As 2017 comes to a close, it is hard to turn the tv on and not hear about the opioid epidemic that is still raging on throughout the country. For many people, being prescribed these powerful pain medications may seem counterproductive against the crusade, but a necessity. If you are prescribed opioids, you can help combat this nationwide issue by properly disposing of any unused pills. Simply keeping them in the medicine cabinet or passing them along to someone who requests them either for payment or as a favor is a crime.
In Wisconsin, prescription drugs are classified into five different Schedules. Schedule I and II are classified as having a high potential for abuse and unlawful distribution carries severe penalties under state law. If you are accused of selling prescription drugs, it is vital that you seek representation as soon as possible. Depending on the amount, type, and whether or not this is the first time you have had a run-in with the law, the penalties range from substantial fines, imprisonment, and felony charges. We understand that people can use poor judgement and often times don’t consider what they are doing could be harmful. With the current crisis, prosecutors are cracking down and seeking severe punishments. As former prosecutors, we can defend you against prescription drug charges. If you are accused, the sooner you speak with an attorney the better. The prosecution will not sit around and wait to start building a case against you, so you should not wait to start your defense. To schedule a meeting with one of our attorneys, please contact us either online or by calling, 608-254-9589. In Columbia County, Wisconsin, a bench warrant is issued against an individual when they fail to show up for a scheduled court appearance. If a circumstance arises that prevents you from appearing in court, it is not enough to notify your attorney, but you must also notify the courts. Failing to notify the court will result in a judge issuing a warrant for your arrest and it will be law enforcements job to find and bring you in.
If you feel that there is a possibility there could be a warrant out for your arrest, there are free resources online to check. If you do find out that there is a warrant for your arrest, we would advise you to turn yourself in and schedule a hearing to allow you to be released on bond. Turning yourself in does not necessarily mean you are admitting guilt, but showing the judge that you are taking the matter seriously. If you do not turn yourself in, there is a possibility that a potential employer could find the warrant. Or, if you are pulled over for a traffic violation, when the officer runs your name, they will see the warrant and arrest you. If you know there is a warrant and would like to voluntarily turn yourself into law enforcement, we strongly advise you to seek legal advice first. Having an experienced attorney on your side can result in a more favorable outcome than taking on the legal system by yourself. To consult with one of our attorneys, please contact us today. If you are in need of legal representation in Adams, Sauk, Juneau, or Columbia County, it is important to work with an experienced and trusted legal professional in the area. Putting your personal freedoms and representation in the hands of someone that doesn’t offer the personal attention and time to your case could be detrimental. Attorney Scott Southworth and Philip Stamman are former prosecutors that understand how the state convicts the accused. We are committed to acting with the utmost integrity in every interaction we have with clients, fellow attorneys, judges and other legal professionals. The reputation that we have built in the community comes from meaning and doing what we say we’ll do with every client.
We understand that good people make mistakes and rough patches happen. We also know that there are times individuals are wrongly accused of a crime they did not commit. No matter what your situation, we are here to help. Having advocates on your side with experience can be the difference in conviction. If you are in need of an attorney and are serious in fighting the charges brought against you, please contact our offices today. The sooner we can start working on your defense, the better. Contact our office today for a free consultation. You can call our law offices at 608-254-9589 or send us an email. Tell us your problem so we can work together to find a solution. For almost all of us there are moments in our past that make us take a step back and reflect on the current path we are on. If you have been accused of a crime and the case is ongoing, it is in your best interest to hire an attorney. While a case is ongoing, an attorney is able to start working on an expunction, if you are interested in having your record be permanently sealed. Having a criminal record is something that can follow you around for the rest of your life, but it doesn’t have too. The attorneys at Southworth & Stamman have been successful in handling expunctions and ensuring that your past will stay sealed so long as there is not a court order to have it opened again.
Apart from having the peace of mind of putting your past behind you, a successful expunction helps an individual to find better employment, get an apartment, go to a certain school, or enjoy other liberties that may have been hindered due to your criminal past. In Adams County, Wisconsin, the guidelines for expunging a record include an individual being under the age of 25 at the time of the offense, excluding certain felonies, successfully completing their sentence, and if probation was enforced, it not being violated. If you are looking to start a fresh chapter in your life, but have been apprehensive due to a checkered past, contact us today. Your life does not have to remain altered due to past mistakes. To arrange your free consultation with a skilled Wisconsin defense lawyer, please call us today at 608-254-9589 or contact us online. With the holidays coming up, schedules are quickly getting filled with parties and get togethers. For many, we will be indulging in food and drink, celebrating the season. Unfortunately, choosing to get behind the wheel after these celebrations can result in a DUI. In Adams County, the consequences of a DUI are very serious and if it is a first offense or not, your life can be changed in an instant. Immediately following the accusation of driving under the influence, you should be prepared for the following:
With all of the possible implications above, it should be clear that no matter how much you indulged, drinking and driving is never worth it. If you do find yourself in this situation, hiring an attorney as soon as possible, is always in your best interest. The attorneys at Southworth & Stamman are here to work with you if you are serious about fighting the charges that have been brought against you. As former prosecutors, we will use our skills to expose weaknesses in their case against you. To arrange your free initial consultation with an experienced OWI/DUI defense attorney in Wisconsin Dells, please contact us online or by telephone at 608-254-9589. For anyone accused of a crime, the thought of having a suspended license may seem like no big deal and easy to get around. They may think that if they are extra cautious on the road, how will anyone know that they are not legally permitted to be operating a motor vehicle? Unfortunately, many people find out the hard way that driving with a suspended license is a crime in Wisconsin if you have a second offense or more within three years, no matter what county you are in, and could result in additional criminal charges. In the state of Wisconsin, law currently states that penalties for driving with a suspended license could include the following:
