A year of criminal legal advice, from theft to child sex offences

Céline Dostaler

Ottawa criminal lawyer Céline Dostaler covered a wide range of offences in her posts throughout 2021, describing not only what constitutes each crime but also the best defences and possible sentencing.

In January, she focused on white-collar crime including breach of trust.

In Dostaler’s first post in February, she gave advice to those facing a white-collar crime charge about what to do. She then shifted her focus to robbery, looking at what distinguishes a theft from a robbery, the increase of break-ins during the pandemic and what it means to be unlawfully in a dwelling house.

Punishment for robbery

In March, Dostaler continued her series on robbery, discussing defence strategies and punishment for those convicted. She then turned her focus to firearms, explaining that term encompasses a wide range of weapons, valid reasons for bringing them into Canada and how to get firearm-related charges dropped,

In April, she discussed various defences for those facing firearm offences, the reasons why firearms can be seized, the circumstances of when people can get their firearms back from police and the rules governing storing and handling firearms.

Advice on firearm offences

In May, Dostaler wrote about the various types of firearms offences found in the Criminal Code and the defences for those charged. She then started a series of posts examining the issue of drug crime, offering common defences for those charged and the penalties meted out for those who are convicted.

Illegal drugs remained her focus in June, with posts on the production, importation, possession, and trafficking of drugs, as well as another on the rules about cannabis in Canada.

Crimes against children

In July, Dostaler completed the drug series with a look at how to get charges dropped. She then turned her attention to crimes against children, with posts on sexual interference, child luring and online sexual exploitation.

In August, Dostaler continued to look at crimes against children, with posts on voyeurism, child luring and defences for those facing child pornography charges.

Her attention turned to defences against both sexual interference and voyeurism charges in September. Dostaler then shifted to the crime of theft, including how it is defined and defences against the charge.

She wrapped up her series on theft in October, looking at how to get theft charges dropped. Dostaler then discussed the crime of possessing stolen property, including possible defences and how to get charges dropped.

Self-representation and hiring a lawyer

In November, she launched a series that provided information for people who want to be self-represented in court. Topics included general advice, including how to build a defence and how to enter a guilty plea.

In December, Dostaler started the series You and Your Lawyer, with a post on how to choose an attorney. Other ones include what makes the right lawyer, the relationship a client should have with their counsel and what is solicitor/client privilege.