Alex* spent nearly two years listening for footsteps in the hallway, wondering if this was the moment everything would come crashing down.
He hadn’t been charged with a crime. But a criminal sexual conduct investigation hung over his head, triggered by accusations from his ex-wife in the middle of a contentious custody battle.
How It Started: A Custody Dispute Turns into a Criminal Investigation
Alex’s legal problems didn’t begin with criminal accusations — they began in family court.
He and his ex-wife were working through custody and parenting time when, suddenly, she made serious allegations of criminal sexual conduct against him.
What began as a parenting dispute quickly escalated:
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His ex sought an Order for Protection (OFP).
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She later tried to file another OFP in a different county — what Alex’s attorney called “county shopping.”
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The allegations were then referred to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for a criminal investigation.
Out of the blue, Alex received a call from a BCA agent asking him to come in and answer questions about his ex-wife.
“I had no idea what they were talking about,” he said. “They didn’t give me specifics. They just said they wanted to ask questions.”
Shaken, Alex contacted his family lawyer. That lawyer’s advice changed everything:
“Do not talk to them. I’m giving you a referral to a criminal defense lawyer — call Ryan Pacyga.”
Getting to Ryan at the Right Time
Alex reached out to Ryan before speaking to law enforcement.
Ryan’s guidance was immediate and clear: do not return the BCA’s call. All communication would go through him.
From that point forward, Ryan:
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Contacted the BCA directly to understand the nature of the investigation.
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Obtained key information Alex couldn’t get on his own.
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Met with Alex to go through the alleged events in detail.
Ryan didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
“He told me, ‘This doesn’t look super good. It’s going to be a he-said/she-said situation. This is a serious allegation, and depending on the charge, you could be looking at serious prison time.’”
It was terrifying — but Alex finally understood what he was up against and that someone skilled was standing between him and a potential charge.
Living in Limbo: “Every Car Door, I Thought, ‘Is This It?’”
Even though Alex was never charged, he lived in constant fear that an arrest was imminent.
Ryan and Alex’s family lawyer warned him:
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If someone showed up with a warrant, he needed to go with them calmly.
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He was close to being charged, depending on the county attorney’s decision.
“I was literally sitting at home, and every time I heard a car pull up outside my building, I’d look out the blinds like, ‘Is this it?’” he said.
Meanwhile, his ex continued to use the investigation to justify her actions in family court, repeatedly insisting she was acting out of fear because of the “open criminal case.”
Alex knew he had done nothing wrong — but he also knew he could not fight this alone.
“Because of the mountain of claims she was making, I knew this wasn’t something I’d be able to handle myself,” he said. “Without Ryan, I don’t think things would be where they are now. Honestly.”
Strategy on Two Fronts: Criminal Defense and Family Court
Ryan didn’t approach the case in isolation. He and his team coordinated closely with Alex’s family lawyer.
They worked strategically on both the criminal and family court matters:
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When Alex’s ex filed an OFP, Ryan’s team helped fight it.
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When she filed a second OFP in a different county, they stepped in again.
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They used the OFP hearings as opportunities to gather information that could protect Alex on the criminal side.
“They weren’t just thinking, ‘We’re only here for the criminal investigation,’” Alex said. “They were looking at it from multiple angles, and that was a huge help.”
When the second OFP was thrown out, Alex believes it shifted the momentum.
“I think my ex and her lawyer realized what they were up against,” he said. “This wasn’t going to be some easy, ‘let’s get him on something’ situation.”
The Personal Side: “Are You Seriously Calling Me?”
Despite running a busy practice and handling serious cases, Ryan stayed personally connected.
One moment stood out to Alex:
“We hadn’t heard anything on the investigation in months. I was shopping at Target, and Ryan just called me out of the blue.
‘Hey, I’m about to walk into the gym, but I wanted to see if you’ve heard anything and how you’re holding up.’
I was like, ‘Are you seriously calling me?’”
Alex also appreciated the consistent communication from Ryan and his assistant. Calls, emails, and texts were returned quickly, and he never felt left in the dark.
“Ryan has a very personal touch, despite being well-known and busy,” Alex said.
The Email That Changed Everything
For months, the BCA investigation sat open with no movement. His ex continued to cite it in family court to justify her behavior.
Then Alex got an unexpected email from Ryan.
“He had screenshotted an email from a BCA special agent saying that the county attorney had declined the case against me,” he said.
No charges. No criminal case. The investigation was closed.
Alex finally had the proof he needed.
“Now I can bring that into family court and say: There is no open investigation. Here’s the screenshot. This cannot be used against me anymore.”
Looking Back: Was It Worth Hiring a Lawyer Before Being Charged?
Alex paid for Ryan’s services long before being charged with anything — and he would do it again without hesitation.
“Ryan was expensive,” he said, “but he was worth every dollar.
If you get a phone call from law enforcement about something like this, I’d 100% recommend talking to a lawyer immediately.”
Today, Alex is rebuilding. Life has calmed down. He’s no longer living under the weight of an accusation that could have changed the course of his life.
“I was put through the wringer,” he said. “But I honestly believe Ryan saved me behind the scenes. Without him, things would not have turned out the way they did.”
*Name changed to protect client privacy. Every case is different, and past outcomes do not guarantee future results.