Criminal Defense Attorney Baton Rouge, LA

Criminal defenses must be carefully investigated, properly raised, and carefully proven with competent evidence to ensure that the defendant is not wrongfully convicted or, at a minimum, not convicted and punished for a more serious crime than the evidence and law allows.   So, even if the defendant is charged with a very serious crime, he may be able to establish a defense to that crime or produce evidence that would lower the grade of the offense, which may result in the imposition of a less severe sentence.  Some crimes carry mandatory penalties which the sentencing judge is required to impose, while other lesser offenses may give the sentencing judge the discretion to impose a less severe penalty, suspend the sentence imposed, and place the defendant on probation. Criminal Defense Attorney Baton Rouge LA

So for example, upon conviction for second degree murder, the sentencing judge must sentence the defendant to life imprisonment without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. He has no other choice and no discretion to impose any other sentence. However, if the defendant is convicted of manslaughter, instead of second degree murder, then the sentencing judge has more freedom and discretion when imposing sentence on the defendant because manslaughter is a lesser grade of homicide than second degree murder.  When sentencing the defendant for manslaughter, the judge may impose a sentence of imprisonment at hard labor for not more than forty years. However, the sentencing judge has discretion regarding the length of the sentence and whether to suspend all or part of the sentence.  In practice, judges often have significant discretion when imposing a sentence on the defendant for a particular crime.  Judges consider a variety of factors in deciding on a particular sentence for the crime for which the defendant was convicted.

What happens immediately following the incident can sometimes significantly affect, either positively or negatively, how the case concludes. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will investigate your case, gather and preserve favorable evidence, inform you of your rights, and help you navigate the legal system. They also will advocate for your rights, present your claims and defenses, and support and look out for your best interests. Private criminal defense lawyers will control and manage their caseload so that there is sufficient time to meet with clients, discuss their circumstances, investigate their claims, research and carefully present claims and defenses. Public defenders are very dedicated and hard working. But, typically they have less control over their caseload, and a substantially higher volume caseload than most retained counsel, which may limit the amount of time they have to work on any specific case.

Hiring a skilled, experienced, and energetic criminal defense lawyer is essential when you’re charged with a crime. The experience and knowledge made available to you may significantly improve your chances of satisfactory resolution of your case and could mean the difference between no jail time or a lengthy term of imprisonment.

David Stanley, is a knowledgeable, experienced, and highly skilled criminal defense lawyer. He will fight hard to protect your rights, look out for your best interests, and seek the best possible resolution of your case so that you can put your criminal case behind you and move on with your life. David E. Stanley, APLC, has successfully represented individuals in felony criminal cases in federal and state courts throughout Louisiana. David E. Stanley, APLC is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana . Do not hesitate to contact criminal defense attorney baton rouge LA David E. Stanley, APLC, immediately. David Stanley will fight for your rights.