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No matter their charges or the accusations they face, everyone deserves fair treatment from the legal system. Unfortunately, for various reasons, you may find it difficult to take full advantage of your rights.
A criminal defense lawyer from our team can help you build the strongest possible defense against your charges. We can work with the judge, the prosecution, and others to get the charges against you reduced or dropped altogether. We can tell you more about our success with cases similar to yours during your consultation.
Crimes Our Defense Lawyers Handle
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we accept many different types of legal cases, including criminal defense cases. Our team can assist you if you have been accused of:
- Traffic violations, including speeding tickets or driving while intoxicated
- Weapons violations, including illegal possession of a firearm
- Drug violations, including possession or intent to distribute
- Murder or manslaughter, including vehicular manslaughter or self-defense
It is in your best interest to seek legal counsel as soon as possible, even if:
- You know you are innocent of all charges
- You have never been criminally charged before
- The charges are relatively minor
Why hire us to defend you? Our team is familiar with how the law works, and how the prosecution might try to use the law against you. We can make sure you always receive fair treatment and fight to get you home as soon as possible.
How We Defend Clients Against Criminal Charges
As soon as a client hires us, we start figuring out the best way to defend them. There are many ways we might handle your case, including:
Building Up Your Casefile
In order to build the strongest possible defense, we need to know everything about what really happened during the alleged crime. This means we must look into:
- How the alleged crime happened
- Where you were at the time
- The actions of other parties involved in the perpetration or investigation of the alleged crime
As an example, if the police accuse you of driving drunk, we might:
- Review the police’s conduct during and after the traffic stop, making sure they had a justifiable reason for pulling you over and that they treated you lawfully throughout all interactions
- Request copies of the evidence already collected by the prosecution, including any Breathalyzer or blood test results the police got from you
- Go over any available video footage of the incident, such as footage captured by surveillance cams or traffic cams
- Interview witnesses who saw how you were driving or how the police treated you during the stop
In some cases, we also arrange for character witnesses to testify about the kind of person you are. In a drunk driving case, this could be helpful if your family and friends can confirm you are a light drinker and/or a responsible driver.
Arranging Bail
Some crimes, such as first-degree murder, are so serious that the judge will not permit you out on bond as you wait for trial. In many cases, however, we can negotiate with the court for the lowest possible amount of bail. This would allow you to await trial at home without forcing you into debt.
Getting Charges Reduced or Dropped
Our criminal defense lawyer wants to help you avoid lengthy prison terms and hefty fines. One way to do this is to bargain with the prosecution. We might seek to:
- Strike a plea deal, in which you agree to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence
- Reduce the charges, so that you would experience lighter penalties if you are ultimately convicted
- Get the charges dropped, so that you would be free to go without being penalized
Representing You in Court
If your case does make it to court, you can rely on us to do all we can to champion your rights. Our team would be happy to:
- Select, prepare, and interview witnesses
- Present evidence and arguments in court
- Object if and when the prosecution tries to violate your rights
Penalties Associated With Criminal Convictions
What would happen if the court convicted you of the charge as it now stands? That may depend on:
- If this is your first offense, or if you have been charged with the same crime before
- How serious the charge is—for example, was someone hurt or killed during the alleged crime?
- How strong of a case the prosecution is able to build against you, and how strong a case your criminal defense attorney can build
The Severity of Your Charges Affect the Severity of the Penalties
Most everyone is familiar with terms like “misdemeanor” and “felony.” Each of these is a degree of severity in your criminal charges. Convictions will vary depending on which level the prosecution seeks.
Continuing with the example of drunk driving, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) states that penalties for driving while intoxicated range from Level V offenses (the least serious) to Level I offenses (the most serious). Level I offenses are often felonies with steeper penalties.
The differences between penalties for these levels are:
- The amount you pay in fines: While a lower-level conviction may come with a fine of only a couple hundred dollars, high-level offenses may add up to thousands.
- How long you stay behind bars: You might not go to jail at all for a minor offense, but the more serious charges could put you behind bars for months or years.
- Your alleged behavior: Aggravating circumstances—such as whether you caused a fatal accident or had children in the car with you. Your punishment may also worsen if you refuse to cooperate with the authorities, e.g., when they ask for a blood test.
When you face any type of criminal charge, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and confused about what you can do to help yourself out of this situation. Seeking legal counsel from our firm can be a good first step towards preserving your future.
Let Our Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You
Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can provide you with a criminal defense lawyer who fights hard to defend your rights. We believe everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and we will fight for a second chance at a better future. Call today to learn more about what we can do for you.
