A felony-level charge is the most serious type of crime that a person can face, so it’s imperative that you do everything in your power to give yourself the best chance to beat the charge at trial. However, since many people haven’t ever been charged with a felony, they may not know what they should do in order to help their case. In today’s blog, we share five steps you should always take if you are arrested and charged with a felony offense.
Steps To Take After A Felony
If you are arrested for a felony offense, or it seems likely that you’ll end up facing felony charges, here are five things you’ll want to do.
1. Stay Silent – You’re not going to talk your way out of a felony offense, so don’t try it. The only thing you’ll end up doing is giving the police more evidence to use against you at trial. There is nothing to gain but plenty to lose by trying to talk your way out of a felony arrest, so stay silent during the arrest process.
2. Contact A Lawyer – The only words that should come out of your mouth during the arrest process, other than your name and other basic identification information, are that you would like to contact your lawyer. You’re absolutely going to need a lawyer by your side if you are facing felony charges, so you might as well begin that process as early as possible. They’ll be able to help guide you throughout the whole process, so speak to one or retain one as soon as possible after you’ve been arrested.
3. Witness Information – If there is anyone that can verify your version of events or whose testimony could help your case, make sure that your lawyer has their contact information. You’re going to want all the favorable evidence and testimony that you can muster when facing felony charges, so if someone can help your case, your lawyer needs to be able to connect with them.
4. Go To Court – Unless your lawyer explicitly tells you that you can skip an appearance or a court date, make sure that you attend all court meetings. Failing to do so not only sends a message to the judge that you don’t take this seriously, but it can also lead to a warrant for your arrest if you skip a required appearance. Dress nice, arrive early and attend all of your court sessions.
5. Stay Out Of More Trouble – Finally, you need to keep your head low and stay out of trouble while your felony case is playing out. Don’t get caught harassing the victim or end up in handcuffs because you got in a bar fight while your case is pending. Getting in more trouble will send the wrong message to court about your felony charge.
If you need help fighting a felony or a lower offense in Minnesota criminal court, reach out to the experienced lawyers at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
