Shawnee Criminal Defense Lawyer

The Right Criminal Defense Attorney Can Make All the Difference in Your Case

As a defendant in the Kansas criminal justice system, the odds are stacked against you. If you are facing charges in Shawnee, prosecutors will pursue a conviction and maximum sentencing in court. In order to protect yourself, you need to assert a strategic defense, and this means hiring an experienced Shawnee criminal defense lawyer who is prepared to fight for your freedom in court.

Jerry Merrill has a decade of experience practicing law in Kansas. As a former prosecutor with the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, he understands criminal cases from the state’s point of view. He knows what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to avoiding the severe consequences of a criminal conviction, and he uses his prior experience as a prosecutor to help his clients present strategic and effective defenses in criminal court.

Shawnee Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving Clients Throughout Kansas

Jerry focuses his practice exclusively on criminal defense and related areas (such as appeals and expungements). He handles cases ranging from Class C misdemeanors to serious felonies, and he has obtained favorable results for his clients at all stages of the criminal justice process, from negotiating plea deals to securing “not guilty” verdicts in court. Contact the Merrill Law Firm today for a free and confidential consultation about your criminal case involving:

Domestic Violence

If you have been accused of domestic violence by your spouse, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or another member of your household, you are facing severe consequences. Domestic violence cases can move quickly in Kansas, and you need to defend yourself effectively in order to avoid being kicked out of your home, being denied access to your children, and facing prison time and other penalties.

Drug Crimes

In Kansas, drug crimes carry severe penalties. For example, even possessing marijuana for personal use is a Class A misdemeanor which carries the potential for up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Other crimes, such as distribution and sale of methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs, are felonies in Kansas, and you could be at risk for huge fines and several years behind bars.

Juvenile Offenses

As a minor living in Shawnee or facing charges in Johnson County Court, a juvenile conviction can impact the rest of your life. Jerry has extensive experience defending young clients against charges for juvenile offenses, and he can use this experience to protect you.

Appeals, Expungements & Parole Violations

Due to the severe consequences of a criminal conviction in Kansas, if you now have a criminal record, it is important to explore your options for filing an appeal or having your record expunged. If you are on probation, you need to make sure that you do not make a mistake that lands you in jail. In addition to handling criminal trials in Shawnee, criminal defense lawyer Jerry Merrill also handles appeals, expungements and parole violations.

Serious Felonies

Depending on the severity of your alleged offense and your criminal history, a felony charge can carry up to 653 months (more than 54 years) of prison time in Kansas. If you have been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, felony domestic violence, or any other serious felony in Shawnee, you need to speak with a criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Sex Offenses

Many sex offenses carry severe penalties in Kansas as well. Jerry has experience on both sides of criminal cases involving allegations of sexual battery, rape, unlawful sexual relations, and other sex crimes in Johnson County.

Theft Crimes

Theft crimes are another class of offenses that are vigorously prosecuted and heavily punished in Kansas. If you have been charged with shoplifting, robbery, burglary, juvenile theft or any other theft-related offense, Jerry can fight to keep you out of jail and protect your future.

What are the Benefits of Hiring a Shawnee Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you are facing criminal charges in Shawnee and thinking about trying to defend yourself, you need to understand that this is a mistake. The criminal justice system will not be kind to you, and you will not receive leniency because you are unrepresented. The prosecutor’s office will pursue your case just the same as if you had an attorney, and the prosecutors assigned to your case will seek maximum sentencing at trial. Other reasons to hire a criminal defense lawyer include:

1. There are Numerous Defenses to Criminal Charges in Kansas.

Even if you believe you are guilty, and even if you took all of the steps necessary to commit a crime, you could still have a variety of defenses available. An experienced Shawnee criminal defense lawyer will be able to analyze your case and identify all of the ways he or she can defend you in court.

2. The Law is Extraordinarily Complex.

From the “elements” of each individual criminal offense to the Constitutional principles that protect defendants in Kansas, the law is extraordinarily complex. The prosecutors handling your case understand the law, and you need an advocate who is equally capable of using the law to your advantage.

3. A Criminal Conviction Will Impact All Aspects of Your Life.

If you get convicted, your conviction will impact all aspects of your life. Beyond fines and jail time, a conviction can make it more difficult (if not impossible) to find housing, find a job, get into school, drive, vote or own firearms. There are many other consequences as well. A lawyer who understands these consequences will be prepared to assert a vigorous defense on your behalf and do everything in his or her power to make sure that you are not unjustly punished.

Learn more about the risks of pleading guilty or going to court without a criminal defense lawyer by your side.

Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation with a Shawnee Criminal Defense Lawyer at the Merrill Law Firm

Are you facing criminal charges in Shawnee, Kansas? To speak with criminal defense lawyer Jerry Merrill in a free and confidential consultation, call 913-381-2025 or request a consultation online now.