Getting charged with a felony is terrifying, but you do not have to face the situation alone. Instead, you can hire a Missouri criminal defense lawyer to assist. While you know that an attorney will defend you in court, that is not all. First, find out some reasons why you should hire a lawyer to represent you. Then, you can schedule an appointment with a lawyer for more information.
An attorney begins by explaining the charges. Missouri categorizes felonies, and each classification has its own sentencing guidelines. A Class E felony is the least serious, with a maximum prison sentence of four years. A class A felony is the most serious, with sentences ranging from 10-30 years up to life. After explaining the charges, the lawyer develops a legal strategy.
Attorneys often attempt to negotiate plea bargains with prosecutors. In some cases, the client can receive a suspended imposition or a suspended exposition of the sentence. In both cases, the client will receive probation instead of prison time. The attorney can also negotiate to prevent the charge from appearing on the client’s record after probation is served. Then, the client does not have to worry about a felony conviction preventing them from seeking gainful employment.
The prosecution will call witnesses to provide testimony to support the charges. Fortunately, defense lawyers also have access to resources, including witnesses. Attorneys fight back by calling witnesses that dispute the prosecution’s claims while supporting the client’s innocence. It is challenging for clients to find witnesses on their own. Instead, many benefits from the wide range of contacts attorneys have built over the years.
Attorneys assist clients who want to apply for expungement after the conviction. First, those convicted must wait seven years before the attorney can apply for expungement to remove the conviction from their record. However, not all felony convictions are eligible for expungement.
Class A felony offenses cannot be expunged from the record. Also, people cannot get the felony expunged if they have to register as a sex offender. Additionally, expungement is not an option if the crime involves death, kidnapping, or domestic violence. Finally, some dangerous felonies cannot be expunged. The attorney will review the record to determine if filing for expungement is an option.
An attorney helps in other ways as well, such as providing emotional support and guidance through the process. With an attorney’s help, you will also know what to expect during each step. First, schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney. Then, you will better understand what will occur during the case and what you need to do to defend your innocence.
Call us at (417) 865-2181 for more information from Dean Price Law or to schedule a consultation in our office in Springfield. NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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