St. Louis Criminal Defense Law Blog

Homicides aren't always criminal actions

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in Weapons Offenses on Friday, July 5, 2019.

On television, you have probably seen homicide detectives working cases. What some people might not realize is that the term "homicide" doesn't automatically mean that there was an illegal action involved in the case. In the simplest of terms, a homicide is any unnatural death of an individual. This can be because of an illegal action by someone, such as murder, but it can also be due to an accident, such as a fatal car wreck.

The purpose of the homicide detective is to determine what happened so they can figure out what to do about the death. It is fully possible that no criminal charges will be filed even though the homicide team is called in to check out the situation.

What does it mean to be accused of money laundering?

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

People who are involved in illegal activities will sometimes need to make their profits appear to have come from a legitimate source. This is done through money laundering, which is a criminal activity. There are various different manners of "cleaning" money, but none of them are legal.

One goal of money laundering is to be able to put the money in a bank. Laws provide stipulations for banks that note they can't put any money into an account if it didn't come from a legitimate source. Yet, it isn't safe for them to carry around massive amounts of cash, so they need to clean the money to make these financial transactions.

Learn how to calm yourself to prevent a violent encounter

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in Violent Crimes on Friday, June 21, 2019.

Violent crimes are sometimes the result of a person not being able to calm down when they are angry. This might come when there is an argument with someone or because of a maddening incident. One thing that you can do to avoid getting into a situation where you might have to resort to violence is to learn how to control your anger and calm down. This isn't always easy, but it might help you to stay out of legal trouble.

One of the easiest ways that you can calm down is to breathe and remove yourself from the situation, so you have a chance to decompress. When you breathe, take in a deep breath and then breathe out slowly while you focus on relaxing your body. Your breath out should last twice as long as the breath in.

Embezzlement requires purposeful actions

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in White Collar Crimes on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Embezzlement is a criminal action that might not be what it seems on the surface. The crime has to do with misuse of the funds that a person is entrusted with. This doesn't mean that they didn't have the right to use the assets. It means that they used them for personal gain without the permission of the powers that be at the company. In the simplest of terms, embezzlement is a basic misuse of trust.

In order to be classified as embezzlement, there have to be a few elements present. One of these is that you were legally able to have possession of the property. The second is that you willfully opted to use the property for your own personal use. The third is that you didn't intend to give the property back.

Plan a defense strategy carefully for a violent crime charge

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in Violent Crimes on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Violent crimes are often difficult for people to face. There are many different types of violent crimes that that are possible, so you have to think about the specific charge that you are facing. This is the only way that you can determine what defense strategy you should use. We are here to help you evaluate these options so that you are able to make decisions based on what you feel is the best for you.

In order to think about the options that you have, you have to know what claims the prosecution is going to make. As you think about your defense, you must ensure that you are calling the defense's points into question. The jury can't have any reasonable doubt about whether you did the crime or not if they are going to convict you. This means you don't have to actually prove your innocence. Instead, you only have to poke holes in the prosecution's case.

Assault with a deadly weapon: Quick facts you should know

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in Weapons Offenses on Friday, May 31, 2019.

Weapons, including guns, are useful for protecting yourself and others around you. They don't usually become an issue until they are used improperly. You can face criminal charges if you are accused of using them in an unlawful manner.

One charge that is possible is assault with a deadly weapon. This charge doesn't even require that you actually harm someone with the weapon. Merely using the weapon to intimidate someone is enough to lead to criminal charges. You only have to put the person in fear of their safety for this charge to be levied against you.

Know how to handle yourself during a criminal investigation

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in White Collar Crimes on Friday, May 24, 2019.

Being accused of a crime isn't something that is likely going to make your life easy. Instead, you are going to face a long battle if you want to prove your innocence. When it comes to white collar crimes, you might have a lot at stake because these charges might have to do with your career, which means that you might not be able to remain at your job. We know that you probably have some questions about the options you have for your defense strategy.

One thing that you have to remember when you learn that you are going to face these charges is that there are some instances in which trying to cover your tracks will result in more evidence against you. It is always best to be honest; however, you have to be careful of what information you give to the authorities if they are doing an investigation.

Serious defense strategies are needed for second-degree murder

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

Second-degree murder charges are serious matters that must be addressed in an appropriate manner by the defense team. There are several options that you have for your defense strategy if you are facing this charge. You should review the ones that apply to your case carefully so that you can set the strategy that you want.

The most common option in these cases is the claim of innocence. In this case, you will need to show that you didn't commit the murder. This can be done by presenting a solid alibi or by poking holes in the prosecution's claims.

The method of case resolution can impact appeal eligibility

On behalf of Sindel Noble posted in Criminal Appeals on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Criminal cases are primarily resolved through plea deals or trials. When a defendant is trying to determine what avenue to take for their case, they have to think carefully about what each option means for them. This can be a difficult choice.

One one hand, a plea deal means that you know what the outcome of the case will be. While it guarantees a conviction, it also generally removes all doubt and anxiety about the sentence you'll face. A trial means that you can't be certain about what will happen. You could walk away free and clear -- or you could end up facing a much harsher punishment than you would with a plea deal.