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Wadsworth Criminal Defense Attorney

Someone who is accused of a crime in Wadsworth needs a Wadsworth criminal defense attorney, who is available to provide defense for a variety of criminal cases, including traffic, misdemeanors, and felonies.  A Wadsworth criminal defense attorney can provide representation close to home, with knowledge of the court’s local procedures and practices.

Misdemeanors are heard in the Wadsworth Municipal Court, 120 Maple Street, Wadsworth, Ohio 44281.  The first appearance consists of either of the following:  the bond hearing; or the arraignment, where the accused is informed of the charges and potential penalties for the charges.  Later, the matter is set for trial to the court.  Jury trials are set after a written demand for one.  This court does not conduct formal pre-trials, but a Wadsworth criminal defense attorney can set up an informal one with the assistant prosecutor.  The court may hold hearings on pretrial motions filed by the criminal defense attorney or the assistant prosecutor.  If the accused pleads guilty or no-contest, or is found guilty at trial, the court usually orders a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) prior to sentencing.

Juvenile cases are heard in the Medina County Juvenile Court, 93 Public Square, Medina, Ohio 44256.  The first appearance consists of either of the following:  the initial hearing, where the juvenile is informed of the delinquency charges and potential penalties for the delinquency charges; or shelter care hearing (72 hour hearing).  The court then sets the matter for pretrial, where the assistant prosecutor and the defense attorney discuss the case.  Any pretrial motions filed by the criminal defense attorney or the assistant prosecutor may result in evidentiary hearings before the court.  The trial is called an adjudicatory hearing.  There are no jury trials in juvenile court unless special circumstances exist—these are serious cases where the juvenile may be facing serious penalties.  If the juvenile admits or is found delinquent at the adjudicatory hearing, the juvenile is sentenced at the dispositional hearing.

Felony cases can start in the Wadsworth Municipal Court, but any trial would occur in the Medina County Court of Common Pleas.  For those who are not directly indicted by the grand jury, bond hearings and preliminary hearings take place in the Wadsworth Municipal Court.  The remainder of the felony case would occur in felony court in the Medina County Court of Common Pleas, 93 Public Square, Medina, Ohio 44256, starting with the arraignment, where the accused is advised of the charges and the potential penalties for those charges.  If the case proceeds to direct indictment, the first hearing is the arraignment hearing.  The matter is set for pre-trial and a jury trial.  Felony cases do not require a written jury demand.  Any pretrial motions filed by the criminal defense attorney or the assistant prosecutor may be set for hearing before the court.  If the accused pleads guilty or no contest or is found guilty at trial, the court usually orders a pre-sentence investigation (PSI), and proceeds to sentencing on a later date.

Some common terms include:

Arraignment:  where the accused is informed of the charges and potential penalties for the charges.

Bond hearing:  where the judge sets the amount of money that must be posted for the accused to be released from jail.

Pre-trial:  a meeting between the criminal defense lawyer and the assistant prosecutor to plea bargain the case, or discuss issues for trial.  The judge may participate in this process.

Trial to the Court:  a trial where the judge determines the verdict and the sentence.

Trial by Jury:  a trial where a jury determines the verdict, but the judge determines the sentence.

Pre-sentence investigation (PSI): an investigation conducted by the probation department to determine the facts of the case, and the social and criminal history of the defendant.

Sentencing:  a court hearing where the judge determines what punishment to hand out to the accused.

The following are important links for those charged with a crime in Wadsworth:

Ohio OVI law:

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.19

Ohio Physical control law:

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4511.194

Classes of suspensions:

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4510.02

Wadsworth Municipal Court:

http://www.wadsworthmunicipalcourt.com/

Medina County Court of Common Pleas:

http://www.co.medina.oh.us/clerk/clrkhome.htm

Medina County Juvenile Court:

http://www.medinaprobate.org/

 

To learn about other nearby criminal courts in which this Wadsworth criminal defense attorney represents clients, click on any of the following links: Medina County criminal defense attorney; Norton criminal defense attorney; Barberton criminal defense attorney; Rittman criminal defense attorney. To read more on criminal law, click on any of the following links to my other articles related to criminal law: Can the police pull you over based on a tip from another driver; Can something be done to keep me out of jail; Driver’s license is not needed for non-motor vehicles; Traffic stops cannot be extended for a drug dog sniff. My hard work has resulted in successful results for many of my clients, including the results shown in the case highlights section. This success is reflected in the following links to my reviews and work: Daniel Gigiano reviews; Daniel Gigiano ratings; Daniel Gigiano work; Daniel Gigiano; Works of Daniel Gigiano; Working with Daniel Gigiano.

 

Attorney Gigiano is an experienced Wadsworth criminal defense attorney in Medina County who practices in the courts in Medina, Summit, and Wayne Counties, as well as other nearby county courts. If you have questions about this or other questions you need answered by an experienced Wadsworth criminal defense lawyer in Medina County, please call Attorney Daniel F. Gigiano at 330-336-3330.  Attorney Gigiano’s office is located at 102 Main St., Ste. 200, Wadsworth, Ohio 44281.