Kentucky Criminal Defense Attorney

If you find yourself charged with a serious crime, then your first phone call needs to be to a skilled Kentucky criminal defense lawyer.  The stakes are high, and you need an aggressive and effective defense strategy.

When your freedom and future hang in the balance, an experienced Kentucky criminal defense lawyer can mean the difference between being acquitted or spending time behind bars.  Choose an aggressive attorney with a winning track record.

Kentucky criminal defense attorney Dan Carman knows how to be tough. As a former Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps and a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, Dan has significant top-level experience with the law. He knows how to build a formidable defense and argue aggressively on behalf of his clients. Choose the best. For a free initial consultation about your case, contact Dan at (859) 685-1055.

Why Do I Need a Kentucky Criminal Defense Attorney?

When you’re risking jail time, you don’t want to rely on an anonymous attorney you find on the Internet or a friend’s nephew who just got out of law school. You need a serious defense for a serious crime. Don’t leave your future to chance. Attorney Dan Carman specializes in criminal law, and he has a track record of success representing his clients. You don’t want an attorney who is a generalist – one who handles real estate, wills, taxes and sometimes criminal defense. You want an attorney who knows the ropes backwards and forwards with the criminal justice system.

Working with a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Kentucky

A skilled Kentucky criminal defense attorney can guide you through the complicated legal system and explain your options in layman’s language. Dan is prepared to answer all your questions, offer you insights and collaborate with you on creating a defense strategy. He is committed to returning client phone calls quickly.

Crimes We Defend

Dan Carman provides an effective defense for clients accused of a wide range of crimes. Some of these include:

  • DUI/DWI – Driving under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances.
  • Assault – Physically attacking another person or police officer.
  • Weapons Possession – Having guns, knives, explosives or other lethal weapons in your possession.
  • Burglary – Entering a property with the intent to steal items therein.
  • Larceny – Theft or stealing.

This is not an exhaustive list of cases we handle. We also handle several others.

As a highly experienced Kentucky criminal defense lawyer, Dan will gather evidence, interview witnesses (and experts if needed), read police reports and review all the details of the alleged crime. He will look for misconduct by police or flawed evidence as he builds your defense. He will anticipate the prosecutor’s case and create ways to out-maneuver opposing legal arguments.

Those involved in your case include your defense attorney, the prosecutor, the judge and a jury of your peers should you decide to go to trial.

Whether you take your case to trial or settle and accept a reduced sentence, Dan will stand by your side all the way.  You are the one who ultimately makes these decisions. Dan listens closely to his clients and approaches each case individually, with a fresh set of eyes.

How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Kentucky Cost?

Costs can vary, depending on the complexity of the crime, amount of evidence, number of witnesses and amount of time involved in the case. Some cases take a relatively short amount of time, while others can take many weeks. Some attorneys charge by the hour and others charge a flat fee for particular types of cases. For more details about the fees for a Kentucky criminal defense attorney, contact Dan at (859) 685-1055.

You Have Constitutional Rights

The founding fathers and framers of the U.S. Constitution made absolutely sure that every citizen accused of a crime has the right to an effective defense and his or her “day in court.” No one can be arrested and placed in jail indefinitely without an attorney to represent them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Regardless of your socio-economic standing, race, religion or geographic location, you have a legal right to secure a skilled Kentucky criminal defense attorney to represent you.

  • Every U.S. citizen has specific rights under the Constitution.  So do you.  Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
  • An experienced Kentucky criminal defense attorney will make sure your rights under the law are protected and enforced.

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides you with some of your most powerful rights.  It reads, in part:

“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.”

Criminal Defense LawyerLet’s review your rights:

  • Right to a Speedy Trial
  • Right to a Public Trial
  • Right to an Impartial Jury
  • Notice of Accusation
  • Assistance of Counsel

For a full discussion of your legal rights, contact Dan Carman at (859) 685-1055. He will take the time to answer all your questions and explain the criminal justice system as it affects you.

What Are Some Potential Defenses?

