Serious Representation For Felony Criminal Charges
If prosecutors have decided to proceed with charges against you, it means that they have already been working on your case, analyzing the evidence, consulting with the arresting police officers and/or weighing the litigation hazards. This is why it is so important to use your right to an attorney at the earliest opportunity.
This is especially true when you or a family member faces felony charges. Felony crimes are punishable by a year or more in jail or prison, and the stigma of a felony conviction on your record can make it harder to obtain employment.
Leveling The Playing Field
I am attorney Scott Campbell. For over 30 years, I have represented individuals facing felony charges in Platte County. My comprehensive criminal defense practice includes all five categories of felonies, from class A to class E, including:
- Murder and manslaughter
- Assault and aggravated assault
- Domestic assault involving weapons or serious bodily harm
- Robbery and burglary
- Sex offenses
- Felony DWI
- Drug crimes
- Firearm offenses
I maintain a robust practice in felony criminal defense. I can help no matter what the charges are.
Holding Prosecutors To Their Burden Of Proof
I understand how intimidated you may feel by the police and the evidence they have gathered against you. This is where I get to work. The first step often involves your plea. I generally advise against entering a guilty plea or accepting a deal at the preliminary hearing or arraignment without first consulting legal counsel.
In many cases, it is advisable to enter a plea of not guilty. At a minimum, that option provides more time to investigate the evidence against you. It also preserves your right to file pretrial motions.
Remember, prosecutors must meet a high burden: proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. An initial not guilty plea may encourage more favorable negotiations, especially as the trial date gets closer and prosecutors struggle with their heavy caseload in an overburdened court system.
Bringing An Experienced Eye To Investigations
Prosecutors are required by law to turn over any exculpatory evidence against you. However, that evidence is not automatically admissible in court, such as the hearsay statements contained within a police report. In fact, I do not accept any of the evidence until I have performed my own investigation and review.
There are many opportunities for gathering additional evidence. If there is an alleged victim, social media accounts might reveal facts that raise serious credibility questions. There may be eyewitnesses who have a different recollection or dash cam footage that portrays a sequence of events that is at odds with the arresting officer’s story or report. I also will not hesitate to conduct depositions to get to the truth of what happened.
Contact An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney
With an office in Platte City very close to the courthouse, I am conveniently located and available to answer your felony defense questions. Call Scott L. Campbell Law Offices, LLC at 816-866-8022 or complete the online contact form to schedule a consultation with me today.