Important Information About Your Criminal Case

Even if you think the police have you ‘dead-to-rights’ with evidence against you for a criminal offense, there is still an opportunity to put up an effective defense.

I am criminal defense lawyer Jack Peterson, in Vancouver, Washington. I have extensive experience providing aggressive defense representation for people charged with offenses such as DUI, drug offenses and other misdemeanor and felony offenses in northern Washington state.

If you are under investigation for a crime, or have already been charged, don’t say a word to the police or prosecutor without an experienced attorney advising you of your rights. Call me at 360-859-5297 right away.

Suppressing Evidence In Your Criminal Case Starts With Probable Cause

Every criminal case includes a component known as the evidentiary hearing. It is the part of the case where the prosecutor presents evidence of the crime and the defense lawyer has the opportunity to have the evidence excluded on the grounds that it was irrelevant or illegally obtained. Frequently, having key evidence suppressed will mean the prosecutor is left with nothing substantial on which to base the criminal case. The charges are often dismissed for lack of (legal) evidence or reduced to a lesser charge.

DUI charges, in particular, often provide the opportunity to have evidence suppressed on the grounds that the police did not have sufficient probable cause to make the traffic stop, or the results of the subjective field sobriety test were misinterpreted. Blood, breath or urine test results to determine the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) may be suppressed if the evidence was not handled in a very specific way.

Illegal Search And Seizure

In cases involving drug offenses and theft or property crimes, it is not unusual for police to make the mistake of searching property and collecting evidence without sufficient reason to believe a crime has been committed or without a legal warrant. I have seen cases in which the strongest evidence has been suppressed because of mistakes made at the scene of the arrest or on the individual’s private property.

There Is Always An Effective Defense — It Starts By Calling My Office

If you are facing criminal charges, never forget that the state has an obligation to prove their case through legal means, without trampling on your constitutional rights. Call my office in Vancouver at 360-859-5297 or send an email to arrange an opportunity to discuss your case. I will do everything I can to aggressively fight for your rights and freedom.