Auburn Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal charges can lead to serious and life-changing consequences. The team at Puget Law Group has more than 150 years of combined criminal law experience. An Auburn criminal defense lawyer can protect your rights and help you mitigate the damage to your personal and professional life.

Crimes in Auburn

Per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 9A.20.010, crimes are classified as misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is not as serious as a felony. Examples of crimes reported in Auburn include:

• DUI
• Theft
• Domestic violence
• Assault 
• Drug crime

You may be charged with any of these crimes or others in spite of the fact that you did not actually commit them. If this happens to you, consult with a criminal defense lawyer in Auburn from Puget Law Group. Reach out to us today. 

Criminal Penalties

The penalties for a crime depend on the type of charge you face. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you may receive up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. For those charged with a felony, you may get up to life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. 

Criminal penalties go up based on the number of times someone has committed a crime, the severity of their actions, and other factors. For instance, you may face a misdemeanor the first time you are charged with driving under the influence (DUI). However, if you have been convicted of a DUI more than three times, you may be charged with a felony on your fourth offense. 

Washington prosecutors will do everything they can to punish you to the full extent of the law. To avoid harsh penalties, work with an Auburn criminal defense lawyer. This gives you access to an attorney who may be able to get any charges against you lowered or dismissed. 

Alternative Punishments to Jail and Prison Time

In addition to fines, there may be other penalties that allow you to avoid jail or prison time. An Auburn criminal defense attorney can go over these alternative penalties with you. Some of the penalties that may be levied in lieu of jail or prison time include:

• House arrest
• Probation
• Community service
• Inpatient drug or alcohol rehab
• Inpatient psychiatric treatment

A criminal defense lawyer in Auburn can help you determine if these options may be available. If so, your attorney may attempt to negotiate a plea bargain with your case’s prosecutor. This may help you get the best possible case results.

Criminal Plea Agreement 

If you are charged with a crime, you do not necessarily have to go to trial. A criminal defense attorney in Auburn keeps the lines of communication open with a prosecutor. This may lead both sides in a case to reach a plea agreement. 

It is common for plea bargaining to happen in a criminal case. By coming to an agreement without a trial, you accept lesser charges. This may help you avoid a conviction, along with jail or prison time. 

Expect negotiations to remain ongoing between your lawyer and the prosecutor in your case. If no agreement is reached, you go to trial. At this point, the court decides if you will be convicted. 

Criminal Defense Strategies

If you go into a trial, it pays to have a legal strategy in place. Fortunately, a lawyer can help you prepare a compelling strategy. Legal defenses used in criminal cases include the following.

Self-Defense

Someone may attack you, and you fight back to defend yourself. If you are charged with a crime due to the fact that you were protecting yourself, you may be able to claim you were acting in self-defense. To support your claim, you may use video footage or other evidence that shows you were defending yourself against an attack. 

Entrapment

With entrapment, a person is persuaded or induced to commit a crime by their arresting officer, who does so in the hopes of prosecuting this individual. You may be able to use an entrapment defense if you can prove you were not predisposed to committing a crime. If you can provide evidence to show you had no intent to commit a crime, you may be able to get any charges against you reduced or dropped. 

Police Misconduct

There are times when police officers exaggerate the facts surrounding a crime. They may also make false statements, pressure someone to accept responsibility for a crime they did not actually commit, and mishandle evidence. If you are dealing with any of these instances or others, you may be able to claim there was police misconduct that prompted the charge against you. 

Reasonable Doubt

A prosecutor must provide enough evidence to show a judge or jury that you committed a crime. You can provide evidence that raises doubts about the prosecutor’s body of proof. If there is reasonable doubt about whether you were involved, a court may rule in your favor.

Duress 

Someone may commit a crime based on a threat from another individual. In this situation, the individual committed the crime due to duress. If you can provide proof to show there was an immediate threat of violence and no other reasonable course of action other than to commit a crime, you may be able to avoid a conviction. 

Mistake of Fact

A person may commit a crime without realizing that they are breaking the law. For example, an individual may violate a gun law in Washington but do so due to the fact that they are unaware of the regulation. The defendant, in this case, may be able to use a mistake of fact defense to contest their charge. 

You have the right to be represented by an attorney if you face a criminal charge. Take advantage of this right by hiring a lawyer from a proven criminal defense law firm. That way, you can work with a team of legal professionals who can help you develop a legal strategy that makes it clear you were in no way responsible for a crime. 

Hire an Auburn Criminal Defense Attorney

The team at Puget Law Group is devoted to your legal defense. A criminal defense lawyer can review your case and help you craft your legal strategy. To schedule a consultation, contact us today.