How a Plea Bargain for Disorderly Conduct Helped a Man Avoid Insurance Fraud Charges
Sometimes, a small mishap can turn into a major legal nightmare! And the consequences would run so deep that you would lose your restful sleep!
That’s exactly what happened with Mr. Baldwin, a 29-year-old working professional. He was returning from work when he rear-ended a car in front of him. And when the cops came by to follow up, they accused Mr. Baldwin of insurance fraud.
Now, insurance fraud is considered a felony. Hence, any convictions would have ruined our client’s life. He was on the verge of facing fines and imprisonment. Moreover, he had a solid reputation, which would’ve gotten tarnished.
However, instead of panicking, he made a smart move and called an experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer from our Logue Law Group. And after taking up his case, we understood that nothing but a plea bargain would sort this thing out.
Charges for Insurance Fraud and Disorderly Conduct
Insurance fraud is found under Title 18, Section 4117. It is graded as a felony of the third degree and carries a maximum imprisonment sentence of 7 years.
Most importantly, a conviction like that can stay on your record forever. That’s exactly why hiring a skilled Pittsburgh criminal lawyer is very important.
On the contrary, disorderly conduct is a much lesser charge. It is regarded as a summary offense, which falls under Title 18, Section 5503. The penalties are also much less severe. For instance, disorderly conduct typically carries a fine of up to $300. It can also include up to 90 days of imprisonment. However, it does not carry the same stigma as a felony. And hence, it won’t impact your career in the same way.
The Plea Bargain That Turned the Tables
Our client, Mr. Baldwin, was charged with a felony. Worse than that, the evidence against him was strong! He had knowingly submitted a false claim and fabricated a loss to get a payout. There wasn’t a single chance that the prosecutor was going to back down. A trial would have been a huge risk.
Our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers understood the situation and had to convince our client of this reality. We explained to him the risks of going to a trial and highlighted the benefits of a plea bargain. It was the best and the only way we could’ve helped our client avoid a felony record. Hence, as planned, we entered into negotiations with the District Attorney. We argued that this was a one-time mistake with only one goal in mind- to get a plea to disorderly conduct.
And as expected, our expert Pittsburgh criminal lawyers came out successful at the negotiations! The prosecutor agreed to the plea deal. The felony insurance fraud charge was dismissed as our client pleaded guilty to a summary offense. This was a huge victory and offered a sense of relief to our client. He only had to pay a small fine and was saved from mandatory imprisonment and a license suspension.
At the Logue Law Group, we don’t just win cases, but believe in doing justice with our clients. Our expert lawyers pour their heart and soul into every case and try their level best to extract a favorable outcome. That being said, if you have been held with similar charges, don’t just sit back and accept everything! Give us a call at 844.PITT.DUI and schedule a free consultation with us ASAP!