Zionsville Reckless Homicide Attorney
We all owe a duty of care to the people around us. Whether we are driving a car, working, or doing any other activity, we are expected to refrain from behavior that could result in injuries or death for people around us. Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen when people don’t think clearly. If you are facing reckless homicide charges in the Zionsville area, you should recruit solid legal representation. Contact a Zionsville reckless homicide lawyer to help you.
About The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C.
Any time a person is facing serious criminal charges, such as reckless homicide or any other murder-adjacent charge, it is important to secure the services of a competent and seasoned attorney. At The Criminal Defense Team, we have the distinction of working with five of the six Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists in the state of Indiana. Furthermore, one of our attorneys is a former prosecutor who worked on murder and major felony cases.
Our clients come from all over the state of Indiana. Whether you are from Zionsville, Westfield, or Franklin, we are ready to go to work for you. When you choose us to defend you against your criminal charges, you’ll have 24-hour access to an attorney. At our firm, we understand that legal emergencies happen, and not always during regular working hours. In anticipation of this, we have a lawyer on call all the time, day or night.
What Is Reckless Homicide?
When people hear the word “homicide,” they usually think about intentional murder or manslaughter. However, reckless homicide is different from other homicide charges because there is no specific intent to kill. Reckless homicide, according to Indiana law, is the charge when a person kills another human being through reckless actions. Reckless homicide is a Level 5 felony in Indiana.
Recklessness can be subjective, but generally, behavior can be considered reckless if someone is aware of a likely serious risk associated with their behavior and continues their actions anyway, disregarding that risk. Some examples of behaviors that could result in a reckless homicide are as follows:
- Driving extremely fast through a crowded area
- Shooting a gun in public, even into the air
- Throwing an object from a high place, knowing there could be people below
A person doing any of these things may not intend to kill anyone, but by engaging in these behaviors, they would be ignoring an obvious risk of death to other people resulting from their actions. Behaviors like these happen more often than one might think. For example, in 2022, around 28% of fatal car accidents involved speeding.
What Are the Possible Penalties for Reckless Homicide in Indiana?
Reckless homicide is a Level 5 felony in Indiana, assuming there are no aggravating factors like driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. Penalties for Level 5 felonies are laid out in the Indiana Code. Judges can impose a prison sentence of between one and six years, and the law provides an advisory sentence of three years. People convicted of a Level 5 felony may also be required to pay a fine of up to $10,000.
Why You Should Hire a Reckless Homicide Lawyer?
Homicide charges of any kind can dramatically alter the course of your life. If you have been charged with reckless homicide, or if you think formal charges may be filed soon, you should hire a reckless homicide lawyer to help you from the very beginning of your case. Your lawyer can work with you to understand the circumstances of the incident in question and can discuss your legal position with you.
Bringing an attorney on as soon as possible can also benefit you by giving you an extra safeguard for your constitutional rights. Your lawyer can keep tabs on the investigation and the prosecutor’s evidence against you, watching for any procedural missteps.
FAQs
How Is Reckless Homicide Different From Involuntary Manslaughter?
Reckless homicide seems similar to involuntary manslaughter, but there is a key difference. Both charges involve killing another person without intent to do so, but involuntary manslaughter is when someone is killed in the course of committing a felony or a serious misdemeanor. Reckless homicide covers incidents wherein the initial behavior was not necessarily a felony or a misdemeanor.
How Much Does a Reckless Homicide Lawyer Cost in Indiana?
Lawyers usually bill by the hour, and most set their own hourly rates. Some attorneys also charge additional fees associated with their work. Because of the individualized nature of attorney fees, the cost to hire a reckless homicide lawyer can vary significantly even within a small geographical area. Most attorneys can begin working for you once you pay an up-front deposit called a retainer.
Is it Possible to Avoid Jail Time if Convicted of Reckless Homicide in Indiana?
Yes, it is technically possible to avoid jail time if you are convicted of reckless homicide in Indiana. Although the law does provide a prison sentencing range for Level 5 felonies like reckless homicide, it is legal for a judge to impose probation instead. This is entirely up to the judge’s discretion, and factors like prior criminal record or lack thereof may have a significant bearing on whether a judge allows probation instead of prison.
How Can a Lawyer Defend Me Against Reckless Homicide Charges?
A defense attorney could take several different approaches to defend you against reckless homicide charges, and the one they choose is likely to depend on what exactly happened. A lawyer could argue that your actions were not, in fact, reckless or that your actions did not directly lead to the death in question. These are just two of the potential defenses. Your attorney can give you an overview of potential defense foundations when you discuss your case.
Contact the Criminal Defense Team Today
When your future and reputation are on the line, you want experienced attorneys in your corner. At The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C., we can connect you with a Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialist to help you defend your rights. Contact us today to find out how we can assist you.
Disclaimer: *Andrew Baldwin, Kathie Perry, Maxwell Wiley, Kelly Pyle, and Michael C. Cunningham are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, as certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Find out why having a Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialist as your defense lawyer is important here.