questions & answers

Question: I've been charged with possession of dangerous drugs and possession of paraphernalia. I have priors from a case in 2010 of attempted sale of dangerous drugs 2 counts and attempted trafficking stolen property. I did prison time for the stolen property and probation for the drug charges and I completed everything in 2012 including paying off all fines. My lawyer I hired because he said he could win my case. Since hiring him he has done absolutely everything to destroy my case. I am on the honor roll at college and they want me to do 10 years for the crimes. What can I do?

Answer: The following information is provided for general information only. Criminal law is complex and fact-specific, so it is best to contact an attorney directly to find out how the law applies to a specific situation. If someone is convicted of new charges, the judge may take into consideration any prior convictions during the sentencing phase of a case. In the sentencing phase, old convictions can be considered as aggravating factors when determining the length of a defendant's sentence. It is the defense attorney's job to present mitigating factors such as a defendant's academic honor roll record to lessen the severity of a sentence. A defendant should hire an attorney that the Defendant is confident in. Consult a second attorney and decide whether another attorney is a better fit. A good attorney will speak the truth about the facts, and the facts may not favor you. But, the defense attorney should explain the worst case scenario.