Armed with a warrant, federal authorities entered your home and arrested you for possession and the intent to distribute drugs. They confiscated a number of items from your house, your vehicle, and, you learned later, from your vacation home. They had been watching you for some time, and the evidence is overwhelming.
With a lengthy prison sentence dangling over your head, you wonder about your future. This is a critical time to avoid talking to authorities and immediately seek an attorney. Your statements may legally harm you, so be quiet. But you also wonder how else an attorney can help you.
Defense strategy, subtle evidence
Any federal criminal charge is serious as you potentially face a stiff penalty that may include prison, probation, fines and restitution. Here are some of the ways that an experienced criminal defense attorney can help:
- Creating an effective defense strategy to get the criminal case dismissed, the charges reduced, or fight the charges in a jury trial.
- Negotiating with prosecutors in a potential plea bargain by seeking to get the charges reduced or dismissed.
- Informing you on what to expect and provide you with the necessary psychological and emotional support if your case goes to trial.
- Unearthing subtle evidence to help your case. An attorney may do this by hiring an investigator to review the alleged crime or call expert witnesses whose testimony will raise doubt about the evidence.
- Persuading the judge to hand down a sentence less than the maximum sought by the prosecution if a conviction occurs.
You need a skillful ally and solid legal advocate on your side when facing criminal charges. An experienced criminal defense attorney will explain your options, a legal strategy and provide hope to what some believe may be a hopeless situation.