Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense Attorney in Neenah, WI
Facing a drug charge or a domestic violence allegation in Neenah or the Fox Valley? Get honest answers at a free consultation, and one attorney who stays on your case from your first call to your final hearing.
- Straight talk about cost. At your free consultation, we'll walk through what cases like yours typically cost, and tell you honestly whether your matter fits a flat fee or is the kind of case that needs phase billing as it develops.
- The first hours matter. A mandatory 72-hour no-contact order applies after a domestic abuse arrest, and early representation can affect what happens next on both a drug and a domestic violence charge.
- One attorney, every court date. Attorney Steven Johnson personally handles your case from your first appearance to final resolution — never a rotating roster.
- 4.4 ★ · 41 Google reviews
- 20+ years in local courts
- WI Bar #1048934
- Winnebago County owned & operated
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
Why Neenah Chooses Johnson Law Firm S.C.
Every new client starts with a free, confidential consultation and an honest conversation about what their case is likely to cost. A real person answers the phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — no AI intake bots, no runaround.
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
What Is Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense?
Drug charge and domestic violence defense is legal representation for two distinct but often-connected categories of criminal charges in Wisconsin: offenses involving controlled substances, and offenses that carry a domestic abuse enhancement, or modifier, because of the relationship between the people involved. Wisconsin doesn't have a standalone "domestic violence" crime — instead, the law adds a domestic abuse modifier to an existing charge like battery or disorderly conduct when the parties share a qualifying relationship.
At Johnson Law Firm S.C., Attorney Steven Johnson (WI Bar #1048934) has defended drug and domestic violence cases in Winnebago and Outagamie County courts for more than 20 years. You won't be handed off to an associate. Call 920-730-8250 to talk through your situation, free of charge.
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
"Domestic Violence" Means Different Things — Here's What This Page Covers
"Domestic violence" gets used as a catch-all term, but it actually points to a few different legal situations, and it matters which one applies to you.
- Defending a criminal charge with a domestic abuse modifier. This is what this page covers — representing you against a charge like battery or disorderly conduct that carries added penalties because of a domestic relationship.
- Seeking or responding to a civil domestic abuse injunction. This is a separate, standalone civil case, not a criminal charge — that's covered on our Restraining Orders, Guardianships & Wills page.
- A criminal no-contact order or bond condition. If you're asking whether a no-contact order between you and someone else can be lifted, that's part of the criminal case itself, not an independent request — and courts are generally reluctant to change it. This is addressed as part of defending the underlying charge, covered right here on this page.
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
Our Process
Drug charges and domestic violence charges move through related but distinct paths. Here's what each one generally looks like.
Drug Charges
- Free Consultation & Honest Cost Conversation. We review your charge and talk through what similar cases have cost.
- Evidence & Search Review. We examine whether the stop, search, or seizure that led to your charge was lawful.
- Charge Classification Review. We assess whether you're facing possession, distribution, or trafficking, since the evidence, defenses, and stakes differ significantly.
- Negotiation or Motion Practice. We pursue suppression motions where the evidence supports it, and negotiate toward reduced charges or alternative resolutions where appropriate.
- Plea or Trial. When negotiation isn't the right path, Attorney Johnson takes your case to trial.
Domestic Violence Charges
- Free Consultation & Honest Cost Conversation. We review your situation and talk through likely costs up front.
The 72-Hour No-Contact Order. This mandatory order applies immediately after a domestic abuse arrest, and understanding your options under it is often the first urgent step. - Underlying Charge Review. Since Wisconsin applies domestic abuse as a modifier, we identify exactly which underlying charge you're actually facing.
- Evidence Review. We examine the statements, injuries alleged, and circumstances of the incident independently.
- Negotiation or Trial. Many cases resolve through negotiation toward a reduced or amended charge; contested cases go to trial when that's the right call.
- Collateral Consequences Planning. If a conviction results, we make sure you understand the full impact, including firearm rights, before decisions are finalized.
When Drug Charges and Domestic Violence Charges Overlap
Drug charges and domestic violence charges intersect more often than most people expect. A domestic disturbance call frequently gives police lawful grounds to be inside a home, and if officers see or find a controlled substance while responding to that call, a drug charge can follow even though it had nothing to do with the original dispute. The reverse happens too — a person contacted during a drug investigation may face an added domestic abuse modifier if a household member is involved. When both charge types show up in the same case, they need a single, coordinated strategy.
If you're facing both a drug charge and a domestic violence allegation from the same incident, call 920-730-8250 so we can look at the full picture together, not one charge at a time.
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
How Much Does a Drug Charge or Domestic Violence Attorney Cost in Wisconsin?
Costs vary with charge severity and complexity. Some straightforward misdemeanor matters may fit a flat fee, while felony-level drug or domestic violence charges, or anything requiring motion practice and trial preparation, typically require phase billing, since it's genuinely difficult to predict how much a contested case will demand until it's underway. Call 920-730-8250 to get your specific quote.
