What I usually tell clients when they ask this question is whether you did it or not is irrelevant. You still have rights guaranteed to you under the Constitution. You have the right to see the evidence against you. You have the right to have an attorney review that evidence with you to identify any flaws or inconsistencies in the state's case.
It's the state's responsibility to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If their evidence isn't sufficient to meet that burden of proof, your criminal defense attorney can challenge that evidence. This may mean your charge gets dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge.
If you simply walk into court and plead guilty at the first court date, you give up every opportunity afforded to you to:
- Challenge the case
- Have an attorney negotiate for you
- Give yourself time to think about your decisions so they're informed decisions
If you have a court date coming up, I suggest you give us a call. Come in and talk about your case and let's discuss what options might be available to you. You'll be better off doing that versus just walking into court and pleading guilty.
