that follows a case, including expungements and defense for college students facing charges.

2. The Criminal Defense Team (Baldwin, Perry & Wiley, P.C.)

• Attorney/Key Figure: Andrew J. Baldwin, Founding Partner; Kathie A. Perry, Managing Partner; Maxwell B. Wiley, Partner (Noblesville office)
• Headquarters: 150 N. Main St., Franklin, IN 46131 (additional offices at 23 S. 8th St., Suite 50, Noblesville, IN 46060, and 2900 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN)
• Phone: (317) 736-0053; toll-free (866) 502-0562
• Website: criminaldefenseteam.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense exclusively, including DUI, drug crimes, federal crimes, gun crimes, homicide and manslaughter, sex crimes, theft, white collar crimes, domestic battery, probation violations
• Firm Size: Multi-office criminal defense firm (founded 2007, more than 110 years of combined experience) with attorneys listed as Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists
• Practice Area Page: Carmel Criminal Defense Attorney
• Social Profiles: LinkedIn

About The Firm: The Criminal Defense Team does nothing but criminal defense, and its Noblesville office puts it close to the Hamilton County courthouse where Carmel cases are heard. Partner Max Wiley has worked as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor handling high-profile cases, and the firm says he has been a fixture in its Noblesville office since 2018 and has tried more juries in Hamilton County than any other lawyer in Indiana. The firm’s roster includes several attorneys listed as Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists, a credential the firm points to as proof of trial skill.

The firm’s approach to trial is a practical differentiator: it says it puts two of its lawyers on every trial and that at least six of them have worked together as part of winning jury teams. Its work drew national attention when CBS’s “48 Hours” featured the firm’s successful defense of Alison Davis in the episode “A Death in the Stairwell.” The firm also does pre-charge work, stepping in during an investigation to try to stop a case before it is filed.

3. Banks & Brower, LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Brad Banks and Adam Brower, Founding Attorneys
• Headquarters: 8710 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260
• Phone: (317) 870-0019; toll-free (866) 680-1378
• Website: banksbrower.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (OWI/DUI, drug crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes, violent crimes, robbery and burglary, white collar, gun offenses, expungement), personal injury, family law, immigration
• Firm Size: Mid-size firm with more than ten attorneys and more than 80 years of combined experience

About The Firm: Banks & Brower was founded in 2012 by two former prosecutors who each worked in a different Indiana county’s prosecutor’s office. The firm’s Meridian Street office sits just south of Carmel, and it maintains a dedicated Carmel page alongside pages for Fishers, Noblesville and Hamilton County. Attorneys Bill Frederick, Joe Wyckoff and Romy Elswerky round out a deep bench that lets the firm staff serious cases with more than one trial lawyer.

The firm publishes a run of case results on its site, including not guilty verdicts after jury trial in homicide and dealing cases and a dismissal after evidence was suppressed in a narcotics case. It offers free consultations and says it can meet clients at the hospital or jail. The trade-off of its breadth is that criminal defense shares the roster with personal injury, family and immigration work, so it helps to ask which attorney will handle your case day to day.

4. Marc Lopez Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Marc Lopez, Founder
• Headquarters: 120 E. Market St., Suite 710, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (northside office at 8435 Keystone Crossing, Suite 250, Indianapolis, IN 46240)
• Phone: (317) 632-3642
• Website: marclopezlaw.com
• Practice Areas: DUI/OWI, drug offenses, domestic violence, crimes of violence, habitual traffic violator cases, protective orders, specialized driving privileges, expungement, auto injury
• Firm Size: Boutique to mid-size trial firm with nine attorneys listed

About The Firm: Marc Lopez started his firm in 2009 after working as a deputy prosecutor and handling thousands of criminal cases. The firm’s northside office at Keystone Crossing is one of the closest offices to Carmel on this list, which matters for clients who need frequent in-person meetings. Its attorneys include Anthony Benitez, Ben Shoptaw, Jack Slay, Jennifer Blanco, Matthew Kroes, Nicole Szablak, Zac Bailey and Zach Richey.

The firm stands out for the driver-focused work around a criminal case: it publishes free reports and guides on specialized driving privileges, habitual traffic violator status and how to view a BMV record. It also serves clients in several languages, including Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Polish, Portuguese and Punjabi, and it markets its personal injury practice as a separate arm. Because the firm splits its attention between defense and injury work, the criminal team is one of two major practice groups rather than the firm’s sole focus.

