The federal criminal justice system can be a terrifying mystery to people who face charges. The procedures, timelines and punishments are very different from State Court cases and having an experienced attorney is a MUST! The Pretrial Stage If you become aware that you may be UNDER INVESTIGATION for a federal matter, IT IS IMPERATIVE that you immediately contact an attorney experienced in federal criminal defense. Once you are arrested, there will be a quick detention hearing to determine whether you should be released on bond. The granting of bond in federal court is rare but may be allowed under certain circumstances. There are often “conditions of bond” that may include home confinement, gps tracking, drug testing, etc. A plea bargain is possible and most cases do not go to trial. AGAIN, it is imperative that you have a COMPETENT, EXPERIENCED attorney to represent you. The Trial Stage This stage of the process requires you to be in the courtroom. It includes everything from the selection of jurors through the sentencing phase. The trial will be in front of a jury of your peers who will decide if you are guilty or not guilty of the charges levied against you. The Four Stages of a
Federal Prosecution
The Sentencing Stage If a person is convicted, the sentencing phase begins well after the trial. There are many factors that will determine your sentence including criminal history, cooperation and prior criminal behavior (even if you were not convicted). There will also be a pretrial investigation by the probation department. All of this information will be used to determine where you fall in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Your attorney will likely spend many hours working on this part of your case. Federal sentences are usually very harsh and unlikely to be disturbed on appeal so it is an absolute MUST that you have experienced counsel. The Post-Sentencing Stage After sentencing, you have a right to appeal. This process is very involved and tedious. It must be handled with care and in accordance with strict time limits. Miss a deadline and your appeal could be dismissed on technical grounds. It is impossible to adequately explain the complex federal criminal system here. This is a very simplistic overview. If you, a friend or loved one is facing a federal charge, IMMEDIATELY call us at 423- 267-6715. Our attorneys will be more than happy to meet with you. In particular, Bret Alexander with Houston & Alexander is not only experienced, he formerly worked as an assistant United States Attorney in Arizona. Bret has experience prosecuting as well as defending federal matters, a unique perspective, possessed by few.
Tater Tot Bombs Bacon-Wrapped Sure, your showoff pal can wrap a tater tot with a piece of bacon and call it “The Daniel,” but you can take it a step further. Prepare a couple batches of these savory snacks for the next family get-together. Snag a few for yourself before they disappear!
Recipe courtesy of ThisGrandmaIsFun.com.
• 2 cups frozen tater tots, defrosted • 1 ounce sharp cheddar, cut into ¼-inch squares Ingredients
• 4 slices bacon, quartered • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1. Heat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Press a cheese square into each tot, then wrap with a piece of bacon. Dredge each tot in brown sugar. 3. Place tots seam side down on baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn halfway through. 4. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve immediately. Directions
3
423-267-6715 | TNDUIAttorney.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs