If you face criminal charges for forgery, you do not have to face them alone. A Blue Bell forgery defense attorney can help you by providing options, protecting your rights, and fighting to reduce or dismiss the charges against you.
Our Blue Bell white collar crimes lawyer at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. understands the consequences of a conviction in your case. We can help you navigate the legal system and work for the best possible outcome. Contact us today to learn more.
The Benefits of Hiring a Blue Bell Forgery Defense Lawyer to Represent You
The criminal justice system can be a complex and scary maze to navigate, especially if you don’t have any legal experience or it’s your first offense. Obtaining legal representation provides you with an advocate who understands the law and will fight for you against the prosecution.
Attorney David McKenzie is a former criminal prosecutor who can put his “insider knowledge” to work for you. Our law firm also has a 10/10 AVVO rating and a 5-star Google rating, demonstrating our commitment to fighting for our clients’ rights.
If you sign on as a client, our Blue Bell criminal defense lawyer and the rest of our team at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. will:
- Be available 24/7 to take your calls
- Return all of your calls and emails promptly
- Evaluate your case, including all facts and evidence
- Argue for low or no bail so you stay out of jail until trial
- Develop a solid defense strategy to achieve a reduction or dismissal of the charges against you
- Explain all of your legal options
- Frequently update you about your case
- Represent you in and out of court
We believe everyone has the right to legal representation by a competent defense attorney. A Blue Bell forgery defense lawyer from our criminal defense law firm is ready to talk to you about your case.
For a free legal consultation with a forgery defense lawyer serving Blue Bell, call (610) 680-7842
Your Blue Bell Forgery Defense Attorney Can Explain the Possible Penalties You Face
18 Pa. C.S.A. § 4101 defines forgery as the intent to defraud or injure someone by altering, making, modifying, completing, executing, authenticating, issuing, or transferring writing or copying something like a signature, documentation, or a file without permission.
Examples of forgery include:
- Writing fake medication prescriptions
- Altering a check written by someone else by changing the amount
- Creating fake passports, driver’s licenses, or other state or federal documents
- Making and using counterfeit money
- Signing someone else’s name on a document without their consent
Pennsylvania takes forgery seriously, which is why someone convicted of forgery faces severe penalties. According to 101 Pa. Code § 15.66, you may face the following:
- Second-degree felony: Up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if you are convicted of forging government documents, money, postage, securities, or stocks
- Third-degree felony: Up to 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine if you are convicted of forging legal documents such as contracts, wills, or deeds
- First-degree misdemeanor: Up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if you are convicted of forging other documents such as checks or money orders
You may also face non-legal consequences if the court convicts you of forgery, including:
- Criminal record: A criminal record can impact your life by preventing you from obtaining housing. You may also have difficulty finding employment.
- Financial challenges: A forgery conviction could result in banks denying you loans, credit cards, and other services. It can also negatively impact your credit score.
- Reputation damage: A conviction can also damage your reputation in the community. You could lose friends and become estranged from family members.
The potential legal and non-legal penalties you could face if the court convicts you of forgery make it crucial to obtain a criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and fight the charges. A forgery defense attorney serving Blue Bell can help you. Contact McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. today for the legal assistance you deserve.
Blue Bell Forgery Defense Lawyer Near Me (610) 680-7842
Strong Defense Strategies Your Forgery Lawyer Can Employ in Blue Bell
Every forgery case is different, so not every defense strategy will apply. By evaluating your case’s facts and the evidence the prosecution has against you, we can develop a defense strategy unique to your case.
Possible defense strategies we can employ include:
- Not enough evidence: The prosecution needs significant evidence to convict. We will challenge the evidence and question the methods used to collect it. Without enough evidence, the case against you may be weak.
- Mistaken identity: Law enforcement may have arrested you for forgery by mistake. Any doubt about the identity of the alleged perpetrator hurts the prosecution’s case.
- Mental incapacity: If you were not mentally fit when the offense occurred, you may not have known you were defrauding or injuring anyone.
- Procedural errors: Law enforcement and/or the prosecution may have committed procedural errors such as withholding evidence or performing an illegal search. Procedural errors can get a case thrown out.
- Chain of custody: Evidence must go through a proper chain of custody. We could challenge the chain of custody to call into question its reliability. Again, the less evidence the prosecution has to make their case, the better.
- No intent: Perhaps you did not intend to commit forgery. Without proving intent, which is key to forgery cases, the prosecution has a weak case.
- Consent: If you had consent or authorization to sign or modify a document, the prosecution is more likely to drop charges.
- Coercion: If someone else forces you to commit forgery, you did not intend to defraud or injure anyone.
Our goal is to fight to reduce or dismiss the charges against you. That not only means we will defend you in court, but it also means we will negotiate with the prosecution for a plea deal if it’s in your best interest. You have the power to accept or reject a plea offer.
David McKenzie understands how prosecutors work, giving us an advantage that other defense attorneys may not have in their legal arsenal.
Click to contact our Blue Bell Criminal Defense Lawyers today
Get Help From a Blue Bell Forgery Defense Lawyer Today
If you are facing forgery charges in Blue Bell, McKenzie Law Firm, P.C., has the experience to walk you through the legal process and aggressively defend you in court.
You are not alone. For a consultation to discuss your options, please contact our law firm today.
Call or text (610) 680-7842 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
