Weltman, Eitan

Daniel Lopez has fifteen years of experience representing individuals in the state and federal courts of Northern Virginia. He has a proven record of earning successful outcomes for his clients before judges and juries. The key to his success is preparation and his recognition that each client has individual and unique legal needs and desired outcomes.  Mr. Lopez, therefore, tailors his legal services to meet those needs and desires. In some cases agreements and mitigation are in the best interest of a client, however, Mr. Lopez believes that the best results can only be achieved by preparing a winning trial strategy at the beginning of the case. He thoroughly researches and investigates the issues in preparation for trial, and develops a strong defense or argument that will highlight his strengths of the defense and protect his client’s interests.

Throughout his fifteen year career, Mr. Lopez’s primary areas of practice have been criminal defense and immigration litigation. He has diverse experience in handling the most serious of cases.  Mr. Lopez has successfully litigated hundreds of cases throughout Northern Virginia including: DUI/DWI, reckless driving, drug distribution, fraud, larceny, embezzlement, rape, robbery and murder.  He is certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve as a lead attorney in the defense of capital murder cases.  His broad experience and skills allow Mr. Lopez to effectively litigate numerous complex issues including large white-collar conspiracies or cases based on DNA analysis.  Mr. Lopez has taken over fifty cases to trial before a jury.

Daniel Lopez graduated from the George Washington University School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1996. During law school Mr. Lopez clerked for the United States Court of Claims, he interned with AYUDA, a non-profit organization that assists immigrants and Garfinkle and Associates, a general practice law firm in Washington, D.C.  Upon graduation, Mr. Lopez clerked for the Connecticut Superior Court in New Haven, Connecticut where he worked closely with the judges on complex civil and criminal matters.  In 1997, Mr. Lopez joined the Office of the Public Defender in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 2001, Mr. Lopez co-founded the law firm of Lopez, Meleen & Sprano, PLC, and in 2009, Mr. Lopez joined Briglia Hundley Nuttall & Lopez, PC.  Mr. Lopez’s years of dedicated and professional service have earned him the respect of judges and prosecutors throughout the courts of Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Prince William County and the City of Alexandria.

Cases of Note:

Maryland v. Doring—First Degree Murder

In 1983 an elderly woman was found dead in her home in Bethesda.  There were signs of forced entry in the basement.  The home appeared to have been burglarized.  On the same the night the defendants, who were both sixteen, were in the neighborhood stealing personal property from unlocked vehicles.  A few weeks later the defendant’s mother found what she believed to be stolen property in her son’s bedroom.  She called the police and the defendant admitted to taking items from unlocked cars.  Among the items found were a number of gold chain necklaces.  When Montgomery County Police realized that the juveniles were in the neighborhood on the night of the killing they questioned the boys.  The boys denied any involvement.  The police investigated the case, but no charges were ever brought.  In 2003 the time the family of the victim asked the police to take another look at the case.  The family examined the necklaces and stated that these necklaces belonged to the victim.  They claimed that the police never showed the necklaces to them in 1983.

The police then got a warrant and arrested the defendant in Florida in March 2003.  He spoke to police for hours prior after his arrest and again denied any involvement.  He was transferred to Maryland and counsel successfully secured hi s release on bond.  A trial date was set and motions were set for January 14, 2004.  The State of Maryland claimed that DNA on the necklace would match the defendant.  The State also claimed that an expert could match the necklaces to one worn by the deceased in an old photograph.  Both claims were unsupported by the evidence.  Further investigation by counsel revealed the high possibility that the necklace currently in the possession of the police was not the necklace seized from the defendant twenty-years prior.  A DNA expert told counsel that the necklace that she examined was inconsistent with the necklaces described in the original police reports.  Counsel filed various motions including a motion to dismiss.  The State did not respond to any of the motions.  On the date of the motions hearing the charges were dropped prior to the hearing.

Follow the links below for more information.

http://connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=252677&paper=70&cat=104

http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200407/bethesda/news/201411-1.html

Commonwealth v. Josuel Galdino--Hit and Run, Second Degree Murder

The defendant was driving along I-395 South in the early morning hours when he struck a motorist who had stopped his vehicle in the left travel lane.  The defendant did not realize that the motorist’s body was stuck under the vehicle until he arrived home.  The defendant ultimately entered a plea of guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a sixteen month sentence.

Follow the links below for more information.

http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200407/bethesda/news/201411-1.html

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-242857.html

http://news.google.com/newspapersnid=1298&dat=20040303&id=T_EyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rAgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2192,355118

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/092004/News/FLS/2004/092004/09102004/1094819097

United States of America v. Semenko-Espionage

Mr. Semenko was suspected of spying on the United States for the Russian government.  He was later charged with being an unrequested foreign agent.  The case was put on a fast track and transferred to New York’s Southern District.  He entered a plea of guilty to the charge and sent to Europe where he was part of an alleged spy swap. 

Follow the links below for more information

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-07-02/us/russia.spy.suspects_1_michael-zottoli-mikhail-semenko-preliminary-hearing?_s=PM:US

http://www.semissourian.com/story/1648684.html

United States of America v. Carillo-Malicious Wounding and Racketeering

The defendant was one of several defendants charged with stabbing a rival gang member while being a member of Mara Salvachuca 13 better known as MS-13.  The victim was approached by at least three rival gang members when leaving the Springfield Mall.  The trial had five co-defendants and lasted five days.
 
Follow the links below for more information

http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/archivestory.php?id=232379

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca4/08-4327/084327.u-2011-03-15.html

Commonwealth v. Acosta—Rape

The defendant was charged with a series of rapes that occurred in Vienna in 2006.  He was apprehended by police when he was connected to a hockey jacket left at one of the crime scenes.  The defendant confessed to law enforcement.  He entered a plea of guilty to a number of charges.

Follow the links below for more information

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=257174&paper=73&cat=104

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=257174&paper=73&cat=104

Commonwealth v. Alvarado--Murder

The defendant was attending a party when he and another party member, the deceased, began to argue concerning some mutual acquaintances who were convicted of property crimes.  The owner of the house asked the two to leave his property.  The two young men went into the street where they continued arguing.  The owner asked them to move along.  At this time the co-defendant, a friend of the defendant, joined the two men.  He was openly carrying a gun on his hip.  The deceased apparently did not see the weapon.  The deceased allegedly threatened the defendant and the defendant allegedly turned to his friend and said, “Give me the gun.”  At this point the deceased punched the friend in the mouth knocking out two of his teeth.  The co-defendant pulled the gun and fired one shot.  The deceased stumbled about 100 feet where he later died.  The defendant fled, but surrendered when he learned that the man died.  He admitted to the police that he asked for the gun.

Counsel negotiated a plea to voluntary manslaughter.  The defendant received five years.

Follow the links below for more information

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=&sid=1723539

http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/589/

http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/589/