5. Voyles Lukemeyer Baldwin Webb & Helmond

• Attorney/Key Figure: James H. Voyles, Jr., Partner; Jeffrey A. Baldwin, Partner
• Headquarters: 211 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 2400, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Phone: (317) 632-4463
• Website: voyleslegal.com
• Practice Areas: DUI/OWI, major felony, misdemeanor, controlled substances, sex offenses, white collar, appellate, expungement, professional licensing, traffic law, alcoholic beverage law, civil litigation, personal injury
• Firm Size: Multi-attorney firm founded in 1919; five of its attorneys were selected to Indiana Super Lawyers in 2025

About The Firm: Voyles has practiced criminal defense in downtown Indianapolis since 1919, which makes it the oldest firm on this list. James Voyles joined in 1968, and the firm says he is listed in Best Lawyers in America for criminal law. Jeffrey Baldwin, a former Marion County deputy prosecutor, works exclusively in criminal defense and has defended death penalty and non-capital murder cases in state and federal court, including appellate arguments before the Indiana Supreme Court and the Sixth and Seventh Circuits.

The firm’s depth in appeals and complex cases is its main draw. Jennifer Lukemeyer came to the firm after serving as a public defender and has argued before the Indiana Supreme Court, while Tyler Helmond focuses on appellate advocacy and collateral issues such as expungement and forfeiture. The firm is also ranked as a Tier 1 firm for white collar and non-white collar criminal defense by U.S. News and World Report. The trade-off is location and scope: the office is downtown, a drive from Carmel, and the firm also carries civil, regulatory and alcoholic beverage work alongside its defense practice.

6. Law Office of Jeff Cardella

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jeff Cardella, Attorney
• Headquarters: 350 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 357, Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Phone: (317) 695-7700
• Website: cardellalawoffice.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, drug and suppression cases, domestic violence, white collar, federal criminal defense, OWI, gun charges, violent crimes, sex crimes, forfeiture, civil rights, appeals, expungement
• Firm Size: Solo-led practice with a small support team; phones answered seven days a week

About The Firm: Jeff Cardella began his career in criminal defense in Indianapolis and earlier worked in the Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office. He has taught criminal law at the Indiana University School of Law and has been recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers. His practice reaches well beyond standard defense: he was lead counsel in the federal class action Washington v. Marion County Prosecutor, in which Indiana’s vehicle forfeiture statute was held unconstitutional, and he co-authored an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Timbs v. Indiana.

That background makes the office a strong option for cases turning on suppression of evidence, forfeiture of cash or vehicles, or civil rights claims after an arrest. The office also handles expungement statewide and offers a money-back guarantee on expungement petitions. The trade-off is scale and location: the work centers on Cardella himself, and office meetings are by appointment at the downtown Indianapolis address rather than in Hamilton County.

7. Ahmed Law Firm

• Attorney/Key Figure: Aine Ahmed, Founder and Attorney
• Headquarters: 550 Congressional Blvd., Suite 115, Carmel, IN 46032
• Phone: (317) 597-6001
• Website: aineahmedlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Drug felonies, firearm offenses, fraud, misdemeanors including DUI/OWI, other felony offenses, civil rights and immigration matters
• Firm Size: Solo practice, licensed in Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina

About The Firm: Aine Ahmed is a former federal and state prosecutor who served as a federal prosecutor in Florida and as Criminal Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, where he supervised 25 other federal prosecutors. He also prosecuted at the state level in North Carolina and Georgia, defended soldiers as a member of the U.S. Army’s Trial Defense Services, and has argued more than 20 cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His office is inside Carmel, and the firm’s service area covers Hamilton, Marion, Boone and several other central Indiana counties.

Ahmed’s pricing model is a practical differentiator: he charges flat fees rather than hourly rates, quoted up front after a case assessment, so clients know what a defense will cost before signing a contract. His background suits complex federal and white collar matters as well as drug and firearm felonies. As a sole practitioner, he handles cases personally, which means less bench depth for cases that call for several trial lawyers at once.

