4466 Darrow Rd, Suite 13
Stow OH 44224
330.686.2890
 
Ravenna Address
121 East Main St
Ravenna OH 44266
Ravenna Phone Number 330.296.8000
 

 

A preliminary hearing is a court proceeding in which the prosecution must present enough evidence for the judge to justify holding a person to answer for a felony charge.

This does not mean that the judge determines whether or not the defendant is guilty, but rather only if there is sufficient probable cause to believe that the felony charged, or another crime, has been committed, and that the defendant committed it.

A person charged with a felony under Ohio law is entitled to a preliminary hearing within 10 days if they are held in jail, 15 days if they are not being held.

A preliminary hearing provides the defense with an excellent opportunity to find out more about the prosecution's case. Your criminal defense lawyer has the right to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. This gives the defense an advantage if the case later goes to trial.

 

In many jurisdictions, the prosecution may attempt to resolve the case at the preliminary hearing stage by engaging in plea negotiations.

At the preliminary hearing, the case may be bound over by the judge to be presented to the grand jury. Some cases are sometimes dismissed without a hearing and taken directly to the grand jury for indictment. In rare instances, the defendant may be indicted before the preliminary hearing, especially in cases where the prosecution does not want to subject their witnesses to cross-examination by a skilled defense lawyer.

It is absolutely critical to have an experienced criminal defense attorney at this stage of the proceedings.

 

If you need the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Portage County, Summit County or Medina County, or elsewhere in Northeast Ohio, contact Attorney Dan Weisenburger right now at 330-296-8000. Attorney Weisenburger routinely defends criminal charges in the following courts:

  • Portage County, Ohio: Ravenna Municipal Court, Kent Municipal Court, Portage County Court of Common Pleas, Portage County Juvenile Court.
  • Summit County, Ohio: Akron Municipal Court, Stow Municipal Court, Summit County Court of Common Pleas.
  • Medina County Ohio: Medina Municipal Court, Wadsworth Municipal Court, Medina Court of Common Pleas.
  • Trumbull County, Ohio: Newton Falls Municipal Court, Warren Municipal Court.
For a list of jurisdictions served by the municipal courts and county courts in Portage County, Medina County, Summit County and Trumbull County, click on the arrow.
All crimes in Ohio are strictly defined by law. For a list of definitions of the most common felony and misdemeanor offenses, click on the arrow.
Disclaimer: The ohiocrimelawyer.com website is designed for general information only. Any information on this site is not to be construed as formal legal advice on criminal or DUI defense, nor formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek personal advice regarding their individual legal issues.
Copyright © 2007 Dan J. Weisenburger. All Rights Reserved. Last Modified: November 2, 2009 3:09 AM