Being charged with any crime can be a scary and unfamiliar experience. Nobody wants to worry about being convicted of even a relatively minor crime, and the entire process of having to go to court and defend against allegations brought by prosecutors can be intimidating. If you've been charged with a crime in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, you may not know what you're supposed to do next. Fortunately, you don't have to face the system alone; working with an experienced criminal defense attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case and can also ease your mind during the entire difficult process.
At the LLF Law Firm, our Criminal Defense Team is here to help. Our experienced attorneys have defended clients all across Pennsylvania, including in Bedford County, against criminal charges at all levels. If you're facing criminal charges in Bedford County or anywhere else in Pennsylvania, call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.
Categories of Crimes in Pennsylvania
There are three main classes or levels of crimes in Pennsylvania. If you're accused of a crime in Bedford County, your charge will fall into one of these categories:
- Summary Offenses. These lower-level crimes are ones that may seem more like getting a speeding ticket than more serious types of crimes; in many cases, you won't even be arrested, but will be issued a ticket to appear before a judge to defend against the charge. They include so-called “nuisance” crimes like trespassing, public urination, and criminal mischief. Don't be fooled, however: summary offenses can still lead to a sentence of up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1500, depending on the offense. Summary offenses are still considered crimes – if you're convicted of one, it will show up on your criminal background check.
- Misdemeanors. If you're charged with a misdemeanor, you should take it seriously. Depending on the level of the charge, you could be facing up to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. There are three classes of misdemeanors in Pennsylvania, with third-degree being the least serious and first-degree being the most serious. Pennsylvania has dozens of different crimes that are categorized as misdemeanors, including simple assault, retail theft (shoplifting), possession of a controlled substance, and DUI.
- Felonies. This is the highest level of crime in Pennsylvania. There are three degrees of felony crimes, and in addition, there are three degrees of murder. A conviction of a felony can land you in prison for anywhere from 2-1/2 years to 20 years; you may be fined up to $50,000. A conviction on a murder charge can lead to a prison sentence of 40 years to life in addition to a $50,000 fine. And Pennsylvania still has the death penalty for first-degree murder convictions.
Courts in Bedford County
If you're charged with a crime in Bedford County, you may appear in more than one court before different judges, depending on the type of crime you're charged with and at what stage your case is. This is why it's very important to pay close attention to not only your next court date and time but also where you're required to be on that date. Missing court dates or showing up at the wrong court won't necessarily result in a warrant being issued for your arrest, but it also won't help your case either.
When you work with one of the experienced criminal defense attorneys from the LLF Law Firm, we'll make sure you are where you need to be, when you need to be. We'll keep track of your upcoming court appearances and give you plenty of advance notice about them so that you can make sure you don't miss any of them.
There are two types of courts in Bedford County that handle criminal cases, just as there are in every county in Pennsylvania. These are:
- Court of Common Pleas. Bedford County's Court of Common Pleas is located at the Bedford County Courthouse, 200 S. Juliana Street in Bedford. This court will handle misdemeanor and felony matters, though portions of misdemeanor cases may be before the Magisterial District Courts.
- Magisterial District Courts. Bedford County has four of these, located in Bedford (at the county courthouse) and in Shellsburg, Defiance, and Everett.
Your initial appearance in a misdemeanor or felony case may be before a Magisterial District Judge, who will determine any bail and set future court appearance dates. Later stages may be before one of the two Common Pleas judges in Bedford County. Your attorney from the LLF Law Firm will explain the various stages of your case to you and will help you prepare for any court appearance when it's necessary for you to do so.
Steps in the Criminal Process in Bedford County
Summary offenses are generally heard from start to finish by a Magisterial District Judge. As noted above, that same judge may also handle the early stages of misdemeanor and felony cases, with later appearances taking place before a Court of Common Pleas judge in Bedford.
In misdemeanor and felony cases, the process may look something like this:
- There will be a preliminary arraignment before a Magisterial District Judge, who may also conduct a preliminary hearing to determine whether the prosecution has enough evidence against you to support the criminal charges they are bringing against you.
- Other stages typically should happen in the Court of Common Pleas. These can include the criminal information, where the charges against you are specified in detail; the formal arraignment, where you will be able to plead not guilty (or guilty) to those charges; various pretrial hearings, where the court will review the status of the case and will hear motions from both the prosecution and the defense; the trial, if your case goes to trial; and any sentencing, if there is a conviction or a guilty plea such as those that frequently happen as part of a plea deal.
Most criminal cases don't go to trial; defense counsel and prosecutors are typically able to work out a plea arrangement, or in some cases, a skilled defense attorney is able to present evidence to the prosecutor that clears the accused client of the charges, and the case is dismissed.
How your case will resolve itself depends on its particular facts, but it also depends on you having the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney, such as one who is part of the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team. Our experience representing clients in Bedford County and across Pennsylvania in criminal cases means we know the laws and procedures that apply in these matters and are ready to take cases to trial when they can't be resolved through a plea agreement.
The LLF Law Firm Can Defend You in Bedford County
Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because you're “only” facing a summary offense or a misdemeanor, you can effectively defend yourself against the state. And defending yourself in a felony case can be even more dangerous. Prosecutors try cases for a living and know all of the laws and procedures that can trip up someone who is trying to defend themselves.
Working with an experienced criminal defense attorney from the LLF Law Firm means you will have the benefit of their experience, their knowledge of Pennsylvania's criminal laws, and their ability to navigate the Pennsylvania criminal courts at both the Magisterial District and Common Pleas levels. The LLF Law Firm is here to defend you against the charges you face and to fight for your rights throughout the entire process. Your future may depend on the outcome of your criminal case; let the LLF Law Firm help you protect it.
Call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form and schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys. We're here for you, ready to listen and to help!
