Charged with a Crime in Hendricks County, Indiana? Here's What You Should Know:

Criminal Defense in Indiana

Mo AlMahareeq defends clients in Hendricks County, Indiana every day. This post is an introduction to how criminal charges work here. For more on the legal issues discussed here, see our Indiana criminal defense overview and First-Time Offender in Marion County, Indiana? What You Need to Know guide.

Most Hendricks County criminal cases are filed in one of four courts:

- Circuit Court, - Superior Court 2, - Superior Court 4, or - Superior Court 5.

Your first court date is called an initial hearing, and right now these are being held remotely. At this hearing, the judge reads the formal charges and explains your legal rights, including your right to an attorney and, if you choose, a jury trial.

If you're facing misdemeanor charges and have already hired an attorney, there's a good chance they can file to waive the initial hearing. Depending on the court, your next hearing will then be set as either a pre-trial conference or a bench trial.

If you've been charged in Hendricks County, you'll likely only need to appear in court a few times: the initial hearing, the pre-trial conference or bench trial, and the disposition date. That final date is where you either enter a plea agreement or go to trial on the charges.

The real work happens between those dates. That's when we gather evidence, examine what the State has, and negotiate with the prosecutor toward the best possible outcome.

Mo never wants his clients losing sleep over court procedure. If you have questions about your case or your next hearing in Hendricks County, give him a call at (347) 889-4944 — and remember, always plead the 5th!