Vermont Criminal Defense Attorney
Vermont has long taken a progressive stance toward treating its citizens equally. It was among the first areas of the country to abolish slavery, allowed women the limited right to vote starting in 1880 and was the first to allow civil unions. If you are traveling through the state, you are encouraged to visit landmarks such as the Green Mountain and Lake Champlain. You may also be interested in attending the Vermont Maple Festival or the Vermont Dairy Festival. Of course, you should do your best to enjoy these events peacefully if you want to avoid a trip to a local jail.
What to Know If You’ve Been Arrested
Prior to being taken into custody, the arresting officer should inform you of your Miranda rights. These rights are the ability to remain silent as well as the right to an attorney to aid in your defense. Ideally, you will use these rights as they may help you avoid being convicted of a crime, and in some cases, remaining quiet may prevent the state from having enough evidence to charge you with anything.
You can invoke these rights simply by stating that you won’t be answering any questions and that you would like an attorney. At this point, all questioning must cease until a Vermont criminal defense attorney can be by your side. If you are not informed of your rights, anything that you say may be suppressed. The same may be true if you are intimidated or coerced into saying anything after invoking your Miranda rights.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney
& Former District Attorney
Local Counsel
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Chief, DOJ Appeals
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Kevin M. Sheridan
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Dennis A. Wichern
Former Special Agent-in-Charge (DEA)
How an Attorney May Help
There are a number of ways in which legal counsel may be able to help you defend yourself against the government’s accusations. First, an attorney may be able to ensure that you don’t say anything that might harm your chances of getting charges dropped or obtaining an acquittal.
In addition to not speaking to the government, your legal counsel may also advise you to refrain from talking to friends, relatives, or others either in person or by digital means. You may also be advised not to speak to other inmates about your case while in custody.
Instead, you can let your advocate make statements to the media, to government entities, or to others who want more information. Your legal counsel may also speak with the government about a potential plea deal or in an effort to gather more information about your case.
Our attorneys are mostly former federal prosecutors or former members of federal agencies such as the IRS, DOJ, and DEA. Therefore, we have an ability to predict what will likely happen based on what the government says or does. We can also gain significant insight into your case based on what the state is not able to tell us.
This may help us determine whether it might be best for you to testify at trial or whether it may be possible to have charges dropped before that happens. It may also give you a better idea as to the penalties that you might face if convicted or what to expect as your case plays out.
For instance, if you’re charged with multiple felonies, it may be harder to bail out of custody. If you do bail out, you may face a greater number of restrictions that might make it hard or impossible to work, take care of your kids, or attend to other matters.
The Types of Cases Our Firm Deals With
The Criminal Defense Firm will take on any type of criminal case that you might need help with. If you are charged with DUI, bank fraud, or larceny, we can likely create a defense in your case. The same is likely true if you are charged with sexual assault, evading a police officer, or other misdemeanor or felony offenses. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common charges pursued by state authorities.
Assault and Battery
A conviction on an assault or battery charge may result in jail time, probation or other penalties. The threshold for an assault charge is less than the threshold for a battery accusation as you don’t actually have to touch anyone to commit assault. Instead, all you have to do is make them afraid that they are about to suffer imminent harm.
Financial Crimes
Financial crimes may occur if you falsify a tax return or a loan document. You might also be charged with this type of offense if you write a bad check, fail to make a payroll tax payment, or try to use counterfeit funds at the grocery store.
Larceny
Larceny occurs when you take something that doesn’t belong to you without the owner’s permission. Examples of larceny include taking $20 out of your friend’s purse, stealing $1,000 worth of goods at a retail store, or taking money from a bank teller. Robbery, burglary, and theft are related charges that you may face depending on the facts of your case. Penalties may be enhanced if you commit these crimes while in possession of a gun or other weapons.
Drunk Driving
State law prohibits drivers from operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08%. The threshold may be lower if you are a commercial driver or a driver under the age of 21. If you are under 21, you cannot purchase, possess or consume any amount of alcohol. It’s worth noting that you might be charged with DUI if you show any signs of impairment during a traffic stop as this may be a sign that you’re under the influence of drugs or prescription medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What restrictions might I face while out on bail?
While out on bail, you may be prohibited from consuming alcohol or using drugs of any kind. You may also be prohibited from interacting with an alleged victim, a witness in the case, or anyone else who may be at-risk of harm if you are allowed to contact them in any way. Furthermore, the state may require you to wear a monitoring device or to contact the court at regular intervals to verify your whereabouts. Finally, it may be necessary to turn in your passport to ensure that you aren’t able to leave the country while your case is ongoing.
What should I know about the initial consultation?
The initial consultation is a private conversation between yourself and a member of our firm who will listen to your story without judging you. Anything that you say will likely be covered by attorney-client privilege, which means that you can feel free to share information about your case without fear of retribution. This also means that you don’t have to worry about your phone being monitored by anyone affiliated with the state. However, if you prefer, you can tell us your story without revealing your name, where you are, or other potentially sensitive details.
Can you guarantee an outcome in my case?
Unfortunately, your attorney will not be able to guarantee any type of outcome in your case. However, it may be possible to talk about a range of outcomes that may be possible based on the facts of your case. Your attorney may also be able to talk more about what to expect in terms of possible penalties in the event of a conviction or what other consequences you might face after acquiring a criminal record.
What are some of the potential consequences of a criminal record?
If you have a criminal record, it may be harder to obtain housing, get a job, or get an education. This may be because a landlord doesn’t want to rent to someone with a criminal background or because an employer doesn’t want to expose itself to additional liability. You may also lose your right to vote or lose your right to own a gun if you are convicted of a felony. There is also a possibility that you will lose custody of your children or face other limitations on your ability to be a parent.
Contact The Criminal Defense Firm Today
If you need a Vermont criminal defense attorney, feel free to contact our firm’s national intake hotline at 866-603-4540. You can also get answers to your questions by using the contact form that is also available on our site.