When you find yourself in trouble with the law, you need a Knoxville criminal defense attorney that you can trust to work on your behalf. A good lawyer will take the time to investigate the facts and challenge the evidence against you.
He will also fight for a dismissal or reduced charges. This is important because convictions can lead to severe consequences.
Drug Charges
If you’re facing drug charges, it’s important to get a criminal defense attorney on your side right away. This will give you a much-needed chance to fight your case.
Depending on the substance, you could face misdemeanor or felony charges. Possessing a small amount of marijuana, for example, can be treated as a misdemeanor offense. However, if you’re caught with a lot more than that, you can be charged with felony drug possession.
A felony conviction can have devastating consequences for your life, including limiting your ability to get a job, having your housing and firearm rights terminated, affecting your education, and even removing you from federal student aid.
If you’re facing drug charges, it’s vital to hire a skilled and experienced Knoxville criminal defense attorney. This will give you a much-needed fighting chance to get your charges dropped, dismissed or reduced or beat a conviction at trial.
DUI Charges
Whether you have been arrested for a drunk driving charge or a drug crime, hiring a Knoxville criminal defense attorney can make all the difference. A good lawyer will have an in-depth knowledge of local and state DUI law, police procedure, and judicial system to help you win your case.
If you are facing a DUI charge, the penalties can be severe. Even a first offense can result in a minimum of 48 hours in jail and $350 fine. A second offense can result in 45 days to 11 months and 29 days of jail time; $600 to $3,500 in fines; your license can be suspended for one year; and you may be required to enroll in a substance abuse treatment program.
A DUI conviction can drastically change your life. It can affect your financial future, driving privileges, employment, and more. A good lawyer can work to minimize these consequences as much as possible, such as asking that the prosecutor reduce charges based on insufficient evidence; having your license reinstated; or helping you seek a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.
Drug Trafficking Charges
If you are accused of drug trafficking, you will need to hire a Knoxville criminal defense attorney who understands how to defend your case. This will help you avoid a permanent criminal record and a lifetime of negative consequences after you are convicted.
In order to be guilty of drug trafficking, the prosecution must prove that you knowingly possessed illegal drugs. The prosecution must also show that you intended to sell or distribute those drugs.
While possession of drugs can be a misdemeanor, drug trafficking is a felony and can result in jail time and a permanent criminal record. This is because drug trafficking involves the sale of controlled substances, which include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and prescription medications.
A seasoned Knoxville criminal defense attorney can build a strong defense for your drug trafficking charges by challenging the evidence that the government is presenting to the jury. They may be able to use the absence of evidence, errors made by investigators and other material facts to establish that you were not guilty.
Appeals
When you are convicted of a crime, you may have a right to appeal the decision to a higher court. A Knoxville criminal defense attorney can help you with this process.
An appeal is a request to have a higher court review and reverse a trial court’s decision, usually because you believe it was made wrong. The appellate court reviews the evidence, transcripts, and documents from the trial, and decides if the trial court made any legal errors that must be corrected.
A Knoxville appeals attorney can help you with this process by reviewing your case and determining whether there were any mistakes in the trial that could have influenced the outcome of your case. Once they determine that an appeal is in your best interest, they can begin the legal process.
An appeal is a review of the trial court’s decision by a higher court that looks at the same facts as the original trial. This can be a very complicated process that can take time and involve many different judges.