“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – The importance of representation BEFORE criminal charges are filed.
Most people contact a criminal attorney AFTER they have formally been charged with a crime. This makes perfect sense. What many people do not know, however, is that police and prosecutors will often wait weeks, if not months, to make a charging decision or to formally file a criminal case. During this time, police are continuing their investigation, the state is “beefing up” its case, or prosecutors are deliberating about what charges they believe are most appropriate. If unrepresented, rarely does this time lapse benefit the accused. However, with the right counsel, this period can be an opportunity to shut the case down before it ever gets filed.
Mulligan Breit, LLC regularly represents clients who are “under investigation” or in a “pre-file” posture. Patrick Mulligan and Marshall Breit have successfully represented countless clients who were under investigation. Their intervention can and often does result in no charges being filed.
Marshall Breit recently represented a client who was accused of sexual assault. The allegations were that Client engaged in non-consensual sex with a former girlfriend. While there were obvious motives behind the allegations, they were not examined by law enforcement. The Denver Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit was actively investigating the matter and strongly leaning towards filing the case. If Client had been charged with sexual assault, he faced a virtual life sentence in prison.
Mulligan Breit, LLC quickly engaged both the lead detective and the district attorney’s office. After an extensive investigation, Mulligan Breit, LLC was able to show the government decision makers that in fact no crime had been committed and that the allegations lodged against Client were blatantly false. We were able to preserve and turn over key evidence that directly contradicted what the alleged victim had reported to law enforcement. This was evidence that the police simply missed or elected not to collect.
Ultimately, no sexual assault charges were filed against our Client.
Engaging an attorney at the onset of criminal investigation can make all the difference. Marshall Breit and Patrick Mulligan firmly believe that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Collectively, they have over 40 years experience and expertise in preventing wrongful accusations from becoming criminal cases.