Ronald Edward Smith

Hiring Mr. Smith was a mistake. I was charged with filing a false police report pertaining to a domestic dispute with my brother. During the first session, he was emphatic about how the police were probably lying, and he seemed to have a strategy in place. As the case proceeded, he started to ass...ign blame to me; he accused me of changing my story, and showed a lack of empathy (and none of the facts changed). It's as if after the retainer, his zeal for the case just disappeared over night. He was late to court, and he struck a poor plea bargain with prosecutors. The charge was amended to another Class 1 misdemeanor, and I got community service, and an arrest record that now cannot be expunged. At the day of trial, he said he thought he could win the case, but then qualified that by saying that "they really don't like you." He also acted as if the case didn't matter at all to him--he told me "it is your life." I began questioning whether he was on my side, or their side. Of course, instilling that type of fear in me compelled me to just reach a plea agreement, when in hindsight, this case should have gone to trial. And the prosecution had no evidence, and I have a spotless criminal record. Hire a lawyer that is willing to fight for you if you think the charges are without merit. There is too much at stake to hire someone that just wants to scare you into reaching a plea agreement with a zealous county prosecutor.