Céline Dostaler

celine@celinedostaler.ca (613) 695-8595 Cell (613) 863-8595 (24/7)

Those with valid reasons can bring firearms into Canada

Visitors can enter Canada with firearms but they must abide by strict limitations. Some Americans don’t realize our country has much tougher gun laws when they cross the border. According to information from the Office of American Citizen Services, “an estimated 200 to 300 U.S. citizens each year … run into trouble for failing to […]

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Finding the best defence strategy for suspects charged with robbery

Those charged with robbery may feel their world has been turned upside down. If a weapon was involved in the alleged incident, the penalty upon conviction could include time behind bars. There is also a social cost, with friends, family and business associates questioning if they can still trust you. An experienced defence lawyer can advise

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Understanding the charge of being unlawfully in a dwelling-house

If someone is in any sort of residence and they are uninvited, they could be charged with being unlawfully in a dwelling-house. It is assumed they have criminal intentions, such as theft, or perhaps to provoke an unwanted encounter with the home’s residents. To secure a conviction, the Crown must prove the accused had no

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When violence is part of theft it becomes a robbery

There are two essential elements of robbery: the theft or extortion of property and the utilization of a weapon (or even just the implied threat of violence). The justice system treats this crime seriously. It was once even punishable by death, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. Life imprisonment is the current maximum penalty if a

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White-collar crime suspects need to speak to their lawyer first

When people are told they are been investigated about their possible role in an alleged criminal activity, their immediate impulse may be to give their side of the story, thinking that will exonerate them. That is not a wise strategy. Their words may still implicate them. If you are being investigated for your involvement in

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Various defences possible for those accused of white-collar crime

When I have a client who is facing charges such as fraud, embezzlement or others considered a white-collar crime, the first thing I do is sit down with them and review all the evidence the police must release through disclosure, as well as any documents they have that support their side in the case. This

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White-collar crime evidence usually consists of financial records

Proving that an individual or a firm committed a white-collar crime such actions as tax evasion, fraud and money laundering is difficult in many cases, as much of the evidence will be in form of detailed paper and electronic records. As defence counsel for those charged with these crimes, part of my work involves carefully

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