Criminal Defense Overview
Charged with a crime? Talk to an experienced San Antonio criminal defense attorney
A criminal charge is any formal accusation that you committed a crime. Criminal law generally covers crimes against the state, which are classified as either felonies or misdemeanors. If you are charged with a crime, the prosecution must prove that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict you.
You should seek a skilled criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio such as Kevin Collins if you face any type of criminal charges—because the penalties could be serious. Penalties for misdemeanor convictions include the following:
- Class A—Up to one year in a county jail and/or up to a $4,000 fine
- Class B—Up to 180 days in a county jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine
- Class C—Up to a $500 fine
Penalties for felony convictions are more severe than those for misdemeanor offenses, and include the following:
- Capital—Life in prison without parole or the death penalty
- First-degree—No less 5 and no more than 99 years in a state prison, and/or up to a $10,000 fine
- Second-degree—No less than 2 and no more than 20 years in a state prison, and/or up to a $10,000 fine
- Third-degree—No less than 2 and no more than 10 years in a state prison, and/or up to a $10,000 fine
- State jail—No less than 180 days and no more than 2 years in a state jail and/or up to a $10,000 fine
The criminal appeals process
Sometimes a judge or jury arrives at the wrong verdict, leading to wrongful convictions. In many cases, rulings are incorrect due to unjust technicalities or other mistakes made during a criminal investigation or trial. But other times, due in part to human error or even poor criminal defense in San Antonio, innocent people face unjust convictions and sentences for crimes they did not commit. In Texas, perhaps no wrongful conviction is better known than that of Randall Dale Adams, whose case was the subject of the documentary film The Thin Blue Line.
If you are the victim of an incorrect verdict, a San Antonio criminal defense attorney can help you appeal the ruling by arguing your case in front of a higher court, such as the Texas Supreme Court or the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. You may not appeal your case solely on the assertion that the verdict was wrong, but when factors such as evidence exclusion, allowance of inadmissible evidence, unintentional or intentional misconduct (such as tampering with evidence) by a prosecution attorney, or negligence by a defense attorney exist, you may have grounds for an appeal.
Contact us
If you have been charged with a crime and would like more information regarding an appeal, or wish to speak to a reliable and experienced San Antonio criminal defense attorney, contact the Law Offices of Kevin Collins today.
