If you have been arrested, cited, or are under investigation for a criminal or DWI offense then now is the time to act. The early intervention and counsel by experienced criminal defense attorney Jeff Dean can greatly influence the outcome of your case and in some cases can even prevent charges from being filed in the first place.
1. Do NOT Talk To The Police
The first and most immediate concern is that you NOT talk to the police about any pending investigation. Police will give you the impression that it is in your interest to “cooperate” and will tell you that they “just want to hear your side of the story.” This is a misleading police trick used to extract incriminatory information to be used against you in the filing of charges and you should not fall for it. Clients often ask me if: “Won’t I look guilty if I don’t cooperate with police?” The answer is NO. You have an absolute 5th Amendment right to remain silent and your silence may not and will not be used against you in any fashion.
2. Locate and Interview Witnesses ASAP
The next priority will be to begin the investigation of your case. An important part of this will be to locate and interview witnesses as soon as possible. Taking favorable witness statements will greatly help your case in court and may even cause the State to decline prosecution to begin with or drop the charges if already filed. It is crucial that witness statements are taken quickly in part because repeated police questioning can shape a witness’ memory or account of what they say happened. For example, there have been many abuse cases where police in several interviews asked leading questions of an alleged victim causing his or her account to evolve and change to implicate the accused and fit with what the police wanted to hear.
3. Retain a Good Defense Attorney Quickly
It is important to not only retain an attorney quickly, but also that you have an attorney with a proven track record in defending criminal charges. Even misdemeanor charges can have serious short and long term consequences. Besides jail time, fines, and probationary restrictions on your liberties, a felony or misdemeanor conviction can create difficulties in obtaining employment and in finding housing for years to come.
Jeff Dean has had extensive experience and success in handling serious criminal cases, and unlike general practice firms which divide their time between many areas of law, Jeff Dean practices exclusively criminal defense. He is widely known as one of Minnesota’s best criminal attorneys and he is respected by the legal and law enforcement communities. Judges have commended Jeff for his many wins in criminal cases and other attorneys come to Jeff for advice in the handling of their client’s cases. While Jeff has handled many high profile cases, he treats every case and client as his most important.
Under the law you are presumed innocent. Because you have been accused of a crime does not mean you are guilty. Call Jeff Dean to protect your rights and build your defense starting now.
