Entrapment is often a defense to criminal charges based on the interaction between police officers and defendants prior to or during the alleged crime. A typical scenario would be if a law enforcement officer uses coercion and other tactics to induce someone to commit a crime.
Opportunity vs. Entrapment
One of the most critical aspects of entrapment is it goes beyond presenting an opportunity to commit a crime. If a police officer, for example, pretends to be selling drugs, he or she is offering a potential buyer an opportunity to make an illegal purchase and commit a drug crime. However, if the officer continually prompts or bullies a person into buying the drugs, this would be considered entrapment.
Burden of Proof
While police officers might have done something bordering on entrapment, the burden of proof rests on the defendant. If you can convince jurors by a preponderance of evidence that government agents’ actions rose to the level of entrapment, you may be able to avoid a conviction.
Depending on the type of charge you’re facing, a conviction could lead to years in prison and hefty fines. Make sure you do your best to avoid a guilty verdict by talking to our skilled Milwaukee criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Christopher J. Cherella. Attorney Cherella has more than 20 years of legal experience to offer your case. Throughout his career, he has successfully handled thousands of cases with tenacity and commitment. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (414) 347-9334 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case review today.