Aggressive Mississippi Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are facing criminal charges in the Jackson area or anywhere in Mississippi, you need an aggressive criminal defense lawyer who knows the system and will stand by you. Attorney Joey Franks, the Big Man at Big Man Law, is an experienced criminal defense attorney and he will protect your rights and be a strong voice in court. When your freedom and future are at stake, you deserve a defense attorney who listens, investigates, and fights for the best outcome.
Protecting Your Rights
Every word and action matters when you face criminal accusations. Attorney Franks ensures you understand your case. He will ask questions, review arrest reports, and watch police dash and body cam videos. He might be able to identify mistakes that could work in your favor. Every step is taken to uncover the truth and build the strongest strategy possible.
Criminal Defense Strategy
A successful defense starts with preparation. Agressvie Criminal Defense Attorney Franks knows that no two cases are the same. Attorney Franks tailors your defense plan to your unique circumstances, regardless of the charges you face. He examines the evidence, looking for gaps or weaknesses.
If you want to go to trial, the Big Man carefully reviews police records, statements, and evidence. If necessary, he will bring in independent experts who may find details others overlook. That can make the difference between conviction and acquittal.
Throughout the process, Attorney Franks communicates with you. He explains consequences and keeps you updated. Attorney Franks will always keep you informed about your case and the next steps. Attorney Franks always respects confidentiality and makes every decision with your best interests in mind.
Negotiation and Advocacy
Not every criminal case goes to trial. Many are resolved through plea negotiations. Having a skilled negotiator on your side can lead to a reduced sentence or even dismissal of charges. Attorney Franks knows how to work with prosecutors while still protecting your rights. He will recommend a plea deal if it benefits you.
If your case proceeds to trial, the Big Man is your advocate in the courtroom. He’s involved in jury selection to ensure jurors are unbiased. He presents your side of the story persuasively in court. He will cross-examine witnesses, challenge evidence, and point out inconsistencies. His goal is to convince the jury of your innocence or create reasonable doubt.
Representation During Sentencing
If there’s a conviction, Attorney Franks will continue to fight. He works to minimize the penalties you face and explores alternatives to jail time which could include probation, community service, or treatment programs. His goal is to protect your rights and reduce the impact of a criminal charge.
The Big Man Defends:
Drug Charges
Drug charges include possession and distribution of controlled substances. Attorney Franks can challenge evidence and search procedures and negotiate pleas.
Theft and Property Crimes
Theft crimes can be anything from shoplifting to grand larceny. The Big Man provides aggressive criminal defense for clients accused of stealing, burglarizing, and robbery. Included are fraud, embezzlement, and identity theft. Property crimes can be misdemeanors or felonies
Assault and Violent Crimes
Assault cases can be fights where someone is hurt, like aggravated assault and battery. The Big Man also defends people arrested for homicide, manslaughter, and domestic violence. Evidence can include eyewitness testimony, medical records, and forensic analysis.
DUI Arrests
A DUI arrest is a common reason for retaining a criminal defense lawyer. Attorney Franks can challenge test results and the legality of the traffic stop.
White-Collar Crimes
The Big Man can defend clients accused of fraud, tax evasion, and bribery.
Weapons Charges
Attorney Franks defends people arrested for illegal gun possession and weapon use during a crime.
Why Choose The Big Man?
Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer is an important decision. Attorney Franks is an experienced lawyer, and he’s a tough criminal defense lawyer. He’s a defender who cares about his clients. He combines legal skill with compassion, treating every client with respect. You can count on him to fight tirelessly for your freedom. Whether you are dealing with DUI charges, drug offenses, assault accusations, or other criminal matters, The Big Man will bring the knowledge, dedication, and persistence your case deserves. Big Man Law, Jackson, MS.
Consultation Fee: $100.00 USD
Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Mississippi
If you’re dealing with a criminal charge, Attorney Joey Franks, the Big Man at Big Man Law, will protect your rights. He first meets with you to hear your side and explain the charges and next steps. He studies police reports, witness statements, and evidence and looks for holes in the prosecution’s case. If the cops violated your rights, the Big Man will file motions to keep arrest evidence out of court. Not every case goes to trial, as Attorney Franks will negotiate with the prosecutor for a better outcome. He may be able to have the charges dismissed if the evidence is weak; he’ll move for a dismissal or otherwise negotiate a plea deal. If you want to go to trial, the Big Man will be your courtroom advocate. He’ll be involved in the jury selection process, challenge the prosecution case, and argue for a not guilty verdict. Attorney Joey Franks, Big Man Law, Jackson Mississippi.
