Violent crimes are almost always charged as felonies. A conviction would lead to a jail sentence, and likely a long one. Violent crime charges are a very serious matter. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney to defend you, and you need to hire one immediately. Your lawyer would help you determine the path forward in your case. The attorneys at Hogan Eickhoff are standing by and ready to help you.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution entitles you to a jury trial in a criminal case. You will have your proverbial “day in court,” where the prosecution will present the evidence against you in the form of witnesses. You will also have the right to put on your own case. Here is what you can expect at a criminal trial in Wisconsin.
Most criminal cases do not end up at trial. Either the charges are dropped, or the defendant reaches a plea agreement with the prosecutor. Your criminal defense attorney may look for a way to get the charges dropped if it is at all possible. In some cases, the charges are dropped when you successfully fight and stand up for your legal rights. In other cases, the charges may be dropped as part of a deal with the prosecutor.
Once you have been charged with a crime, your first major decision is whether to hire a lawyer in your case. There is no question that you should retain an attorney to represent you. Your legal rights and perhaps even your freedom are at risk. You are then faced with a choice of whether to hire a private criminal defense lawyer or a public defender. It is worth the investment to get your own private lawyer. Public defenders are simply too overloaded and under-resourced to fight as effectively as a private lawyer can.
What you do once you learn you are being investigated or have been criminally charged can affect the outcome of your case. There is little that you can do on your own to make your situation better. Unfortunately, there are many mistakes that you can make that can make your situation worse. Law enforcement will do everything that they can to win a conviction, and your mistakes can make their life easier. The way to avoid making crucial errors that can muddy your legal situation is to contact an attorney. Your lawyer will advise you about what not to do, and they will deal with the prosecutor on your behalf.
Defense attorneys often rely on expert witnesses in making their case to the jury. In actuality, these can be a broad category of people who can provide different types of assistance to the defense’s case. Given that the prosecutor must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, an expert witness could help cast doubt on the case being made against you. The type of expert witness that you may use depends on the case against you. Most of us think that an expert witness will take the stand to give their opinion on the evidence against you. As you will see below, that is typically the case, but not always so.
If you are facing criminal charges, caution is the best course to follow in all areas of your life. You never quite know what you say to others may come back to hurt your criminal defense. Even worse may be information that you put out into the public realm for everyone to see. Social media may give a prosecutor the ammunition that they need to convict you of the charges. Here are several ways that your posts could be used against you.
If you have been charged with a crime in Wisconsin, your lawyer will look for all possible defenses to see if there is a way to fight the charges. Depending on the facts, there are a wide variety of legal defenses available. Here are some of the possible ways that you can try to contest the case against you that the prosecution brings.
Also known as the “queen for a day” arrangement, an interview with law enforcement as part of the criminal justice process is a critically important part of your case. Many defendants are understandably afraid to talk to the same law enforcement personnel who may be trying to put them in prison. When their criminal defense lawyer raises the topic with them, they may have reservations. However, there are reasons why an interview with law enforcement can help your case. Here are the pros and cons of agreeing to be interviewed by law enforcement.
We all make mistakes, but sometimes those mistakes come with felony-level consequences. Many defendants want to accept responsibility for their actions but wish to avoid jail time. Age, medical issues, or family needs may leave many offenders worried about the collateral consequences of incarceration. In some cases, a qualified Appleton criminal defense attorney at Hogan Eickhoff might help you stay out of prison following a felony conviction. Discuss your concerns with our skilled legal advocates by calling (920) 450-9800 or contacting us online to schedule your free sentencing consultation.