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One Charge, Many Outcomes: How Smart Defense Changes Everything

Posted by Aaron D. Lawrence | May 19, 2025 | 0 Comments

Ten Realistic Scenarios. Ten Critical Lessons. One Chance to Get It Right.


🎯 One Mistake Doesn't Mean One Outcome

At Lawrence Law Firm, we've helped hundreds of people in Ruston and throughout North Louisiana navigate criminal charges — from students caught with weed to adults facing serious felonies. And one thing we've learned again and again is this:

Two people can face the same charge — and end up with completely different futures.

What makes the difference?

  • How soon they hire a lawyer

  • What they say (or don't say) to police

  • How they approach court and the legal process

  • Whether they defend themselves — or let the system define them

This blog series is designed to show you how much power you still have, even after an arrest — and what happens when you use it wisely.


👀 What This Series Will Show You

Each post in this series presents two outcomes from the same starting point: a criminal charge. One outcome shows what happens when someone makes smart legal choices. The other shows what happens when they don't.

The point isn't to scare you. It's to give you a strategy.

These aren't law school lectures — they're real-world examples based on the kinds of cases we handle every day.


📚 Coming Soon in the One Charge, Many Outcomes Series:

1. Caught With Weed: Dismissal vs. Conviction

The difference between a clean record and a lifelong problem starts with the first phone call.

2. First DWI: Jail Time vs. Diversion

How early legal action and proactive steps can turn a drunk driving arrest into a second chance.

3. Shoplifting Charge: Permanent Record vs. Expungement

Why even small theft charges can stick — and how to keep them off your record.

4. Battery Charge: Trial vs. Plea Bargain

When to fight, when to negotiate, and how to avoid becoming the “aggressor” in the eyes of the law.

5. Juvenile Gun Charge: Adult Court vs. Rehab Program

What happens when a minor faces a weapon charge — and how to keep them out of prison.

6. Student Drug Arrest: Suspension vs. Counseling and Clean Record

How one arrest can derail a degree — or become a teachable moment with the right defense.

7. Roommate Got Caught — Who Gets Charged?

Why presence alone can lead to prosecution — and how to separate yourself legally and factually.

8. Missed Court Date: Bench Warrant vs. Reinstatement

The consequences of skipping court, and how quick action can fix it before arrest.

9. Self-Defense Case: Statement to Police vs. Legal Silence

How saying the wrong thing (even with good intentions) can turn you into the suspect.

10. Probation Violation: Revocation vs. Second Chance

When a mistake threatens your probation — and how we've helped clients stay free and on track.


🧠 Why This Series Matters

We're not just writing about charges. We're showing you what's possible when you defend yourself the right way.

For students. For parents. For anyone who made a mistake — or got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

⚠️ The system is built to punish, not protect. Your lawyer changes that.


📞 Need Help Before the Series Is Done?

📞 Call 318.232.4000 to speak with a criminal defense attorney in Ruston, Louisiana
🖥️ Or [schedule your free consultation] now.

One charge doesn't mean one outcome. Let's fight for the right one.

The blog published by Lawrence Law Firm is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice on any subject matter. By viewing blog posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. Artificial Intelligence has been used to assist in formatting, topic selection, and organization, and while this information has been reviewed an attorney, this article should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.

About the Author

Aaron D. Lawrence
Aaron D. Lawrence

Aaron is a Criminal Defense and Personal Injury Attorney in Ruston, Louisiana. He received his Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He received his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of North Tex...

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