After a federal criminal arrest, the individual who is charged will appear for their first court date and undergo an arraignment process in front of a federal magistrate judge, who will order you to be released on your own recognizance, set bail, or order you detained.

This decision will differ for everyone, as the judge considers the circumstances surrounding the arrest, including the nature and circumstances of the offense, your ties to the community, prior criminal history, and the danger – if any – posed to the community upon your release.

Following the arraignment, there are additional court appearances.

These appearances are when our federal crimes Lawyer will obtain discovery documents, including police reports, at which time we will attempt to resolve or negotiate your case or make the ultimate decision to go to trial.

It is important to understand that the U.S. Attorney is required to prove all elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt in order to prove that you are guilty. As your federal crimes lawyer in Charlotte, we will discuss each detail of your case with you fully, so you are armed with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision regarding how we proceed with your case.

Sentencing laws followed by the federal courts are different than those followed by state courts and are determined by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Because of these sentencing guidelines, federal court judges discretion in determining an appropriate sentence can often be limited. Also, in federal courts, it is difficult to plea bargain. Therefore, it is imperative that you hire an attorney who can present your case in such a way that it falls outside the federal court’s sentencing guidelines. That is exactly what our federal crime Lawyer provides for our clients.