Aggressive Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Attorneys On Your Side
You are charged with a crime, and now you don’t know what to do. You’re worried about your future and what it would mean if you got a guilty verdict. Would you have to serve time in jail? Would you lose your right to vote, travel abroad or get parental benefits? Could you get a good job with a conviction? You need the help of a trusted Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney.
While it’s nerve-wracking to deal with criminal charges, you don’t have to do it on your own. As top Salt Lake City criminal defense attorneys, we have extensive experience representing clients who have been in your position. We work as a team and both of us will stand by your side no matter what the criminal charges you may be facing, and we’ll be your fierce advocates inside and outside of the courtroom.
We can’t promise a specific outcome, but we will fight hard for you and ensure that you’re informed about every detail of your case – and what our strategy will be in court – from start to finish.
Conyers & Nix help clients in a number of different practice areas. If you are contending with charges in any of the following areas, we can assist you.
What is a Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Attorney?
If you face criminal charges in Salt Lake City, you must defend yourself against those charges. Having a criminal defense attorney by your side can significantly affect your future.
Your criminal defense attorney will prepare a legal defense on your behalf, defend you against the charges, and help you navigate the criminal justice system. Most importantly, an experienced Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney from Conyers & Nix will ensure your rights are protected and that you receive the best defense.
If you are facing questions from law enforcement without the benefit of a criminal defense attorney, you may be intimidated and you may inadvertently say something that will later be used against you. Although hiring a Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney is a personal choice, when your freedom and your future are on the line, there is no choice.
Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney if I’ve Been Charged with a Crime?
Hiring a criminal defense attorney will always result in a better outcome for people that have been charged than those without an attorney. Consider all the things your Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney will do on your behalf:
- Investigate—Your attorney will thoroughly investigate your charges, review all the evidence and find additional evidence to prove your innocence. Your attorney will speak to witnesses, find expert witnesses to strengthen your case, and gather any and all evidence that could lead to a “not guilty” verdict.
- Guidance—Your attorney will detail how your criminal case can be resolved. Helping you decide how to proceed with your case is one of the primary duties of a criminal defense attorney. If you choose not to take a plea deal, your attorney will develop the best defense strategy to protect your interests.
- Defense—If there is no plea deal, your case will likely go to trial. Your attorney will present your side of the story before a judge and jury. You want an attorney with considerable trial experience who is not afraid to present your case in the most persuasive manner possible. Your attorney will be familiar with the laws and statutes that apply to your particular charges and will advocate strongly on your behalf.
- Appeals—In some cases, a sentence or conviction must be appealed when the law was not properly followed. You want a criminal defense attorney who knows when the law is not being followed and who is familiar with the appeals process.
Because you could potentially spend a significant amount of time in jail or prison, your choice of a Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney is crucial.
Defense of DUI and Other Alcohol Crimes
Utah has notoriously strict laws surrounding alcohol. It has the strictest drunk driving limit in the country: 0.05% blood alcohol content (BAC).You cannot drink past 1 a.m. in any establishment and you cannot cross state lines and bring alcohol into Utah. Aside from these laws, there are other alcohol laws you may have violated.
If you drive with a BAC above 0.05%, you could be charged with a DUI, or driving under the influence. In Utah, you can get a DUI even if you aren’t driving! For instance, if you were sitting in the driver seat with the car off and you have a BAC over 0.05%, you could possibly get a DUI.
An important thing to remember if you are stopped on suspicion of driving under the influence is to politely refuse preliminary breath and sobriety tests. If you are arrested and asked to consent to a breath or blood test, we recommend complying. Breath tests are always preferred for criminal defense purposes, so if you have a choice, choose the breath test.
Conyers & Nix also represent clients who violate open container laws, which prohibit you from opening or consuming alcoholic beverages in your vehicle. This means that if a cop pulled you over and there was an open beer in your car, you could be charged.
If you were under the influence of alcohol in public and you endangered others around you or hurt someone, you could be charged with public intoxication. If you were caught drinking but you’re under 21 years of age, you could also be charged.
If you’re dealing with a DUI or any alcohol charge, you need to contact a DUI attorney in Utah right away.
Violent Criminal Charges Representation
We can help you if you’re charged with a violent crime, such as domestic violence, which includes physical, sexual, economic, emotional or psychological abuse, along with stalking, threats, and cyberstalking. The alleged victim may have been a spouse, a partner, a child, roommate, or other family members or people who live in the same house.
