Cobb County Misdemeanor Theft Lawyer
Sometimes, the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction outweigh the direct consequences. Misdemeanor theft is a good example. Theft is a crime of moral turpitude. CMTs often have lasting employment and immigration consequences. Furthermore, these convictions could impact future family law cases. They might even restrict a person to limited or supervised visitation with children.
Since so much is at stake, these defendants need a committed Cobb County misdemeanor theft lawyer, such as Andrew Schwartz. We never take criminal charges lightly and we never look for an easy way out. Instead, we diligently prepare your defense. This diligent preparation often leads to a successful resolution. This resolution could be a not guilty verdict at trial, a plea to a lesser included offense, or a complete dismissal of charges.
Misdemeanor Theft Jail Release
Since theft is a nonviolent misdemeanor, a Cobb County criminal defense lawyer typically has a full array of jail release options, including:
- Pretrial Release: OR (Own Recognizance) release reduces misdemeanor theft, and other offenses, to traffic tickets, at least for jail release purposes. The sheriff releases approved OR defendants who pay small fees and agree to follow program requirements. Attorneys often advocate for defendants in front of pretrial release boards.
- Cash Bond: At a bail reduction hearing, attorneys often reduce cash bond amount, which could be several thousand dollars, to an amount the defendant can afford. Then , when the case is resolved, the county refunds the money.
- Bail Bond: Lawyers also work with bonding companies, which are like insurance companies. If a lawyer vouches for a defendant, the bonding company is more likely to arrange for release, and at a lower-than-normal premium.
Jail release jumpstarts a criminal defense. Incarcerated defendants often accept unfavorable plea bargain agreements, so they can “get it over with.”
What to Expect in a Criminal Case
Jail release is just the beginning of the criminal justice process. The Constitution’s grand jury indictment requirement does not apply to state misdemeanor cases. Therefore, the prosecutor’s office usually files charges based solely on the facts cited in the police report.
This paperwork usually takes several months to process. At the defendant’s first appearance, the judge ensures that the defendant has a lawyer.
Indigent defendants are entitled to court-appointed lawyers or public defenders. These attorneys are usually top-notch criminal defense lawyers. However, the defendant has no input in the assignment process. So, it’s much better to partner with a private attorney the defendant chose.
Announcement hearings come next. Announcement is Legalese for “deciding what to do next.” As attorneys build defenses, they and their clients determine if a plea or a trial would be a better resolution.
A plea bargain does not mean an attorney surrendered. Instead, a plea bargain is a negotiated settlement between the prosecutor and defense attorney, much like a buyer and a seller negotiate over the price of a used car.
The trial could be a bench trial, in which the judge serves as legal referee and neutral fact finder, or a jury trial. Both alternatives have significant pros and cons.
Count on a Hard-Hitting Cobb County Lawyer
Criminal cases have procedural and substantive defenses. For a free consultation with an experienced misdemeanor theft lawyer in Cobb County, contact Andrew L. Schwartz, P.C. Virtual, home, and jail visits are available.
