If you are facing a criminal charge in the State of Texas, it can feel like an insurmountable hurdle that you are not going to be able to clear. The truth of the matter is, however, that you have legal rights you should invoke from the outset, and with the professional legal counsel of an experienced Temple criminal defense lawyer on your side, you have defense options – and a path forward toward a favorable case resolution. Your case will be unique to you and your situation, but better understanding Texas criminal charges generally can help.
Is it a Misdemeanor or a Felony?
Misdemeanor charges are those criminal charges that carry a maximum of a year in jail. In these cases, the District Attorney's (DA's) office will decide whether to move forward with a criminal charge against you. If the charge, however, carries a potential sentence of more than a year behind bars, it is a felony, and the DA's office will file a complaint against you, which must go before a grand jury before proceeding. A grand jury is a group of citizens who determine if there is enough evidence against you to move forward with charges. If the DA's office takes the case before the grand jury, it is very likely that the grand jury will come down on the side of the prosecution and will determine that there is, indeed, enough evidence to proceed.
If You Have Not Already Been Arrested
At this point, if you have not already been arrested, that is what you can expect to happen next. You will very likely be brought before the judge, and he or she will inform you of the charges brought against you and will hand down decisions related to your bail or release.
Plea Deals
From here, you may be offered a plea deal by the prosecution. When it comes to plea deals, the possibilities are endless, but they usually amount to one of the following:
Lessening the charges brought against you in exchange for a guilty plea
Lessening the potential sentence in exchange for a guilty plea
Reducing the number of charges brought against you in exchange for a guilty plea
Recommending a reduced sentence in exchange for a guilty plea
Every plea deal comes with its own pros and cons, and it is ill-advised to accept a plea deal before consulting with a dedicated criminal defense lawyer.
It Is Time to Consult with an Experienced Temple Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are facing a criminal charge of any kind in the State of Texas, you are well-advised to take your defense seriously, and attorney Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Temple, Texas, is here for you. Mr. Pritchard is a well-respected criminal defense lawyer who takes immense pride in successfully protecting the rights of clients like you. To learn more, please do not wait to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 today.