Author Archives: Jay Butchko

Understanding The Criminal Statute Of Limitations In Indiana
The laws governing the prosecution of criminal cases can be complex. One of the complex laws governing the prosecution of criminal cases in the United States of America is the statute of limitations. All states in the U.S., Indiana included, have a criminal statute of limitations. A criminal statute of limitations outlines how much… Read More »

Can The Police Lie To You During An Interrogation?
If you are facing criminal charges, you may wonder whether you can challenge a police officer’s actions or present evidence proving the officer lied to you during questioning to fight the charges against you. You may assume that police officers are not allowed to lie to criminal suspects during interrogations. But is that true?… Read More »

What Happens If I Refuse To Perform A Field Sobriety Test In Indiana?
It is an offense to drive under the influence (DUI). In Indiana, DUI is also referred to as operating while intoxicated (OWI). If you are found to be operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 percent or more, you are guilty of DUI/OWI. Unfortunately, being convicted of DUI/OWI can… Read More »

Grounds For Appealing A Criminal Conviction
When a criminal defendant is convicted of a crime and sentenced following a trial, they may choose to appeal. You can file an appeal if you have a valid ground for appealing. When you file an appeal, you ask the court to overturn the conviction, or the sentence, in your case.. Only a handful… Read More »

Steps Of The Appeal Process In Indiana
The Constitution of Indiana gives you the right to appeal if you were convicted and sentenced at trial. The appeals stage in a criminal case is when you try to have the conviction, or sentence, overturned. In an appeal, you seek to prove that legal errors occurred that affected the outcome of your case…. Read More »

Search Warrant Requirements
The Fourth Amendment of the nation’s constitution grants you the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Generally, in the United States of America, a search and seizure is considered illegal if it is conducted without a warrant and doesn’t fall under an exception of the warrant requirement. Some exceptions that permit… Read More »

Tips To Help You Win Your Criminal Appeal
If you’ve been convicted and sentenced, following a trial, you may have a legal challenge available through the appeal process. Indiana’s constitution gives criminal defendants the right to appeal. Appealing a criminal case is essentially asking the appellate court to review your case and reverse the trial court’s decision. However, you should keep in… Read More »

Some Common Myths About Criminal Defense
Many myths abound about criminal defense, many of which you may not know about. It is crucial that you understand the facts about criminal defense and avoid falling for the myths. In this article, we debunk some of the most common myths about criminal defense with the aim of helping you better understand the… Read More »

Signs You Hired The Wrong Criminal Defense Lawyer
When facing criminal charges, hiring the right criminal defense lawyer is one of the most crucial steps you can take. The right defense lawyer will know how to protect your rights and fight your charges. Hiring the wrong criminal defense lawyer can have grave consequences. Before hiring a criminal defense lawyer, you must do… Read More »

What Is The Difference Between Direct Evidence And Circumstantial Evidence?
Evidence is an item or information that a party presents to make the existence of a fact more or less likely. Any item or information that tends to make a legally relevant fact more or less likely than it would be without the item or information is considered relevant evidence and thus admissible. Evidence… Read More »