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McKinney Criminal Defense Attorney

Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Have you been arrested in McKinney, Texas? When you are facing jail time, hefty penalties, and damage to your reputation, you deserve the strongest legal defense possible. A McKinney criminal defense attorney at the Edgett Law Firm is here to help you.

Any criminal charge can be serious with life-changing consequences. Our criminal defense attorneys are committed to giving you the defense you deserve. Contact our Collin County law firm for a free initial consultation to discuss your case and discuss the best possible defense strategies to fight for your freedom.

Why Do I Need To Call Edgett Law Firm If I’m Facing Criminal Charges In Mckinney, Tx?

Handcuffs, gavel on book on a wooden background.

Even a misdemeanor criminal conviction can leave you with a damaging criminal record that affects you for the rest of your life. You may face the loss of your freedom and certain rights. Depending on the type of charge, you may also lose a professional license and have difficulty finding employment and even housing.

With so much on the line, it’s crucial to take your defense seriously. The state is well-funded when presenting a case against you, but the prosecuting attorney will likely be unsympathetic. An experienced attorney helps level the playing field to give you the best chances of preserving your rights and freedom.

The McKinney criminal defense attorneys at the Edgett Law Firm have 22 years of experience representing clients inside and outside the courtroom. Our Top 100 Trial Lawyers have successfully helped thousands of clients and put this experience to work for you. Here’s how you can benefit from hiring a seasoned defense attorney at our law office.

We Determine If Your Rights Were Violated

Law enforcement is required to follow strict procedures during its investigation and arrest. You also have rights once you are arrested and during your prosecution. At the Edgett Law Firm, we make it a priority to protect your rights and investigate if your constitutional rights have been violated.

If your rights were violated, your case probably will not be thrown out, but the evidence the prosecution is using against you may be excluded from trial. This can break the prosecution’s case against you.

There are many ways in which your rights may have been violated:

  • You cannot be forced to incriminate yourself under the Fifth Amendment. Statements you made without your attorney present can be excluded if this right was violated.
  • Your Miranda rights must be read to you in custody before you are questioned. If this right is violated, information gained during interrogation can’t be used against you at trial.
  • You have the right to an attorney. If you were denied an attorney during questioning, statements can be excluded at trial.
  • You have the right to be informed of the charges against you in a reasonable amount of time after you are arrested.
  • You have the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. This means police must have probable cause for a search or a search warrant from a judge.

You can count on an experienced McKinney defense attorney at the Edgett Law Firm to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of your arrest to determine if your rights were violated.

We Perform An Independent In-depth Investigation Into Your Case

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At the Edgett Law Firm, we understand that preparation is crucial to building a winning defense. As soon as you hire us to defend you, we will get to work investigating your case to build a solid defense.

This investigation goes beyond determining if your rights were violated. We do not rely on the evidence the prosecution turns over; we will work to find exculpatory evidence. This is evidence that is favorable to your defense and it is often ignored by prosecutors.

Our investigation will include:

  • Gathering all evidence possible, including evidence that is unfavorable and favorable
  • Evaluating this evidence, which may include witness statements, scientific evidence, and police reports
  • Consult with experts to interpret the evidence and provide expert testimony
  • Interview witnesses in your case

This investigation will not only help us build the strongest defense – it will also help us learn about the strength of the case against you.

We Work With Top Experts To Build Your Defense

If your case involves scientific or complicated evidence, you can be sure the state will use expert testimony. You deserve the same in your defense.

Our defense lawyers may work with a number of experts to testify about the evidence we present in your defense:

  • Ballistics experts
  • Forensic experts
  • Mental health specialists, including psychologists
  • Medical experts
  • Fingerprint experts
  • Crime scene reconstruction experts
  • Computer scientists
  • Breath test specialists

We work with these experts to interpret the evidence we uncover during our investigation. They may also be helpful in discrediting evidence the prosecution submits.

We Are Prepared To Try Your Case Before A Texas Jury

Overworked public defenders may have the best intentions, but their caseload means they often push clients to accept plea deals whenever possible. While it’s usually beneficial to resolve a criminal case outside of trial to save you time and money, the Edgett Law Firm will never push you to accept a plea bargain that is not fair.

We always assume every case will be heard before a jury and judge. We have built our reputation on our courtroom success. Our Collin County criminal defense attorneys in McKinney, TX, are prepared to present your case before a jury if the prosecutor does not negotiate a fair plea deal.

Edgett Law Firm Handles All Types Of Criminal Cases

Edgett Law Firm represents clients facing all types of misdemeanor and felony charges in McKinney in Collin County, Texas. We understand that the consequences of a criminal conviction can be serious and life-changing, even for seemingly minor offenses.

We are here to help you if you have been charged with:

We handle all matters of federal and Texas state criminal law and can also assist with a criminal appeal or having your criminal record expunged.

