Sugarland Criminal Defense Lawyer

Sugarland Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal defense lawyers play a key role in our justice system: to protect your rights when you’re facing criminal allegations. This can mean representing you in court, but a lot of the legal process happens outside of the courtroom as well. If you are facing criminal charges, our experienced Sugarland criminal defense lawyers at Surginer Stewart, PLLC, have the experience and skills you need to increase your chances of a successful outcome.

Protect Your Rights

Every criminal defendant in the U.S. is guaranteed certain legal protections, and knowing your rights can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. For example, your rights begin before you are even charged with a crime. Some of your most important rights include:

• Remaining silent – When law enforcement officers ask you questions, you have the right not to answer so that you do not accidentally incriminate yourself. You may state that you are using your right to remain silent. Once you do, police should not continue to question you.
• A lawyer – You have the right to have a lawyer represent you in the legal process when it comes to criminal charges. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court has to appoint one for you. It’s important to know that a private criminal defense lawyer can start representing you at any time, even before you have been arrested.
• Search warrants – To search you, your home, or your vehicle or to seize your belongings, law enforcement officers are required to have either your consent or a search warrant. You can deny access to search if they do not have a search warrant unless you are being arrested, in which case a separate search warrant is not required.
• Bail – Bail is the term used when you pay a deposit to be released from jail as a show of good faith that you won’t try to avoid trial by fleeing. When you are arrested, you have the right to request bail, although, for serious offenses, bail may be denied or set at a high amount, as the court may see you as a higher risk.
• Speedy trial – This means you cannot be kept in jail due to unjustified delays. If it is found that your right to a speedy trial was violated, it can lead to having all charges dismissed, although it can be difficult to prove.

Legal Counsel and Representation

A skilled criminal defense attorney can guide you through the legal process and ensure fair treatment as soon as you are arrested or even earlier if you know you are being investigated. A lawyer can use their legal knowledge, skills, resources, and professional relationships to determine your legal options and may be able to have charges dismissed or reduced without ever going to trial.

Defense Strategy

A solid defense starts with the premise that the prosecutor has to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed a crime. A Sugar Land-based defense attorney can review your case for evidence or inconsistencies that may weaken the prosecution’s case. Each case is unique, so there is no one strategy that works in every situation. However, there are some common legal defense strategies that may apply to your case.

• Self-defense or defense of others – In some cases, you can use a reasonable amount of force to protect yourself or someone else when there is an immediate threat of harm. The key parts of this defense are that there has to be a believable reason to use force, and the force used must be proportionate to the threat.
• False allegations – If you did not commit the crime you were charged with, you may be able to use the false allegations defense. This can mean no crime was actually committed, there was a crime committed, but you were not the offender, or there was a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of what actually happened.
• Alibi – A common way to prove you could not have committed a crime is the alibi defense, which shows you could not have been at the location at the time the crime occurred. Solid evidence for an alibi is some kind of documentation such as GPS or phone records, video footage, or other sources.

FAQs

What Crimes Are the Hardest to Prove?

Crimes are hardest to prove when there is not enough or strong enough evidence to show that a crime was committed and the defendant is the one who committed it. Charges that include intent can often be the most difficult to prove since it can be hard to show what someone’s intent was.

What Is the Burden of Proof in Self-Defense in Texas?

The burden of proof in self-defense in Texas is what a defendant has to show to convince a judge or jury that they had a good reason to use force against someone. This generally means proving a reasonable belief that they were in immediate danger of physical harm or death and that the force they used to defend themselves was proportionate to the threat.

What Is the Most Common Argument of a Defense Attorney?

The most common argument of a defense attorney is that the prosecution did not prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, a defense attorney will argue that there is reason to doubt that the defendant committed the crime, such as focusing on inconsistencies in the case or the validity of the evidence.

What Two Things Does the Prosecution Have to Prove?

The two things the prosecution has to prove are that a crime was committed and that the defendant is the one who committed the crime in question. Furthermore, they have to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which means that a reasonable person would agree there is no doubt the defendant committed a crime.

Get the Legal Help You Need From a Reputable Sugarland Criminal Defense Law Firm

At Surginer Stewart, PLLC, our legal team knows that when it comes to criminal charges, having experienced legal representation as soon as possible in the process can be critical to a favorable result in your case. Contact our office today and set up a consultation to discuss your case and learn your legal options.