Kentucky Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime, chances are you are under a great deal of stress. I am Jeremy Ian Smith, and I will work to reduce your stress and worry while creating a unique defense strategy for your case.
If you are convicted of a criminal offense, it can be devastating to most aspects of your life: personal relationships, work opportunities, civic organizations, loss of civil rights. It is my goal to keep you out of jail and minimize the amount of damage you actually suffer.
Paducah Juvenile Crime Attorney
At the Law Office of Jeremy Ian Smith, our clients are treated with dignity, respect and compassion, no matter what the charge. I provide qualified advocacy in a wide range of areas of criminal defense, including:
- DUI and DWI: If you have been charged with DUI, DWI or drunk driving, I can help prepare your defense.
- Traffic violations: Including charges related to speeding, distracted driving or failure to produce a license during a traffic stop
- Drug crimes: Including possession, cultivation or distribution
- Violent crimes: Including assault, battery or manslaughter
- Sex crimes: Including rape, sexual abuse or sexual misconduct
- Juvenile crimes: Including status offenses, public offenses, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) placement or revocation matters
- Federal criminal defense: Including drug trafficking, embezzlement, immigration offenses, computer crimes and mail-related offenses
- Theft crimes: Including charges such as robbery, burglary or shoplifting
- White collar crimes: Including charges such as fraud, embezzlement or forgery
If Suspected of Committing a Crime, What Do I Do?
Contact an attorney immediately. You should be polite and respectful to law enforcement, but you should never answer their questions without your lawyer present. Many people have been arrested and convicted of crimes simply based on their responses to police questions. You should never talk to law enforcement without counsel.
A recent Supreme Court case now places the burden on you to assert your Sixth Amendment right to counsel if you are in custody. The best way to assert this right is to always consult an attorney prior to speaking with law enforcement. You have no legal obligation to cooperate with law enforcement. You have the right to refuse any request to search your person and property unless a search warrant has been obtained. You never have to go anywhere with the police unless they have taken you into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant or after observing you committing what they believe to be a crime.
You should never be anything other than polite and respectful to law enforcement. They are merely doing their job. They have obtained innumerable confessions that lead to convictions by simply asking defendants to talk. You have no obligation to talk to them, but your behavior during an arrest can go a long way toward helping ensure a more favorable outcome in your case.
Contact the Firm
If you have questions regarding criminal charges in McCracken County or Paducah, Kentucky, contact the Law Offices of Jeremy Ian Smith.
