Nobody likes facing criminal charges. If you've been arrested or charged with even a minor crime in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, you may have questions about what's going to happen to you – where you have to be and when, how you can defend yourself, and what the consequences might be if your case ends in a guilty verdict or plea.
You don't have to do it alone. When you work with one of the experienced attorneys from the LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team, you will benefit from their years of experience helping others all across Pennsylvania, including in Mifflin County, protect their rights and defend themselves in all types of criminal cases. To learn more about how the LLF Law Firm can help you, call us at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.
Categories of Crimes in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has three main levels or classes of crimes, with different penalties and consequences that can result. It's important to understand what can happen to you if you've been arrested or cited for allegedly criminal behavior in Mifflin County. These are Pennsylvania's three levels of crimes:
- Summary Offenses are fairly low-level crimes that may not begin with an arrest – instead, you may receive a ticket or summons with a date on it where you're required to appear in court before a judge to defend against the charges. Some of these lower-level crimes include criminal mischief, trespassing, and public urination. Even though these may not seem to be serious matters, if you're convicted, you will have a criminal record that can appear on background checks, and in some cases, you can find yourself sentenced to up to 90 days in jail and required to pay a fine of up to $1500. It makes sense to take summary offense allegations seriously, and the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team can help you defend yourself against them.
- Misdemeanors are the middle level of crime in Pennsylvania, and if you're charged with one, you should definitely take it seriously. A conviction on a misdemeanor charge can land you in jail for up to 5 years and pay a fine of up to $10,000. Misdemeanors are divided into three classes: third-degree is the least serious, second-degree is the middle level, and first-degree is the most serious. There are dozens of crimes that Pennsylvania considers to be misdemeanors, including DUI, shoplifting (called “retail theft”), simple assault, and possession of a controlled substance.
- Felonies are the most serious types of crime in Pennsylvania. There are three main categories of felonies, and on top of those, there are three degrees of murder. If you're convicted of a felony, you could find yourself sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and forced to pay a fine of up to $50,000. A murder conviction can result in a sentence of 40 years to life in prison on top of the fine. Pennsylvania has also retained the death penalty for a conviction of first-degree murder.
Courts in Mifflin County
One of the things that can be confusing about being charged with a crime in Mifflin County is that you might appear before more than one judge in more than one location as your case works its way through its various stages. This is why it's so important to pay close attention to the information you receive from the police when you're charged with any crime. This should tell you when and where you need to appear for your day in court. After that, you need to take note of what is said during your court appearance so that you know where and when you have to be next. You definitely don't want to miss a required court appearance – in the worst case, it could lead to the court issuing a warrant for your arrest.
Of course, if you're working with an experienced criminal defense attorney from the LLF Law Firm, these issues won't be a problem. Your lawyer will make sure you know well in advance where you're supposed to be and can explain to you what is likely to happen at each stage of the case. The peace of mind that comes with having someone with experience working on your side during what can be a very stressful process is not something you can hope to get if you're defending yourself or if you're working with an attorney who does not have criminal court experience.
The two types of courts in Mifflin County that are responsible for criminal cases are:
- Court of Common Pleas, which is located at the Mifflin County Courthouse, 20 North Wayne Street, in Lewistown. This is the court that hears misdemeanor and felony cases – though the earlier portions of misdemeanor cases may be heard before a judge of the Magisterial District Court. There are two Common Pleas judges here.
- Magisterial District Courts are in three locations in Mifflin County: Two in Lewistown and one in Reedsville. Each court handles cases from different townships in the county.
In the early stages of a misdemeanor or felony case, you may appear before a Magisterial District Judge, who will review your bail application and set one or more future court appearance dates. In the later stages of these kinds of cases, you'll appear at the Court of Common Pleas in Lewistown. If you're not familiar with criminal proceedings, this can all seem confusing, but if you're working with one of the experienced attorneys from the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team, you'll have an advocate and a guide who will be there for you at each stage of your case.
Steps in the Criminal Process in Mifflin County
When it comes to lower-level summary offenses, a Magisterial District Judge will generally hear them from start to finish; you won't have to change court locations. In more serious cases, as noted above, the Magisterial District Judge may handle the earlier stages of the case and later portions heard by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Lewistown.
As for misdemeanor and felony cases, you can expect the criminal case process to go something like this:
- A preliminary arraignment will take place before a Magisterial District Judge. There may also be a preliminary hearing before the same judge, to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to make the charges they are bringing against you.
- Then, the case will typically move to the Court of Common Pleas for additional stages. The criminal information is when prosecutors are required to specify the charges against you in detail. Pretrial hearings are where the attorneys on both sides will advise the judge of the progress of the case, and where the judge will consider any motions brought by either side. If your case is not dismissed or doesn't resolve itself in a plea, there will be a trial. And if there is a guilty verdict or plea, the Common Pleas judge will impose the sentence.
As you may know, most criminal cases don't go to trial; they resolve themselves with a plea agreement (when they're not dismissed). This is where working with an experienced criminal defense attorney can make a significant difference. By making strong legal arguments, questioning the evidence that prosecutors have against you, and applying their experience from other criminal cases, your attorney can fight to secure the best result for you – and for your future. And when a plea agreement isn't possible, an experienced attorney will be ready to take your case to trial.
The LLF Law Firm Can Defend You in Mifflin County
There really is no such thing as a “minor” crime. Whether you're charged with a summary offense, a misdemeanor, or a felony, it's in your best interest to do everything you can to defend against the charges. The LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team knows how to bring the fight to prosecutors, how to protect and defend your rights, and how to give you the best chance of resolving the charges in as favorable a way as possible. We've helped clients from all across Pennsylvania who have had to face criminal charges – including clients in Mifflin County – and we are here to help you, too.
Don't make the mistake of trying to defend yourself against criminal charges! Call the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation. Your future is too important to take chances on; let us help you protect it.
