San Antonio Lawyer

If you have been charged with a crime in San Antonio, Texas, it is highly recommended you hire a San Antonio lawyer as soon as possible.  A criminal defense lawyer is an advocate for you in the legal system and will make sure all of your Constitutional rights are enforced while providing a rigorous legal defense to obtain the best result for your case.

Whether you have been charged with a DWI, sex crime, possession of an unlawful weapon, fraud, drug possession, or any other crime, securing an attorney experienced in defending these crimes is highly advantageous to you.  Experience should be put at a premium in your decision to hire legal counsel.  An experienced San Antonio criminal defense lawyer is familiar with what to expect from different prosecutors, when a plea bargain may be a good idea, and how to prepare a sound strategy in case your case goes to trial.

The odds of your criminal case actually going to trial are very slim.  Well over 90% of criminal charges either result in a dismissal or plea bargain.  It is usually in the government's best interest to offer some sort of plea bargain - even if there is a lot of evidence against you - because they have a lingering stack of cases they want to get through as quickly as possible.  Sometimes the government will offer a good plea deal and others they won't.  A lawyer in San Antonio will give you a good idea of where your offer stands in relation to the risk of guilt at trial.

If you have been arrested, you need to realize that police officers are not impartial fact finders like a jury or judge might be.  Police officers want to apprehend a suspect and have been known for asking questions biased towards your guilt.  You do not have to answer any questions after you are arrested.  If you listen to your Miranda rights, you have the right to remain silent.  In other words, you can refuse to answer a police officer's interrogation.  Before you agree to listen or answer any questions, it is wise to have your attorney present so they can apprise you of your legal rights at all times.  Everyone is entitled to certain legal rights, but unfortunately many unnecessarily forfeit their rights.

You must also keep in mind that every state has different criminal laws.  For example, the Texas penal code could call for a felony in one circumstance whereas the state of Florida would deem the same crime a misdemeanor.  While all counties in Texas are bound by the same statutes, it's generally recommended that you hire lawyers that are familiar with the county you have been charged in.  For example, a San Antonio lawyer would be more familiar with the Bexar County Courthouse than Harris County.  This has to do with the different mores and customs of the courthouse.  Additionally, judges vary in leniency in sentencing and motions.

Being charged with a crime can be extremely stressful, but hiring a San Antonio criminal attorney can help give you some peace of mind.  It helps knowing that you have someone diligently working in pursuit of your best legal interests.  An attorney also provides you updates in your case and will give you an idea of how long your case will take, what range of penalties you can incur, and how to improve chances of a lesser sentence during the process.