Negotiating a Plea Agreement

Some criminal charges are dropped after a defendant's criminal defense attorney negotiates with the prosecutor. In some cases, the defendant pleads guilty to a less serious charge in exchange for the prosecutor's agreement to drop the more serious charges. The final decision on whether to accept a plea agreement always rests with the defendant. Many times a factor in deciding whether or not to accept a plea agreement is a situation where the prosecutor threatens to amend the charges with additional counts or add new charges if the case does not settle prior to trial. What this means is that an offer will be “plead guilty to the original charge or we (the prosecutor’s office) will add more counts,” increasing the risk of more jail time and other penalties if a jury finds you guilty at trial. This is unfortunate, however, it is a common practice among prosecutors in the area. Felony and misdemeanor plea agreements are complex and cannot be summarized in a short description and also vary depending on the criminal charge and facts of each particular case. Whether you have been charged with a criminal misdemeanor or criminal felony in the Seattle, Tacoma, or Western Washington area, call Mick today at (206) 228-5767 for a free consultation from an experienced, aggressive, and affordable Seattle, Tacoma, and Western Washington area criminal defense lawyer for more information on plea agreements, criminal law, and the criminal law process.