Criminal
For those accused of a crime, having an attorney with trial experience is the key to successfully defending against the criminal charges. The lasting affects of an arrest and/or a conviction can become more daunting than any punishment you may be facing. These lasting affects may detour future employment if the charges are not handled properly now.
Criminal Defense Attorney Phillip Menditto has a passion for the courtroom and is trial tested. By hiring Mr. Menditto, you will know that your case is in the hands of a Trial Attorney even if you chose to accept a negotiated plea. Mr. Menditto approaches each case as if it will be tried to verdict by thoroughly investigating each case, researching all legal issues, and filing all defensive motions. This allows Mr. Menditto to identify weaknesses in the State's case, suppress key evidence, and dismiss unsubstantiated charges. More importantly, when the time comes for you to choose between a trial or a negotiated plea, you can make your decision knowing that both your attorney and your case are ready for trial.
There are two types of criminal cases in State Court.
While many crimes can carry differing degrees of punishment, all can damage or ruin your future goals and aspirations- even a misdemeanor can haunt you without competent and qualified representation.
Misdemeanor
While being convicted of a misdemeanor will not result in the loss of any of your Civil Rights, there is the possibility of jail. Depending on the offense, first time offenders do occasionally go to jail for the commission of a misdemeanor. It is very common for first offenders to be formally adjudicated guilty (convicted) of a misdemeanor crime or given probation, unless they have the assistance of an experienced attorney to protect their interests.
Many people who are facing misdemeanor offenses are the type of people who rarely get in trouble and for whom the thought of being arrested and having a criminal record is both embarrassing and disturbing. It is sometimes possible to have your arrest record cleared at a later date through either the sealing or expunging of your record. However, you must qualify for this later action and the manner in which your case is handled may affect your eligibility for future erasure of your record. You may wish to visit the section on this site relating to sealing or expunging of your record for more information.
Felonies
A felony conviction cannot only damage your future, but can also place you in a considerable amount of prison time without proper representation. Once you are arrested, the police, within a few weeks, send all their reports to the State Attorney's Office. At this point, the State Attorney's Office decides if your arrest was proper; whether the correct charges were filed against you. This is such a crucial time.
Before the State Attorney's Office has made a filing decision, Mr. Menditto will contact the "filing State Attorney" to discuss errors by the police and any other weaknesses in the State's case. Mr. Menditto has had great success at this stage as the police frequently misunderstand, misstate or are ignorant of the law, which most often can lead to your benefit.
Please consult our Criminal Laws Page for a list of all the types of case the Law Office of Phillip Menditto handles if you or a loved one is arrested or contacted by the police, contact Mr. Menditto immediately before any of your rights are violated. |