What Cases Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Handle?
A good criminal defense attorney handles all kinds of cases, whether they are misdemeanors or felonies or state or federal cases. In Mississippi, you may get a felony charge out of Rankin County that’s a state case in circuit court. However, you could have a charge from Rankin County that violated a federal law like wire fraud, for instance. Then it’s tried in federal court in the southern district of Mississippi. A criminal defense attorney could handle either of those cases. From a traffic infraction to a murder case, it can be anything.
When Should You Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer ?
If you’re arrested, hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you get out of jail. Hire the best lawyer you can afford as quickly as possible. If you’re still in jail, then you need to have a family member reach out to an attorney right away. An attorney can file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus for a bond. If there is no bond, they can file a motion for a reduction of bond. If the amount is so high, like a million dollars, you will put at least 10% down, which is a hundred thousand dollars. So, it’s worth getting an attorney to get your bond reduced. Otherwise, get a lawyer right away and don’t talk about it to anyone. Talk to your lawyer before your mama.
What to Look For in a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
What should you look for in a criminal defense lawyer? You want someone who will be honest with you and tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly about your case. You need to trust and be comfortable with your selection; otherwise, they are not the lawyer for you. That’s why a consultation is important so you can question each other. If you’ve got a weak case, the attorney needs to be able to talk to you about what your realistic exposure is. Are you looking at years in the penitentiary or a license suspension? You need an attorney that can do an assessment and say, this is a case that is worth taking to trial, or let’s talk to the prosecutor and see what we can work out.
What Should You Do if Investigated for a Crime?
If you’re being investigated for a crime, the first thing you do is shut up. Don’t talk to any investigators or detectives. If you talk, you have locked yourself into that story forevermore. That’s where you affirmatively assert your Fifth Amendment right. Once you say that you exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, they can’t say that you didn’t cooperate. You have no duty to cooperate, so shut up. That doesn’t mean shut up for a little while and talk later. Go find a good lawyer
Should You Talk to the Police Before Consulting a Lawyer?
Should you talk to the police before consulting a lawyer? Absolutely not. Here is the extent of your conversation with a police officer. I exercise my fifth amendment right to remain silent. That is all you need to say. Furthermore, don’t talk to the police WITH a lawyer present. Such a situation could only occur under truly extraordinary circumstances, likely as part of a plea deal. You see it on TV shows where the police sit down with the lawyer and client in a room, and it always gets sideways. The client always says something that they shouldn’t. That’s why the Big Man won’t let his client talk to the police under any circumstance.
What Happens at the First Criminal Defense Consultation?
During your first consultation with Criminal Defense Attorney Joey Franks, the Big Man, he will get basic information from you so he knows what’s going on. Then it’s on to the preparation stage, where you send him any documents you have for his review. He will also pull your state case report and study it before meeting with you. The Big Man conducts about 90% of his consultations over the phone, where he explains statutes, penalties and options. Attorney Franks does a lot of research before your first meeting, so that’s why there are no free consultations. Big Man Law will provide a lot more value than everybody else.
What Evidence Does a Mississippi Criminal Defense Lawyer Have?
Most of the evidence that a criminal defense lawyer uses comes from the state. It includes video evidence like body cams, dash cams, traffic cameras, and license plate readers. With the Mississippi Highway Patrol, it’s common for them to have dash, but not body cams. If there were wiretaps, we would receive the audio files. We get reports, statements, photographs, and medical records. Medical records can be lengthy, especially in cases of aggravated DUI where someone is injured. Furthermore, reading some folks’ handwritten statements can be difficult. Occasionally we get call logs and they can be beneficial or a hindrance. There are many hurdles to overcome.
What's the Difference Between a Misdemeanor and a Felony in Mississippi?
What’s the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony? The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is a misdemeanor carries up to a year in jail, while a felony carries more than a year in prison. So, three years in prison is a felony. Up to a year in jail is a misdemeanor.
What Are Your Rights if Arrested in Mississippi?
