Recently, Virginia Beach criminal defense attorney Vaughan C. Jones defended a client in federal court, successfully reducing his sentence to the minimum penalty. The client was involved in a public shootout in front of a Walmart in Hampton and the story has received vast publicity. In the Walmart parking lot, a drug sale went south and the men began to shoot at each other, with a total of 27 shots fired. One man was maimed during the episode.
Once the shooting subsided the men drove away and went to a local Hampton motel. Around 2:30 a.m. the SWAT team arrived and an eight-hour standoff ensued- fortunately, the standoff ended peacefully. One co-defendant was given an 8-year sentence and a second offender received 19 years behind bars. Through persuasive negotiating, Attorney Jones was able to convince the federal prosecutors into dismissing his client's gun charges, thereby taking five years of mandatory jail time off of his sentence.
When it was time for the final judgment, the judge kindly gave the client a downward sentence variance, with a criminal penalty lower than the sentencing guidelines. The court then went even further and entered the client into a prison drug program which will reduce his sentence even further. The client was the only defendant to receive this distinctive treatment. In total, the client will probably serve only two years of additional time behind bars.
This story goes to show that your choice of legal counsel can make a world of difference for your case. The federal court was forgiving toward the client because his attorney was experienced and knowledgeable of professional negotiations. Attorney Vaughan C. Jones provides hard-hitting criminal defense for alleged criminal defenders and he is dedicated to protecting the rights of the accused. If you have been arrested for a crime, be sure to contact a Virginia Beach criminal defense lawyer at the firm today.