Many individuals assume that the best time to get a criminal defense lawyer is after they’ve been charged with a crime. The truth is that the investigator must first build a strong case before filing charges. This is referred to as a “pre-filing inquiry,” and having an attorney might be far more beneficial than you might expect.

The most compelling reasons to retain legal counsel before being arrested

First and foremost, if you call Simmons Wagner, LLP as soon as possible, we will be able to handle any encounters with law enforcement on your behalf. If the police suspect you of committing a crime, they would most likely summon you for questioning. It is voluntary to go in and answer questions before charges are filed. Remember that whatever you say can be used against you during this time.

The police want to interrogate you in many circumstances because they don’t have enough evidence to prosecute you. They want you to admit to anything or say something that will lead to your incrimination. When you deal with a criminal defense lawyer, you can be assured that your rights will be protected and that you will not be pressured into saying something you would later regret.

We’ll do everything we can to prevent or reduce costs

We may be able to engage with the investigator or the district attorney’s office during this time period, before charges are filed, to persuade them not to bring charges or to charge you with a lesser felony. We can take a number of methods to reach this aim, including:

• Obtaining pertinent information about the claimed victim in order to demonstrate that they are untrustworthy
• Work to prove that the evidence against you is just weak or speculative, and that it isn’t worth the prosecutor’s effort to pursue formal charges
• Investigate the case ourselves to locate proof that proves you’re not guilty or that the crime you’re guilty of is considerably less serious than the one for which you’re being investigated

Whatever the scenario, one thing is certain: the sooner you call Simmons Wagner, LLP, the more informed we will be and the better we will be able to defend you.

Contact a criminal defense lawyer right away

So, what are you waiting for? If you’re one of the many individuals who believes that hiring an attorney when being questioned about committing theft offenses or another type of crime makes you appear guilty, we’re here to tell you that’s not the case. It just demonstrates that you care about your future and are prepared to take measures to safeguard it.

We’re delighted to provide you with a free case review at Simmons Wagner, LLP. Call us at (949) 439-5857 and we’ll go through the basics of the case with you. Then we’ll be able to provide you some broad information about how we might be able to assist you. It’s never too early to have legal representation on your side, no matter what your circumstance is.