Being arrested doesn’t have to mean you’ll receive a guilty verdict and years in jail. In fact, with the right Criminal Defense Attorney in Mount Vernon WA, you may be able to have your charges dropped, lowered, or even just avoid a lengthy jail term. There are many ways your lawyer will be able to help you, starting with ensuring your entire case is being handled correctly. The final outcome for your case depends on the specifics of your case, but below is what may happen if the evidence against you is not collected lawfully.
Suppression of Evidence
If the evidence is collected incorrectly or handled incorrectly, it may not be valid to use against you. In fact, if your arrest was not done according to procedure, your lawyer may be able to convince the judge that none of the evidence was collected legally and it should be suppressed.
Charges Dismissed or Lowered for Lack of Evidence
When some of your evidence is suppressed, your lawyer may be able to convince the judge that the evidence only shows a lower charge. When some or all of your evidence is suppressed, your lawyer may even be able to convince the judge that there is not enough evidence to charge you with a crime. In this case, your charges may be dropped altogether.
Sentencing
If your charges are lowered, you may still be found guilty and be sentenced. However, the sentencing may be vastly different from what you would have faced. For example, if your case was a felony, you would be facing at least one year in jail. If it’s lowered to a misdemeanor, you’re facing a maximum of one year in jail.
By suppressing the evidence and working to have your charges dismissed or lowered, a Criminal Defense Attorney in Mount Vernon WA can ensure you have a better outcome for your case and a lower sentence, if there is one, than you would have had if you had plead guilty. Remember, call a lawyer like one from the Howson Law Office before pleading guilty to ensure your case is fairly handled and you can get a better outcome for your case.