What we can promise: an honest conversation about cost at your free consultation, plain talk about whether your matter is a flat-fee case or one that needs phase billing, and a heads-up before any additional work is added if your case's circumstances change.
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
Drug Possession vs. Distribution & Trafficking: What's the Real Difference?
Not all drug charges carry the same stakes — the line between simple possession and distribution or trafficking changes the evidence involved and the penalties you're facing.
| Possession | Distribution / Trafficking | |
|---|---|---|
| What's alleged | Having a controlled substance for personal use | Selling, delivering, or possessing with intent to distribute |
| Common evidence | Small quantity, personal-use items | Larger quantity, packaging materials, scales, cash |
| Typical severity | Often a lower-level felony or misdemeanor | Higher felony classes with harsher mandatory exposure |
| Resolution options | May allow treatment-focused or alternative resolutions | Fewer alternative options, especially for repeat conduct |
Not sure which category your charge falls into? That's exactly what the free consultation is for. Call 920-730-8250 and we'll walk through your specific charge honestly.
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
What's Included: Every Piece of Your Case, Handled by One Attorney
Drug and domestic violence charges rarely stay simple. Here's what falls under this practice, and how each piece fits together.
Drug Possession
Possession is the most common drug charge, and Wisconsin's law is written broadly enough that even picking up a family member's prescription can raise possession questions in some circumstances.
Drug Distribution & Trafficking
Distribution and trafficking charges carry the harshest drug penalties in Wisconsin, and possession of a sufficient quantity alone can support a trafficking charge even without a completed sale.
Drug Manufacturing
Manufacturing charges apply to producing a controlled substance rather than simply possessing or selling one, and often involve their own separate evidentiary issues around equipment, chemicals, or location.
Domestic Battery & the Domestic Abuse Modifier
Wisconsin adds a domestic abuse modifier to charges like battery when the parties share a qualifying relationship, bringing a mandatory surcharge and other consequences on top of the underlying charge itself.
The 72-Hour No-Contact Order
This order applies automatically after a domestic abuse arrest and restricts contact with the alleged victim. It is part of the criminal case, not a separate matter, and is addressed as part of your defense strategy here rather than through the civil injunction process.
Firearm Rights & Domestic Violence Convictions
A domestic violence-related conviction results in a lifetime loss of firearm rights under federal and state law, a consequence that reaches far beyond the immediate case.
Criminal Repeater Enhancements
Prior convictions can trigger a criminal repeater enhancement that raises the stakes on a new charge under Wis. Stat. § 939.62.
Civil Domestic Abuse Injunctions
If what you actually need is a standalone protective order — not defense against a criminal charge — that's a separate civil case with its own process.
Related Criminal Charges
A drug or domestic violence arrest sometimes comes bundled with other charges, and having one attorney handle the full picture avoids inconsistent strategy across separate cases..
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
Why Neenah Chooses Johnson Law Firm S.C.
One attorney, every step
Steven Johnson (WI Bar #1048934) personally handles your case from your first appearance to final resolution — never a hand-off to a rotating associate.
Honest cost conversations, not empty promises
We'll tell you what similar cases have cost, whether flat-fee or phase billing fits your situation, and give you a heads-up if your case's scope changes along the way — no firm can promise a locked-in price, and we won't pretend otherwise.
20+ years in the courthouses that matter
Winnebago and Outagamie County judges, prosecutors, and court commissioners know this firm.
A real person answers the phone
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no AI intake bot standing between you and an answer.
Criminal and family law under one roof
If your case intersects with a civil injunction or a custody dispute, one firm handles all of it.
Testimonials
What Fox Valley Clients Say
Reviews below are verbatim from Google. Reviewer neighborhoods are not published by Google — each card is labeled "Google Verified Review". Service labels are drawn from review content.
"Attorney Johnson gave very good advice on what steps to take for my case his paralegal Liz was amazing. She was very informative and kept me up-to-date on everything. She is amazing. I really appreciate everything that she did for me and helping assist with my case along with attorney Johnson as well. I gave five stars because I feel like Attorney Johnson was amazing but I also feel like his paralegal did a great job and what she does."
Leia G.
Google Verified Review · Criminal Defense
"Liz and Steve did a wonderful job on my case they got my case dismissed they both kept in great contact with me explained everything well I would recommend them highly Thank guys great job!!!"
Diana M.
Google Verified Review · Criminal Defense (case dismissed)
"Thank you very much on your help with my case. Mrs. Aherm was very helpful and kept me informed on all the details on my case. This is the team to go with 100% !!!"
Jesse O.
Google Verified Review
"Big thanks to Steve and Liz. Both are very helpful, listen, very skilled at there jobs and I'm eternally grateful! Thank you both!"
UP P.
