I recently had someone come to see me about a family member who had been charged as a “principal” to first degree murder. He did not understand why his relative had been charged since the person had not actually participated…
If you are ever charged with a serious crime and you are looking at possible jail time, the most important phrase you will hear and learn about is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” What this means is that in a criminal…
Grand Jury Indictments vs. Bill of Information After a person is arrested for a crime in Louisiana, they will have criminal charges filed against them in either a Grand Jury Indictment or a Bill of Information. These documents list the…
My criminal defense clients are often surprised about how long it takes the State to bring them to trial. In some cases, you may not want to rush to trial. For example, if there is a lot of evidence against…
Did you go to Louisiana for Mardi Gras and up with a hangover and a misdemeanor or two? It’s generally not the end of the world, but you will need to defend yourself against excessive charges and hopefully get the…
As a Louisiana criminal defense attorney who represents defendants charged with homicide, I have heard more than once “it wasn’t my fault – I was acting in self defense.” This can be a legitimate defense to a homicide charge under…
I recently represented a Louisiana man charged with felony theft of oil field equipment. Because this type of equipment is very expensive and also readily available in the Lafayette Parish area, it is common theft item. The victim, the owner…
Under the United States constitution, citizens who are accused of a felony have the right to a trial by a jury of their peers. However, in some cases it can be advantageous to waive this right and go with a…
If you have been charged with a first time felony or misdemeanor in Louisiana, you should try to have your attorney enter your plea under articles 893 / 894 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. Article 893 is for…
As part of an effective criminal defense strategy, an experienced defense lawyer will try to get your charges amended to a lesser charge. In many cases, your attorney is thinking of your possible jail time exposure if your case goes…