Franklin Park Criminal Defense Lawyer

Skilled Criminal Defense Attorney in Franklin Park, PA

Have you been arrested for a crime in Franklin Park? Facing criminal charges can seem stressful and anxiety-inducing, especially when entering the criminal justice system for the first time. 

Having seasoned, dedicated, compassionate legal representation at your side can provide peace of mind, knowing your attorney will advocate for your rights and interests. 

Contact SMT Legal today for a free initial case evaluation with a criminal defense lawyer serving Franklin Park, Pennsylvania, to learn how we will fight to protect your rights, reputation, and freedom from the potential consequences of an arrest or conviction.

Why Frankin Park Residents Should Choose SMT Legal

Handling a legal issue can be one of the most stressful and overwhelming events in a person’s life. The last thing you want to worry about is whether the lawyer you are working with has the experience and resources to help you manage your situation. At SMT Legal, we commit ourselves to achieving the best possible outcome for the people we work with. 

We understand the significant impact a legal issue can have on a person’s life and want to do everything possible to ensure you can move ahead with your life.

Our law firm focuses on providing compassionate and effective legal representation, no matter the size or scope of the case. You can trust our team to meticulously review every detail of your situation, collect and preserve vital evidence, and negotiate for a favorable outcome. 

With extensive experience at the negotiating table and in the courtroom, our skilled lawyers know how to build a solid case and are willing to fight for you.

Why Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer from SMT Legal for Your Case?

When criminal charges put your freedom and future at stake, your choice of legal counsel can make a difference in the outcome of your case. For years, people facing criminal charges in Franklin Park have trusted the team at SMT Legal to help them seek a favorable resolution to their criminal matters because:

• We have established an exceptional team of criminal defense attorneys with decades of combined legal experience advocating for defendants’ rights and interests.
• Our attorneys work tirelessly, leaving no stone unturned to help you secure the best result possible under the circumstances of your criminal case.
• Our team approach allows us to leverage our collective knowledge and experience to develop and pursue tailored, innovative legal strategies to provide our clients with practical solutions.

Christopher P. Thomas

Partner Criminal Defense Attorney

Your Future. is Our Present

Schedule a Consultation

Call/Text an Attorney Today 412-448-6887

Types of Criminal Matters We Handle

At SMT Legal, our criminal defense attorneys advocate for the rights and interests of clients facing all types of criminal charges. Contact our firm to learn how we can help you resolve a criminal case involving alleged offenses such as:

• Assault and battery
• Drug crimes, including simple possession, drug distribution, trafficking, and manufacturing
• Domestic violence crimes, such as assault, harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, trespassing, and kidnapping/false imprisonment
• Homicide
• Sex crimes, including rape, sexual/indecent assault, indecent exposure, and child pornography offenses
• Juvenile crimes
• Weapons crimes, including unlawful possession of weapons or unlawful discharging of firearms
• White-collar crimes, such as bribery, embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering
• Internet crimes, such as wire fraud, identity theft, and hacking
• Theft offenses, such as robbery, larceny, and shoplifting
• DUI

Our firm has extensive experience representing clients in state and federal criminal courts. Our team understands the nuances of both systems, and the increased stakes clients may face when under prosecution for federal offenses.

Consequences of Criminal Convictions in Franklin Park

After a conviction, a criminal defendant may face various short- and long-term consequences. Convictions typically result in criminal sentences that can include various penalties for a defendant, such as:

• Jail/prison time, with misdemeanor offenses usually receiving jail or prison terms of up to five years and felony offenses receiving a prison sentence of five or more years
• Probation, which a court may sentence a defendant to instead of jail/prison, which subjects the defendant to community supervision and restrictions during their probation term
• Fines
• Court costs and fees
• Restitution, which obligates a defendant to reimburse their victim(s) for financial losses they incurred due to the defendant’s crime

Criminal convictions can have other long-lasting consequences beyond a sentence. For example, people convicted of sex offenses may have to register as sex offenders following their release from jail or prison, with registration terms lasting for years or life, depending on the offense. Various convictions may disqualify individuals from government benefits, eligibility for professional licenses, or owning/possessing firearms.

