Maryland Heights MO hands out many criminal charges each and every year. This due to a couple of different factors (for instance, MH has a fairly large population relative to surrounding municipalities in the area; and there are also a few casinos and concert venues within its borders).
But if you do not retain a good Maryland Heights MO criminal defense attorney to help you out, then you will find yourself in a difficult situation!!
Pleading Guilty Is Not Your Best Option!!Why? Because those people who choose to represent themselves will very often do nothing more than plead guilty to the charge. They do this because they believe (incorrectly) that nothing too terribly bad will happen to them as a result.
So let’s look at a specific example: say you have been charged with possession of marijuana (less than 35 grams). This is a Class A Misdemeanor, and can therefore come with a potential jail sentence of up to one (1) year and a $1,000 fine. In many instances, the judge will not sentence any jail time (and maybe a fine of less than $1000) if you simply plead guilty. Seems like a good deal, right? All you have to do is plead guilty, you won’t do any time, pay a small-ish fine, and it will all go away!! Right??
Wrong. A guilty plea will allow the state to put the charge on your permanent record as a drug conviction. This means that it will show up on a background check. So anytime you apply for a job, or rent an apartment, or go for government benefits, or take out a student loan, the associated entity (whether it is an employer, landlord, or governmental agency) will likely screen you out as a candidate.
But we have a much better plan in mind!! We will examine all the relevant facts of your case, determine the best defense strategy for your case, and put you in the best position for the future! This will sometimes involve a dismissal of the charges, and other times it will result in a reduction of the charges to a lesser offense (so that it does not show up on your record). And this is a far better route than simply pleading guilty!!
The affordable Maryland Heights, MO criminal defense attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company, have been helping people with their criminal charges for over ten (10) years. Our goal is to make sure that the charges leveled against you do not stay on your permanent record, and do any lasting damage. And we want to do all of this at an affordable price. The fees for a typical St. Louis misdemeanor charge start at $450. Our fees for a low level felony charge start at $750. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today!!
We have two main locations: in the Central West End of St. Louis, at 1 North Taylor (on the corner of Taylor and Laclede), 63108; and in the Twin Cities of Festus / Crystal City, at 1000 Truman Blvd (Highway 61/67), 63019. The initial consultation is free of charge. So contact us today to learn more!!