How One Man Found His Strength with Ryan Pacyga by His Side
Right before Christmas, Christian* showed up to his government job as usual. Within hours, he was placed on administrative leave, had his personal possessions confiscated. He had no warning, no explanation, and no idea that his life was about to be flipped upside down.
“I was just standing there, blindsided,” Christian said. “I didn’t even know what the accusation was at first.”
What followed was a months-long investigation that would test every part of Christian’s identity, his career in public service, and his belief in himself. Falsely accused of a serious crime, he was now the subject of a state investigation that threatened everything he had worked for.
Christian initially reached out to a former attorney. But the response was less than reassuring.
“He just didn’t seem interested in helping,” Christian said. “It felt like he had given up on people in my position. I didn’t want someone going through the motions. I needed someone who cared.”
That’s when Christian found Ryan Pacyga.
“I had heard his name a few different ways—my cousin who’s a paralegal mentioned him, a buddy had heard him on the radio, and he was listed on the Super Lawyers site,” Christian said. “When I sat down with him, it was clear right away—this guy actually cared. He believed me. And he wanted to fight on my behalf.”
Ryan approached the case differently than others had. Instead of telling Christian to avoid speaking to investigators, Ryan listened carefully to the full story, brought in his own investigators, and built a proactive strategy. Together, they decided to fully cooperate, give interviews, provide witness statements, and even go through with a polygraph.
“It was terrifying,” Christian said. “But Ryan was right there with me. Not just in the room—he was emotionally present. He checked in constantly, not just about legal stuff, but how I was doing. That made all the difference.”
Ryan also brought something more than legal expertise. He brought humanity. In the early days, he gave Christian a book rooted in faith, and they talked about their shared values and past struggles. For Christian, that level of understanding was rare.
“I’ve never had a lawyer hold my hand before,” Christian said. “But Ryan did. Literally. It made the conversation feel safe. With everything being said about me, I needed that.”
It took months of waiting after the interview for the final word to come in. When Ryan called Christian to say the prosecution had declined to file charges, Christian broke down.
“I was sobbing,” he said. “This wasn’t just about avoiding a court case. This was about getting my life back. About being believed.”
Christian is still processing everything, but one thing is clear: Ryan Pacyga didn’t just defend his case. He helped rebuild his confidence, identity, and hope.
“There were people I thought were my friends who disappeared when I told them what I was going through,” Christian said. “But Ryan never left. He kept showing up. He believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself.”
Christian isn’t sure he wants to stay in public service anymore. He’s thinking about going to law school. “I want to help people the way he helped me,” Christian said. “Ryan changed my life. I don’t think I would have made it through this without him.”
Christian’s advice to anyone facing a life-altering accusation?
“Get a lawyer. And if you can, get Ryan. You need someone who’s smart, strategic, and relentless—but you also need someone who gives a damn. That’s Ryan.”
* The name of the accused has been changed to protect his identity.