Bellevue Federal Defense Lawyer

When you are facing federal charges, it is vital to have a Bellevue federal defense lawyer on your side fighting for you. Federal offenses not only impact your immediate future but can also affect the rest of your life as well. Legal representation can help you avoid jeopardizing the outcome of your case and ensure you have a compelling defense strategy.  

Puget Law Group has extensive experience defending clients against a variety of federal charges. With previous experience as prosecutors, our team uses this inside knowledge to win criminal defense cases by tailoring our strategy accordingly. When working with a Bellevue criminal defense lawyer from our firm, you can be confident that we will customize your defense to your specific situation to get the best results possible. 

How a Federal Defense Attorney in Bellevue Can Defend You Against the Allegations Against You

Federal crimes are serious offenses that often endanger the population and take place in more than one state. They can include a number of offenses, such as fraud, white-collar crimes, child pornography, and more. Multiple federal agencies are typically involved with these cases, and sentences for these crimes may often involve significant prison time.  

To minimize the impact of these crimes on your life and avoid a federal conviction, an experienced and highly-trained lawyer will aggressively fight for you and negotiate with the prosecution on your behalf.  They will be your advocate throughout your case to ensure your rights are not violated. Your best course of action after an arrest and throughout the trial process is to remain silent and allow your lawyer to speak for you so the prosecution does not use what you say against you. 

When preparing for a criminal trial, your lawyer will gain a thorough understanding of your charges and your background to assess your case and be fully prepared for negotiations and trial. Your lawyer will discuss your options and strategies they can use on your behalf to get your charges reduced or even dismissed. They will also acquire and review the discovery in your case, advise you on how to plead, submit any pre-trial motions as needed, and argue your case in court. 

Strategies Your Bellevue Federal Defense Attorney May Use in Your Case

A strong defense strategy is key to combating the prosecution’s arguments and ensuring a favorable outcome in your case. Your lawyer will determine the most effective defense(s) for your trial based on the discovery information, your history, available evidence, and the handling of your case by law enforcement officials. According to RCW Chapter 9A.16, the following arguments may be used for your defense:

• Lawful use of force
• Excusable or justifiable homicide
• Duress
• Entrapment
• Intoxication related to a particular mental condition
• Self-defense

Your lawyer will identify the most applicable defense and build your case around it. They will also apply additional defenses as needed, depending on your specific situation. It is important to communicate all the details about your case to your lawyer, regardless of how small they may seem, to ensure that your lawyer has all the information they need to effectively defend you. 

Mitigating Factors As Part of Your Defense

Your federal defense lawyer in Bellevue, WA will also present applicable mitigating factors in line with WAC 246-16-890 as part of your defense strategy. As the name implies, these are factors that are considered with the purpose of reducing the charges against you. Some mitigating factors that your lawyer may apply in your case may include:

• Age
• Mental capacity
• Character
• No prior charges or misconduct
• Cooperation with law enforcement
• Remorse
• Unlikely that the offense would be repeated
• Volunteering to take restitutionary measures

Mitigating factors provide valuable context to the crime and provide a clearer picture about the details or events leading up to the offense. These components can be instrumental in securing a better case result but are not guaranteed. Be sure to talk with your lawyer to see what mitigating factors might be relevant in your case. 

Your Rights When Facing Federal Charges

Even though you have been arrested and charged with a federal crime, you are not without your rights. The Bill of Rights and Miranda Rights provide rules to ensure that you receive due process when accused of a crime. 

You are entitled to the following protections when facing federal charges:

• Fourth Amendment: Protects you from an unreasonable search or seizure. A warrant must first be issued with probable cause in order to conduct a search. 
• Fifth Amendment: Keeps you from being deprived of your freedoms and being tried more than once for the same crime. It also ensures that you receive due diligence for the offense leveled against you. 
• Sixth Amendment: Gives you the right to a swift trial by a jury of your peers. You are also allowed to know the charges against you, defend yourself with the aid of a lawyer, and have witnesses testify on your behalf. 
• Miranda Rights: You do not have to speak to law enforcement and can hire a lawyer to defend you against the charges you are being accused of. Law enforcement must read your rights upon arrest and warn you that what you say can be used against you in your case. 

A federal defense attorney in Bellevue, WA will ensure that your constitutional rights are not violated. Any violation of those rights could potentially be grounds for getting your case or specific evidence dismissed. Your attorney will closely review how your case has been handled and safeguard your freedoms. 

Hire Puget Law Group to Defend You Against Federal Charges

Puget Law Group defends and supports you when your future seems bleak, and you need to fight the charges you are facing. With the backing of a highly skilled legal team, you can combat the allegations against you with a strong defense strategy. 

Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about us and how a federal defense lawyer in Bellevue can shield you from the impact of federal charges.