Entrapment in Criminal Cases: Set Up Like a Bowling Pin
Where the government is involved in creating opportunity for a citizen to commit a crime, once a citizen is charged with the crime, he or she may be entitled to assert the affirmative defense of entrapment. In West Virginia, the defense of entrapment depends heavily upon the facts and the extent of the government’s involvement. If you were charged with a crime, you should promptly consult with a criminal defense attorney. This blog discussed the defense of entrapment.
The Preliminary Hearing in Felony Criminal Cases
If you have been arrested and charged with a felony by way of a criminal complaint in magistrate court, you will be afforded a preliminary hearing before a county magistrate court judge. A preliminary hearing protects citizens from hasty and malicious prosecutions. The preliminary hearing is a chance for a defendant to challenge the charges before they are presented to a grand jury. Without the advice of a criminal defense attorney, the preliminary hearing should usually not be waived.
Removing the Brand: Criminal Expungement in West Virginia
Mistakes should not necessarily define a person for the rest of his or her life. West Virginia law recognizes this principle and permits, in certain circumstances, that mistakes involving criminal charges or convictions may be removed from a person’s record or otherwise reduced.