Criminal Defense & Deportation Defense

Do You Need a Criminal, DUI, Traffic, Juvenile, or Immigration Removal Defense Lawyer in Connecticut?

J. Christopher Llinas will investigate every factual angle, research every legal option, and take every legal action available to assist you in advancing your interests.

He will do so in an efficient and effective fashion:

• taking advantage of opportunities
• sidestepping pitfalls
• avoiding any damaging, wasteful, or unnecessary actions and expenditures

He will keep you in the loop the entire time – taking your phone calls, responding to your emails, and taking the time to help you understand what is going on with your matter.

At the end of the day, with attorney J. Christopher Llinas you will have a seasoned hand at your side, focused on helping you achieve the best possible outcome with the matter at hand.

Connecticut Criminal Defense:

Defense Attorney J. Christopher Llinas is a former prosecutor, public defender, and private criminal defense lawyer with a wide range of experience, ready to serve those charged with crimes in Connecticut’s courts.

If you have been charged with or arrested for a crime, you are likely frightened and unsure of what you should do next.

Under the United States and Connecticut Constitutions, and Connecticut law, you have certain inalienable rights, regardless of the crime(s) with which you are charged

Defense Attorney J. Christopher Llinas can help you understand those rights and formulate a solid defense strategy to minimize or eliminate the consequences you are facing.

The Threefold Job of a Criminal Defense Attorney

No matter the charges, the work of a criminal defense lawyer can be broken down into three key parts:

1. To make sure that the State – police, and prosecutors – act constitutionally and legally in their investigation and prosecution of the crime.
   • Making sure the police respect your rights as they gather evidence, make an arrest, and question you.
   • Making sure the prosecutors fairly follow the rules before, during, and after a trial in their pursuit of a conviction.
2. To hold the State to its burden of proving every element of every charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
   • Meticulously reviewing the State’s evidence before trial;
   • Gathering any and all additional relevant evidence from the defendant and other sources;
   • Applying the rules of evidence to include evidence we want and exclude evidence we don’t want; and
   • Crafting an alternative story that negates or casts doubt upon the story the State is trying to tell.
3. To work for the best possible sentence relative to any offense resulting in conviction, either after a trial or a plea.
   1. Presenting mitigating evidence
   2. Suggesting alternative sentencing strategies
   3. Minimizing adverse consequences, in both the short and long term

Your Rights Under State and Federal Law

• You have the right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. This means that law enforcement officers need reasonable articulable suspicion to stop you and probable cause to search you, your vehicle, or your home.
• You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to say anything to law enforcement officers at any time during your arrest or subsequent questioning, even if the officers pressure you to speak.
• You have the right to request an attorney. You may do so at any time, and law enforcement officers may not ask you questions in your attorney’s absence.
• If you cannot afford an attorney, a lawyer will be appointed to you by the state.
• You have the right to be treated humanely during an arrest and subsequent questioning. Law enforcement officers must not exhibit brutality or use undue force when arresting you or holding you in custody.
• You have the right to reasonable bail. No judge may set a bail that is unreasonable considering the crime for which you have been arrested.
• You have a right to a jury trial. In almost every criminal case, you have a right to a trial by jury. Most cases are heard by a jury of 6 members, though for a select number of very serious offenses, cases are heard by a jury of 12 members.

You have a number of rights, at trial:

• • The right to present a defense
  • The right to confront and cross-examine witnesses against you
  • The right to testify on your own behalf
  • The right to not testify and that decision cannot be held against you
  • The right to have every element of every charge proven beyond a reasonable doubt

Experienced Criminal Defense, No Matter What the Crime

Attorney J. Christopher Llinas offers clients high-quality legal representation, regardless of their charges.

Defense Attorney Llinas has experience with the following types of criminal defense cases, which include felonies, misdemeanors, and, in a couple of instances, unclassified offenses:

• Violent crimes, such as murder, manslaughter, sex offenses, and assault
• DUI (or OUI, in CT) including all offenses involving driving (or boating) under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both
• Theft crimes, including larceny, robbery, and related fraud offenses
• Juvenile crimes
• Drug crimes, including manufacture, sale, and possession
• Traffic offenses, including driving while suspended/revoked, hit & run, evading police, reckless driving, and speeding
• Property crimes, including burglary, arson, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, and related crimes
• Violations of Probation and Violations of Parole (VOP’s)
• Weapons crimes, including illegal possession or use of a firearm

When charged with a crime, you face severe punishments, including jail time, fines, restitution, community service, and mandatory counseling. You can end up with a permanent criminal record that may make life difficult, even after satisfying the court’s penalty requirements.

By working with a seasoned criminal defense lawyer, you can increase the odds that your case will be resolved in your favor.

Criminal defense lawyer J. Christopher Llinas has the experience and resources to help you determine the best course of action in your case, and he will petition the court for the reduction or elimination of your charges.

Felony Crimes in Connecticut

Connecticut breaks down its felony offenses into 5 classes:

• Class A Felonies, carry penalties of life in prison, 25 to 60 years, 25 to 50 years, and 10 to 25 years, depending upon the offense. Examples include murder, 1st-degree kidnapping, and home invasion.
• Class B Felonies, which, with one exception, carry penalties of 1 to 20 years in prison. Examples include 1st-degree manslaughter, 1st-degree assault, and 1st-degree robbery.
• Class C Felonies, carry penalties of 1 to 10 years in prison. Examples include 1st-degree strangulation, 1st-degree forgery, and stealing a firearm.
• Class D Felonies, carry penalties of up to 5 years in prison. Examples include 1st-degree threatening, 1st-degree criminal mischief, and certain credit card crimes.
• Unclassified Felonies, carry penalties of at least 1 year and 1 day, or more, and are not specifically defined by the class. Examples include many drug offenses, and subsequent offender drunk driving offenses.

It is urgent that you obtain seasoned legal help once you learn you are suspected of committing a felony crime.

Misdemeanor Crimes in Connecticut

Many people mistakenly assume that misdemeanor crimes aren’t serious, simply because they are less so than felony crimes.

However, you still stand to incur severe penalties if you are found guilty of a misdemeanor crime.

Connecticut breaks down its misdemeanor offenses into 3 classes:

• Class A Misdemeanors, which carry penalties of up to 1 year in prison. Examples include prostitution, 1st-degree criminal trespass, and false statement.
• Class B Misdemeanors, which carry penalties of up to 6 months in prison. Examples include 2nd-degree reckless endangerment, 5th-degree larceny, and unlawful assembly.
• Class C Misdemeanors, which carry penalties of up to 3 months in prison. Examples include 6th degree larceny, disorderly conduct, and 2nd-degree harassment.

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, your future depends on a zealous defense.

Attorney J. Christopher Llinas understands the potential consequences of a guilty verdict and the effect that it can have on your career and relationships.

Defense attorney Llinas will review the circumstances surrounding your case and help you devise and execute the best possible defense, with the goal of achieving the best possible result, in light of the facts and applicable law.

Contact Defense Attorney J. Christopher Llinas Today for a Consultation

The most important thing you can do after being arrested is to contact a criminal defense attorney.

By working with a lawyer from the start of your case, you can ensure that your rights and urgent evidence are preserved and protected.

As a former prosecutor, Attorney Llinas has an innate understanding of what evidence the prosecution will attempt to use against you.

He will use his skills and experience to develop a strong defense that is designed to meet the prosecution head-on at every turn.

Contact Criminal Defense Attorney J. Christopher Llinas today for a consultation to discuss the charges against you at 860-530-1781. He is available now to assist you.