People can be pushed and pulled by their emotions, causing them to do things that they wouldn’t normally do. If these actions are criminal in nature, you may end up having to face felony or misdemeanor charges. An example where a criminal lawyer around Tacoma might be needed is in this incident reported recently by Grace Ditzler for KXLY. Tyler Goodman suffered a nervous breakdown that led him to steal a car. After his arrest, he regretfully explained his actions:
Goodman suffers from anxiety and depression and said he needs medical help after this breakdown. Instead, for the time being, he’s in jail.
“I think I need to be evaluated by a psychologist at the hospital and I’m not being able to, I need to be evaluated and I’m stuck here with no anxiety meds or depression meds, and my mom and mental health counselor think I need to be evaluated for the mental breakdown, and I’m stuck here without getting any better,” he said.
Goodman is being held on a $6,000 bond on charges of first-degree burglary, vehicle theft and first-degree malicious mischief.
What someone needs, such as a resident who lives around the major cities of Tacoma and Des Moines and who may have suffered a similar case as Mr. Goodman, is a skilled Tacoma criminal attorney, such as from the Law Offices of Kim E Hunter, PLLC. It’s important that people charged with a criminal offense be represented by an attorney who understands the legal process of their case. Without proper representation, some technicalities that might occur may contribute to a negative turn during the procedure.
Having a lawyer ensures that your rights are protected from the start. Everyone is entitled to his or her constitutional rights—from the right to remain silent to the right to post bail. With an attorney, one can at least feel assured that he or she is free to put forth the best possible defense that could be prepared.
An attorney will work with you to help formulate your defense strategy. A criminal defense lawyer would be able to show you the various ways you can defend yourself by being able to put together evidences or extenuating circumstances than can somehow mitigate the offense. For example, Mr. Goodman’s case could be helped by an insanity defense, which considers that a person can only be guilty if he (or she) is fully aware of what he is doing, and thus, is capable of controlling his behavior.
An important advantage of representation is the ability of your lawyer to negotiate deals with the prosecution. You can ask for a lighter sentence in exchange for full cooperation, and similar other things. With a lawyer backing you, these deals have weight and can’t easily be reneged on.
(Source: Man fleeing zombie horde tries to steal car, drive to Montana, KXLY, October 17, 2014)