Haymarket Criminal Defense Lawyers
Haymarket, VA is home to many professional-class families and individuals. It’s an affluent area compared to most, and yet, there are many who are driven to commit crimes. Even those who are affluent in the area are not immune to bad decisions.
At Olmstead & Olmstead, we know how criminal charges can throw your life into chaos and confusion. We’re dedicated to helping you through this process with a steady hand, in-depth knowledge of Virginia’s criminal justice system, and extensive experience defending those accused of various crimes. Call our team at 703-361-1555 to find out how we can help you.
Everything changes when you are accused of a crime. In a flash, everything you’ve worked and planned for is at risk. Even if you are facing misdemeanor charges, a conviction could limit your future opportunities and your standing in the community. Criminal charges are a serious matter, and you deserve an aggressive criminal defense attorney who is ready to fight for the best possible outcome for you.
Protecting Your Future
It’s crucial to think about your and your family’s future when deciding how to handle criminal charges. Being convicted of a crime can negatively influence every area of your life, from where you can live and which jobs you can take to how society looks at you. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that misdemeanor charges are minor enough to handle on your own. Even these charges can land you in jail for up to one full year. Felonies could put you in prison for years or even decades.
Beyond prison time, a conviction could deliver a major hit to your finances. You may be ordered to pay court fines, restitution to the victims of your alleged crimes, expenses incurred in court, and treatment expenses. When you consider that jail or prison time could use you to lose your job, the financial fallout is even more devastating.
The decision to represent yourself might make financial sense to you before you realize that you’re working against a skilled prosecutor who is committed to punishing you for your alleged crimes. But once you’re convicted, you don’t get a redo. Make the right choice from the start and connect with a Haymarket, VA criminal defense attorney.
Our Firm’s Practice Areas
The team at Olmstead & Olmstead has defended those accused of many types of crime. Some of our practice areas include:
- Traffic offenses
- Robbery
- Drug possession
- Restraining orders
- DUI
- Sex crimes
- Murder and homicide
Each crime has different defense options, penalties, and consequences. It’s in your best interest to choose a criminal attorney with experience in your specific charges.
What to Expect If You Have Been Accused of a Crime
Being accused of a crime can leave you frightened and overwhelmed. Knowing what to expect next can help you prepare.
- The Arrest. You may be arrested on the spot if an officer spots you committing a crime or has reason to believe that you have committed a crime. If your arrest comes after an investigation, the court will issue a warrant of arrest. You may then be arrested at home, at work, or while out and about.
- Getting Booked into the System. Your next stop after the arrest is the police station or jail. In Haymarket, that means going to the Police Department on Washington Street or the Prince William County Adult Detention Center in nearby Manassas. They will get your fingerprints, take your mugshot, and verify your identity before detaining you.
- Going in Front of the Judge or Magistrate. The first time you step in front of the judge or magistrate will be when they determine if you will be released on bond or bail. Most defendants are allowed to be released, but the court will order them to be kept in custody if they are a risk to the general public or a flight risk.
- Your First Appearance. Your arraignment is when you will be told of your criminal charges and your right to legal counsel. At this time, your preliminary hearing will also be scheduled.
- The First Hearing. If you’ve been charged with a felony, the first hearing doesn’t actually seek to find out whether or not you committed the crime you were accused of. The first hearing allows the court to look at the prosecution’s evidence and decide whether or not you can be brought to trial. If the court decides to, a grand jury will determine if the charges should be maintained. Assuming that they decide to keep the charges, you will then be indicted.
- The trial process is the same whether your case is heard in a bench trial or a jury trial. Both the defendant and the prosecution get to present their case, question witnesses and examine the evidence. The jury decides whether or not a defendant is guilty in a jury trial, and a bench trial allows the judge to decide whether or not you are guilty. You are then either set free or sentenced.
- If you are convicted of a crime, you can appeal your conviction at this point.
- Plea Offers. At any point in this process, your attorney may secure a plea deal. This may allow you to accept less jail time or fewer fines in exchange for pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
Building the Right Defense for You
At Olmstead & Olmstead, we know that a lot is on the line for you. That’s why we are committed to building the strongest defense possible for your case. By looking at the evidence and the prosecution’s angle, we will decide which strategy to use. Some of the strategies we may explore include:
- A verified alibi at the time the crime was committed
- Crime committed under duress, forcing you to act in ways you would not normally act
- Mistreatment during your arrest or mishandling of your arrest that violated your rights
- Statute of limitations has passed
- Crime committed in self-defense
- Entrapment
- Unlawful search and seizure
- Questionable evidence
- Insufficient evidence
Our tailored approach to each case ensures that you get the high-quality representation you need.
Contact Us Now for the Criminal Defense You Deserve
The sooner you contact our team of Haymarket criminal defense attorneys, the quicker we can get to work on your case. Schedule your consultation now by calling Olmstead & Olmstead at 703-361-1555 or contacting us online.