A Richmond, Virginia native, Mr. Pristera graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After spending some time as a DuPont engineer, specifically working on Kevlar manufacturing and ballistics applications, Mr. Pristera attended law school at the University of New Hampshire.

On July 4, 2010, Mr. Pristera was commissioned in the U.S. Army in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Mr. Pristera spent almost six years on active duty. He spent just over three of those years in criminal defense, working for the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service. His other assignments included serving as the Chief of Legal Assistance, a Special Assistant United States Attorney, and a Contract and Fiscal Law Attorney. Mr. Pristera is currently a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and continues to work as a criminal defense attorney for the 154th Legal Operations Detachment. He also teaches legal writing at William and Mary Law School.

Criminal Defense Experience
Mr. Pristera has represented clients at General Courts-Martial facing serious felony charges as well as hundreds of clients facing non-judicial punishment and administrative separation. He represented clients under criminal and administrative investigations and was one of the only Captains in the U.S. Army to have the privilege of representing a General Officer facing criminal charges. He has successfully appealed administrative matters to the Secretary of the Army and has an outstanding track record as a relentless and aggressive litigator.

Mr. Pristera is licensed in the State of Virginia and also before the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and United States Court of Federal Claims. His CAAF Bar Number is 34819. He is married and lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.