Criminal Defense Attorneys

Jarrett Ambeau is the founding attorney of The Ambeau Law Firm and one of Baton Rouge’s most experienced criminal defense trial attorneys. He has taken more than 60 felony jury trials to verdict and holds a master’s degree in Forensic DNA and Serology. Courts have qualified him as a forensic DNA interpretation expert. He served as defense counsel in the Netflix documentary I Just Killed My Dad — a top-ten title in the United States for twelve weeks — reflecting the kind of high-stakes, complex defense work this firm takes on.

The Ambeau Law Firm combines prosecution-side and defense-side experience. Former Assistant District Attorney Ryan Volo tried more than 20 felony jury trials as a Baton Rouge prosecutor — handling charges including Second Degree Murder and Armed Robbery. That insider knowledge of how the state builds its cases gives clients a significant strategic advantage. Together, Jarrett and Ryan have handled criminal defense in Louisiana state courts, Federal Court, and across multiple jurisdictions including the Southern District of Texas and the District of Colorado.

Yes. The Ambeau Law Firm is licensed to practice in Federal Court in the Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Southern District of Texas, and the District of Colorado. Federal charges carry different sentencing guidelines and procedural rules than state cases — experienced federal defense representation matters from the earliest stages of a federal investigation.

You should contact a Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney as soon as possible — ideally before speaking with law enforcement. The hours immediately following an arrest are often when the most damage is done, typically through statements made before a person understands their rights. Whether you are under investigation, have been arrested, or have already been charged, early legal representation allows your attorney to review the evidence, challenge any procedural errors, and begin building a strong defense strategy on your behalf.

The hours after an arrest are when the most damage is done — usually through statements people give before they understand their rights. Hiring an attorney right away protects your right to remain silent, gets a lawyer reviewing the case while the evidence is fresh, and lets your defense start shaping the case before the State locks in its version of events. The earlier counsel is involved, the more options you have.

Many cases resolve through negotiation before trial. But the strongest negotiating position comes from being genuinely ready to try the case — prosecutors deal differently with a firm they know will go to a jury. Jarrett Ambeau has tried more than 60 felony jury trials to verdict, so when trial is the right call, we are prepared to make it.

A Louisiana criminal case generally moves through investigation, arrest, the filing of charges, arraignment, discovery, pretrial motions and hearings, plea negotiations, trial, sentencing, and — where grounds exist — appeal. Each stage is a point where the right work can change the outcome. We represent clients actively at every one of them.

You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Exercise both — politely but firmly. You are not required to answer questions about where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or what happened, and you can say you want a lawyer before answering anything of substance. Being respectful and being silent are not contradictory, and your silence cannot be used against you.

Not before a defense attorney has tested the State’s evidence. A plea offer is the prosecutor’s opening position, made before the defense has investigated. Offers often improve once weaknesses in the case are exposed — and a guilty plea is a conviction with lasting consequences for your record, your job, and your rights. Have a lawyer review it first.

We are trial lawyers first. Our lead attorney has tried more than 60 felony jury trials to verdict and brings a graduate-level background in forensic DNA and serology to cases where the science matters. Our team includes a former Baton Rouge prosecutor, so we understand how the State builds its cases — and how to take them apart. We prepare every case as if it is going to a jury.