Thatcher Criminal Defense Lawyer

You may face a criminal charge and have no idea about what to do next. At this point, you have legal options. If you work with a Thatcher criminal defense lawyer, you may be able to contest the charge against you.

At Suzuki Law Offices, we understand criminal offenses and their ramifications. Our attorneys can review your case and explore ways to defend against your charge. To learn more, reach out to us. 

Types of Criminal Cases

If you have been charged with a crime, you do not have to accept a punishment. There are many categories of criminal charges, and each has penalties associated with them. Types of crimes reported in Thatcher include:

• Drug 
• Federal
• Juvenile
• Sex 
• Violent

A Thatcher criminal defense attorney can teach you about these crimes and their respective punishments. If you want to combat a criminal charge, our firm may be able to help you out. For more information, get in touch with us. 

Criminal Penalties

You may face a misdemeanor or felony charge. A misdemeanor is less serious than a felony. Regardless, any criminal conviction may affect you long into the future.  

For misdemeanors in Arizona, you may receive up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The severity of the punishment depends on the classification of the misdemeanor. A Class 1 offense is the most severe, while a Class 3 crime is the least serious. 

There are six classes of felonies. A Class 1 felony charge is the most serious, and a Class 6 offense is the least severe. If you are convicted of a felony, you may face lifetime imprisonment.

What to Do if You Are Charged with a Crime

You may believe you can hide from a criminal charge. Despite your best efforts, this charge will not disappear on its own. Here are some of the best things you can do to respond to a charge:

• Remain calm. It may feel like the end of the world when you are charged with a crime, but you have legal rights, and you may be able to use them to avoid a conviction. 
• Do not speak on the record. If police officers pressure you to speak about a crime they claim you committed, do not say anything since the information you provide may be used against you. 
• Cooperate with the police. You may be irritated and annoyed at the police, but it may be in your best interests to cooperate with them to put yourself in the best position to dispute your charge. 
• Get ready for court. Gather evidence and take other measures to prepare for your hearings, as this can help you present an argument that may resonate with the court. 
• Partner with an attorney. Hire a criminal defense attorney in Thatcher who can walk you through each step of your criminal proceedings. 

You may be wondering when you should contact a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer. It may be best to connect with an attorney immediately after you have been charged with a crime. This gives you the maximum amount of time to build your legal defense.

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Criminal Defense Strategies

There is no surefire criminal defense strategy. Your Thatcher criminal defense attorney can review the facts surrounding your charge and help you prepare your legal defense. Types of strategies used in crime defense cases include:

Alibi

You may have been somewhere else when a crime was committed. In this situation, you may have an alibi. You may use photos, videos, and other forms of proof to show you were not at the scene of a criminal act, which may make it tough for the prosecutor in your case to argue against you. 

Self-Defense

There are times when self-defense is justified. If you were protecting yourself but charged with a violent crime, you may be able to show you were acting in self-defense. To do so, your criminal defense lawyer in Thatcher may be able to show you had a reasonable fear of imminent harm, which led you to use force to defend yourself.

Entrapment

Police officers may push you to commit a crime. Without pressure from the police, you may not have engaged in this criminal act. In this scenario, you may be able to prove entrapment.

Violation of Your Constitutional Rights

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects against illegal search and seizure. Police officers may have unlawfully gathered evidence as part of their efforts to show you committed a crime. If these officers violated the Fourth Amendment, the prosecutor in your case may not be able to use this evidence, which may hurt their chances of getting a conviction.

Your attorney can help you weigh the pros and cons of various legal defenses. They can also work with you to collect proof to support your case. In addition, your Thatcher criminal defense lawyer may encourage you to approve a plea deal, which may allow you to avoid a lengthy jail sentence.

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Plea Agreement

You may have questions about whether a Phoenix criminal defense lawyer can negotiate a plea deal. An attorney can work with the prosecutor in your case to come to terms on a plea agreement. Before the pact is approved, you have the opportunity to review it.

An attorney may go back and forth with the prosecution to finalize a plea bargain. With this agreement, you may want to approve it if it meets your expectations. If you are not fully satisfied with a pact, you may decline it without any penalties.

Just because your lawyer proposes a plea agreement does not guarantee the prosecution will accept it. If no agreement is reached, your case will go to trial. The court will then decide whether a conviction is warranted.

Get Legal Help with Your Criminal Case

A criminal defense lawyer in Thatcher from Suzuki Law Offices has a wealth of criminal case experience. We can help you evaluate your legal options and determine what you may be able to do to dispute your criminal charge. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today.

Call or text 602-682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form