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Biggest Mistakes To Avoid In A Loudoun County Criminal Case

If charged with a criminal offense in Loudoun County, it is important that you do not do anything that could make your legal situation worse. With this in mind, the following are the biggest mistakes to avoid if facing a criminal charge in Virginia. For more legal assistance and to begin building your case, call and schedule a consultation with a Loudoun County criminal lawyer today.

Mistake 1: Speaking To Law Enforcement Without Legal Representation

Talking to law enforcement without having an attorney present is common for individuals that are either under investigation for a felony offense or arrested for a felony or misdemeanor offense. It is human nature to defend your actions, especially if you wrongfully accused and as a result, you want to tell law enforcement your side of the story. However, in many instances you are are simply providing more ammunition for your own prosecution.

If you are charged with an offense or believe that you may be charged with a criminal offense, it is in your best interest to talk to an experienced Loudoun County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Although, as citizens, we are taught to comply with law enforcement requests, you should not hesitate to contact a criminal defense attorney when your own liberty is on the line.

Mistake 2: Trying To Represent Yourself In Court

The second major mistake that people make is representing themselves in a court of law. Criminal defense attorneys have specialized training in understanding the complex criminal justice system in Virginia and this includes training and understanding of the criminal procedures, evidence law, and the criminal statutes.

In addition, experienced criminal defense attorneys have the opportunity to talk about the facts of the case with the prosecutor, also known as the commonwealth attorney, to mitigate the circumstances and potentially advocate for a better outcome.

When individuals represent themselves or do not have an experienced attorney on their side, the judge is left with few options. An experienced criminal defense attorney can open more doors for a person charged with serious offenses.

How Can Someone Avoid These Mistakes?

The most common way to avoid these mistakes is to talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. This means if you believe you may be charged with a criminal offense in Loudoun County, it will be in your best interest to talk with a criminal defense attorney who regularly handles such cases, as soon as possible.

For felony matters or serious misdemeanor offenses, you may want to speak to an attorney even before you are charged with violating the applicable code section. For example, if you are contacted by law enforcement because they just want “your side of the story,” it may be a good idea to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at that point.

The law enforcement official may be simply doing a preliminary investigation to find out more information prior to making an arrest. By talking to them, you may be incriminating yourself or eliminating the reasonable doubt necessary to earn a better outcome in court.

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