Being charged with a crime or serious traffic offense is a frightening experience, not only for your but also for your loved ones. The possibility of jail time, fines, probation, loss of driving privileges, loss of civil rights, damage to your reputation, and other consequences of a conviction combine to make representing yourself a risky undertaking.

 

Many defendants, trying to prove their innocence or good intentions, try to cooperate with law enforcement by giving statements without a lawyer present only to weaken their defense and provide evidence that prosecutors will later use to prove the case against them. Once your case goes to court, simply having a good defense may not be enough if you are unfamiliar with the rules of criminal procedure.

 

Whether you are charged with a traffic violation, drunk driving, a juvenile crime, a probation violation, a theft or property crime, a drug crime, a sex offense, domestic violence, or another serious crime, the criminal defense lawyers at Dunton, Simmons & Dunton can help.

 

Partner Elizabeth B. Hurd leads the firm's criminal defense practice group. Beth and other attorneys in the firm draw on years of experience representing both retained an indigent defendants.

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Tireless Defense

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Two fundamental protections of our legal system are that an accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and that for a court to find you guilty of a crime the government must prove its case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt is a high burden of proof, yet without an experienced and persistent advocate, too many accused persons effectively concede guilt by failing to hold the government to its standard of proof.

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At Dunton, Simmons & Dunton, we listen to our clients and then determine how we can use the facts of each case either to present a defense that will prove our client's innocence or show that the government cannot prove its case. Sometimes a client's facts do not support a viable defense, and it is important to know when to plea bargain or present mitigating evidence to arrive at the best possible outcome. We apply our personal attention to every case and try to use every legal theory available to present your story in the most effective way to achieve a ruling of "not guilty."

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Counseling and Defending You at Every Stage

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Because it might be too late to respond appropriately to authorities and assert some of your rights after you have been charged, Dunton, Simmons & Dunton's criminal defense lawyers do not simply represent you at trial, but they will also consult with you as soon as you are a suspect. Similarly, where the court has erred at trial, we will speedily appeal your conviction.

 

We understand that when your liberty is at stake, it is almost never too early or too late to get to work for you.

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