A conviction will also result in a person having a criminal record that may appear in public and private background checks, making pursuing educational, employment, housing, or financial opportunities challenging. As a result, a person facing criminal charges in Franklin Park can best protect their reputation and future by working with a seasoned criminal defense lawyer from SMT Legal as early as possible in their criminal case.

Defenses to Criminal Charges

An individual facing criminal prosecution in Franklin Park may pursue various defense strategies to contest the prosecution’s case and seek a favorable resolution to their charges. An effective criminal defense will undermine the prosecution’s ability to meet its burden to prove every element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Although specific defense strategies will depend on the nature of the criminal charges and the facts of the case, some of the most frequently pursued defenses in criminal cases include:

• Lack of Intent – Defendants may contend that the prosecution’s case cannot prove that the defendant acted with the mental intent required by the charged offense, such as acting willfully or knowingly.
• Lack of Possession – In drug and weapons cases, a defendant may deny having actual (physical) or constructive (legal control) possession of the drugs or weapons.
• Mistaken Identity/Alibi – A defendant may deny responsibility for a crime by contesting the reliability of victims’ or eyewitnesses’ identification or presenting alibi evidence to prove they were elsewhere when the crime happened.
• Consent – Many sex crime cases turn on the issue of whether an alleged victim validly consented to the sexual act(s).
• Self-Defense – In violent crime cases, a defendant may assert that they acted in self-defense or defense of others to protect themselves or others from the alleged victim’s aggressive or violent actions.
• Unreliable Forensic Evidence – Defendants may challenge the reliability of forensic evidence supporting the government’s case, such as fingerprints, DNA, ballistics, or computer data.
• Unlawfully Obtained Evidence or Statements – A defendant may seek to exclude evidence or inculpatory statements from the prosecution’s case by arguing that law enforcement investigators violated the defendant’s rights through an unlawful search or interrogation.

How Can an Attorney Help You?

An experienced criminal defense attorney from SMT Legal can help you pursue a positive outcome to your charges in Franklin Park by:

• Thoroughly investigating your charges to obtain evidence for your case and identify potential defense strategies
• Explaining your charges and the potential outcomes of your case to advise you of your legal options as you make informed decisions at each step
• Vigorously challenging the prosecution’s case, including by seeking to exclude inadmissible or unlawfully obtained evidence
• Pursuing a favorable result to your case, whether that involves a reduction or dismissal of your charges or an acquittal at trial

Protecting your rights. Restoring your future.

This Changes Everything. We’re Ready Anyway.

Call/Text Now : 412-448-6887

Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney Today

When police and prosecutors in Franklin Park have charged you with a criminal offense, you need experienced legal advocacy and guidance to protect your rights and interests. Contact SMT Legal today for a free, confidential consultation with a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to discuss your legal options for seeking a favorable resolution to your charges.

Directions to Our Pittsburgh Law Office

Following an arrest in Franklin Park, talk to a criminal defense lawyer at our office at 114 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. To reach our office:

From the North:

Take I-279 S toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 2A for Fort Duquesne Blvd. Merge onto Fort Duquesne Blvd, then turn right onto Sixth Ave. Continue onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your right.

From the South:

Take I-79 N and merge onto I-376 E toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 71A for Grant St. Merge onto Grant St, then turn left onto Sixth Ave. Turn right onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your right.

From the East:

Take I-376 W toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 71A for Grant St. Merge onto Grant St, then turn left onto Sixth Ave. Turn right onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your right.

From the West:

Take I-376 E toward Pittsburgh. Take Exit 69C for Stanwix St. Merge onto Fort Pitt Blvd, then turn left onto Stanwix St. Turn right onto Fourth Ave, then turn left onto Smithfield Street. The destination will be on your left.