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Arrested in West Conshohocken – What To Expect?

Dec 18 2020, by Michael Fienman in Criminal Defense
Arrested in West Conshohocken - what to expect image

Were you or a loved one arrested in West Conshohocken? As a suburban community in Montgomery County, people in West Conshohocken are still known to encounter police and face charges. While the process is slightly different from larger cities nearby like Philadelphia, it is always important to take these charges seriously and work with a local defense lawyer in Montgomery County.

If you or a loved one was arrested in or around West Conshohocken, contact Fienman Defense today at (215) 839-9529. Free consults are available.

How To Locate Someone Arrested in West Conshohocken

The most common crimes in West Conshohocken are theft, burglary, auto theft, and assaults. But DUIs and traffic violations are typical on I-76 or I-476, which run through the borough. Even as an affluent suburb, the area also sees a fair amount of drug crimes, juvenile matters, and sexual offenses.

In any case, if you or a loved one were arrested, it was probably by the borough’s police department or the State Police.

The West Conshohocken Police Department has a short-term detention center for adults who were arrested within the borough. They are taken there to be processed, fingerprinted, and booked. Those who are arrested are transported to the county jail in Eagleville if they’re unable to immediately post bail or otherwise ordered to remain in custody.

The West Conshohocken Court Process After Your Arrest

If you’re arrested in the borough, your first stop may be in front of Judge Bernhardt in Montgomery County District Court, located at 625 W. Ridge Pike Building “B” – Suite 101. This is considered a minor court whose judge decides traffic and non-traffic citations and preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings for criminal cases.

After your arrest in West Conshohocken, you’ll be brought to your first court appearance. This is the arraignment., where you’ll be read the charges filed against you, advised of your rights, and the judge will set your bail.

If the judge believes you’re dangerous or unlikely to return for later hearings, your bail will be very high. If you’re a severe flight risk, you may remain in jail until criminal proceedings finish if bail is denied. You may not have to put up bail if there’s a low risk you won’t return, and you could be released on your own recognizance.

Your preliminary hearing will be scheduled, usually 3 to 10 days after the arraignment. At this hearing, the judge will decide if the prosecutor has enough evidence to show the crime was committed, and you probably committed it.

The next step is the formal arraignment, which is 30 to 60 days after the preliminary hearing and held in the Court of Common Pleas in Norristown. This is mostly a formality where a judge reads the charges against you, and you’ll plead guilty, not guilty, no contest, or remain silent, which is treated as a guilty plea.

If you plead not guilty, you’ll be told of your right to file pretrial motions. Their filing deadline is 30 days after the formal arraignment. After that, the trial process continues until you reach a plea bargain with the prosecution, the charges are dropped, or the case moves forward to trial.

Don’t Go at It Alone: Get Help From Michael H. Fienman

At Fienman Defense, our goal is to get you the best outcome and move you through the process as quickly and painlessly as possible through aggressive advocacy and personalized attention.

A criminal conviction may severely harm your ability to support yourself and your family, not to mention what happens if you have to spend time in jail. There’s too much at stake for you to try to represent yourself.

Attorney Michael H. Fienman has successfully protected the rights of people facing criminal charges in Montgomery County for more than ten years. If you’ve been charged with a crime in West Conshohocken, call Fienman Defense today at (215) 839-9529 for your free and confidential consultation.