Our Mississippi Criminal Defense Lawyer
Will Fight for Your Rights

Trustworthy Defense Representation

Being convicted of a crime in Mississippi is a serious situation that can negatively affect the rest of your life. In addition to facing fines and jail time, you will have a criminal record that stays with you forever. A record can ruin prospects for education and a career, obtaining a student loan, possessing a firearm, getting a professional license, housing and immigration benefits, and your family and social relationships for the rest of your life.

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, the prosecutor is already building a case against you, and police are ready to use anything you say or do as evidence. Fortunately, having a criminal lawyer on your side from the beginning to fight for your rights can help keep you from unjust incarceration or unreasonable penalties.

The criminal defense lawyers at Ringer Lingold & Spencer know how serious it is to be facing criminal charges. Because we have experience on the prosecution side of things, too, we also know the tactics prosecutors use to get a conviction. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can get to work to build a case for your defense and keep you from inadvertently making mistakes. We will provide support all through the defense process and aggressively fight for your rights and your freedom.

You can request a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer by calling (601) 845-5050. Once we learn the facts of your case, we’ll get to work for you. We handle cases in all jurisdictions of Mississippi with the exception of the City of Florence and the City of Richland.

How our Criminal Defense Team Can Help You

Live Here. Work Here. Know the Law Here.

The criminal defense lawyers at Ringer Lingold & Spencer know Mississippi criminal law and the justice system. While, technically, when you are accused of a crime, you have legal rights and are supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, you are often treated as if you have been convicted, even before a trial. We know how prosecutors operate and can help fight for you from the start by:

  • Helping you decide how to respond to charges and handle the accusations
  • Informing you of your rights and making sure police and prosecutors adhere to proper procedures
  • Preventing you from saying the wrong things and doing anything that would negatively affect your case
  • Taking care of bail and arraignment
  • Building a case in your favor by gathering evidence to show innocence, interviewing witnesses, examining police reports, and looking for weaknesses and mistakes in the prosecutor’s case
  • Negotiating and plea bargaining for a lesser charge or dismissal
  • Taking your case to trial and arguing on your behalf
  • Filing an appeal, if necessary.

Some types of criminal cases that we handle are…

  • DUI defense
  • Sex offenses
  • Theft and burglary
  • Assault, battery, and violence
  • Drug charges.

No matter what your charge, you can rely on our criminal lawyers to stand up for you. As local lawyers, we have in-depth understanding of Mississippi’s courts and justice system.

When your freedom is on the line, turn to an experienced criminal lawyer you can trust to fight for you. Call (601) 845-5050 for help. Facing prosecution is scary. Get the best results by hiring an experienced Mississippi criminal defense lawyer. Don’t wait. Call us today.

Criminal Defense Lawyers Know Your Rights

Knowledgeable Service to Our Clients

An arrest occurs when a law enforcement officer takes you into custody for questioning concerning a crime or offense. Knowing your rights when arrested can help you avoid making mistakes that can give prosecutors a better case. According to the Mississippi Bar, your rights include:

  • To be read your Miranda rights informing you that you have the right to remain silent and not answer questions
  • To be shown an arrest warrant authorizing arrest and told what the criminal charges are. You can be arrested without a warrant only if the police have probable cause to believe you committed a crime
  • To call your attorney or family
  • To know that anything said can and will be used against you in court
  • To have an attorney present during questioning or a line-up
  • To have the court appoint an attorney if you cannot afford one.

Arresting officers are allowed to:

  • Stop and question you in a public place or ask you to get out of a vehicle if there is sufficient reason
  • Search your person, any carrying articles, and the immediate area when making an arrest.

The criminal defense lawyers at Ringer Lingold & Spencer will help ensure your rights are not violated. Call us for help at (601) 845-5050 right away.

Mississippi Criminal Lawyers Handling Felonies and Misdemeanors

Local Representation. Winning Results.

In our decades of practicing criminal law, we’ve defended many clients in the community. We know that sometimes people are wrongly accused; in other cases, for various reasons, wrong choices are made. No matter what the circumstances of your alleged crime, we’ll strongly pursue the best outcome for you.

Mississippi crimes are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies, with felonies being more serious and having greater punishments.

Felony Offenses

A felony is the most serious crime you can be charged with in Mississippi. The following crimes are considered felonies:

  • Murder
  • Manslaughter
  • Rape
  • Arson
  • Burglary
  • Larceny
  • Embezzlement and financial crimes, including obtaining money under false pretenses and counterfeiting

The above felonies do not have a statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges. A two-year statute of limitations exists for other felony crimes, such as felony drug crimes or a felony DUI. The time period for bringing charges generally starts when the alleged crime took place.

Punishment for felonies may be harsh. If you are convicted of a felony, there is a minimum of a one-year incarceration required at sentencing. If your sentence is for several years, it will be served at a state prison, as Mississippi crimes are categorized so that severe crimes merit harsher penalties.

