Being arrested, charged, and convicted of a crime can be isolating and frightening, but we can help you through this stage of your life in Eagle Mountain.
During criminal cases, our lawyers provide much-needed support and legal guidance to defendants. We can use our deep understanding of Utah’s criminal code to explain the charges against you and your likely consequences if convicted. We can also carefully review evidence from the arrest to determine if officers violated your rights or missed crucial steps. Cases that go to trial require defenses, which our attorneys can build after speaking with you and reviewing the evidence. Defendants who have been convicted of criminal charges in the past may be eligible for expungement, and we can help with this process so you can move forward with your life.
Get help with your case by calling the criminal defense lawyers of Overson Law at (801) 758-2287.
How Our Lawyers Can Help Criminal Defendants in Eagle Mountain
When we take on your criminal case in Eagle Mountain, we can handle all aspects. This starts with reviewing the charges and explaining them to you so you appreciate the seriousness of the matter. We can then review your arrest to determine if law enforcement violated your rights, ensure the bail amount set is fair, and build your defense to overcome the charges against you.
Explaining the Charges
Criminal charges are separated into misdemeanors and felonies in Utah. Generally speaking, misdemeanors are the least serious criminal offenses you could be charged with. Traffic violations, disorderly conduct, or theft of less than $50 could be charged as a class C misdemeanor, which typically ends in fines for defendants. Class A misdemeanors, the highest misdemeanor offenses, could result in 364 days in prison if defendants are convicted and receive the maximum sentence. Allegedly possessing a small amount of marijuana or assaulting someone and causing substantial bodily injury could lead to class A misdemeanor charges in Utah, and certain class B misdemeanors could be elevated if aggravating factors are present.
Felonies are the most serious criminal charges. Second and first degree felonies have minimum prison sentences upon conviction, one and five years, respectively. Felonies are also harder to expunge and move on from, even after defendants have served time or completed parole. Fully appreciating the charges against you and the possible consequences if convicted is crucial so that you prioritize and participate in your defense.
Reviewing the Arrest
We can then review police officers’ notes from the arrest and go over what happened with you. This is necessary to determine if officers violated your rights when arresting or holding you on suspected charges. Being arrested for mistaken identity could happen when witnesses wrongly identify someone as an actor when they had no part in the crime. Investigating how officers identified you as the right individual to arrest could yield information undermining the prosecution’s case before it begins in court.
Setting Bail
Our attorneys can also look out for defendants’ best interests during bail hearings. The prosecution in Mountain Eagle might seek high bail amounts that are not proportional to the alleged offense or are unfair to the specific defendant’s situation. Our criminal defense lawyers can argue against unnecessarily high bail by showing your value to the larger community, explaining that your family relies on you for work, or giving more context about your financial situation. We can also explain to your loved ones how they can give 10% of the set bail amount to the court for your release during the trial. This is crucial so that you can participate in your defense from the comfort of your home. After bail is granted, defendants still facing trial may have to abide by certain terms, and our lawyers can ensure you are well aware of all bail terms so that the judge does not revoke bail during your case.
Building Your Defense
Defenses vary dramatically from case to case. Suppose an officer allegedly found a small amount of marijuana on your person in Eagle Mountain. If the search itself was illegally performed, our attorneys may be able to get the case completely thrown out of court. In other cases, like if a defendant is arrested for assault, our attorneys may be able to get the charges dramatically lowered so that defendants can avoid jail time altogether. Strong defenses to assault charges include self-defense, defense of others, and defense of property. Other common charges in Utah include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The persecution’s case could heavily rely on field sobriety, breath, and blood tests, which can have skewed results our attorneys could expose to create doubt for jurors.
Expunging Criminal Records
Expungement allows those previously convicted of criminal charges who have served their time and satisfied all elements of their convictions to remove those convictions from their criminal records. Our attorneys can initiate this process as soon as you become eligible, which could be several years. If you were never charged or convicted of a crime, our lawyers could file for expungement on your behalf within as little as 30 days after an arrest. For most class B misdemeanor convictions, expungement can happen after four years. For class A misdemeanors, expungement can happen after five years. You can seek expungement for eligible felonies after seven years, though not all felonies can be erased from criminal records. Utah’s recent Clean Slate Law has made seeking expungement easier for convicted defendants who have completed their sentences and have not been recharged or convicted of other crimes since. When your record is expunged, you can move through the world as if you were never tried or convicted of a crime. Employers, landlords, and other interested parties will not be able to learn about your past by doing background checks or even looking for court documents.
Call Our Eagle Mountain Lawyers About Your Criminal Case
Get a free case analysis when you call our criminal defense lawyers of Overson Law at (801) 758-2287.
