In the United States legal system, everyone is entitled to a fair trial, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. What lawyer a person hires for his or her criminal defense can make a remarkable difference in everything that happens regarding the case, from the beginning to the very end.
Criminal Defense Attorney Near You
Finding a lawyer can be difficult. Some people search for the “best criminal defense attorney near me”, hoping to find someone nearby. While it is important to hire a law firm nearby, it’s much more important that you find the right attorney for your case.
It can be difficult to choose the right criminal defense lawyer, but an attorney with a strong background in fighting for the rights of those facing criminal charges will be your best ally. If you are facing a DUI, traffic violation, or any number of misdemeanor or felony offenses in Rockford, Machesney Park, Belvidere, Loves Park, or Winnebago County, having a skilled criminal defense attorney with a proven legal track record in northern Illinois matters.
Types of Criminal Cases
The Law Office of Paul M. Marriett delivers premier criminal defense services for all types of misdemeanor and felony cases, including DUIs, weapons charges, drug-related crimes, and even common traffic violations.
A Rockford-based attorney, the Law Office of Paul M. Marriett represents clients in criminal defense cases all over northern Illinois. Here are just some of the charges we can help you with:
- Underage consumption of alcohol
- Resisting arrest
- Disorderly conduct
- Criminal trespass
- Battery
- Aggravated battery
- Theft
- Retail theft
- Obstruction of justice
- Misuse of ID
- Credit card fraud
- Weapons crimes
What to Expect from Your Criminal Defense Attorney
As required by the Illinois State Bar Association, your criminal defense attorney will provide valuable guidance to help you:
- Present the best possible defense for your particular criminal case
- Negotiate a plea bargain that can often reduce your potential sentence or eliminate some or all of the charges
- Find and hire investigators that can thoroughly weigh details of the crime and also the witnesses for the prosecution
- Find the right expert witnesses to support your claims or to challenge evidence presented by the prosecution
- Recognize important legal rules and regulations that pertain to your case, even the most obscure ones
- Steer your case through the Illinois legal system, which can save time and effort and expedite the proceedings through complex jurisdictional issues
- Broker a favorable sentence in the event of a guilty verdict, which could include treatment or rehabilitation programs in lieu of added jail time
- Explain some of the personal costs that come along with certain pleas and deals
- Navigate the many emotions that defendants can experience during the case
What makes the Law Office of Paul M. Marriett different from other criminal defense lawyers, however, is that before we start trying to negotiate with the State’s Attorney to obtain a favorable plea, we first try to have your case dismissed. We start with this goal in mind for every criminal defense case, and although it requires more work up front, this strategy is often the desired outcome for the client.
When you retain the Law Office of Paul M. Marriett’s services, we immediately file our entry of appearance on your case and serve discovery motions on the State’s Attorney handling the matter. If we cannot have your case dismissed based on the evidence the State has presented against you, we then seek to have your charges reduced — from a felony charge to a misdemeanor charge, for example. If the facts allow such a departure, this can result in significantly less jail time or in custody of the Department of Corrections, as well as lower fines assessed in any plea bargain or sentence after the trial.
In addition to reviewing the evidence, our attorneys also analyze the way that evidence against you was obtained to see whether it was taken in violation of your constitutional rights. If the means to obtain that evidence violated your rights, we will work tirelessly to have it suppressed.
Even if you qualify for a court-appointed attorney, seeking a second opinion on your case with an experienced attorney like the Law Office of Paul M. Marriett might be the best decision you could make regarding your case.
Get Serious About Your Criminal Defense
A strong legal defense can favorably shape the entire outcome of your case, and attorney Paul M. Marriett’s resources and extensive knowledge of the Illinois legal system have allowed him to get the best possible results for his clients. If you are facing serious penalties or prison time, you will want to have the best criminal defense lawyer fighting for your rights.
Want more information on a specific charge? Need a lawyer to represent your criminal defense case? Click on the links on this page to learn more about your legal options. To discuss your defense or criminal charges with a lawyer, call the Law Office of Paul M. Marriett to schedule a free confidential consultation at (815) 391-0089 or send us an email.
The Law Office of Paul M. Marriett’s Criminal Defense Experience
The Law Office of Paul M. Marriett is dedicated to providing a high-quality legal defense against criminal charges in northern Illinois. As an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Paul M. Marriett has been retained in northern Illinois for such cases as:
- Intent to deliver-manufacture narcotics/cannabis
- Possession of narcotics/cannabis
- Aggravated battery w/strangulation
- Battery
- Aggravated identity theft
- Theft
- Retail theft
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Possession of child pornography
- A number of traffic-related offenses, such as failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, Class A and Class B misdemeanor speeding violations, and leaving the scene of an accident
The goal of any criminal lawyer is to provide a great defense, to analyze your case for all legal defenses as well as procedural defenses, such as improper or illegal seizing of your person or of the evidence being used to support your charge. Attorney Paul M. Marriett utilizes e-mail, text messaging and phone calls, as well as in-office appointments to stay in contact with clients and in general will provide you with high-quality representation from your initial arraignment to trial and beyond.
The Law Office of Paul M. Marriett offers a free consultation for traffic and criminal defense cases, and offers payment plans to qualified individuals.
What Our Clients Have to Say
“Almost a year ago, I found myself in a situation that required legal advice and representation. I had never in my life been in any sort of criminal trouble. I was facing very serious charges. I found Mr. Marriett by googling criminal defense lawyers. After reading previous written reviews, I decided to give him a call. I briefly explained my situation. He agreed to meet with me and discuss my case and options. I was completely nervous and scared when we sat down to talk, but Mr. Marriett was able to convey to me in understandable terms what I was facing and come up with a solution to work with the State’s Attorney Office to keep my record clean. He’s a very genuine, down to earth invidual, that abled me to put my trust in him. He kept me informed through text messages and email, which worked wonderfully with my busy schedule. I’m so grateful to Mr. Marriett for representing me and allowing me to stay in a field that I truly love. I highly recommend him for your legal needs. It was by chance that I found him but after one year later my life couldn’t be better.”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Melissa K
January 17, 2018
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