Our criminal defense attorneys understand just how intimidating the criminal justice system can be. You can count on the Edgett Law Firm to guide you through every stage of your case with compassion and sound legal advice. We will ensure you have as much knowledge as possible going forward to make informed decisions about your case.

We are standing by to give you the legal representation you deserve. No matter what type of criminal offense you have been charged with, you can contact our McKinney criminal defense lawyers to discuss your case during a free consultation. We will give you an honest opinion about your best defense options.

Why A Texas Public Defender May Not Be In Your Best Interest

Under the Sixth Amendment, you have the right to legal counsel when you are facing criminal prosecution. This same amendment also grants you the right to know your accusers and the evidence against you with a public trial without unreasonable delay.

When you are charged with a crime in McKinney, TX, you have an important decision to make: a public defender appointed by the court or a private defense attorney. The choice may have a big impact on your defense and the outcome of your case.

In Texas, each county pays for and decides how to appoint public defendants. In 2018 alone, there were 474,000 indigent cases in the state but just 19 public defender’s offices shared by 39 counties. Because many counties chronically underfund public defender’s offices, these offices are often understaffed, and court-appointed lawyers are overloaded. This can also apply to the Indigent Defense of Collin County.

Texas is among the states with the lowest per capita spending on indigent cases. In 2017, the typical court-appointed lawyer in the state earned just $598 per felony case and $247 per misdemeanor case.

While public defenders are often skilled, experienced, and passionate lawyers, they are very overworked. Many public defenders have caseloads far exceeding the levels recommended by the American Bar Association.

When you choose to hire a private criminal defense attorney in McKinney, you will benefit from experienced legal counsel with the resources, time, and attention to devote to your case. You will not simply be another case number.

Our Mckinney, TX Practice Areas

Edgett Law Firm represents clients with sound criminal defense in the following practice areas.

Drug Charges

When you are arrested for a drug offense like drug possession or trafficking, it’s important to seek legal counsel right away. Our defense attorneys will carefully assess your case and investigate whether your rights were violated through an illegal search.

Dwi Defense

Driving while intoxicated is taken very seriously in Texas. Along with jail time, you can face extremely high penalties and the loss of your driving privileges. A drunk driving conviction can even affect your employment. At the Edgett Law Firm, we will carefully investigate your case to determine if the police made errors during your arrest, challenge officer observations and the reliability of tests, and protect your rights.

Domestic Violence

A domestic violence accusation alone can have serious, immediate ramifications. When accused of domestic violence, you can be forced to leave your home and served with a restraining order. You have the right to experienced legal counsel to fight the accusations against you and protect your good name.

Juvenile Crimes

Juvenile crimes refer to offenses committed by someone 17 or younger, although 17-year-olds may be tried as adults in some cases. The juvenile criminal system focuses on rehabilitation, not punishment, but juvenile offenses can still carry harsh penalties. Edgett Law Firm represents juveniles to help families avoid or minimize the life-changing consequences of a conviction.

Federal Crimes

Federal charges brought by the DEA, FBI, and ATF are more generally more serious than similar state charges. When you are facing a federal criminal charge, your case will be handled in a United States criminal court with stiffer potential penalties and mandatory minimum sentences. With such high stakes, it’s crucial to seek legal counsel from a defense attorney who has experience handling federal criminal cases.

Sex Crimes

When you are accused of a sex crime, you face a social stigma even before you have the chance to defend yourself. If convicted, you face not only the loss of your reputation but a lengthy prison sentence and sex offender registration. At the Edgett Law Firm, we represent clients facing serious sex crimes such as child pornography, statutory rape, and sexual assault. We will work to gather exculpatory evidence, discredit witnesses and evidence, and protect your legal rights.

White Collar Crimes

White collar crimes are non-violent offenses for financial gain such as embezzlement. Despite their non-violent nature, financial crimes face a harsh stigma and prosecutors often try to make examples out of defendants. The criminal defense attorneys at the Edgett Law Firm have years of experience defending clients facing white collar crimes. We will build a defense based on the opinions of technology, financial, and computer experts and seek weaknesses in the prosecution’s case against you.

Violent Crimes

Violent crimes are among the most serious in McKinney. If convicted, you may lose many rights and face a long prison term with mandatory minimum sentence requirements. You can also be barred from holding a professional license and struggle to find gainful employment. At the Edgett Law Firm, we represent clients charged with all types of violent offenses, including firearms offenses.

Schedule A Free Consultation With An Experienced Mckinney Criminal Defense Attorney

With your freedom and good name on the line, you deserve passionate legal defense. If you are the suspect of a criminal investigation or you have been arrested, call the Edgett Law Firm to get the legal help you deserve.

Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with a McKinney criminal defense attorney. We will offer legal advice and put our experience and skills to work fighting for you.