8. Coots, Henke & Wheeler, P.C.

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jim Crum and Jenna Bailey, criminal defense attorneys
• Headquarters: 255 E. Carmel Dr., Carmel, IN 46032
• Phone: (317) 708-4819
• Website: chwlaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (traffic violations, DUI/OWI, drug charges, juvenile crimes, expungements, theft, battery, violent crimes, fraud), family law, personal injury, estate planning, business law, real estate, insurance defense
• Firm Size: Full-service firm founded in 1978

About The Firm: Dave Coots and Steve Henke opened the firm in 1978, and it has stayed in Carmel ever since, giving it some of the longest local ties of any firm on this list. Its criminal defense page names Jim Crum and Jenna Bailey as the attorneys who handle drunk driving, drug possession and other misdemeanors and felonies. Crum also advises clients on Indiana’s Second Chance expungement law.

The firm highlights its working relationships with Hamilton County judges and prosecutors, which it says help clients minimize penalties, and it describes the county as known for a tough stance on crime. It handles cases arising from events at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, such as marijuana possession or battery charges. As a full-service firm, criminal defense is one practice group among many, so the defense team is smaller than the firm’s overall size suggests.

9. Altman, Poindexter & Wyatt LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Christine Crull Altman, Anne Hensley Poindexter and Scott P. Wyatt, Founding Attorneys
• Headquarters: 90 Executive Dr., Suite G, Carmel, IN 46032
• Phone: (317) 743-0054
• Website: apwlawyer.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense (including juvenile crimes), family law, wills, trusts and estates, business law, government and utility law, receiverships
• Firm Size: Boutique multi-practice firm with four attorneys listed and more than seven decades of combined experience

About The Firm: Altman, Poindexter & Wyatt is a Carmel office serving clients across Hamilton, Boone, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison and Marion counties. Its founding attorneys have more than seven decades of combined legal experience, and both Anne Poindexter and Scott Wyatt carry Super Lawyers recognition. The firm’s criminal defense practice covers felonies and misdemeanors such as DUI, drug possession, theft and probation violations, and it has a dedicated page for juvenile crimes.

The firm’s appeal is a smaller, relationship-driven office where clients can work with attorneys who also handle related family and business matters, useful when a criminal charge affects a divorce, custody case or company. Because the firm’s headline practice areas are family and business law, with criminal defense as one of several offerings, defendants facing serious felonies may want to ask how many jury trials the assigned attorney has handled.

10. Roberts Means Roncevic Kapela LLC

• Attorney/Key Figure: Jeffrey D. Roberts and William P. Means, Founding Partners; criminal-defense team includes attorneys with former state and federal prosecutorial experience
• Headquarters: 12801 E. New Market Street, Carmel, IN 46032
• Phone: (888) 211-3888
• Website: rmrklaw.com
• Practice Areas: Criminal defense, OWI/DUI, felony crimes, misdemeanor crimes, drug crimes, battery/domestic battery, gun possession, property crimes, juvenile matters, probation violations, computer and internet crimes, expungement, appeals, traffic violations, driver’s license issues, plus family law, business law, civil litigation, estate planning and sports & entertainment law
• Firm Size: Multi-attorney Carmel-based law firm with 10+ attorneys and a broad litigation and transactional practice

About The Firm: Baxter Rose & Schrager’s office on 91st Street sits about as close to Carmel as any Indianapolis firm can. Partner Edward Schrager has more than 36 years of practice and appears regularly in federal and state courts. He has a particular focus on people who are under investigation by federal or state law enforcement, and he argues that stepping in early, before charges are filed, can improve results and sometimes lead to a diversion or no charges at all.

His criminal experience spans mortgage and healthcare fraud, drug conspiracy and violent crimes, including long federal investigations and middle-of-the-night arrests. The firm reports a jury not guilty verdict for a professional athlete charged with felonies and a company officer who was ultimately never charged in a federal fraud investigation. Because the firm’s other partners concentrate on personal injury and medical malpractice, criminal defense is concentrated in one lead partner rather than a full defense bench.