First and foremost, as attorneys, we would advise anyone with a suspended license to stay off the roads. As humans though, we understand that at times we feel invincible and will do as we please. If this is the case and you are pulled over with a suspended license, contact us before making any statements to law enforcement. It does not matter whether or not you have a “good” reason for being behind the wheel, the prosecution will do their best to prove you are guilty. Having an attorney on your side defending and advising you in this critical time could mean a difference in verdicts. To arrange your free consultation with a skilled Wisconsin defense lawyer, please call us today at 608-254-9589 or contact us online. Right now in our country, it is hard to turn on the television or login to social media without hearing about The Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. In Sauk County, as well as throughout Wisconsin, concealed carry is permissible for those with the proper permits and individuals who have not been found guilty of a felony. If an individual has been convicted of a felony, whether in-state or out-of-state, owning a firearm would be illegal. In the state of Wisconsin, other reasons that make owning a firearm illegal include the following:
(a) The person has been convicted of a felony in this state. (b) The person has been convicted of a crime elsewhere that would be a felony if committed in this state. (bm) The person has been adjudicated delinquent for an act committed on or after April 21, 1994, that if committed by an adult in this state would be a felony. (c) The person has been found not guilty of a felony in this state by reason of mental disease or defect. (d) The person has been found not guilty of or not responsible for a crime elsewhere that would be a felony in this state by reason of insanity or mental disease, defect or illness. (e) The person has been committed for treatment under s. 51.20 (13) (a) and is subject to an order not to possess a firearm under s. 51.20 (13) (cv) 1., 2007 stats. If you have been accused of illegally owning a firearm, it is in your best interest to hire an attorney as soon as possible. At Southworth and Stamman, we understand, and we can help. Our Wisconsin Dells defense lawyers are former prosecutors who know how to navigate the criminal justice system on behalf of the accused. We are here to protect your rights, your reputation and your freedom. It is an unfortunate fact in not only in Juneau County, but throughout the country, that we are facing an opioid crisis. Often times, when people hear the word opioid they assume heroin, but opioids also include prescription painkillers. Any time an individual goes to the doctor and is prescribed pain pills such as Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, or Codeine, they are being prescribed an opioid. For many once they start to feel better, there is no longer a need for the pills and they’ll store the leftovers in a medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, teens and other family members may take these leftover pills and either experiment with them, which has been proven to be deadly, or be influenced to sell them.
In the Juneau County, it does not matter if this is your first run in with the law, being charged with possession of an opioid is considered a felony. Being charged with a felony though does not mean you should lose all hope. Our attorneys can defend you against prescription drug charges. As with all charges brought against you, the sooner you are able to speak with an attorney the better chance you have of obtaining a favorable outcome. If you are looking to aggressively fight these accusations, please contact us today to arrange a free consultation with one of our attorneys. If you feel that a loved one is abusing prescription drugs, please remember that there are resources that can help them get on the road to recovery. The current opioid crisis in this country is alarming and anyone can develop an addiction. If you are looking to speak with someone please reach out to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. As human beings there are times we unintentionally lose our temper. It may be that we are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or just in the heat of the moment, and we do something we may regret. In these times when control is lost, if you put your hands around another individual’s neck and impede airflow, no matter how hard or soft the pressure, you could be found guilty of a Class H Felony in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
As with many crimes in Wisconsin, there are often enhancers when accused of strangulation. Depending on what the other enhancers are, such as a domestic or weapon enhancer, the charges brought against an individual become more serious depending on the circumstances surrounding the situation. If you find yourself in a situation where you are accused of strangulation on its own, or with enhancers, you need an attorney. In cases of strangulation, the situation is often a he said / she said, or a misunderstanding. The longer you wait to hire representation, the longer you are waiting to start defending yourself. If the state has started to build a case against you, then why would you wait to start your defense? Whether you are a resident of Columbia County, a surrounding area, or visiting from out of state, fighting accusations of strangulation and possible other enhancers is a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Our attorneys know that there are two sides to every story and we will fight to get the facts. If you want to talk to an attorney who believes in the rights of the accused, we will be here for you. Call us today at 608-254-9589 or contact us online. Do you know what will happen if you are ordered to appear before a judge and fail to show?
In Sauk County, failing to appear before a judge does not necessarily mean the police will show up at your home or workplace, but rather, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest and your name will be added to a statewide database with other outstanding warrants. Once your name has been added to the database, if you are pulled over in Sauk County for a traffic violation, a car accident, etc, the officer will be alerted and you’ll be placed in custody for an outstanding warrant. Once arrested and taken into custody, you’ll have to post bail and be assigned a new court date before being allowed to leave. If you know that there is a warrant out for your arrest, you always have the option to turn yourself in. Turning yourself in when a warrant has been issued, will usually result in having to pay a fine to the county clerk and the warrant being recalled. Whether or not you intentionally miss a court date or have extenuating circumstances, having an attorney present will greatly benefit your cause and show the judge you are taking the accusations and warrant seriously. The sooner you talk to one of our defense attorneys, the better chance we have of helping you. It is important to talk to a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible. If you are serious about protecting your name, please contact us by telephone at 608-254-9589 or online. |
AuthorSouthworth Law Office, LLC. Archives
December 2018
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