New Braunfels CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERs

What to Do After an Arrest

If you’re arrested, try to remember to follow these steps:

• Comply with the police: Never resist an arrest, especially not with force. Comply with the police officer and calmly follow instructions. If you think your arrest isn’t justified, you can clearly ask, “Am I being detained or arrested? If so, why?”
• Stay quiet: You should tell the arresting officer basic information about yourself that they otherwise could look up on their own, like your name and place of residence. Any other information, though, is on a need-to-know basis. You shouldn’t feel compelled to tell the officer much more if they intend to arrest you because everything you say and do can and will be used against you in a court of law.
• Consult with a lawyer: Your Miranda Rights, which should be read to you at the time of your arrest, include the right to contact a criminal defense attorney. Once you are taken back to the police station for processing, ask to use your phone call to dial (254) 237-5602, so you can talk to our defense lawyers. Also, if a law enforcement agent tries to question you about anything after you’ve been officially placed under arrest, instruct them that you will need to talk to your attorney first, and that they should direct future questions to your attorney. 

What Happens If You’re Convicted of a Crime?

A criminal conviction will change your life significantly and never for the better. The severity of how your life changes will depend on the degree of the criminal charges filed against you, too. Generally, felonies and federal crimes carry much heavier penalties than misdemeanors, but misdemeanors can still completely disrupt your life and livelihood upon conviction.

If you are convicted of a crime, you could face these official and unofficial penalties:

• Months in jail or years in state prison.
• Thousands of dollars in fines, fees, and possibly victim compensation costs.
• Removal of your right to vote, own a firearm, and other important rights.
• Job loss if the crime in question impacts your work or licenses.
• Societal struggles if your friends and neighbors learn about the conviction.

Common Defense Strategies & Arguments

At Milam & Fanning, PLLC, we firmly believe that every criminal charge can be met with a viable defense strategy. The key is figuring out what to do to correctly prepare that strategy and challenge the prosecution with confidence, which is where our vast experience and resources become so important. We can analyze your case and look for convincing evidence, so we can prepare the right strategy for you.

Common defense strategies and arguments (which may or may not apply to your case) are:

• Evidence used against you was not legally collected, such as through an unlawful search and seizure.
• Prosecution does not have enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Prosecution is pursuing a conviction for criminal charges that do not fit the alleged crime.
• Insanity or temporary duress (heat of passion) caused you to commit a crime.
• You were wrongly identified as the real perpetrator of the crime.
• You were falsely accused by someone with an ulterior motive.
• You unknowingly broke the law, so a conviction would not be justified.

Don’t Fight Alone – Get Our Help Today

Our dedicated team of criminal defense attorneys in New Braunfels offers personalized defense strategies to every client. If you’re worried about your future after you’ve been charged with a serious crime, work to protect your future and freedom by seeing what our attentive and tenacious defense team can do for you. We firmly believe that a mistake shouldn't define or destroy your entire livelihood, and we’re willing to fight in court to prove that it shouldn’t!