Defense
Mr. Basu has defended over three hundred clients charged with misdemeanor offenses in Virginia. He will represent you zealously at plea negotiations, or at trial before a judge or a jury. Mr. Basu reviews the charge(s) with every client, analyzes the facts of the case looking for possible defenses, negotiates and discusses plea deals with the prosecutor, and represents the client if the case goes to trial or is appealed for a trial de novo.
Why defend?
Fines, loss of driving privileges, jail time, loss of immigration status or benefits, &/or a criminal record that shows up in background checks. These are all possible consequences of a first criminal conviction. A second or subsequent charge can make things worse: prosecutors will want a tougher sanction in a plea deal, and a judge who finds you guilty may impose a punishment nearer to the maximum. For some charges, like DUI, the law increases the maximums for repeat convictions.
A Virginia conviction generally cannot be expunged without an absolute pardon from the Governor. If the conviction turns up in a background check, even years after, it may impact a security clearance or job application. In other circumstances, a conviction can impact a civil lawsuit related to the same incident.
The Virginia DMV notes traffic and certain other offenses in DMV records, which may lead to loss of driving privileges or an increase in auto insurance premiums. If you are not a citizen of the United States, certain convictions can impact your ability to stay in the country, travel outside the United States, or apply for some immigration benefit like citizenship or a visa. This is not a complete list of all possible consequences of criminal convictions.
Speak to a defense attorney as soon as you can. Mr. Basu can advise a client who has been charged, or expects to be charged. He can help with a turn-in if there is a warrant out for your arrest. If someone is in jail, Mr. Basu can bring a motion to set or reduce bond as their defense attorney.
In a few cases, the prosecution decides or agrees not to prosecute the case further. In most other cases, the defense attorney and the prosecutor work out a plea bargain (also called a plea, a plea deal, or an offer). You do not have to accept the plea deal, but your defense attorney will tell you about a deal that is on the table. Mr. Basu will represent you zealously in court if you reject the plea deal and the matter goes to trial before a judge or a jury.
