Federal Way Criminal Defense Lawyer

Puget Law Group is a proven choice for criminal cases. We have years of experience protecting the rights of those accused of wrongdoing. A Federal Way criminal defense lawyer can discuss the details of your case and help safeguard your best interests.

Criminal Case Definition

The government can bring a case against you if it believes you have committed a crime. In this situation, you are involved in a criminal case. Examples of cases where you may receive criminal penalties include:

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

The classification of a crime dictates the punishment associated with it. The team at Puget Law Group can teach you about the different crime classifications and similar legal topics. For more information, reach out to us.

Crime Classifications in Washington State

Per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) §9A.20.021, criminal penalties are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies. The severity of a criminal act determines if it is classified as a misdemeanor or felony. A district or municipal court reviews misdemeanors, while a superior court evaluates felonies.

A misdemeanor is less serious than a felony. There are simple and gross misdemeanors, with the former resulting in less severe penalties than the latter. Those convicted of a simple misdemeanor may get up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, while individuals found guilty of a gross misdemeanor may receive up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Comparatively, anyone convicted of a felony may receive over a year in prison. There are A, B, and C categories of felonies. Those found guilty of a felony may get anywhere from five years to life in prison and $10,000 to $50,000 in fines.

Criminal Defense Procedures  

There is a process in place for charging someone with a crime. With this process, you have the ability to defend against any charge you face. Here are the steps involved in this process:

Notification of Charges

In a misdemeanor case, you will receive a complaint. If you are being accused of a felony, you will get an indictment. In either scenario, you are formally notified about a charge against you and the upcoming court date associated with it.

Arraignment and Plea

An arraignment is a court hearing, and a plea is whether you say you are guilty or not guilty. It is common for a defendant to enter a plea of not guilty. Doing so gives you the opportunity to build a defense that may allow the charge against you to be eliminated.

Pre-Trial 

There may be negotiations and other pre-trial activities. A negotiation may allow a defendant and prosecutor to settle a case without a trial. If the negotiation ends with a plea bargain, the defendant may be able to avoid jail time or other serious penalties.

Trial

If no plea agreement is reached, a trial commences. A defendant and prosecutor present their respective arguments. The court makes a final decision on whether the defendant will be punished.

Having an experienced team of legal professionals at your side is helpful as you navigate criminal defense procedures. This team can help you avoid mistakes along the way. They can also work with you to start building your defense immediately after you are charged with a crime.

What to Do if You Have Been Charged with a Crime

If you get charged with a crime, take the offense seriously. The charge will not disappear on its own. Fortunately, you can contest a charge against you before it leads to a conviction that can impact you long into the future.

In addition to the penalties you receive based on a conviction, the consequences of the guilty charge you get can impact how others view you. It may affect your ability to get the job you want. Also, you may not be able to get into the military, attend a college or university, or buy or rent a residence.

Rather than accept responsibility for a criminal charge, get help from a Federal Way criminal defense lawyer. Choose an attorney who has achieved outstanding case results. Then, you and your lawyer can work together to craft a legal strategy designed to get the charge against you reduced or dropped.

Legal Defenses in Criminal Cases

A Federal Way criminal defense attorney understands that every criminal case is different. They learn as much as they can about you and your case and help you prepare a custom legal strategy. Some of the defenses an attorney may use in a criminal case include:

Self-Defense

According to RCW §9A.16.110, you are legally allowed to defend yourself against a violent crime. If someone commits a violent crime against you and you are trying to protect yourself, you may have grounds for disputing the charge. A criminal defense attorney in Federal Way can help you determine if self-defense is a valid argument to use in your case.

Inability to Have Criminal Intent

A prosecutor must show that you committed a crime and intended to do so. However, there may be a lack of evidence to prove intent. A criminal defense lawyer in Federal Way can help you dispute the evidence against you and show you in no way wanted to harm anyone.

Insanity

To establish that their client was insane at the time a crime was committed, an attorney must show that this individual did not understand that what they did was wrong or is incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. Using insanity as a criminal defense may be difficult. Regardless, an attorney may rely on this strategy to help their client get their desired case result.

Consult with an attorney who has received many positive client reviews. This lawyer can discuss common legal defense strategies with you. They can help you create a strategy that puts you in a strong position to have any charges against you lowered or removed. 

Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney

Puget Law Group makes it easy to connect with a top-notch criminal defense attorney. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To schedule a consultation, contact us today.