Akron Criminal Defense Attorney

The court process your case moves through depends on the charge. Ohio municipal and county courts handle misdemeanors and conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases. The Ohio Court of Common Pleas General Division hears all felony criminal cases.

• Summit County Common Pleas Court
• Summit County Juvenile Court
• Barberton Municipal Court
• Akron Municipal Court
• Stow Municipal Court

Ohio uses a cash bail system, and whether you can get out of jail depends on if you can afford the payment.

Local jurisdictions set the bail amount for misdemeanor charges; you can immediately find out how much bail you, a relative, or a friend must pay. For a felony, you’ll have to wait for a judge to decide the amount and other bail conditions. It’s a good idea to hire an Akron criminal defense lawyer right away. Wesley can fight for you to get out of jail for a minimal amount.

Being a criminal defendant is stressful. When you must go to court, avoid casual clothing, such as jeans and t-shirts. You don’t need a full suit, but dress pants, a button-up shirt, or a skirt and blouse work just fine.

Don’t expect to do much, if any, talking. Even at your arraignment, you won’t say much other than to enter your plea. If you don’t have a lawyer yet, plead not guilty. This gives you time to hire a lawyer and learn more about your case.

During any court appearance, don’t interrupt others or speak out of turn. Being disruptive can get you into more trouble. You can prepare more by looking over the Akron Municipal Court’s Local Rules.

Yes, you have the constitutional right to a defense attorney. If you can’t afford one, you must ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you. However, there are drawbacks to working with public defenders. They have immense caseloads and less time to devote to each client. You won’t receive the same level of attention as you will with Erb Legal. A public defense will push to resolve your case quickly, even if it’s not the best possible outcome for you.

You hire an Akron criminal defense attorney immediately. Do not talk to the police or an alleged victim. You can’t work out a misunderstanding or prove your innocence by talking to the cops, and everything you say to them can be used against you in court.

You say: “I am invoking my right to remain silent, and I want a lawyer.” That’s it. Don’t answer questions or try to explain yourself. You must tell the officers you are going to remain silent. You can’t simply not speak. You also must make it clear you want a lawyer.

The constitution protects you against unreasonable searches and seizures. If officers searched your person, vehicle, home, or office, we’d scrutinize whether they had the right to do so, including whether they had a warrant or a valid exception to a warrant. If we find they performed an illegal search and seizure, we’ll fight to suppress any evidence they found.

You may face time in jail or prison based on the level of the charge against you. Ohio has five levels of misdemeanors and five levels of felonies, most of which allow for incarceration if you’re convicted. However, with the help of an Akron criminal defense lawyer, it’s possible to avoid or minimize jail time.

Erb Legal offers reasonable fees for criminal defense cases and does everything possible to keep the costs down. We know how much of a financial strain attorneys’ fees can be. Don’t hesitate to talk with us about our fees and financial options during your free consultation.