Google Verified Review
Service Area
Serving Neenah, the Fox Cities & All of Winnebago and Outagamie Counties
Outagamie
- Appleton
- Grand Chute
- Kaukauna
- Little Chute
- Seymour
- Combined Locks
Calumet
- Chilton
- New Holstein
- Brillion
Winnebago
- Oshkosh
- Neenah
- Menasha
Brown
- Green Bay
- De Pere
- Howard
Waupaca
- New London
- Waupaca
- Clintonville
Shawano
- Shawano
- Bonduel
- Wittenberg
Fond du Lac
- Fond du Lac
- Ripon
- Waupun
Oconto
- Oconto
- Oconto Falls
- Lena
Kewaunee
- Kewaunee
- Luxemburg
- Algoma
Waushara
- Wautoma
- Coloma
- Redgranite
Manitowoc
- Manitowoc
- Two Rivers
- Kiel
Green Lake
- Berlin
- Green Lake
- Markesan
Door
- Stergeon Bay
- Sister Bay
- Ephraim
Sheboygan
- Sheboygan
- Plymouth
- Sheboygan Falls
Dodge
- Beaver Dam
- Watertown
- Mayville
Drug Charge & Domestic Violence Defense
Frequently Asked Questions
Is domestic violence its own crime in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin adds a domestic abuse modifier to an underlying charge like battery or disorderly conduct when the parties share a qualifying relationship.
What is the difference between a domestic violence criminal charge and a restraining order?
A domestic violence criminal charge is a criminal case brought by the state, which may include a no-contact order. A restraining order, more precisely a civil injunction, is a separate standalone civil case. Call 920-730-8250 if you're not sure which situation applies to you.
How long is a no-contact order after a domestic violence arrest?
Wisconsin law imposes a mandatory 72-hour no-contact order after a domestic abuse arrest, unless waived by the alleged victim.
Does a domestic violence conviction affect gun rights in Wisconsin?
Yes. A conviction for a domestic violence-related offense results in a lifetime loss of the right to possess firearms under federal and state law.
What's the difference between drug possession and drug trafficking?
Possession involves having a controlled substance for personal use, while trafficking or distribution involves selling, delivering, or possessing with intent to distribute.
How much does a drug charge or domestic violence attorney cost in Wisconsin?
Cost varies with charge severity and complexity. We'll give you an honest estimate at your free consultation and explain plainly whether flat-fee or phase billing fits your case. Call 920-730-8250 to get started.
Contact
Ready to Talk?
A domestic abuse arrest starts a real 72-hour no-contact clock, and a drug charge's evidence can be time-sensitive too. Talk to Attorney Steven Johnson today, free of charge.
Phone
920-730-8250
Address
2649 Cavalry Ln
Neenah, WI 54956
Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Our Legal Services
Full-Service Representation for Neenah & the Fox Valley
Criminal Defense in Neenah & the Fox Valley
Johnson Law Firm S.C. defends felony and misdemeanor charges throughout Winnebago and Outagamie counties — theft, retail theft, forgery, battery, disorderly conduct, drug charges, and traffic offenses. Wisconsin felony penalties run from 3.5 years to life under Wis. Stat. § 939.50, and even a Class A misdemeanor carries up to 9 months in jail, so early representation matters. Attorney Steven Johnson brings 20+ years of courtroom experience at the Winnebago County Courthouse and beyond, challenging stops, searches, and evidence while keeping you informed at every step. Free consultations with a written fee quote.
OWI / Drunk Driving Defense
A Wisconsin OWI conviction follows you forever — it can never be expunged. First offenses bring a 6–9 month revocation, $585+ in forfeitures and surcharges, a mandatory AODA assessment, and an ignition interlock at 0.15 BAC or higher; second offenses become criminal. We examine the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, and breath or blood testing for every client from Neenah, Appleton, Oshkosh, and the Lake Winnebago communities. Deadlines start immediately after arrest, so call 920-730-8250 before your court date.
Family Law & Divorce
Divorce, legal separation, child custody and physical placement, child support, CHIPS defense, restraining order petitions and defense, and guardianships for children and adults — handled by one attorney across Winnebago, Outagamie, and Calumet counties. We explain Wisconsin's 120-day waiting period, marital property presumptions, and the best-interest placement factors of Wis. Stat. § 767.41 in plain English, then put your strategy and fees in writing. From Doty Island to downtown Appleton, Fox Valley families get straight answers here — starting with a free consultation.
Wills & Estate Basics
A valid will keeps your property, your children's guardianship, and your final wishes out of dispute — and out of avoidable Winnebago County probate battles. Attorney Johnson drafts wills for Fox Valley families and pairs them with the guardianship experience the firm uses in family court every week. If you don't have a will, Wisconsin's intestacy statutes decide for you; an afternoon in our Neenah office fixes that. Ask about wills during any consultation.