When you are facing criminal charges of any kind, whether at the federal or state level, you are supposed to enjoy a presumption of innocence. That’s the ideal. In reality, a person can suffer negative consequences of presumed guilt even as the investigation of the alleged crime is underway. That means that the need to protect your best interests may begin long before charges are leveled or you are formally indicted.
Every case is different and no one can guarantee a particular outcome. By engaging experienced counsel early it is possible to take more proactive steps to assure your rights are protected throughout the process. The aim should be to set the stage for the complete dismissal of the charges, mitigation of the effects if conviction occurs, or mounting a successful appeal.
If you are facing indictment in a federal case in Atlanta, it’s likely that you have a lot of questions about what the process entails. Following is a brief outline to help provide some context.
The first issue you will be confronted with is trying to determine whether to cooperate with the authorities. The answer depends on the specifics of your case and whether cooperating can result in benefit to you. Of course, you want to be sure that any bargain made is enforced afterward.
Making bond after an indictment and arrest is the next challenge. Prosecutors will typically seek the harshest terms possible as a precursor to any actual trial in order to prevent flight. An experienced advocate arguing for you can be crucial at this point.
As a matter of pretrial action, a full examination of how police undertook the investigation is advised. Any illegal action, from an unwarranted traffic stop to overbroad execution of a search warrant, may prompt a court challenge that works to your benefit.
Federal criminal charges are serious and have the strength of government resources behind them. Those facing them need to respond effectively with skilled legal counsel. We invite you to contact us to discuss how we can put our experience to work on your behalf.