If you were offered a plea deal after being accused of robbery, the counsel of an experienced defense attorney may help go over your options and how they could affect your future. Robbery is a very serious offense that could potentially end in a life’s sentence upon conviction.

If the prosecution offers to lower the severity of your charge to yield a lesser penalty upon pleading guilty, you may need to consider that option when considering your future. While most people understand the difference between pleading guilty and not guilty, many may not fully comprehend how the third plea option works as well.

What Are My Plea Options?

The different plea options you would have in a plea deal include guilty, not guilty, or no contest. While pleading guilty means that you are admitting to committing the crime, no contest is slightly more nuanced. This term means that while you are not officially stating that you carried out the offense, you realize that there are facts sufficient enough to find you guilty if shown to a judge or a jury.

This is an important option for purposes of criminal defense because if more evidence were found in the future to show your innocence, you could potentially appeal your case by using this new evidence.

Important Considerations Before Pleading Guilty

When someone pleads guilty to committing a crime, they give up a lot of rights. They give up their right to a trial, the right to cross-examine the witnesses, and the right to fight the case.

By admitting that what the prosecution is saying against them is true, a defendant is essentially giving up and hoping for mercy from the prosecutor and judge. For this reason, it is extremely important to consult with an attorney before giving a plea option.

What to Expect in a Plea Deal

If you are deciding whether or not to take a plea bargain, you can expect your attorney to walk you through the potential outcome of your charge and weigh it against the outcome of your plea bargain.

A skilled lawyer can help determine whether or not you have been offered a good plea deal by examining what evidence the prosecutors will be using against you, whether or not that evidence is sufficient to find you guilty if you go to trial, as well as the risks and benefits of going to trial as opposed to taking the plea deal.

If you want help weighing the pros and cons of your robbery plea deal, reach out to Andrew Lindsey today for professional assistance.