Don’t Do the Time if You Didn’t Do the Crime!
Allen County, Indiana Criminal Defense Attorney

25+
Years Experience
100%
Legal Way
%
Criminal
Rights Protected
%
DUI
Freedom Preserved
%
Medicaid
Asset Protection
Our Legal Practices Areas
Drunk Driving
Drunk Driving | DUI-DWI-OVI – Skilled defense for DUI, DWI, and OVI charges. We fight to protect your license, record, and future.
Assault & Battery
Assault & Battery Charges – Aggressive defense against assault or battery allegations. We work to protect your rights, reputation, and future.
Drug Charges
Drug Charges – Strong defense for possession, trafficking, or related offenses. We fight to protect your rights, freedom, and future.
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence – Skilled defense for domestic violence charges. We protect your rights, reputation, and future in these sensitive legal matters.
Pretrial Diversion
Pretrial Diversion – Avoid a criminal record through diversion programs. We guide you through the process to protect your future and your reputation.
No Contact Orders
No Contact Orders | Protective Orders – Defend against or enforce protective orders. We protect your rights in sensitive and high-stakes situations.
Long-Term Care
Medicaid Planning | Long-Term Care – Protect assets and secure quality care. We guide you through Medicaid rules to plan for your future needs.
Personal Injury
Personal Injury | Protect Health. Recover Losses. – From medical bills to lost wages, we fight for full, fair compensation.
Call the Legal Weed HOTLINE!
Charged with legal weed in Indiana?
Legal Doesn’t Mean Safe
Indiana has some of the toughest marijuana laws. Even legal weed elsewhere can mean fines, records, and jail here. Know your rights and protect your future.
Caught in the Crossfire
Marijuana may be legal elsewhere, but not in Indiana. A possession arrest here demands skilled defense to fight charges and protect your future.
Know the Indiana Risk
Marijuana may be legal elsewhere, but Indiana still treats it as a crime. A possession charge can harm your future—strong defense protects your rights.
Indiana enforces some of the strictest marijuana laws in the Midwest, leaving residents and visitors vulnerable to charges even when cannabis was obtained legally elsewhere. Attorney Matthew W. Chapel knows how easy it is to get caught in this legal trap and has spent decades defending clients facing possession and related charges across Allen County and Indiana.
With advanced trial training and recognized expertise in criminal defense, Chapel reviews every detail of a marijuana case. He challenges unlawful stops, improper searches, and weak evidence, blending deep legal knowledge with aggressive courtroom advocacy to give clients the best chance at reduced or dismissed charges.
A marijuana conviction in Indiana can impact employment, housing, education, and more. Drawing on over 25 years of courtroom experience, Matthew W. Chapel safeguards client rights and works to minimize lasting consequences. His reputation as a relentless advocate ensures every client receives strong, strategic defense against Indiana’s harsh marijuana laws.
Legal News & Articles You Can Trust!
How To Act in A Courtroom
Learn how to act in a courtroom with proper etiquette, respectful conduct, and tips to make a positive impression during your legal proceedings.
Location
110 W Berry St Suite 1904, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
info@mattchapellaw.com
Phone
(260) 387-6236
What Matt’s Clients say…
He and his staff really care about who they work with. Matt actually listens to you and breaks things down si that you understand. Just an overall genuine person. I would 100% refer anyone to Mr. Chapel. thank you Matt.
Matt is very trustworthy and thorough. Definitely a high quality defense attorney with many years of experience. I highly recommend him to anyone needing his services.
He is very knowledgeable and works hard for you. He is a Veteran which made me feel better being a Veteran myself, he understands the differenct things we go through. He always ensured I knew exactly what was happening throughout the entire process.

Matt Knows What It Takes to Win Your Case
As a former United States Marine, Matt Chapel brings a relentless attitude and never-say-die spirit to his brand of trial advocacy and criminal defense.
You will find no truer friend and legal partner when you are charged with a crime in Ohio or Indiana. Matt has served clients for over three decades with a solid reputation for securing acquittals or even avoiding trials and charges altogether. If you are charged with a crime – or even if you think you might be charged – the attorney you choose can be your most crucial decision.
EXPERTISE
What is a Trial Lawyer?
Merriam-Webster defines a “trial lawyer” as a “lawyer who engages chiefly in the trial of cases before courts of original jurisdiction.” Matt accepts this basic definition as only the foundation of his brand of trial lawyer. He likens a trial lawyer to being focused on courtroom litigation, much like a brain surgeon with a narrow field of specialty over a general MD.
What are the characteristics you want in a trial lawyer?
Patient advocacy with clients
Committed to patient advocacy, ensuring every client’s voice is heard and rights are protected throughout the legal process.
Robust protection of client rights
Providing robust protection of client rights through strategic advocacy and unwavering legal representation.
Painstaking case research
Conducting painstaking case research to build strong, evidence-based strategies for optimal client outcomes.
Tenacious courtroom litigation
Providing tenacious courtroom litigation backed by meticulous preparation, persuasive advocacy, and a commitment to defending client interests.
Encyclopedic knowledge of the law
Applying an encyclopedic knowledge of the law to deliver informed, precise, and effective legal solutions.
Relentless negotiation skills
Leveraging relentless negotiation skills to secure the most favorable outcomes for clients.
Close working relationships with area attorneys and court officials
Maintaining close working relationships with area attorneys and court officials to facilitate effective case resolution.
Matt displays all these characteristics and more, whether you are facing misdemeanor or felony criminal charges in Ohio or Indiana. More than being your lawyer, Matt’s brand of trial lawyer seeks to be a true friend who goes the distance with you when you are facing severe criminal charges.