Cedar Park Criminal Defense Attorneyc

Some of the most common criminal charges in Cedar Park include the following:

• Driving while intoxicated (DWI) 
• Theft charges, including shoplifting
• Burglary 
• Assault and aggravated assault
• Drug possession charges
• Criminal mischief 
• Juvenile charges

The Criminal Justice Process in Cedar Park 

While your case will, as mentioned, be unique, the criminal charge process generally involves the same basic steps, which include all the following:

• To begin, law enforcement will do some initial investigating, which can lead to arrest. 
• If you’ve been arrested, you’ll be booked into the system. 
• This leads to arraignment in court. Here, the charge against you will be read and you will have the opportunity to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. 
• If the charge you’re facing is a felony, which means it carries a prison sentence of at least a year, a grand jury may be required to issue an indictment.
• Regardless of the charge, it is at this point that pretrial proceedings and evidence gathering will commence. Motions are also handled at this stage. 

At any step in the process, the charge against you may be dropped altogether, which is ideal, or a plea deal may be struck. Many cases never proceed to trial, but you generally have the right to be tried by a jury of your peers. 

Whether going to trial is the right choice for you will depend on the involved circumstances and your decision on the matter. You’ll look to your seasoned criminal defense lawyer to help you make the right choices for you. 

Knowing and Protecting Your Rights

While your case will not be exactly like anyone else’s, everyone in your situation has the same primary rights. These include the right to an attorney and the right to remain silent, and they are rights that you should invoke from the outset. Once you’ve answered the basic questions about your identity, you should politely let the officer know that you are done talking and that you want an attorney. 

Plea Deals

Most criminal cases are ultimately pled out, which generally means accepting a reduced charge in exchange for admitting guilt and receiving less harsh penalties. In some cases, a plea deal is a great option, but this isn’t always true. 

You’ll need to weigh the pros and cons involved, and if the benefits outweigh the related damage, such as having a criminal record, a deal may be the way to go. Simply accepting a plea deal because it puts the matter behind you more quickly, however, is not a great strategy.

Making a plea deal is the legal equivalent of being found guilty. This means your conviction will be a matter of public information, which can carry serious social consequences – in addition to the fines and penalties you face.

Your Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Role

Your dedicated criminal defense attorney will play an important role in your case. This includes guiding you through the legal process with your rights intact. You can also count on your savvy legal representative to gather the evidence necessary to build a strong defense on your behalf. 

From here, you will strategize together regarding the best path forward. This may involve skillfully negotiating an advantageous plea deal in which the charge against you and the attendant penalties are reduced or taking your case to trial. The best option for you will hinge on the circumstances. 

If you do proceed to trial, you can expect your focused legal counsel to fiercely advocate for a favorable case outcome on your behalf. This goes hand in hand with presenting a solid defense that is supported by strong evidence.