Conyers & Nix also work with clients who are charged with assault or aggravated assault, which is when a person uses force (or attempts to use force) that causes another person bodily harm. While assaults may be charged as misdemeanors, aggravated assaults will be charged as felonies. Our other practice areas in violent crimes include battery, brandishing a weapon, criminal trespass, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, electronic harassment, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and child abuse.
For a top Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney when you need it the most, reach out to us now.
Sex Crime Defense
We represent individuals who are charged with a number of different sex crimes, which involve illegal sex acts or sexual abuse against another person. For most sex crimes in Utah, there is no statute of limitations, so prosecution can happen at any point after the alleged incident.
Our practice areas for sex crimes include sexual solicitation, sexual battery, sexual exploitation of a minor, patronizing a prostitute, object rape, rape, no sexually oriented business license, lewdness, forcible sexual abuse, sodomy, revenge porn, voyeurism, sexual abuse of a minor, and sexual conduct with a minor.
We are sex crime lawyers in Salt Lake City who can help you figure out the path moving forward for your sex crime charges. Click here for a consultation.
Utah Drug and Marijuana Crimes Legal Team
While patients may use medical marijuana for medicinal purposes, recreational use of marijuana in Utah is illegal, and possessing and/or selling marijuana as well as other types of illegal drugs could bring about criminal charges.
We represent clients who were driving under the influence of drugs and marijuana, driving with a measurable controlled substance (DMCS), running a clandestine lab, furnishing to a minor, having an open container, possessing with the intent to distribute, possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing marijuana (and other drugs), and public intoxication.
If you are dealing with drug and marijuana charges and need a helping hand, we are here for you. Get in touch.
Other Criminal Charges We Can Fight
If you are charged with any other type of crime, we can help you. We work with clients who are facing charges related to animals, such as having a dog/animal at large, cruelty to animals, fishing without a license, and destruction of wildlife.
We also represent clients who are charged with protest defense, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, and probation violations. We aim to resolve charges with an expungement, which means that a crime is taken off of your public record. Then you won’t have to stress about future employers or anyone else seeing that you are charged.
Reach out, if you are charged with a miscellaneous crime and need help now.
What Should I Ask at My First Meeting with My Criminal Defense Attorney?
From your first meeting with a criminal defense attorney, everything you discuss is confidential. There are very strict rules regarding what your attorney can share, and whatever you tell the attorney will never be said to anyone else. Your first question for your criminal defense attorney should be whether they have defended this type of criminal charge.
For example, suppose you are being charged with murder. In that case, you want a criminal defense attorney who has defended those previously charged with murder and is both familiar with and comfortable with the strategies used in murder trials. This is one time when you do not want an attorney who is a “jack of all trades.” You want a criminal defense attorney who does nothing but defends criminal charges.
You will need to discuss fees and how they will be paid. Some criminal defense attorneys will give you a total cost for your defense—one if your case does not go to trial and another if it does. Finally, you will want to ask whether the attorney you are speaking to is the one who will be handling your case—some attorneys at large firms “hand off” cases to paralegals and associates. We never “hand off” a case because when you hire Conyers & Nix, you hire both Kate and Jesse working together as your defense team. If you are facing criminal charges, contact a Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney from Conyers & Nix today.
How Can I Find a Good Criminal Defense Attorney Near Me?
Many people ask for referrals from friends, family members, or co-workers when looking for a Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney. If you do not know anyone who has used a criminal defense attorney, look online and browse through websites of criminal defense attorneys or online reviews. Whatever choice you make, you will want to meet with the attorney for an initial consultation to ensure the two of you “mesh” and can work together.
Working With Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Attorney from Conyers & Nix
No matter what criminal charges you’re facing, having a Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney on your side is essential and Conyers & Nix is here for you. In your initial consultation, we will collect all the details of your case and then develop a plan on how we’re going to defend you. We always choose to fight for our clients so they have the best chance of getting a not-guilty verdict.
If you’re anxious about your case, don’t give up hope. Instead, contact us, at Conyers & Nix with all the details about your case such as the charges you’re facing and the date of the alleged incident. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours and let you know how we can be of assistance in every way possible.
Don’t hesitate. Contact us today.
