Hernando, Mississippi, Criminal Defense Attorneys

If you’re a resident of Hernando, Mississippi, a small town in metropolitan Memphis, and have had a run in with the law, the prospect of a criminal charge is likely (and understandably) quite scary. Mississippi laws have been crafted by the state’s legislature to punish suspected wrongdoers harshly and no one wants to face such severe penalties. The most serious punishments have been saved for those convicted of committing a violent crime, a category of offenses that involve harm, or threat of harm, to others.

Elected officials and members of law enforcement take violent crimes especially serious and work hard to appear to be tough on those perpetrating them. Even juries tend to be less lenient towards defendants facing serious criminal charges. It’s for this reason that it is so important to have a skilled Hernando criminal defense attorney in your corner, one who knows his way around a northern Mississippi courtroom and has spent years developing good working relationships with people on every side of the criminal justice system.

If you’re facing a violent criminal charge, whether it’s for robbery, aggravated assault, battery, domestic violence, kidnapping, rape, manslaughter or murder, it’s important to never give up hope. An experienced attorney knows how to work up a case and effectively analyze evidence, creating a legal plan that’s able to persuade judges and juries of your innocence.

It’s also important to understand that at trial you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This means that prosecutors are faced with the job of convincing a jury that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. There are many ways that a skilled Hernando criminal defense lawyer can rebut these claims, depending on the facts of your situation.

One avenue used by many defense attorneys is misidentification. It’s all too common that during the heat of a dangerous criminal encounter people become confused. They may not have actually seen what they thought they did and their memories can become fuzzy. Eyewitnesses may also have been coached or unfairly influenced to believe an innocent defendant was involved in a crime when they really had nothing to do with it. It’s common knowledge that the adrenaline present during any tense encounter makes eyewitness identifications some of the least reliable forms of evidence present in a criminal trial.

It’s also possible that your Hernando criminal defense lawyer could claim that you acted in self-defense. This means that your violent crime was only a result of your use of reasonable force to prevent someone else from causing harm to you. Though this may not apply in every situation, your attorney should know how to best frame a compelling defense.

Finally, a legitimate defense for many people wrongly accused of having committed a crime in Mississippi is to turn to forensic evidence. In many instances prosecutors have no DNA or fingerprint evidence tying suspects to crime scenes, something that should be highlighted by your defense attorney. Even in cases where such evidence has been found, there are many reasons why you may have previously been in the location that could explain the presence of your DNA.

If you, or someone you know, have been charged with any crime in Hernando, Mississippi or the surrounding area, you should consult with an experienced attorney. A skilled attorney will know whether it is in your best interest to submit to the charges and work out a plea agreement or whether to contest the charges and take the matter to trial. The Hernando criminal defense attorneys at The Stroud Law Firm will work hard to assist you in your defense and ensure your freedom. Contact us today.