Examples of punishments for Mississippi felonies include:

  • First-degree murder — life in prison
  • Robbery — up to 15 years in prison
  • Burglary of a residence — three to 25 years in prison
  • Theft of property worth over $1,000 — a maximum $10,000 fine and/or a prison sentence of from five to 20 years, depending on the value of the stolen property.
Misdemeanor Offenses

Misdemeanors are considered less severe than a felony, but still should be taken seriously as conviction may also bring a criminal record, a jail sentence, and hefty fines.

The following crimes are considered misdemeanors in Mississippi:

  • Petit larceny
  • Possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana
  • DUI
  • Hazing
  • Stalking
  • Assault
  • Carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

In general, except for sexual assault on a minor, there is a statute of limitations of two years for bringing charges for misdemeanors.

DON’T TAKE CHANCES WHEN FACING TIME BEHIND BARS. COUNT ON SKILLED REPRESENTATION FROM A FAITHFUL CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER FOR THE BEST RESULTS.

Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Help if You’ve Been Charged with a Crime in Mississippi

Dedicated Legal Support in Confusing Times

The Mississippi criminal justice process is complicated and involves several steps. Our knowledgeable criminal lawyers will be there for you to make sure you understand and are prepared for all procedures. We will never leave you guessing or confused about what comes next.

Here are the general steps in the process after a person is arrested.

Initial appearance. This is an initial appearance where the judge states the charges and bond amount. Bond may be paid in full, or a bondsman may post a bail bond, usually charging 10 percent. If you do not post bond, you must stay in jail until the case is resolved.

Preliminary hearing. This is a hearing to determine whether probable cause exists to believe you committed the crime. In most Mississippi counties, posting bond automatically waives preliminary hearing.

Arraignment. This is a proceeding where you are officially informed of the charges against you. You will be asked if you wish to hire an attorney, or if you qualify for a public defender. You will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty, and an initial trial date will be set.

Discovery. In this phase, you and your attorney receive and review the prosecution’s evidence against you, such as police reports, witness statements, and videos or photos. You may also have to produce material for the state.

Pre-trial Preparation. Our attorneys will be developing a defense strategy and gathering and securing evidence that may help your case.

Plea Bargaining. This involves negotiations between your attorney and the prosecutor to see if you can come to an agreement without going to trial, or at any other point before a verdict. If the prosecutor has a strong case, sometimes a plea bargain is your best option, as you may have charges reduced or dismissed. You would have to agree to any plea bargain arrangement.

Trial: If no agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial. In a trial, both sides present evidence and call witnesses. You do not have to prove your innocence – it is the prosecutor’s duty to prove that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge will instruct the jury on applicable law; after closing arguments, the case goes to the jury.

Verdict. If you are found not guilty, the case is over. If you are found guilty, the case will proceed to the sentencing phase at a separate hearing. There may be a pre-sentence investigation to help determine an appropriate sentence.

Appeal. In some circumstances, such as if there was a technical mistake during trial, your attorney can appeal a verdict to a higher court to overturn a guilty verdict.

OUR MISSISSIPPI CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER WILL BE AT YOUR SIDE THROUGHOUT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS THROUGH EVERY STEP IN THE PROCESS.

Get skilled legal help from a law firm with deep insight into Mississippi’s criminal justice system. We know the local courts, judges and prosecutors, which benefits the cases we handle because it helps us predict how they may proceed. Request a consult by calling us at (601) 845-5050 today.

Attorney Robert F. Lingold, Jr.

Robert F. Lingold, Jr. leads the firm’s criminal justice and personal injury practice. He is fierce when representing clients accused of a crime and fights aggressively to defend their legal rights. He is also skilled and determined when representing clients who have been injured by the negligent actions of others. [ Attorney Bio ]

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    Call Our Criminal Defense Lawyers for Help

    Faithfully Fighting for Your Rights

    When you are accused of a crime in Mississippi, you are bound to be frightened and unsure of the best way to proceed. The sooner you call the criminal defense lawyers at Ringer Lingold & Spencer, the sooner we can go to work to build your case while evidence is still available and witnesses can be found.

    Our attorneys are familiar with the local criminal courts, judges, and prosecutors, and can evaluate your case to determine if something was done improperly or if you have grounds for dismissal of the charges, explore plea options for lesser charges, and negotiate a favorable resolution to your case. If necessary, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial and argue on your behalf.

    Call our office today to request a case evaluation at (601) 845-5050. Our Mississippi criminal defense lawyer will stand up for your rights, your freedom, and your future.

    I highly recommend Lingold & Spencer law firm. Cameron Benton represented me. I was frequently informed of all changes to my case. I never had a problem getting in contact with the office. The process was explained to me in detail and my case was settled much faster than expected. I am highly pleased with […]

    - Heather D.

    The lawyers here are very helpful & know what they’re doing. If you need a lawyer information definitely recommend them.

    - Robert H.

    Super professionals! The staff treated me like they truly cared about my troubles. I got the help I needed!

    - Mike J.

    I cannot say enough good things… They not only resolved my issue with ease, but also worked dilligently to keep me informed. Phenomenal group of people!

    - Ashton W.