What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia
I have been arrested for trespassing and Virginia's peeping tom law (a class 1 misdemeanor). I am trying to figure out exactly what to do now. Can anyone tell me exactly what sort of sentencing to expect. My only previous violations are parking tickets, I am 22, and a student.
In addition, should I get an attorney for this, and if so would a court appointed attorney do the job well enough? I am looking to get my sentence down to as little as possible. I basically confessed to everything in my statement to the police, now I am just interested in damage control. Is there any chance that this gets dismissed or lessened (and if so to what degree)?
I have my first court date tomorrow at 8:30AM, I am trying to contact an attorney now, but its hard on short notice while working. Are they going to ask for a plea tomorrow morning, and if they do will they give me a chance to speak to a court appointed attorney first? If I do plead guilty to everything when do I get sentenced, and when does that sentence start? I'm getting married soon and being in jail on that date would SUCK. In addition is there ANYTHING AT ALL I can do to make myself look better when I go in to enter a plea? I have considered going to the victims and apologizing and just hoping for the best, but I don't want that to look like harassment. In addition I could sign up for counseling if that makes things look better (I don't even know if that is appropriate for this sort of violation but I am ready to do whatever I have to). Should I have a statement ready, or will the judge care at all about anything I have to say other than my plea?
Please help me, I don't have long and I'm terrified as to the effect this will have on the rest of my life. I know I should have considered that ahead of time, but I didn't. From here on out I will be much more careful not to do anything that might even look criminal or suspicious.
Thank you for your help ahead of time.
I have been arrested for trespassing and Virginia's peeping tom law (a class 1 misdemeanor). I am trying to figure out exactly what to do now. Can anyone tell me exactly what sort of sentencing to expect. My only previous violations are parking tickets, I am 22, and a student.
In addition, should I get an attorney for this, and if so would a court appointed attorney do the job well enough? I am looking to get my sentence down to as little as possible. I basically confessed to everything in my statement to the police, now I am just interested in damage control. Is there any chance that this gets dismissed or lessened (and if so to what degree)?
I have my first court date tomorrow at 8:30AM, I am trying to contact an attorney now, but its hard on short notice while working. Are they going to ask for a plea tomorrow morning, and if they do will they give me a chance to speak to a court appointed attorney first? If I do plead guilty to everything when do I get sentenced, and when does that sentence start? I'm getting married soon and being in jail on that date would SUCK. In addition is there ANYTHING AT ALL I can do to make myself look better when I go in to enter a plea? I have considered going to the victims and apologizing and just hoping for the best, but I don't want that to look like harassment. In addition I could sign up for counseling if that makes things look better (I don't even know if that is appropriate for this sort of violation but I am ready to do whatever I have to). Should I have a statement ready, or will the judge care at all about anything I have to say other than my plea?
Please help me, I don't have long and I'm terrified as to the effect this will have on the rest of my life. I know I should have considered that ahead of time, but I didn't. From here on out I will be much more careful not to do anything that might even look criminal or suspicious.
Thank you for your help ahead of time.
