Facing criminal charges in Troy, Texas, can be overwhelming and have serious consequences for your future. A skilled Troy criminal defense attorney can protect your rights, navigate the complex legal system, and fight for the best possible outcome. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a serious felony, having an experienced lawyer ensures that your case is handled strategically and professionally. With so much at stake, you simply cannot afford to make any mistakes that can compromise your legal defense. 

What Are the Stages in the Criminal Justice Process?

The criminal justice process unfolds over a period of time in a number of stages. Here are the steps that you can expect to happen in your case:

• After you have been arrested, you are booked and processed at the police station. You will be held in custody until bail is granted or you are released on your own recognizance. 
• The prosecutor will file charges against you based on the facts of your case.
• You will make an initial appearance in court, where you will enter a plea (which initially is always not guilty).
• There are numerous pretrial proceedings that include discovery, where the prosecutor must turn over all evidence that they intend to use against you. The judge may also conduct hearings on key pretrial motions and issues, such as attempts to dismiss certain charges in your case and suppress evidence being used against you that was wrongfully seized.
• If you have not pled guilty to the charges against you, the case will go to trial, where both sides present their evidence, and a jury renders the decision.
• If you have been convicted of the crime, the judge will sentence you at a hearing after they consider both the prosecutor’s and your positions.
• If you believe that an error was made in the trial court, you can file an appeal of the verdict.

Do I Have to Plead Guilty to the Charges?

You may have read statistics that tell you the vast majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. As such, you may be wondering whether you have to plead guilty in your case. As a criminal defendant, you are innocent until proven guilty, and it is your choice about how to plead in the case against you. If you choose to fight the charges, the prosecutor must prove every element of the charges against you. If they do not, a jury should acquit you.

Even pleading guilty may not be the worst possible outcome in your case. The prosecutor has offered you something in exchange for your guilty plea. Whether it is lesser charges or a reduced sentence, you may receive something less than the maximum possible punishment as consideration for your guilty plea. A Troy criminal defense attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor to obtain the most favorable plea bargain possible. 

How Does a Criminal Defense Attorney Help You? 

It is vital that you obtain immediate legal help from an experienced criminal defense lawyer. There is no way that you can navigate the legal system on your own, and you are putting your future at risk if you try to do so for any period of time. When you hire a Troy criminal defense attorney for your case, they can do the following to help you:

• Advise you on whether you should speak to law enforcement and be present to protect you if the answer is yes
• Make sure that you fully understand what you are facing and the potential consequences in your case
• Review the facts and evidence in your case to determine whether you have any applicable defenses
• Work to limit the charges against you and have any wrongfully seized evidence suppressed by filing pretrial motions with the court
• Negotiate with the prosecutor to obtain a favorable plea bargain in exchange for a guilty plea if that is your preferred course of action
• Take your case to trial if you want to fight the charges against you

Criminal Cases That We Handle

At The Law Offices of Brett H. Pritchard, we have worked with clients on the following types of cases:

• DWI
• Assaults
• Thefts
• Burglary
• Shoplifting
• Criminal Mischief
• Drug Offenses
• Bond Hearings
• Juvenile Crimes 
• State Offenses

If you have been charged with a crime, call us today to learn how we can help you. We can provide you with a vigorous legal defense.

Contact a Troy Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with a crime in Troy, speak to a lawyer at The Law Offices of Brett H. Pritchard. You can schedule an initial consultation with a Troy criminal defense attorney by completing our online form, or send us a message online or by calling us today at 254-781-4222. This is a crucial phone call that you cannot afford to delay.