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Maine Criminal Lawyer

Call (888) 519-6013 to speak with a criminal defense attorney.

Any individual facing charges of a criminal offense, no matter how minor, will gain an advantage by consulting a competent Maine criminal lawyer attorney. A consultation with a professional will help an accused person better understand the nature of the charges filed against him or her, as well as the options available. This may include the chances of successfully filing plea bargains or arguing for reductions in bail, as well as negotiating for lesser charges than those filed. In addition, a skilled Maine criminal defense attorney will be proficient in the state laws and will be able to provide qualified legal representation in the event that the case goes to trial.

An accused person stands to benefit from the advice of a criminal lawyer, especially if the nature of the charges are unclear, such as when the accused is not sure if the crime is a serious offense or a mere civil infraction. If you've been charged with a crime, an experienced criminal defense attorney can advise you of your rights.

A 'crime' has been defined as an act or behavior which violates a public law forbidding it. A crime can also be the omission of an act which is required by law, such as failing to pay one's taxes. Most crimes in the United States are established by local, state, and federal governments, and therefore criminal laws may vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Crimes include both felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies, which are more serious than misdemeanors, include such crimes as arson, murder, rape, aggravated assault, kidnapping, grand theft, embezzlement and espionage. Felonies are also generally defined as crimes which are punishable by no less than one year's imprisonment in a state or federal prison. Misdemeanors, in contrast, carry only a year's incarceration or less, and in a local or county jail if they are punishable by incarceration at all. Most first-time offenders convicted of a misdemeanor will only be sentenced to a fine and a period of probation, community service or both. Misdemeanors include such crimes as petty theft, vandalism, trespassing, disorderly conduct, robbery and prostitution.

A skilled criminal lawyer may be able to negotiate with a prosecutor for a reduction of charges, or may get the case sent back to the police for further investigation. However, once a warrant has been issued, it might not be possible for the prosecutor to change the charges filed.

A criminal attorney will take a look at all the facts of your case and determine the best route to take, whether that is a plea deal or a jury trial. In a plea deal, you may be able to reduce your charges or your sentence, upon completion of some program or probationary period, or in exchange for pleading guilty and saving the expense and trouble of a trial. Your attorney, who is familiar with not only the law, but also court customs, prosecutorial bias, and statutory precedent, will be able to advise whether a plea deal is a good route to take.

If charges have been filed and the possibility of a plea deal has been taken off the table, a skilled criminal defense attorney will go to work constructing the best possible defense for his or her client. The attorney will gather all relevant information, including eyewitness testimony, expert witness testimony, evidence, character witness, and of course his or her own knowledge of statutory law and legal precedent, in order to build a case. Since the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, not the defense, a criminal attorney does not need to prove his or her client's innocence outright. All she or he has to do is plant enough doubt in the minds of the jury that they cannot rule in favor of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

A criminal lawyer has the duty to protect the client's best interests and confidentiality of the case. He or she should never reveal any information pertinent to the case even after the trial is over unless specifically required by the court or authorized by the client. Consult a lawyer as soon as possible to ensure that the necessary legal steps are taken immediately.