A criminal defense attorney serves as the defendant’s legal representative when facing criminal charges in court. They help defendants create defense arguments that establish how the defendant is not guilty of the alleged offense or why they should not be penalized for the charges they’re facing.
Our legal team works hard to prevent people from being wrongfully convicted of alleged offenses and aims to defend people’s innocence when possible.
What a Criminal Defense Attorney Does Depends on the Type of Case Being Charged or Brought By the Government
While every criminal defense case differs depending on the severity of the charges and the circumstances surrounding the alleged event, there are some general tasks that our criminal defense attorneys handle to help clients build their cases.
These tasks include:
Reviewing the Report of the Arrest and Processing Paperwork
When building your defense, our team will first look into the type of charge(s) you face and how you were arrested. Even when facing potential conviction for an alleged offense, people have certain rights when being pulled over or stopped, arrested, and processed through the justice system.
If at any point in your case we find the following occurred, we may include it in your case argument to defend you against criminal conviction:
- You were unlawfully pulled over or stopped, as in there was no reasonable suspician or probable cause to warrant this stop by a police officer.
- You were not read your Miranda rights during your arrest, possibly making any statement that you gave inadmissible.
- The arresting officer continued to interrogate you even after you invoked your right to remain silent during the
- You were not given an opportunity to retain a lawyer during the interrogation or processing, which is your right.
- There is evidence that proves the arresting officer planted evidence to frame you.
Investigating the Case in Hopes of Discovering Supporting Evidence
Our legal will investigateyour case to collect evidence that we can use to defend you. For example, the following evidence may be a vital part of your case:
- Photos and video footage of the alleged offense or arrest
- Eyewitness testimony
- Records that can establish you were not present at the time of the alleged offense, such as cellphone records, clock-ins at work, or receipts
- DNA analysis or other types of tests, such as a breathalyzer test or blood screenings
Interviewing Witnesses and Examining Their Testimonies
If there were witnesses present at the scene, we may interview them and record their testimonies to use as evidence for your case. Doing so can also prepare us to cross-examine witnesses if we find discrepancies in their testimonies during court.
Advocating for You in Court Hearings
Throughout your criminal defense case, you may need to appear in preliminary and other types of court hearings. A criminal defense attorney from our team can serve as your advocate and fight for your freedom..
A common example includes lowering your bail or having you put on house arrest so that you can continue working while your case is in motion.
Negotiating a Plea Deal if Possible
If a plea deal is viable, our team may help you negotiate one that either reduces the severity of the charges you are facing or lessens jail time or probation. Some arguments we may use to negotiate a deal include:
- It was your first time committing the offense.
- No one was hurt as a result of the alleged offense.
- There is insufficient evidence to convict you of all the charges you are facing.
- There are other mitigating factors about you that should lessen the sentence.
Negotiating a plea deal can help you avoid harsher penalties, as described in 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 1101-1105. For example, negotiation may help you avoid having points added to your driving record in cases involving drunk driving. Excessive point accumulation can lead to license suspension or revocation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
For a free legal consultation, call 215.515.3360
Our Legal Team Works Hard to Fight for Our Clients and Have Their Defense Heard
When you are facing criminal charges, the pressure of creating a strong defense argument can feel overwhelming. However, you don’t have to bear this responsibility when you’re our client – we do.
Our legal team works under the guidance of Attorney Marni Jo Snyder, who has successfully won numerous verdicts that relieved clients of the charges they were facing. Some of our legal team’s criminal defense case results include:
- Aggravated assault (not guilty verdict): We helped one client defend themselves against the Commonwealth on an aggravated assault charge by finding lies and inaccurate information in three testimonies by witnesses.
- Child molestation (not guilty verdict): We helped one client, a male teacher, who was facing charges for allegedly touching a female student by establishing bias against our client. We found through cross examination that the student was punished and given bad grades on the day of the alleged offense. The student had also initially reported that another student touched her, not the teacher.
- Gun charge (not guilty verdict): We helped a client who was facing charges for carrying a firearm without a license by poking holes through two police officers’ testimonies about the alleged offense. The jury found that their investigation was incompetent and there was not enough verifiable evidence to file charges against our client.
These are a few examples of the types of cases our team handles every day. We give great attention to detail so that your story is accurate and upstanding in court.
We Have Represented Clients Facing Various Types of Criminal Charges
At the Law Offices of M.J. Snyder, LLC., we help create defenses for cases involving:
- Drug-related crimes, from possession to drug trafficking
- Sexual offenses, including child pornography and other sexual crimes against minors
- Aggravated assault
- Murder or manslaughter
- Theft crimes, including burglaries and armed robberies
- Firearms offenses
- Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses
- Domestic violence
- Cybercrimes and other internet-related offenses
- Identity theft and fraud
- Juvenile charges, including cases in which juveniles are charged as adults
If you are facing another type of criminal charge not listed here, our team still wants to review your case. One of our team members can discuss the details and penalties you might face, then explain how one of our criminal defense lawyers may be able to help you.
Call Now to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney From the Law Offices of M.J. Snyder, LLC.
If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges for an alleged offense, reach out to our legal team at the Law Offices of M.J. Snyder, LLC., to hire a criminal defense attorney. We can represent you and present your argument for why the charges should be reduced or dismissed. We aim to prove your innocence.
Get a free consultation by calling our firm at (215) 515-3360 today.
