Top Frisco Texas Criminal Defense attorney Philip D. Ray explains what happens when you have been arrested for the first time. For most Texas citizens, getting arrested for their first crime is a one-and-done situation. Being put through an arrest, and being booked, is enough to deter further criminal activity.
But the anxiety level and concern that accompanies the “what is going to happen now” will likely be through the roof, especially with a first crime. The biggest thing to know and do is hire a lawyer right away. Whether your first crime or not, it is best to not talk to police investigators about charges without an attorney. So, stay calm, and be respectful but do not answer any questions about the charges nor try and explain away the accusation. Simply ask for a lawyer. That is your right, and it is simply smart behavior. It does NOT make you guilty or suspicious. Instead, you are being properly cautious. You are in an unknown situation and wouldn’t you agree it would be best to have someone knowledgeable and experienced to guide you.
Criminal offenses come in many types with crimes against a person and crimes against property being common for first crimes.
Attorney Ray explains how with the right criminal defense attorney presenting to the prosecutor, or the grand jury in some cases, charges may be dropped, and you will not be indicted at all.
Click here to view transcript
For most people that come into the system, it is their first time. They have no idea what is happening. The first thing you want to do is get an attorney that can help you understand that. If your attorney doesn’t explain all that to you, that is your first red flag. You want to be in a situation where the attorney helps you understand, what are the timelines going forward because one of the hardest things for a person accused is to wait.
Once you’ve been arrested or once you’ve been accused, the police agency has the ability to take their file to the district attorney’s office and file that case. Even though you’ve been arrested, that doesn’t always happen. There are times where you have three to five, six, seven months before it ever goes to the district attorney’s office. Once it’s at the DA’s office, then a prosecutor reviews the case, makes sure that all the elements of the offense are met, and can you prove at least some of these elements, cursory glance the case. They approve or disapprove it.
There are times in certain very serious cases where the DA will talk to a defense attorney on a case. If you hire a lawyer early enough, and the lawyer gets enough information, that attorney can go to the district attorney’s office and present an argument and present information so that the DA can decide not to prosecute a case. If you get a lawyer in early enough and get your side of the story explained to the DA, that lawyer can make a presentation to the DA and sometimes even to the grand jury, so the grand jury chooses not to charge your client with a crime. You want to get your lawyer early and as soon as possible, the kind of attorney that understand all of that.
Then once you have got a case that is set and you are looking at going to court, so the case has been accepted by the district attorney’s office, and they’ve decided we at least have enough to make a person have to appear in court and answer for these charges. Then you are going to have court dates. Your first court date almost always is going to be your lawyer appearing before the court, you appearing before the court, and the prosecutor appearing before the court, and just saying, hey, we are all here.
What that typically looks like in most jurisdictions, more specifically here as a criminal defense attorney in Frisco, Texas whether you are going to the McKinney office or you’re going to Denton DA’s Office, either one of those offices what happens is you go to court, and then you stand in line. The lawyer stands and waits for the prosecutor to talk to them because there are 20 to 50 lawyers that come in that morning for the docket. The clients sit in the gallery and wait and twiddle their thumbs.
You could go to court and do nothing but sit and watch lawyers talk and not hear anything they say or wonder what just the heck happened. When you hire a lawyer, you want to hire a lawyer that is going to communicate with you, so you don’t feel like that is a waste of your time. That lawyer checks back in with you, helps you understand it and know what happened.
Contact Attorney Philip D. Ray for Criminal Defense
As a Former Prosecutor, Attorney Ray has established a well-respected relationship with District Attorneys (DAs), judges, court personnel, and associates of the criminal defense bar. He has a reputation for being tough but fair in the courtroom. He has defended many clients in a professional, experienced, and compassionate manner.
Philip D. Ray will answer your questions about your first crime and give you an objective legal analysis. As a criminal defense attorney, he is prepared to launch a vigorous defense. His motto is “The toughest defense for your toughest challenges.” Contact the Law Offices of Philip D. Ray at (469) 588-6770