What can you do if you’re charged with a crime in Idaho? It’s stressful to face the prospect of expensive fines, a prison sentence, and the stigma of a criminal record. As nerve-wracking as your situation may be, it’s important not to give up. You still can fight to beat these charges or at least protect yourself from the worst consequences. If you’re serious about defending yourself, an Idaho criminal defense lawyer from Attorneys of Idaho can help.
Our defense attorneys can closely examine your case, determine whether there are weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence, and defend you aggressively against these allegations. If your best choice is to agree to a plea deal in exchange for lesser charges or penalties, an honest, experienced, and trustworthy attorney from our law firm can help you make that determination.
At Attorneys of Idaho, we take pride in being a local law firm recognized for combining effective legal strategies with an empathetic, personal approach. When you sit down with us and tell us about the charges against you, we can answer your questions, advise you on the defense we believe you need, and then get to work fighting for you and your freedom.
If you’ve been charged with a crime and need a respectful and determined Idaho criminal lawyer, contact Attorneys of Idaho for a free, confidential consultation today.
Why Choose Attorneys of Idaho?
Attorneys of Idaho is recognized throughout the state for two key qualities: legal excellence and exceptional service. We have over 400 five-star reviews to prove it.
Our secret to success is figuring out our clients’ expectations early and then exceeding them. Rather than assigning a single lawyer to your case, we employ a collaborative, team-based approach, leveraging the strengths of multiple lawyers and other team members to achieve the best results for our clients.
We believe in being big enough to fight for our clients, but small enough to care. You will never feel like a number when you work with Attorneys of Idaho. The foundation of all our work is kindness and empathy toward our clients and the community. By combining compassion with results, we live up to our motto:
Contact us today to discover the difference we can make for your case.
Why You Need an Idaho Lawyer When Facing Criminal Charges
If you’ve been accused of a crime in the Gem State, you need a criminal defense lawyer because the criminal justice system is adversarial. Both the prosecution and defense are expected to fight as hard as possible for their positions. If the prosecutor is determined to prove you guilty and have you receive the heaviest punishment possible, then you need someone just as determined — and even more so — to prove your innocence or reduce your penalties.
Don’t just assume that the system will treat you fairly. Without the help of a qualified defense attorney, you don’t have anyone on your side. When you hire a good defense lawyer, you have an advocate who knows the system, has worked with the judge and the prosecutor before, and will fight for the best possible outcome for you.
Your attorney will fight to have the following happen:
- Get improper evidence suppressed
- Get charges against you dismissed or reduced
- Win an acquittal if the case goes to trial
- Reduce your penalties if you are convicted
A skilled attorney has the experience and savvy to secure a dismissal or acquittal, even against charges that might initially seem hopeless. If having the charges dropped is not a realistic outcome under the circumstances, a good lawyer may be able to get your charges reduced or convince the prosecutor to agree to lesser penalties.
Types of Criminal Cases We Handle
Some criminal defense attorneys prefer to handle relatively minor charges, like a misdemeanor DUI or assault case. Others focus on the most serious charges like homicide and major drug crimes.
At Attorneys of Idaho, we handle a wide range of criminal charges, including the following:
- Homicide – The killing of another person, intentionally or unintentionally
- DUI – Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drug Crimes – Includes possession and drug trafficking
- Drug Distribution Manufacturing – Among the most serious drug charges
- Assault/Domestic Violence – Includes domestic battery
- Theft – Unlawfully taking someone else’s property
- White Collar Crimes – Includes fraud and embezzlement
- Sex Crimes – Includes sexual assault and other sex crime charges
- Driver’s License Suspension – Taking away driving privileges after a DUI arrest
- Post-Conviction Expungement – A request for past crimes to be wiped from your record
Get in touch with us today to schedule your free, confidential case review.
What Steps Should You Take If You Have Been Arrested
People accused of a crime often lose their case in the first few minutes after arrest. Stressed out and not thinking clearly, they say something without considering the consequences, giving the prosecutor a huge advantage.
If you don’t want to get convicted, you must watch how you handle yourself during the arrest, which includes taking the following steps:
- Tell the officers you don’t want to answer questions until you talk to your attorney. Remember, you always have the right to remain silent. Officers cannot pressure you into saying something incriminating about yourself.
- You can tell the police your name, address, and date of birth. Those are the only questions you should answer until your lawyer gets there.
- When they book you, the police will take your photograph and fingerprint. Don’t resist them at any point in this process, as being uncooperative will only worsen your legal situation.
- Don’t sign anything you don’t understand. Wait until your lawyer has a chance to review it.
- Don’t discuss your charges with a cellmate or anyone else. Many people have been convicted based on the testimony of a cellmate.
- Ask the police for your phone call and use it to contact your lawyer. The police cannot listen in on this call.
Penalties You Could Face for Criminal Convictions in Idaho
What penalties could you face for a criminal conviction in Idaho? That depends on what you’re convicted of. Criminal charges are either misdemeanors or felonies. A felony is a serious criminal charge, whereas a misdemeanor is a relatively minor offense.
If you’re convicted of a misdemeanor in Idaho, you could be fined up to $1,000 and sentenced to up to six months in the county jail. If you’re convicted of a felony in Idaho, you could be fined up to $5,000 and sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Many felonies can result in more significant penalties. For instance, first-degree homicide can be punished with life in prison or even the death penalty. The penalty for rape can be as low as one year or as severe as life in prison. In general, the severity of the penalty you face depends on whether there are any aggravating factors, as well as how severely society views the crimes you’re accused of.
Potential Defenses to Charges You Are Facing
The best defense is always to be innocent of whatever they’re charging you with. When you aren’t guilty of the crime, there will always be weaknesses in whatever evidence the prosecution has. A good Idaho criminal defense attorney can reveal these weaknesses to secure your acquittal.
However, criminal defense strategy isn’t always as simple as that. Sometimes your lawyer needs to try a different approach. Potential defenses to criminal charges include the following:
- Alibi – If you weren’t there when the crime happened, you can’t have committed the crime. Having a solid alibi is always a strong defense.
- Constitutional Rights – Law enforcement cannot search you or your property without probable cause or a warrant. If the prosecution has evidence against you that the police gathered illegally, your attorney will seek to have that evidence suppressed.
- Lack of Intent – Every criminal charge has specific elements, such as criminal intent. The prosecution must prove all the elements to win a conviction. Your attorney can argue that you did not have the intent required to commit the crime you’ve been charged with.
- Mistaken Identity – Witnesses aren’t always right. In fact, they’re frequently unreliable. Your attorney can argue that witnesses misidentified you as the person who committed the crime.
- Reasonable Doubt – The burden of proof in a criminal trial is on the prosecution. That means that your defense attorney doesn’t need to prove your innocence. They only need to raise a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime.
- Self-Defense – This is what is known as an “affirmative defense,” meaning that you admit the charges but argue that you had a legitimate reason for doing what you did. If you’re charged with battery or even homicide, your attorney can argue that you were defending yourself against a violent attack. Idaho’s Stand Your Ground law gives you the legal right to defend yourself if attacked in your home, business, workplace, or anywhere else you have a right to be.
Contact an Idaho Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you’ve been arrested for a crime in Idaho, the legal advocacy you need to protect your rights and interests is one call or click away. Contact Attorneys of Idaho today for an initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer. Discover how our firm can fight to defend your reputation, freedom, and future from the harshest consequences of an arrest or conviction.
