Even the most minor criminal charges are not to be taken lightly. Criminal convictions will follow you for the rest of your life. If you are found guilty, even with no prison time served, the charge will stay on your permanent record. It will affect your ability to gain employment, make friends, travel, and more. Don’t take the risk of trying to go to court on your own. Even if you’re facing the smallest criminal charge, you need a criminal defense attorney.
At Lermitte & Lubin, we understand the risks that come with a criminal charge. We won’t take it lightly and will guide you through your situation every step of the way. The right criminal defense attorney can mean the difference when deciding your future. The criminal defense attorneys at Lermitte & Lubin provide free case evaluations and consultations to help you understand your situation.
There are three criminal charges, each representing a different degree of severity: summary offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies. All three can lead to marks on your permanent record, and they all can be fought in a court of law. Our criminal defense attorneys can help you through any of them.
These are infractions, which means they typically don’t lead to jail time but do include heavy fines, a permanent criminal record, and the loss of privileges, such as the ability to drive. Examples of summary offenses include underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and traffic offenses.
In some other states, misdemeanors don’t threaten jail time, but they can in Pennsylvania. These are serious crimes where no one was threatened with serious bodily or emotional harm to someone or society. Examples of misdemeanors include DUIs, stalking, assault, and some drug offenses.
These are the worst crimes you can be charged with and almost always carry the threat of imprisonment. This is because those found guilty have been proven to have caused long-term or serious bodily harm to another person or society. Examples of felonies include burglary, sexual assault, murder, and selling or trafficking controlled substances.
No matter what type of charge you face, you deserve a legal team you can depend on. It’s important that we prove your innocence or lower the charges against you as much as possible to preserve your freedom and future.
Every criminal case is different, even two cases of the same criminal charge. We have overarching strategies to help our clients that become more specific, targeted, and informed as we do more research and contend with the prosecutors in the courtroom. When our criminal defense attorneys first take on a client who is facing a criminal charge, we work closely with them so we both completely understand the facts of the case. Think of these four strategies as the preliminary basis for your defense.
Self-defense
If you are being charged with certain violent crimes, you may be able to defend yourself with the argument that you were defending yourself, your property, or another person.
Innocence
If you have a strong alibi, we can use it to prove to the court and prosecutors that it isn’t possible that you committed the crime you’ve been charged with.
Entrapment
Depending on your situation and the crime you’re being charged with, we can attempt to show you that the authorities created a false narrative around you and your actions.
Lack of Evidence
This strategy is similar to the “innocence” strategy. We attempt to prove that you did not commit the crime, but not because you have an alibi. Instead, it will be because there is a lack of evidence against you.
There are more than these four defense strategies to help build your defense. However, these are some of the most commonly used and easy to understand. If we feel these wouldn’t work best for your situation, we will guide you through the other possible defenses to determine which one fits your case.
No matter what criminal charge you’re facing, you shouldn’t have to face it alone. Having a criminal defense attorney from Lermitte & Lubin is more than having a solid legal defense at your side. We’re here for you, so call 570-285-4662 or schedule a free initial consultation through the form below.
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