Being faced with a criminal charge can be a life-changing event. However, there’s no need to go through such an ordeal and face the consequences alone. When you seek the help of a Henrico County criminal lawyer, he or she can rigorously examine every aspect of your case in order to build a strong defense strategy.
A criminal attorney in Henrico County has experience fighting a wide range of misdemeanor and felony charges, and can rigorously defend your rights in court. Additionally, an experienced Henrico County criminal lawyer will know how vigorously law enforcement and the courts enforce crimes. Call our firm today for a free case analysis.
Criminal charges fall under two classifications, just as they do in the rest of the country. Your charges will either be classified as a misdemeanor or felony. While misdemeanors are considered less serious than felonies and carry lesser maximum penalties in the case of conviction, these penalties can still change the course of your life. A Class 1 misdemeanor, like reckless driving, is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and heavy fines. By retaining one of the criminal defense lawyers with our firm you can minimize or eliminate these misdemeanor penalties, which may include the following:
Having the assistance of an experienced Henrico criminal lawyer can greatly increase your chances of receiving minimized penalties or of impacting you in any other way.
The criminal justice system deems felony crimes as more serious than misdemeanor crimes, and the penalties for felonies are stiffer as well. If you’re convicted of a felony, you could face harsher punishments in terms of fines, probation, community service, driving restrictions, and particularly incarceration. Instead of up to one year in jail, you could be sentenced to up to life in prison for the most serious felonies committed in Henrico County.
Although it is important to speak with Henrico County criminal lawyer to understand the full details of how your charges may apply to Virginia laws, the following is a short overview of some of the most common charges handled by lawyers at our firm, as well as certain relevant defense strategies. The following charges, because they often have to do with searches of a person’s vehicle or home, can sometimes lead to constitutional complications, which is why it’s very important to contact an attorney as soon as you believe you are under investigation or have been arrested/charged.
Virginia and federal law divides drugs and narcotics into six classifications, or schedules. They are determined based on whether a given drug has any medicinal value, as well as its addictive properties and potential for causing harm. The highest classifications (Schedule I and II) include heroin, cocaine and its derivatives, methamphetamine, and other highly addictive controlled substances.
Possession of these drugs can lead to serious felony charges. Sentences as high as life in prison and fines upwards of $100,000 may await those convicted of possession with intent to sell or distribute a Schedule I or II controlled substance.
Most prescription drugs fall under Schedule III through VI, but they can also result in felony charges. If charged with simple possession of a Schedule III through VI drug, you may face a Class 5 felony that can result in a prison sentence of one to five years, or a discretionary jail sentence of up to a year and/or a fine of up to $2,500 for a first offense.
Drug charges are serious, but an experienced Henrico criminal attorney can identify areas where it may be possible to establish “reasonable doubt” within your case. By employing a number of common drug defenses, your lawyer may be able to successfully convince a judge or jury that your charges should be drastically reduced, or even dismissed entirely.
Carrying loaded guns in public places is legal, but only with certain weapons and a valid permit. Regardless of whether or not her or she has a valid concealed handgun permit, an individual may be found in violation of this law if found carrying:
If you are facing serious gun charges in the Richmond metropolitan area, call a Henrico County criminal lawyer who can help you to start building your defense strategy against the prosecution immediately.
In Virginia, it is not necessary to make physical contact with another individual to be charged with assault. In fact, many assault cases arise simply out of heated arguments or verbal altercations. The key elements of an assault case in Virginia are whether the prosecution can prove that one person knowingly placed another individual in reasonable fear of harmful or offensive contact. With the help of a skilled Henrico criminal attorney, you may be able to demonstrate that one or more of these elements cannot be proven, thereby avoiding a conviction or seriously reducing the charges.
In Virginia, especially around busy metropolitan centers, vehicle-related charges are aggressively pursued by law enforcement. Charges for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, as well as those for reckless driving, can lead to harsh penalties, a criminal record, and possible restrictions on a person’s ability to legally operate a motor vehicle.
However, a Henrico criminal lawyer who is familiar with the local roads and highways, as well as the local court system, knows that there are a number of ways to challenge certain types of evidence in DUI and Reckless driving cases. For example, radar and breathalyzer evidence is sometimes inaccurate, and law enforcement officers sometimes make traffic stops without following protocol, making any evidence gathered inadmissible in a court of law. With a strong legal advocate by your side, you may be able to employ one or more of these defenses in court in order to avoid some of all of the potential consequences.
Our Henrico County criminal defense lawyers will bring years of experience and dedication to their craft in examining your felony case in order to create the strongest possible defense given the facts of your case. Speaking with an attorney about your case is never a bad idea. Attorneys can provide valuable insight into case details that someone who doesn’t have legal training wouldn’t be able to access or notice. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation.
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