Criminal Defense Attorney in Anderson, Indiana
Facing criminal charges can have serious and lasting repercussions on your life. Depending on the alleged crime, your offense can affect your reputation, gun-ownership rights, finances, career, driving privileges, and even your child custody. If you were charged with a crime in Anderson, Indiana, you need a criminal defense attorney at your side to protect your rights and best interests throughout the legal process.
For experienced and compassionate legal representation for criminal law cases in the Anderson area and in Madison County, contact the criminal trial lawyer at Zentz Law. Seasoned criminal defense attorney Matthew Zentz and his dedicated team are here to explain your legal options. They’ll aggressively advocate on your behalf to pursue the best possible outcome for your case.
Our Anderson attorney at Zentz Law can offer guidance. You can contact our office today to get started with a consultation regarding criminal law or family law. Call 317-220-6056 to schedule your free consultation with our trial lawyer.
Areas of Criminal Defense Law Our Attorney Handles
Indiana attorney Matthew Zentz represents clients accused of various crimes, including DUI offenses with elevated blood alcohol concentration, theft, violent crimes, probation violations, failure to pay child support, and more.
Our lawyer can provide you with dedicated representation in family law matters, including divorce, as well as criminal defense representation for cases involving the below, as well as many others:
Disorderly Conduct
In Indiana, disorderly conduct refers to fighting or engaging in tumultuous behavior that could result in bodily harm or property damage. Disorderly conduct also includes making unreasonable noise after being told to stop, as well as disrupting a lawful assembly of individuals. You can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor or up to a Level 6 felony for disorderly conduct, depending on the circumstances surrounding the case.
Battery Charges
Battery refers to touching someone in a way that’s rude, insolent, or angry. It can also involve causing physical harm or using bodily fluids or waste as a weapon. A single emotionally charged moment can escalate into a battery charge, putting clients’ custody and family at risk.
Zentz Law can help by examining the facts of the case, including potential probation violations, and identifying weaknesses in the prosecuting attorney’s evidence. Depending on your unique situation and case, our attorney may be able to claim self-defense or lack of intent to lessen the severity of your charges or avoid a guilty verdict.
Drug Crimes
Drug offenses in Indiana carry devastating consequences, and even possessing marijuana can jeopardize your and your family’s future life. Types of drug crimes include possession, manufacturing, prescription drug fraud, drug dealing, DUI cases involving drug use, drug trafficking, operating a drug house, conspiracy to commit drug crimes, and child endangerment due to drug-related activities. Some of these offenses can result in decades of prison time if you’re found guilty.
Clients should contact a law firm with attorneys specializing in criminal defense immediately if they’ve been accused of a drug crime.
How Simple and Aggravated Battery Are Different
If you’re convicted of battery, the severity of your punishment will depend on whether you’re found guilty of simple or aggravated battery charges. A few critical factors will determine how the battery charge is classified and sentenced.
In the event the person wasn’t injured or only suffered minor harm, the crime will likely be considered simple battery. However, it could be considered aggravated battery if you touch or cause minor harm to children, endangered adults, law enforcement officers, or other individuals who are considered “protected victims” in Indiana.
Causing serious bodily injury or extreme pain can lead to an aggravated battery charge, regardless of who the crime was committed against. The incident may also be considered aggravated battery if you used a weapon, which can include the use of bodily fluids like saliva or urine.
Aggravating Factors for Disorderly Conduct Charges
Indiana usually classifies disorderly conduct as a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
However, disorderly conduct cases involving aggravating circumstances can result in more severe consequences. You could face a Level 6 felony charge, punishable with up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Aggravating factors that could escalate disorderly conduct to a Level 6 felony charge include:
The Offense Occurred at an Airport: Disorderly conduct on airport property can be classified as a Level 6 felony if the conduct impacted airport security.
The Offense Occurred Near a Funeral Service: Disorderly conduct within 500 feet of a burial site or inside a building hosting a funeral service can result in a Level 6 felony. The offense needs to have negatively impacted the memorial, burial, or funeral procession to be considered a felony.
If you’re accused of disorderly conduct, you need an experienced lawyer who’s knowledgeable in criminal law to help you with your case. This is especially important if you’re at risk of being convicted of a felony.
Contact Zentz Law today for committed legal representation in Anderson, Indiana.
Battery Charges
The severity of your battery charges will depend on whether the alleged offense is classified as simple or aggravated. A simple battery offense usually results in misdemeanor charges, while an aggravated battery offense can lead to serious felony charges.
Penalties for a simple battery offense can include:
Class B Misdemeanor: You could face a Class B misdemeanor charge if you touched a person rudely or angrily, but the alleged victim didn’t suffer bodily harm. The resulting penalty can be up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Class A Misdemeanor: If the alleged victim suffered minor harm, you could face a Class A misdemeanor charge that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Penalties for an aggravated battery offense can include:
Level 3 Felony: Committing battery against a protected person, causing moderate or serious bodily harm, or using a weapon can all result in Level 3 felony criminal charges. This is a severe charge if found guilty, carrying a prison custody sentence of 3 to 16 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
FAQs
What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Criminal Case?
In the context of criminal cases, the statute of limitations refers to the time limit that prosecutors have to file criminal charges for an alleged crime.
Generally, the statute of limitations for a misdemeanor case is two years, while felony cases ranging from Level 6 to Level 3 have a five-year statute of limitations.
Certain crimes, including Level 1 and Level 2 felonies, have no statute of limitations in Indiana. Additionally, some Level 6 to Level 3 felony crimes may be subject to extended limitation periods. This is the case with sex crimes involving minors and cases where new evidence emerges.
When Should You Talk to a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you’ve been charged or suspect that you’re under investigation for a crime, you should consult with a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Your attorney can protect your rights during the legal process, and they can start building your defense after your initial consultation.
It’s imperative to have dedicated representation present when speaking to law enforcement, as anything you say can be used as evidence against you in the court of law.
When you first consult with a criminal defense lawyer, you’ll form an attorney-client relationship, which affords client certain privileges. Anything you say to your attorney is protected and cannot be used against you unless you discuss your intention of committing a future crime.
The attorney-client relationship allows you to communicate confidentially with your attorney.
Can an Indiana Criminal Case Be Dismissed Before It Goes to Trial?
It is possible to have your charges dismissed before going through the trial process, but the likelihood of this happening will depend on your specific case. The prosecutor of your case could dismiss the charges if they lack sufficient evidence for a conviction.
Additionally, new evidence may lead the prosecutor to drop the court case, such as obtaining a reliable alibi.
The judge can also dismiss charges before the court trial if they find that the prosecutor’s evidence was obtained illegally. They may also dismiss the charges if there was a procedural error during the investigation or arrest, or if law enforcement or the prosecution violated your rights in any other way.
Get a Free Consultation with an Anderson, Indiana, Criminal Defense Attorney
If you’re under investigation or have been charged with a crime, contact Zentz Law for experienced and dependable representation in Anderson, Indiana. Criminal defense lawyer Matthew Zentz represents clients throughout Madison County, Marion County, and Hamilton County, and he’s ready to fight for his clients both in and out of court.
In addition to representing clients in criminal law cases, our law firm handles other practice areas, including family law, divorce, child custody, business law, estate planning, and more. Don’t face criminal charges alone – having an experienced attorney by your side can help protect your rights and interests, and avoid a guilty verdict.
Clients can schedule a free consultation today by calling 317-220-6056 or completing the form here to achieve the best possible outcome for their criminal defense case.