Kentwood Criminal Defense Lawyer

It’s easy to panic when you find yourself faced with criminal charges. If you let these charges go unchallenged, you may have to pay substantial fines or risk imprisonment. Some charges may even see you face the suspension of a professional license and, later in life, the inability to work in your chosen field.

While you have the right to take up a defense against criminal charges alone, you can work with an attorney to defend yourself instead. Criminal defense attorneys in Kentwood, MI, can stand with you as you challenge the accusations leveled against you. You can contact White Law PLLC to schedule an initial consultation with the team who can protect your freedoms.

Understanding Your Criminal Charges

You can come by accusations of criminal misconduct for a variety of reasons. If you were in the wrong place at the wrong time or the victim of someone else’s bias, you may find yourself trying to explain yourself to the authorities. Similarly, law enforcement representatives who misinterpret your circumstances may try to charge you with a crime.

White Law PLLC understands how these situations can rapidly spin out of your control. That’s why our team offers assistance to people in your shoes. You can call on our criminal defense lawyers in Kentwood, MI, to help you address criminal charges like:

• Homicide
• White collar crime
• Traffic violations
• DUIs
• Narcotics offenses
• Assault and battery
• Breaking and entering and/or trespassing
• Arson
• Kidnapping
• Sexual assault

You can call and ask that our attorneys meet you on the same night you’re arrested or otherwise charged with misconduct. While you should listen to the law enforcement representatives on the scene, you should not say anything that might later influence your case until you have a lawyer on the scene. Our team can protect you from law enforcement’s willful misinterpretations.

Let’s Assess the Severity of the Charges Brought Against You

Criminal charges can see you threatened with misdemeanor or felony charges. Of the two, misdemeanor charges tend to be less severe. This does not mean, however, that they can’t have a substantial impact on your day-to-day life. If you find yourself contending with misdemeanor charges, you can expect to face down:

• No more than 93 days in jail, not federal prison
• A maximum of $500 in fines
• Probation

You can discuss the exact nature of your misdemeanor with an attending attorney. Similarly, you can discuss what circumstances might alternatively see you face felony charges. Felony charges break down into unique categories that can each see you spend a considerable amount of time in federal prison. These categories include:

• Class H, resulting in sanctions, fines, and jail time
• Class G, resulting in prison time of up to two years
• Class F, resulting in prison time of up to four years
• Class E, resulting in prison time of up to five years
• Class D, resulting in prison time of up to 10 years
• Class C, resulting in prison time of up to 15 years
• Class B, resulting in prison time of up to 20 years
• Class A, resulting in a life sentence

Depending on the nature of the accusations brought against you, a court may also expect you to pay restitution to an injured party or face additional fines based on the severity of your alleged misconduct. You can discuss the exact nature of your possible charges with a criminal defense lawyer.

Preparing to Go to Criminal Court

Contending with the charges brought against you and their possible consequences is one thing. Defending yourself against those charges in criminal court is another. Whether you’re held in jail or able to make bail, you can work with criminal defense attorneys to establish your response to the accusations the prosecution intends to bring to light in court.

The good news is that both the prosecution and defense are required to share information about the case with one another during a process referred to as discovery. This means that if information comes to light that leans a case in your favor, you can integrate it into your defense early on.

Discovery can be a lengthy process, though – which is why it’s best to have a hand-picked attorney on standby. Our attorneys can create a story out of the evidence available in your case while you focus on managing your day-to-day life. When the time comes to give opening statements, examine witnesses, and prepare you for a cross, we can stand by you.

Appealing a Court’s Decision

Your criminal defense attorney does their best to challenge the accusations leveled against you by the prosecution. There are times, however, when the jury may rule against you. Don’t worry, though – your case isn’t over yet. You have the opportunity to appeal a criminal court’s ruling so long as you apply to have your case re-assessed.

If you want to qualify for the appeals process, you need to file the applicable paperwork within 30 days of a court’s decision regarding your case. You must also indicate that you have new evidence to bring forward or that you believe the court in question expressed a bias against you. All of this is easier to do with a Kentwood criminal defense lawyer on your side. 

You can have conversations about the appeal process in the wake of a court’s first ruling. If you decide to move forward with your appeal, you can count on our team members to keep you on top of essential deadlines as we prepare to reframe the prosecution’s accusations from your perspective.

Our Team Defends Your Future

Wrongful criminal charges can put your professional and personal ambitions on hold for a considerable amount of time. While the state can assign you an attorney in the wake of your charges, you can choose the legal representative who defends you in criminal court. You can work with White Law PLLC to ensure that your case is a strong one.

Contact Kentwood criminal defense attorneys today to learn more about how you can best fight back against wrongful criminal charges. You can reach out to our office by calling during operating hours or contacting us via our online form.