Criminal Defense

Your Reliable, Experienced Hardin County Criminal Defense Lawyers

Being accused of a criminal offense can be a terrifying experience, particularly if it is your first time. The important thing to remember if you have been charged with a criminal offense in Kentucky is that you have a number of rights that are intended to protect an accused. Those rights, however, can only protect you if you are aware of them and you assert them. At Musselwhite Staples Hafley & Johnson, our experienced Radcliff and Elizabethtown and criminal defense attorneys will ensure that your rights are protected throughout the prosecution of your case. We will also zealously defend you both outside of the courtroom and at trial. Contact us today by calling 270-351-6032 or by filling out our online contact form.  We routinely practice criminal law in Hardin.

The Prosecution Process

Although each criminal prosecution is unique, a criminal prosecution typically follows a number of steps, including:

1. Arrest: You may be arrested while allegedly in the commission of a crime or pursuant to an arrest warrant issued after an investigation.
2. Arraignment: The judge will explain the charges against you and your rights. Bail will also usually be discussed if you are in custody.
3. Discovery: Both sides will investigate further and share information. Witnesses may be interviewed, evidence tested, and your defense prepared.
4. Negotiation: The state will typically offer a plea bargain. You and your attorney may choose to enter into plea negotiations or may decide trial is a better choice.
5. Trial: Your case will be presented to either a judge or a jury. If you are found guilty you will proceed to sentencing. If you are acquitted the case is over.

Your Rights as an Accused

You have a number of Constitutional rights as an accused in the United States. To benefit from some of these rights you must be pro-active and assert the right. Among your rights are:

• The right to counsel.
• The right against self-incrimination.
• The right against unreasonable searches and seizures.
• The right to confront witnesses against you.
• The right to a trial by jury.
• The right to a speedy trial.

These rights are guaranteed to you by the U.S. Constitution and are intended to make the criminal prosecution process as fair as possible for an accused. If one of these rights has been violated it may affect the prosecution of your case. In some cases, it can even lead to a dismissal of the charges against you or to the suppression of evidence which was obtained illegally. The aggressive and skilled Radcliff and Elizabethtown and criminal defense attorneys at Musselwhite Staples Hafley & Johnson understand your Constitutional rights and will make sure they have not been violated. We will also work tirelessly to defend you throughout the prosecution of your criminal case. Contact us today by calling 270-351-6032 or by filling out our online contact form to get started on your defense.