Arrests, criminal charges, and convictions can profoundly impact an accused person’s fundamental rights and liberties. Therefore, retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney is essential to mitigating the negative impacts of a criminal charge.
The Lebanon Municipal Court is located at 50 South Broadway in downtown Lebanon, Ohio and it serves the City of Lebanon and Turtlecreek, TWP. Judge Martin E. Hubbell is the presiding Judge of the Court.
Give us a call at (937) 222-1515 or send us an online message today for a free consultation.
Overview of the Ohio Criminal Justice Systems
Understanding how the criminal justice system works is crucial to presenting a viable and successful defense.
Criminal Arrest
After an arrest, law enforcement will typically take the accused to the local police station for fingerprinting, photographs, and questioning. Most arrestees will remain in jail until they can post bond. If you don’t bond out quickly, you’ll likely have a hearing called a “first appearance” while you’re in jail. If not, your arraignment will likely be the first time you see a judge.
Arraignment
If you bond out of jail, the first court appearance will be your arraignment. At the arraignment, you will generally need to enter a plea. Most people enter a plea of not guilty at this stage, as no discovery has happened yet.
Preliminary Hearing
In Ohio, the law entitles those charged with felonies to a preliminary hearing where your lawyer can challenge the prosecution’s evidence as not being sufficient to sustain the charge. This is not an essential step, but your lawyer will know when it’s advantageous for you to request this hearing.
Discovery
Discovery is the period where both sides investigate, and the prosecution must hand over all incriminating evidence to your lawyer. During this stage, either party can request a pretrial motion hearing (e.g., for a motion to suppress evidence, etc.), but that can happen up to trial.
Plea Bargaining
In most cases, the prosecutor will present you with a plea bargain to resolve the case without going to trial. Many criminal cases are resolved with a shrewdly negotiated plea bargain that you can accept any time before or sometimes even during trial.
Pretrial Hearing
A pretrial hearing is a status conference between the prosecutor, the defense, and the judge. The judge will set a trial date if the parties are ready for trial. The judge might take the plea at the pretrial conference if the accused has agreed to a plea bargain. Otherwise, the judge will make sure neither party is unnecessarily delaying the trial.
Criminal Trial
During this critical stage, the State will introduce its evidence and try to convict the accused. The defense can simply punch as many holes as possible in the State’s case, or it can present its evidence if that is strategically advantageous to securing an acquittal.
Appeals
Those convicted of a criminal offense might be able to file an appeal. Ohio appellate attorneys have unique skills tailored to the specific and complex issues that an appeal presents.
Types of Criminal Cases We Handle
The defense lawyers at Gounaris Abboud, LPA, represent those accused of felonies or misdemeanors.
Cases we’ve handled include the following:
- Assaults
- Domestic violence
- Drug charges
- Forgery
- Juvenile crimes
- OVI (otherwise known as DUI) charges
- Sex crimes
- Theft
- Violent crimes
- Weapons charges
- White-collar crimes
This list is not exhaustive. If you are facing any criminal charges, contact us as soon as possible so we can protect your rights.
Defenses
Those accused of crimes have fundamental rights. However, effectuating those rights requires a comprehensive understanding of complex federal and state criminal laws.
There are generally four primary criminal defense strategies:
- Innocence, or the State’s inability to prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt;
- Excluding evidence that was obtained through a violation of your constitutional rights, thereby leaving the State without enough evidence to convict;
- Self-defense or defense of others;
- Insanity.
Many subcategories of defenses might also apply to your case. The criminal defense attorneys on our team provide you with individualized representation, strategic case development, and vigorous defense.
Criminal Defense Lawyer in Lebanon, Ohio
If you were recently charged with a crime in Lebanon, Ohio, it’s essential to speak with a local criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Every crime, from shoplifting to homicide, has its defenses. However, it takes a skilled criminal defense attorney to know which defenses apply and how to use them effectively.
At Gounaris Abboud, LPA, our dedicated team of defense lawyers has decades of experience investigating, negotiating, and litigating all types of crimes. We make ourselves available 24/7 to answer your questions or discuss your case whenever something comes up, so you know you’ll always have someone in your corner.
To schedule a free consultation with one of our Lebanon criminal defense lawyers, call us at (937) 222-1515. You can also reach us through our online contact form.