Understanding Carmel, IN Criminal Defense Court Procedures

• Arrest & Booking: After an arrest, the individual is processed and informed of the alleged criminal charges.
• Initial Hearing: The court addresses the charges, release conditions, and other initial matters.
• Charging: The prosecutor may file formal criminal charges based on the circumstances and available evidence.
• Arraignment: The defendant is formally advised of the charges and enters a plea.
• Pretrial Proceedings: The defense and prosecution may exchange evidence, file motions, and address issues before trial.
• Plea Negotiations: Depending on the case, the parties may discuss a negotiated resolution.
• Trial: If the case proceeds to trial, the prosecution presents evidence, while the defense challenges the allegations and presents its case as appropriate.
• Sentencing: If the defendant is convicted or pleads guilty, the court determines the sentence according to applicable Indiana law.

Carmel, IN Criminal Defense Resources

• Hamilton County Courts – Provides information on criminal court proceedings, case records, court calendars, and related judicial services in Carmel and Hamilton County.
• Hamilton County Clerk of Courts – Offers access to court records, case information, filings, and other services for criminal matters.
• Carmel Police Department – Provides information about law enforcement services, police reports, arrests, and public safety resources.
• Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office – Offers information about county law enforcement, inmate services, warrants, and related public records.
• Indiana Judicial Branch – Provides statewide information about Indiana courts, court rules, forms, and legal procedures.
• Indiana General Assembly – Provides access to Indiana statutes covering criminal offenses, penalties, and related legal provisions.
• Indiana Public Defender Council – Offers information and resources concerning public defense and representation for eligible individuals facing criminal charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which court hears criminal cases from Carmel?

Carmel sits in Hamilton County, so most felony and misdemeanor charges from arrests there are filed in the Hamilton County courts, and the county seat is Noblesville. Firms with a Noblesville presence, such as The Criminal Defense Team, or a long record with county judges and prosecutors, such as Coots, Henke & Wheeler, can be useful when the case is likely to be resolved there. Charges that are federal, such as drug trafficking or fraud, go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, where attorneys like Aine Ahmed and Jeffrey Baldwin of Voyles have federal experience.

How serious are felony charges in Indiana?

Indiana grades felonies from Level 6 (the least serious) up to Level 1 (the most serious). A Level 6 felony carries roughly six months to two and a half years, while a Level 1 felony carries 20 to 40 years. Sentences also depend on prior history and enhancements, and many cases involve several charges at different levels. Banks & Brower and Blankenship Law both publish results in felony cases that show how differently a charge can end depending on what the evidence shows.

What should I know about an OWI charge and my driver’s license?

Indiana calls drunk driving “OWI” (operating while intoxicated), and an arrest can trigger both a criminal case and driver’s license consequences. Some defendants qualify for specialized driving privileges that allow limited driving for work or school, and repeat offenses can lead to habitual traffic violator status. Marc Lopez Law Firm publishes detailed guidance on specialized driving privileges, and the Law Office of Jeff Cardella handles OWI cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies involving prior convictions or serious injury.

Can I clear an old arrest or conviction from my record?

Indiana’s Second Chance law allows many people to petition to expunge or seal eligible arrests and convictions, and eligibility depends on the offense and how much time has passed. Blankenship Law, Coots, Henke & Wheeler and Voyles all list expungement among their services, and Jeff Cardella offers a money-back guarantee on expungement petitions.

Does it matter if my lawyer used to be a prosecutor?

It can. A former prosecutor knows how the State evaluates evidence, decides on charges and negotiates pleas. Eric Blankenship spent seventeen years as a prosecutor, Banks & Brower was founded by two former prosecutors, and Aine Ahmed served as a federal prosecutor and as Criminal Chief of a U.S. Attorney’s Office. Others, such as Jennifer Lukemeyer of Voyles, bring a public defender background instead. What matters most is how much trial experience the attorney has in the specific court where your case will be heard.

How do I choose between a large firm and a solo attorney?

A larger firm can put several trial lawyers on a serious case, as The Criminal Defense Team does by staffing two lawyers at every trial, and can keep coverage if an attorney is unavailable. A solo attorney such as Aine Ahmed offers direct access to the lawyer who will try your case and, in his case, flat-fee pricing. Free consultations, offered by firms including Banks & Brower and Cardella, are a good way to compare communication style and get a fee quote before deciding.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an attorney referral. It is not a ranked or sponsored list, and inclusion does not imply an endorsement by, or affiliation with, any named firm beyond what is stated. Attorney credentials, case results, and contact details change over time; confirm current information directly with each firm before making a hiring decision. Past results described here do not guarantee similar outcomes in any other case.