Being accused of a violent crime can have a tremendous impact on your life, and facing a conviction is even more serious. The good news is that you can defend yourself against these charges, and a dedicated criminal defense attorney can ensure your rights are protected.
The consequences of a guilty verdict are significant, but I have defended many people at trial for violent crimes and won. In other situations, it might be possible to have the state dismiss the case against you entirely. As a Logan violent crimes lawyer, please call me so I can assess your case and advise you of your options.
While being accused of a crime can be difficult, the real penalties come into play after a conviction. The extent of these consequences varies from one charge to another, with certain cases bringing higher potential penalties. Among the cases I take are:
When it comes to assault, the state can treat the offense as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances. Penalties are steeper when the allegations involve serious injuries, the use of weapons, or law enforcement members as victims.
Other offenses like robbery or murder are always treated as a felony. If convicted, you could spend years in prison on top of thousands of dollars in fines. In each of these cases, the support of a Logan violent crimes attorney could be the difference between a lengthy prison term and an exoneration.
Finding the right defense strategy is crucial in these situations. As your Logan attorney, I can identify the right defense approach in a violent crimes case. Some of the most common examples include the following.
One of the most common strategies is self-defense. When a person has a reasonable fear that they are facing the threat of immediate physical harm, they can use force to defend themselves. The threat must be immediate, meaning there is a real possibility of being hurt at that moment, and the amount of force used needs to be reasonable. This defense is less likely to work for someone who uses lethal force in the face of relatively minor danger.
The right to self-defense extends beyond the individual. A person is also allowed to use reasonable force to defend someone else facing the immediate risk of physical harm. There are no requirements for a relationship between the parties, meaning this strategy is viable when it comes to protecting a total stranger from some kind of attack or abuse.
Instead of building a complex strategy from the ground up, sometimes the best option is to highlight the weakness of the state’s case. The prosecution has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In some situations, the right strategy is to argue that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof.
Another straightforward defense is to claim that the accused simply did not commit a crime. This might involve alleging mistaken identity or arguing that the conduct that occurred was not criminal at all. For example, injuries that occur as a result of consensual activities are not necessarily a crime.
If you have been accused of a violent crime, any delay in seeking help will only work against you. The state will aggressively pursue a conviction against you, so it is vital that you seek legal counsel right away.
When you work with a Logan violent crimes lawyer like me, you give yourself the best chance at a favorable outcome. While no attorney can guarantee success, I can dig into the case and use any evidence that can improve your chances of avoiding a conviction.