What are your rights in Mississippi if you’re arrested? Your biggest right is the right to remain silent. Exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, and you will eliminate probably 75% of the problems of your case. What you say in the interview or in the patrol car will be used against you later, and you can’t back out. You won’t talk yourself out of the problem. Also, get the best attorney you can afford. You also have the fourth Amendment right against seizures, so don’t consent to a search. The cops need to get a warrant if they don’t have probable cause. If they have probable cause, they didn’t need your consent.
Can a Mississippi Lawyer Get My Charges Dismissed?
Can the Big Man get your charges dismissed? Yes, but it may not work the way you expect. Everybody thinks Mississippi is a good old boy system, but we have procedures and rules of evidence. We get the evidence they plan to use against you and review it. If it’s a crappy case, the Big Man calls the prosecutor, tells them what he’s seeing, and suggests they dismiss the charges. Then Attorney Franks files motions and argues for a dismissal and lets the judge decide. If that doesn’t work, the Big Man goes to trial and lets a jury decide guilt or innocence. If it’s a misdemeanor that doesn’t get a jury, then it’s a bench trial.
What is a Plea Deal in Mississippi?
A plea deal where everybody is going back and forth on terms everybody can live with concerning prison or jail time. You have to look at any aces you have up your sleeve. Maybe you get a key witness that can make the case, and we reject a plea and go to court. The flip side is the downsides and exposure the defendant has. If they are a violent, habitual offender, they could get life in prison if they are found guilty in Mississippi. Then Attorney Franks might negotiate for 5, 10, or 15 years depending on the facts of the case. Furthermore, just because the state works out a deal, the judge can say, no, I’m not approving that. So plea bargaining is really high-stakes and nuanced. It’s got more that can go wrong than people realize.
What If You Don’t Take a Plea Deal in Mississippi?
There are two reasons for tuning down a plea deal in Mississippi. First, the defendant takes the position that they are not guilty, and that’s reasonable and rational. Then Attorney Franks makes sure they understand the risk and they move forward to trial. The second reason is the deal isn’t a fair acknowledgement of the pros and cons of the case. There’s a disproportionate risk allocation. For example, if the state wants you to serve 25 years, you’re a 50-year-old man, and the maximum is life in prison, then don’t take that deal. Maybe there’s a key witness the state doesn’t know about or something else that will help the defendant. Attorney Franks will explain everything to the defendant so they can make an informed decision.
How Long Does a Criminal Case Take in Mississippi?
How long a Mississippi criminal case takes depends on whether it’s a state or federal case and whether it’s a felony or misdemeanor. A federal case is almost always quicker. It’s not unusual to get arrested on a Monday, indicted on a Tuesday, and arranged within a week or so. Your case can go to trial within a few months and end up taking six months to a year. Felony cases in Madison County take nine months to a year, most of the time. Good luck getting a trial in Hinds County. You can be two or three years out before anything happens. With misdemeanors, the average timeframe is four to six months.
What is Beyond a Reasonable Doubt in Mississippi?
Beyond a reasonable doubt is the top of the burden of proof mountain. At the base is reasonable suspicion, which means the state has specific articulable facts that show you may have done something. Right above there, it’s probable cause, which is facts that lead an ordinary person to believe something happened. Then there’s a preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely than not. The very peak of the mountain for burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, and it requires the elimination of every reasonable doubt that you could possibly have. It’s important to understand that the state and the defense don’t start off on equal footing. The state has to start way back over there and work their way up that entire mountain. If they don’t climb that mountain to beyond a reasonable doubt, then you don’t get found guilty.
What is a verdict appeal in Mississippi?
An appeal of a verdict is where you think the judge or the jury got the ruling wrong. If it’s a misdemeanor, you appeal up to the county or the circuit court, and from there you can appeal up to the Supreme Court. However, they almost always kick it back to the Court of Appeals. If you think the Court of Appeals got it wrong, you can petition the Mississippi Supreme Court again, but they may deny the appeal. If it’s a felony, you are appealing a jury verdict. We file an appeal from the Circuit Court directly to the Mississippi Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court only wants to hear cases they haven’t heard before. You have to go through the procedural steps that preserve your case, and you file a notice of appeal up to the Supreme Court. Again, they may not hear your case. If you don’t like that ruling, you can file a certain petition with the Supreme Court, but if they still don’t want to hear your case, you’re stuck with the ruling from the Court of Appeals.