In the area of criminal law, there are several potential arguments that can negate elements of a crime, especially the “intent” aspect.  Some of these include:

  • Mistake of Fact – “Making a mistake” in some cases can be an effective defense if the mistake is about a fact and is genuine.
  • Intoxication – In some jurisdictions, intoxication may negate specific intent.  For example, it could potentially reduce murder to manslaughter.
  • Self-Defense – This argument says that a defendant took reasonable action to protect themselves from harm.
  • Duress –  Someone “under duress” is forced into an illegal act.  The duress must involve the threat of immediate danger, serious injury or death.
  • Mental Disorder –  This refers to any mental condition that causes a person lack of understanding of the wrongfulness of an action, or an inability to conform one’s conduct to the law.
Contact Kentucky Criminal Defense Attorney Dan Carman for an aggressive and effective defense. Call (859) 685-1055. Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

We understand that sometimes a person is mistakenly charged with a crime simply because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe you were at a neighbor’s house when a crime was committed, but you were in a different room and had nothing to do with the alleged wrongdoing. Maybe you were a passenger in a friend’s car and had no knowledge that there were drugs under the seat. You were an innocent bystander. These things happen, and you should not be penalized if you were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Our Kentucky criminal defense attorneys will review the evidence and police reports to determine if facts show that you were not involved in a crime and have been mistakenly charged.

Defending Myself or Others

Sometimes things get out-of-hand quickly and you are forced to defend yourself or an innocent person nearby, such as a child or elderly person.  Courts recognize that sometimes the threat of violence or bodily harm can lead a person to act unlawfully because they are trying to prevent injury or save a life. Kentucky criminal defense attorney Dan Carman knows how to effectively craft a defense based on self-defense or the defense of a nearby person.

Prosecuting Strategy

To convict a person of a crime, the prosecutor must prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the facts and evidence support a conviction.  This is a pretty high burden of proof. An experienced Kentucky criminal defense attorney can find ways to poke holes in a prosecutor’s strategy and create doubt in the mind of a “reasonable” person, including members of a jury.

What Makes a Good Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Experience. Education. Determination.

When choosing a KY criminal lawyer to represent you, do your homework. Spend some time on the law firm’s web site and read the attorneys’ bios, reviews from other clients, and any awards or citations the attorneys may have received.  Years of experience is also something you want to look for. And so is a track record of success.  Client satisfaction is a key indicator of an attorney’s skill and client service.

Is Representing Myself an Option?

With your freedom at stake, most attorneys recommend that you do not try to defend yourself in court.  While you have a legal right to do this, America’s criminal justice system is complicated and time consuming, and trained professionals have a much better chance of being successful. Also, you have the right to have a public defender appointed on your behalf, but these overburdened attorneys are often tired and have too many cases to give their full time and attention to any one of them.

When you’re facing prison time and significant fines, your best chance of success is to hire your own KY criminal lawyer who is accountable to you and you alone.

We’re Here for You

Attorney Dan Carman doesn’t treat clients like a name on a file folder. He spends time getting to know each client and their family as human beings. He wants to hear your stories and your concerns. He understands that the better he knows you, the greater the chance of creating a strong defense strategy. For a free discussion of your case, contact Dan at (859) 685-1055.  He wants to hear your version of events.

Consequences of a Conviction in Kentucky

The most serious consequences of being convicted of a crime in Kentucky include imprisonment, fines and probation.  But even after a person has “paid their dues to society,” there can be far-reaching consequences that last the rest of his or her life. For example, having a criminal record can make it very difficult to get a job, to be approved for a loan or to secure housing. A felony on your record also means you lose the right to vote in elections in the U.S. Not to mention the stigma that accompanies being labeled a “criminal” and the social consequences that includes for both you and your family.

The Difference Between Felony and Misdemeanor

Felony

Felonies include the most serious crimes, such as murder, assault, robbery and the like.  Felonies, therefore, also carry the heaviest penalties, including prison time and hefty fines. A felony is punishable by one year or more in state or federal prison.

Misdemeanor

Misdemeanors include crimes that are viewed as less serious than felonies. Some of these might include simple drug possession, a DUI and other first-time offenses. Misdemeanors are punishable by less than one year in county jail, fines, probation and community service.

Contact a Kentucky Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Attorney Dan Carman has a track record of success and is focused on creating a powerful defense for every client.  He is committed, tough and aggressive when it comes to enforcing the legal rights of his clients. If you have been charged with a crime, contact the Dan Carman Law Firm for a free initial consultation about your case. Call (859) 685-1055. You’ll be glad you did.

Attorney Dan Carman

Attorney Dan CarmanFocusing on criminal matters, Mr. Carman is admitted to practice law in all Courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. He is a member of the American, Kentucky, and Fayette County Bar Associations. Mr. Carman also worked as a prosecutor, as well as a legal assistance attorney. Attorney Dan Carman can help you with any criminal defense matters you may need including; DUI, drug, and weapons charges, trespassing, traffic violations and more. [ Attorney Bio ]