Jeremy Meeks, the man whose “handsome” mugshot went viral on the internet, has now been indicted on a federal firearms offense charge. Authorities say that the charge was levied because Meeks has a 2002 conviction for grand theft, so when he was arrested last month for a parole violation and was found with a gun, he was felon in possession of a firearm, which in some cases is a federal offense. Police allege Meeks was carrying a .45 semi-automatic pistol when he was arrested. If convicted, Meeks could be dealt up to 10 years in prison.
Federal gun crime allegations are very serious. If a conviction is obtained by prosecutors, then a defendant may be forced to spend several years behind bars. He or she will also be subjected to long-term consequences, including a felony record that may make it difficult to find gainful employment, a place to live, and obtain higher education. Defending against such accusations is therefore crucial.
However, navigating the federal court system can be difficult, especially when prosecutors vigorously seek to impose harsh penalties. Thus, it may be in an accused individual’s best interests to seek the assistance of an experienced defense lawyer who can provide competent representation. He or she will aggressively present a case that supports the defendant’s position, which will hopefully lead to an acquittal or lesser penalties.
In the end, a criminal defendant is innocent until proven guilty, no matter how much evidence seems to be stacked against him or her or how the media treats the matter. By doing everything within his or her power, a criminal defendant ensures that the prosecution will only succeed if guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a quite difficult standard to satisfy.
Source: CBS News, “‘Handsome mugshot’ suspect wanted by the feds, too,” July 7, 2014