So, you have charged with a felony: what now?

Being charged with a felony is not game over for your life if you act fast

There’s no way around it: being brought up on felony charges is one of the scariest things that can ever happen to you.

Prison in America is no joke – if you didn’t commit a crime, you need to mount a vigorous defense – and fast.

In this article, we’ll walk you through what you need to do once you have been accused of a felony.

1) Remain silent

When you are placed under arrest, you are usually read your Miranda rights – we suggest following them to the letter.

According to them, you can indeed remain silent no matter what questions are asked of you, and you should since anything you say can be used as evidence in the trial that will determine your guilt or innocence.

No matter an officer/detective says or does, say nothing or plead the 5th amendment until you get to talk to a criminal defense attorney in Toledo.

Doing this may help secure your freedom – failing to do this could mean spending years in jail for a crime you didn’t do.

2) Don’t resist the directions of law enforcement

In recent years, police in America have adopted more aggressive tactics when it has come to dealing with suspects.

Follow their orders exactly (except when it comes to answering questions that could end up incriminating you), or you could be charged with resisting arrest.

These extra charges levied could make it harder to defend you against bigger charges, as many courts view resisting arrest as an admission of guilt.

3) Speak to a lawyer as soon as you can

Once you get your phone call, get in touch with a lawyer who has extensive experience in criminal law.

Their first step will be to get your bail reduced or thrown out; this might be possible if you are accused of a non-violent crime.

Don’t let family members of friends bail you out until you speak with an attorney, as this could end up saving them thousands of dollars and protect them from losing the bondsman commission if bail ends up getting revoked by the judge at a later date.

4) Prove your innocence

After being released from custody, don’t waste a moment in getting your story straight. In addition to providing a detailed, HONEST account of what happened to your lawyer, you also need to track down physical evidence and witnesses that will help you clear your name.

Never lie or fabricate evidence – in virtually all cases, the prosecution is comprised of experienced lawyers who are adept at sniffing out attempts at deception.

They have a solid case ready to go against you – focus on doing everything you can to derail their narrative, and that will give you best chance of getting a ‘not guilty’ verdict.

Don’t talk to friends or family about the case, as the prosecution can and will cross-examine them during your trial.

Under the threat of being charged with perjury (a felony), they will be compelled to answer any question truthfully, so keep all aspects of your case private.