Dillon Criminal Defense Lawyer

Dillon Criminal Defense Attorney

In our criminal justice system, few things are as stressful as a criminal trial on the defendant. Criminal trials come with the risk of an extended stay in prison and can have long-term consequences on a person’s life. If you’re facing the risk of a criminal conviction, you need to speak with a Dillon criminal defense lawyer and enlist their services to help you through the legal procedure.

At Axelrod & Associates, we can provide a defense for you in court. We’ll work to suppress any evidence we can and negotiate a plea deal if you desire. We can give you an idea of the most effective way to proceed with your defense and can work tirelessly to get you the optimal outcome.

Does Axelrod & Associates Handle Criminal Defense Cases?

At Axelrod & Associates, we have a team of attorneys with over 100 years of combined experience handling legal matters. We’ll put our insight and past to good use as we use our knowledge to advocate for our clients and protect them from the might of the criminal justice system.

While we can’t promise any specific outcome, we can coordinate with you to provide a defense that will hopefully reduce or dismiss your charges.

What Are the Basics of Criminal Defense in South Carolina?

Criminal defense covers any charge of a criminal nature. Unlike civil court, where the penalties for losing are all monetary, a criminal trial carries the risk of jail time and probation. You will also be going up against a local prosecutor whose job it is to try to secure as many convictions as possible.

Criminal charges in Dillon, South Carolina come in two varieties: misdemeanor and felony. These terms fluctuate in meaning between states, but in general, a misdemeanor is for lesser crimes, and felonies are for serious offenses.

South Carolina law allows a judge to sentence someone to up to three years in jail for a misdemeanor if the court finds the defendant guilty. Felony charges can range from a few years to life in prison. Misdemeanors usually end with someone in a county jail, while a felony will take the defendant to a state correctional facility.

What Kinds of Criminal Cases Does Axelrod & Associates Take On?

At Axelrod & Associates, we handle several types of criminal cases. Some of the crimes we deal with include:

• Murder and manslaughter: Perhaps no crime captures the national attention like murder. Murder implies an intent to kill someone, whereas manslaughter focuses on spur-of-the-moment decisions and negligence that lead to someone dying. Of the two, you’d rather be dealing with a manslaughter charge, but neither is particularly enviable.
• Assault and battery: Though we often couple the terms together, assault and battery mean slightly different things. Assault involves the threat and attempts at violence. For instance, if you swing a punch at someone and miss, that’s still assault. Battery is the physical component of the crime, so as soon as you put your hands on someone, you may run afoul of a battery charge.
• Trespassing: If you are on someone’s property without their permission, you are guilty of trespassing. You can offer up a defense that says you made a mistake in good faith and didn’t mean to be on the property.
• DUI: South Carolina, like most states, takes driving under the influence seriously. While a first-time offense may just land you on probation, subsequent offenses carry the risk of extensive jail time. Even a first offense can sometimes carry a jail sentence, depending on the nature of the case. Fighting any DUI charge is important, as you cannot get a conviction expunged.
• Theft: Theft is the unlawful taking of something. Typically, you commit theft when you have the legal right to be in the place where you’re taking something. For instance, theft includes shoplifting or grabbing something off of someone’s table when they invite you in.
• Robbery: Robbery is a more severe crime than theft and is against people rather than against property. In a robbery, you use threats and intimidation to coerce a person into giving you something. You may threaten them with a weapon or with the fear of retaliation if they don’t provide what you want.
• Drug possession: Having any quantity of drugs on your person is a risk in Dillon, as police are always trying to find a way to get drugs off the street. A possession charge has a wide range of outcomes depending on the type of drugs you had on you and how much was in your possession.

What Should I Do After the Police Charge Me With a Crime?

The most important step as soon as the police call you in for questioning or place you under arrest is to remain calm. You’ll likely be feeling scared about the situation, but you need to keep your cool and stay clear-headed to ensure you get through the initial process.

The biggest mistake we see from our clients after a criminal charge is answering police questions. It is very tempting to explain your side of the story and try to clear up the matter with the police. The police will even act like they are your friends and can help you out if you just talk to them about the case.

You should not, under basically any circumstances, speak with the police and answer their questions. Anything you say to the police will be used against you to make a case in court. The only thing you should tell the police is that you want an attorney.

Once you have a criminal defense attorney on your side, you can begin building your case. You will have a chance to meet with your attorney and discuss the case with them. Be truthful and thorough with your attorney. If you are guilty, you can tell your lawyer this. They aren’t allowed to reveal your guilt, and it will help them to figure out a way to build the case.

Your attorney can handle building the case, speaking to law enforcement, and protecting you from potentially saying anything incriminating. Your attorney will work with you while building the case and give you an idea of the proper way to proceed. They’ll explain any possibilities for a sentence reduction and if you should plead guilty or not.

Do I Need a Lawyer When I’m Facing Criminal Charges?

Hiring a lawyer is almost a necessity when it comes to a criminal case. Even a minor charge carries with it the risk of long-term consequences, and you may find yourself serving a prison sentence if you don’t treat any criminal charge with the respect it deserves.

When dealing with a criminal charge, you’ll be going up against a prosecuting attorney. These attorneys have plenty of experience working to put people behind bars and punish them to the fullest extent of the law. You’ll have little chance of winning the case on your own and matching their level of legal knowledge. That’s where your attorney comes in.

A Dillon criminal defense attorney will look at your case from an objective point of view and give you an unbiased opinion on the optimal way to proceed. If they believe they have a solid chance of winning the case, they may urge you to stay in the fight. If the case is looking dire, they may suggest taking a plea deal to reduce your potential sentence. These are tough decisions to make on your own, but an attorney will assist you with the decision-making process.

Dillon Criminal Defense FAQs

Q: Do Judges Give Probation for a Felony Charge?

A: It depends. Some of the lower-severity felonies do allow for a judge to grant probation instead of jail time. Sentencing is entirely at the judge’s discretion, and they will assign a punishment based on the guidelines and the facts of the case. More serious felonies like murder have no chance of probation.

Q: Do You Lose Any Rights If You Get a Felony in South Carolina?

A: Yes, unfortunately, you can lose rights as a result of a felony. South Carolina law has two major punishments for felons: loss of the rights to vote and bear arms. You will not be able to vote in any elections until you complete your sentence and any probation or parole after it.

Q: What Are Some Examples of Felonies in SC?

A: Felonies range from extremely serious cases like murder or rape to lesser crimes like assault. No matter the type of felony you’re dealing with, you’ll want to fight hard against it, as the penalties are extremely severe for any conviction.

Q: What Is an Attorney’s Retainer Fee?

A: A retainer fee is money a client pays up front to reserve an attorney in the future. This exchange of money also gives you attorney-client privilege with your legal counsel, allowing you to speak freely about the case. Attorneys charge different retainer fees depending on their experience level.

Axelrod & Associates: Experienced Dillon Criminal Defense Attorneys

Every second counts regarding criminal cases. You need to hire a Dillon criminal defense attorney to handle your case and help you avoid a long stay in prison.

At Axelrod & Associates, we can help. Contact us today to see how we can assist you through the legal process.