Criminal Attorney in Sayre, PA, Defending Clients in Bradford County and Throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania
You shouldn’t take a criminal conviction lying down, no matter how wrong you feel it is. It’s very likely that your misdemeanor or felony charge could be reduced to a lighter penalty or dismissed altogether when you have the help of a Sayre criminal defense lawyer.
Unfortunately, too many people give up without fighting for their rights. Over 90% of felony convictions end in a guilty plea because they think going to trial could end in a harsh outcome. However, data shows that 68% of felony jury trials and 77% of misdemeanor trials end in a conviction.
Clearly, it pays to fight for your rights when you or a loved one is facing a criminal charge. Matthew T. Muckler of Muckler Law, LLC, is one of the top defense attorneys in Sayre, PA who can help you defend yourself in court and achieve the best possible outcome.
How a Leading Sayre Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help With Your Case
You should always fight your criminal charge by upholding your rights as stated in the Pennsylvania Constitution’s Bill of Rights as well as in various Statutes. These rights exist to regulate the powers of the government and the criminal justice system, one of which is the right to an attorney.
This is one of the most important rights because, without it, the other rights can be easily violated by law enforcement and in court. A skilled and experienced attorney is best placed to recognize any violation of your rights and use every aspect of the law to protect and defend you.
The rights of an accused person sound simple, but they’re full of subtle complexities that a very skilled attorney can handle in court. The most important rights include:
- The right to a speedy public trial
- The right to follow due process of law
- Protection against self-incrimination and forced confession
- The right to confront any witness presented by the prosecution
- The right to request a trial by jury (some courts do not have this option)
- Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
- Right not to be placed in double jeopardy (charged twice for the same offense)
- The right to receive adequate representation
“Adequate representation” means having a lawyer who does a reasonably good job at defending the accused person, but it’s not the standard of dedicated defense you’re probably looking for. A good defense may include elements like:
- Finding and calling favorable witnesses; you can even compel a witness to testify by law
- Taking an active interest in court deliberations, such as objecting to wrong instructions to the jury
- Challenging jurors who may be biased or unfair during jury selection (voir dire)
- The lawyer is required to be qualified and certified to handle that type of case
All these rights exist, but they’re not automatic. You often have to fight for them to ensure a fair trial. It’s essential to work with an expert Sayre criminal defense lawyer to help you during your case to avoid unfair criminal charges or penalties.
Importance of Fighting Misdemeanor Charges in Sayre and Throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania
Misdemeanor charges make up the majority of criminal charges in Bradford County at 60.2% compared to 39.5% for felony charges. The most common ones are drug offenses, DUI/DWI, and property offenses, such as theft.
The State offers several ways for those charged with minor misdemeanors to avoid the most serious penalties. In fact, first-time offenders may be eligible for programs such as the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) and Accelerated Misdemeanor Program (AMP) programs.
If you’re eligible for ARD and AMP, you may avoid a criminal conviction altogether and even have your record expunged upon completing an alternative rehabilitation program, such as drug treatment and probation. A lawyer with experience in such programs can be invaluable in helping you get a fresh start in life, especially if you’re a juvenile or a college student.
Mr. Muckler of Muckler Law, LLC, has helped numerous students facing drug charges, trespass, DUI, and other criminal offenses to get a fresh start in life. Talk to a top-rated Sayre criminal defense lawyer about your misdemeanor charges for advice on how you can avoid prison for minor and summary offenses.
Criminal Attorney in Sayre, PA, Helping You With Felony Charges in Bradford County and Throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania
Some felony charges can seem like a life sentence, literally. However, you would be surprised at how much a top-notch lawyer can help you. We’ve already seen that a jury trial gives you a 30% chance of acquittal, and it’s not very different for bench trials either.
That being said, almost 98% of criminal cases end in a plea bargain here in Pennsylvania. The ABA Plea Bargain Task Force that came up with these numbers also found that Pennsylvania is one of the states with the fewest trials at under 3%. Plea bargains aren’t there to help accused persons, they’re there to help the justice system clear their caseload as fast as possible and increase “efficiency.”
The problem is that plea bargains allow law enforcement and prosecutors to hound people so that many innocents end up pleading guilty. Plea bargains are often unfair, requiring the defendant to waive their right to appeal and the right to receive exculpatory information, which is any information that could be favorable to the defendant.
It’s very important to have a trustworthy defense lawyer who can weigh all these facts and tell you the truth so that you can make a wise decision. If you have an experienced Sayre criminal defense lawyer committed to fighting for you, you can be sure that you’ll get the best outcome possible.
Contact a Sayre Criminal Defense Lawyer You Can Trust
Criminal defense goes far beyond mere knowledge of laws and the justice system. The best criminal attorney in Sayre, PA, should be experienced and committed to getting you the best outcome. That means being willing to spend hours of hard work to find evidence and witnesses who can help you, as well as communicating openly and honestly with you.
Mr. Matthew Muckler of Muckler Law, LLC, is a dedicated criminal defense lawyer helping the people of Sayre and all of Bradford County and Northeastern Pennsylvania to fight criminal charges. If you’re looking for a defense lawyer you can trust, contact Muckler Law now and get a free consultation.
