This will be short. I am getting tired of all the people calling me on a daily basis trying to get my hard earned money to list me on their website or somehow get my website to come up on page one of Google. They must think I am stupid or something. I know the legal market is insanely competitive, but I am not a fool. Please stop bothering me. Most of what you are selling is a complete waste of my money and time.
www.maesenlawfirm.com
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
It can wise to fight
The majority of people charged with a crime end up taking a plea deal. That means that the prosecutor offers them an opportunity to plea down to a lesser charge or a lesser penalty if they plea guilty and avoid a trial. This can make a lot of sense for some people.
If you are a first time offender and can get a deferred sentence or a diversionary program where you have no permanent record, this can be an enticing offer. If you are not a first time offender but are facing your first felony charge, an opportunity to plea down to a misdemeanor can be a good thing; particularly if you are concerned about getting a job as a convicted felon. Sometimes just staying out of jail is enough to make this worthwhile. Even an innocent person will sometimes take a plea deal to avoid the risk of a lengthy prison sentence if he were to lose at trial.
On the other hand, there are times where people should think long and hard about the consequences of just "pleading out." For example, if the state's case isn't very strong, you may very well get a jury to return a not guilty verdict. It can and does happen. Also, occasionally the prosecutor will make a better offer nearer a trial or may even dismiss the case outright. Having the stomach to hang in there is difficult but can be worth it.
Also, because Michigan tends to punish repeat offenders more severely, avoiding any kind of a record can be to one's long-term advantage. No one thinks that she will get in trouble again, but if she does, having a clean slate the second time around can be a large bargaining chip. Michigan has a number or crimes that become an automatic felony the third time through. Domestic violence, retail fraud, and drunk driving are three common ones.
Those long ago guilty pleas can come back to bite you later on. Think long and hard about the merits of the state's case before accepting any plea offer.
Ryan Maesen
www.maesenlawfirm.com
If you are a first time offender and can get a deferred sentence or a diversionary program where you have no permanent record, this can be an enticing offer. If you are not a first time offender but are facing your first felony charge, an opportunity to plea down to a misdemeanor can be a good thing; particularly if you are concerned about getting a job as a convicted felon. Sometimes just staying out of jail is enough to make this worthwhile. Even an innocent person will sometimes take a plea deal to avoid the risk of a lengthy prison sentence if he were to lose at trial.
On the other hand, there are times where people should think long and hard about the consequences of just "pleading out." For example, if the state's case isn't very strong, you may very well get a jury to return a not guilty verdict. It can and does happen. Also, occasionally the prosecutor will make a better offer nearer a trial or may even dismiss the case outright. Having the stomach to hang in there is difficult but can be worth it.
Also, because Michigan tends to punish repeat offenders more severely, avoiding any kind of a record can be to one's long-term advantage. No one thinks that she will get in trouble again, but if she does, having a clean slate the second time around can be a large bargaining chip. Michigan has a number or crimes that become an automatic felony the third time through. Domestic violence, retail fraud, and drunk driving are three common ones.
Those long ago guilty pleas can come back to bite you later on. Think long and hard about the merits of the state's case before accepting any plea offer.
Ryan Maesen
www.maesenlawfirm.com
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