Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyer

How Our Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help

Our Columbus criminal defense lawyers fight to protect our clients’ rights at every stage of the case. We can expertly guide you through every phase of the case, including:

Pre-Arrest

You might not think about hiring a criminal defense lawyer until after you’re arrested, but this is a mistake. Involving a criminal defense lawyer as early in the process as possible may help charges from being filed against you or from you making mistakes that could irreparably damage your case.

We have successfully prevented charges from being filed against our clients, protecting their freedom and reputation. We strive to dismantle the district attorney’s or United States Attorney’s case before you face formal charges, showing that there is insufficient evidence to support a compelling evidence finding.

During this stage in the case, we can:

• Challenge any evidence against you
• Represent you during pre-arrest interviews
• Prevent you from making any incriminating statements against yourself
• Respond on your behalf to official written inquiries
• Manage any interactions with law enforcement

Discovery

Discovery is the formal process of exchanging information during the litigation process. In a criminal case, this involves the exchange of information from both parties to learn what evidence they have to present in court.

Our experienced lawyers understand how critical the discovery process is to the eventual outcome of a case. We can thoroughly investigate the facts of the case, gather evidence to establish your defense, and interview potential witnesses for or against you. At Patituce & Associates, we go a step beyond many of our peers by visiting the crime scene and:

• Investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime
• Identifying possible motives for false allegations or false identification against you
• Demanding the government produce all evidence it plans to use against you and any evidence it has that may prove your innocence
• Identifying all available defenses and compiling evidence to support them
• Reviewing discovery to determine if any evidence could be suppressed
• Determining if we should challenge the validity or credibility of the prosecution’s evidence
• Searching for additional evidence, such as surveillance footage or witnesses who did not cooperate with law enforcement’s investigation
• Using a private investigator to gather additional evidence, when appropriate

Learn what makes us different when you today for a free and confidential consultation.

Motions

Many lawyers underestimate the importance of legal motions. However, motions can effectively get evidence against you suppressed, criminal charges dismissed, or evidence limited to use against you. Unscrupulous law enforcement officers may be attempting to frame you or may have broken fundamental rules that protect justice in our society. Some of the arguments we may be able to make in support of these legal motions include:

• The officer did not have reasonable suspicion to commence the traffic stop that led to your arrest
• The officer did not have probable cause to arrest you
• Law enforcement committed an illegal and unconstitutional search or seizure
• Law enforcement did not administer roadside sobriety or breath tests properly
• Lab technicians mishandled evidence so the evidence is no longer credible
• A healthcare provider did not withdraw blood, DNA, or other genetic matter properly
• Evidence is irrelevant or unfairly prejudiced

We can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your arrest and the ensuing investigation to determine all potential arguments. We have an extensive and in-depth understanding of the law, which we will put to use to make the most effective legal arguments in your favor.

Plea Bargain Negotiating

As we demonstrate how prepared we are to take your case to trial or win motions that can affect the outcome of the case, prosecutors often come to see us as formidable opponents. If a complete dismissal of the case is not possible, a favorable plea bargain in which charges are reduced against you or lighter sentences are imposed may be offered.

Sometimes, plea bargains are in the best interests of a defendant facing criminal charges. However, they may not be right in all cases. You can trust the criminal defense lawyers at Patituce & Associates to provide you with an honest assessment of your case and the possible outcomes. We can discuss the pros and cons of taking a plea bargain and make an honest recommendation about what we believe is in your best interests.

Some of the advantages of taking a plea bargain include:

• Finality – A plea bargain can help end the case so you don’t have to worry about the outcome or the type of sentence you might receive. This can let you move on with your life.
• Faster – A plea bargain can allow you to skip the lengthy trial process so you can get on with your life and have minimal disruption to your life.
• Certainty – If you accept a plea bargain, you will know the outcome. A judge or jury could rule against you and impose harsh penalties, which you might be able to avoid with a favorable plea bargain.
• Reduced charges – In exchange for not requiring the prosecutor to prepare for a trial and pleading guilty to criminal charges, you may be able to have charges against you reduced, such as being charged with a misdemeanor instead of a felony or being charged with fewer crimes.
• Lighter sentence – You might be able to spend less time in jail or prison with a plea bargain.
• Privacy – By avoiding a trial, you may be able to prevent embarrassing or damaging information about you introduced in a public forum.

While these are notable advantages, taking a plea bargain can have drawbacks, too, such as:

• Waiving of rights – When you accept a plea agreement, you waive important rights, including the right to confront your accuser, the right to a fair trial, and the right to hold the prosecution to its burden of proof. You effectively waive these rights with a guilty plea.
• Pleading guilty – You must plead guilty to receive a plea agreement. If you are innocent of the charges or there is a plausible legal defense, you may not want to publicly declare guilt.
• Criminal record – Even if your charges are reduced, you will still be convicted of a crime. A criminal record can follow you around for years, affecting job opportunities, housing, and your reputation.
• Lose chance of acquittal – The prosecution has a high burden to meet in order to convict you. The prosecution’s case against you might be weak or problematic. An experienced lawyer may be able to achieve a full acquittal on your behalf. If you accept a plea bargain, you lose this opportunity.

Your lawyer will counsel you on the possible consequences of each of your choices so that you can make an informed decision about how you want to proceed with your case. We are available to answer your questions and ensure you understand your legal rights and options at each turn.

Litigation

Litigation refers to the legal process that begins when a client is charged until acquittal or sentencing. There are several strategic approaches that our lawyers can make to strive for the best possible outcome.

Your legal team will work to zealously represent your interests at all times. We can help build a strong defense on your behalf and counter the prosecution’s case against you. By carefully analyzing evidence that may be raised against you, cross-examining witnesses in court, or filing legal motions that hold the other side to the letter of the law, we can fulfill our duty to provide a zealous legal representation to you.

As part of the litigation process, we will research relevant caselaw, determine appropriate defenses to raise on your behalf, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s legal theory of the case, and file appropriate motions. Whether or not you decide to go to trial, this important work will help to strengthen your case.

Trial

If you ultimately decide to take your case to trial, you can rest assured that we will do everything possible to defend your freedom, including:

• Interrogating any potential jurors for possible bias and challenging their right to be on the jury
• Making persuasive legal arguments
• Cross-examining witnesses against you
• Challenging the evidence against you
• Holding the prosecution to its high burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt
• Presenting evidence and witnesses on your behalf