Bertram & Graf, L.L.C.
4717 Grand Avenue, Suite 800
Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: 800.200.6303
Fax: 816.523.8258
8400 E. Prentice Ave., Penthouse Suite
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: 303.409.7711
Fax: 303.409.7714
Criminal Defense
When people are accused of a crime, they face the terrible possibility of going to jail. Although a criminal defendant is supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, all too often there is a presumption that criminal defendants are guilty simply because they have been charged, and they must prove that they are innocent beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, when a person is accused of a crime, they need the best attorney they can retain to represent their interests, to protect their civil liberties, and to prevent a miscarriage of justice.
A competent criminal defense lawyer must provide his client with a knowledgeable and objective perspective on their situation, and what is likely to happen should the case go to trial. This perspective is vital for the accused to decide whether to accept a prosecutor’s offered “plea bargain” or not.
Preparing and trying a serious criminal jury trial requires extensive experience. There is no substitute for that experience. Gregory C. Graf has tried hundreds of criminal jury trials including first-degree murder cases, complex white-collar crime cases and drug trafficking offenses. He has experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney and judge in the most complex and demanding criminal cases. Having served in the state, federal, military and international law systems, he is uniquely experienced to assist in your defense.
If the accused believes that it is too risky to go to a jury trial and wishes to enter a guilty plea, the criminal defense attorney’s experience is very important in negotiating the best possible “plea bargain.”
The criminal defense attorney’s job does not end there. The competent criminal defense attorney will formulate a sentencing program tailored to the client’s specific needs, often helping the defendant avoid future brushes with the justice system.