Charged with a serious felony like possession with intent to distribute or burglary? If you’re convicted, you’ll be looking at prison time, thousands of dollars in fines, and other life-changing penalties. Your life will be radically impacted, so it’s crucial that you form the most effective defense possible. These strategies are commonly successful if the evidence supports them:
You Were Falsely Accused
Someone in your life may have a motive to falsely accuse you of a crime, such as a disgruntled coworker or angry ex. For example, a jealous coworker may accuse you of stealing their iPad from their desk in an effort to get you fired — however, the value of technology often results in serious felony charges.
In other cases, the perpetrator will blame someone else in an attempt to cover up that they were really the ones who committed the crime.
You Were Mistakenly Identified
If a witness testimony or video “catching you red-handed” is the strongest evidence against you, it may be in your best interest to argue mistaken identity. Your lawyer may be able to question the witness’ ability to confirm your identity from where they were during the alleged incident or the clarity of the videotape. If you have to identify features that the witness did not see or vice versa, this may also be helpful.
There’s Not Enough Evidence Against You
The evidence against you must be compelling enough to prove that you committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If there’s not enough evidence, or the evidence is of poor quality or circumstantial in nature, you may be able to argue that it simply does not show that the crime was committed by you and not someone else.
You Had Consent
In some cases, criminal activity isn’t considered criminal if consent is given first. For example, say a person reports another for rape or sexual assault. However, if the alleged victim first gave consent to sexual activity (provided they were of age and ability to do so), a crime may not have taken place. Depending on the nature of the crime in question, it may be quite difficult to prove consent. Your lawyer will determine if this strategy is viable in your specific case.
Should You Hire a Defense Attorney?
Don’t wait to hire a California defense attorney after being charged with a felony like a manslaughter, murder, burglary, or rape. Your reputation, career, and family life are at stake and it’s important to do what you can to protect your rights. Call Wohl Criminal Defense today for a consultation at 951-384-7375.