Lessening The Severity Of Your Sentence
When you either plea or are found guilty, the future may appear bleak. However, in some cases, you may still have options available to reduce the severity of your sentence.
Phillip Stackhouse, Attorney, defends U.S. service members and civilian contractors across California and around the world, working to achieve a mitigated sentence after a guilty plea or verdict. With nearly two decades of experience as a military and federal defense attorney, we can provide your case with the knowledgeable, strategic approach it needs.
An Experienced Attorney Who Served In The Military
Founding attorney Phillips Stackhouse has 20-plus years of active-duty military service in addition to his legal experience. He understands the rights of service members and the many details of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. From individual military personnel to military contractors, he stands up assertively for the rights of his clients. In his practice, he has achieved a track record of favorable results, including dismissed charges, acquittals and reduced sentences.
Mitigating A Guilty Plea/Verdict
Following a guilty plea or verdict, the sentencing phase of a court-martial immediately follows. During this phase, the offender may present information to the jury prior to sentencing. This is known as mitigation and extenuation. This process can:
- Provide the jury with a complete picture of the incident
- Explain any crucial circumstances or information that contributed to the incident
- Implore the jury to base their decision on all available information, rather than just the crime
- Contribute to a lessened or less harsh sentence
Extenuating And Mitigating Evidence
Extenuating evidence typically includes the circumstances behind the offense. For example, if a service member deserted their post to visit their sick mother. Mitigating evidence, rather, includes relevant information from the offender’s past, personal life or military service. For example, a conviction for possession of child pornography could result in a lessened sentence if the jury learned of the offender’s past as a victim of sexual abuse.
A Guilty Plea Or Verdict Is Not The End Of The Road
We comprehensively investigate your options to present mitigating or extenuating evidence. We collaborate with experts in the fields of forensics, psychiatry and psychology, as well as with doctors and investigators, to carefully examine our clients’ histories to uncover such information.
Our attorney’s experience as a JAG officer and decades of legal defense experience means we know how to maximize the value of this information. We know how important it is to build an emotional and well-presented case to allow the jury to sympathize with the offender’s circumstances. We are committed to protecting our clients’ futures by working to lessen the severity of sentences.
Help After The Verdict
We know how to effectively present mitigation evidence. We represent clients throughout California. To schedule a free initial consultation with our lawyer, call our San Diego office at 760-456-5386 or use our online contact form.