Pre-File Investigation Defense in Wyoming

Wyoming Pre-File Criminal Investigation Attorney

Being investigated is not the same as being charged, but what happens during the investigation can have a big impact on what happens in court. Get a lawyer right away.

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    Home » Criminal Defense » Pre-File Investigation

    Why Retaining an Attorney Before Charges Are Filed Can Change Everything

    People usually hire a defense lawyer only after they have been charged with a crime. That is one of the most expensive mistakes someone under review can make. When charges are filed, law enforcement has usually spent weeks or months building its case by interviewing witnesses, gathering physical evidence, reviewing financial records, and executing search warrants. An attorney you hire during the investigation can protect your rights while the case is still being built, not after it’s over.

    What Happens in Wyoming During a Pre-File Criminal Investigation

    A pre-file investigation is the period between when the police begin investigating a possible crime and when the prosecutor officially files charges. Detectives may try to talk to you during this time, sometimes saying it is just routine or for information. They might ask you for permission to search your home, car, or electronic devices. They might talk to people in your life. Every time the police talk to you during an investigation, they can collect evidence. Your lawyer can also use this chance to protect you.

    How an Attorney Can Help Before You Are Charged

    If you hire Just Criminal Law during a pre-file investigation, we can keep an eye on the investigation, talk to investigators and prosecutors on your behalf, keep you from incriminating yourself, and keep evidence that is good for your defense before it disappears. In some cases, getting a lawyer involved early on lets us give prosecutors information that clears our client before they decide to file charges. This can lead to charges being filed at a lower level or not at all. After the fact, this kind of early intervention is not possible.

    Your Rights During a Criminal Investigation in Wyoming

    You have the right not to say anything during a criminal investigation (right to remain silent). You can say no to searches of your home, car, and electronic devices. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during any questioning. These rights exist because what you say and agree to during an investigation can and will be used against you. When you find out you’re being investigated, the most important thing you can do is to politely but clearly exercise your rights and call a lawyer right away.

    Common Pre-File Investigation Scenarios We Handle

    We help clients in a lot of different pre-file situations, like white-collar and fraud investigations where financial records are being looked at, domestic violence cases where the police are deciding whether or not to file charges, drug investigations where a controlled buy has happened, and serious felony investigations where someone has been named a suspect but not yet arrested. The same rule applies in every case: the sooner we get involved, the more we can do. If you think you are being investigated, call Just Criminal Law right away.

    Related Charges We Also Defend

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    Felonies Most serious pre-file investigations are building toward felony charges.
    Drug Crimes Drug investigations often involve extended pre-charge surveillance and controlled buys.
    Fraud & Financial Crimes Financial crime investigations frequently involve months of record review before any arrest.
    Domestic Violence Early intervention in a domestic violence investigation can sometimes prevent charges from being filed.
    Sex Crimes Sex crime investigations move quickly and benefit enormously from early attorney involvement.
    Warrants Understanding search and arrest warrants during an investigation is critical.

    Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law

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    Former Prosecutors on Your Side

    Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.

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    Criminal Defense Is All We Do

    We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.

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    Local Knowledge That Matters

    We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.

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    Spanish Language Services Available

    Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.

    25+ Years of Success

    Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients

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      Other
      Suppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme Court

      District Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.

      Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court

    • Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
      CASE DISMISSED
      Reckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming

      Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.

      State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court

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      CASE DISMISSED
      DUI / DWUI — Wyoming

      Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.

      State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court

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      CASE DISMISSED
      Felony Child Abuse — Wyoming

      Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.

      State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court

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    Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.

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    Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Investigations in Wyoming

    No, not without a lawyer there. This is one of the best pieces of advice a criminal defense lawyer can give you. Police officers learn to conduct interviews in ways that get people to say things that could hurt their case. When these explanations are written down in a police report, they can sound bad. You have the right not to say anything and to have a lawyer with you when you answer questions. Say clearly but politely, “I want to talk to a lawyer before I answer any questions.” Then call us.

    If you are called a “target” of a criminal investigation, it means that the police or prosecutors think you are the main person they are looking into and that you are likely to be charged. This is different from being a “subject” (someone whose actions are under scrutiny) or a “witness” (someone with useful information but not personally suspected). If the police tell you that you are a target or you get a grand jury subpoena, you should hire a lawyer right away. These terms mean that charges are being seriously considered.

    No, most searches need a warrant based on probable cause, according to the Fourth Amendment. There are, however, some exceptions. These are searches that occur after a legal arrest, in plain view, and in urgent situations. Law enforcement often asks for permission because it eliminates the need for a warrant. Politely saying no to consent does not give police the right to search; it just protects your rights under the Constitution. They will carry out the warrant no matter what.

    An investigation is the time when police gather proof and build a case. You haven’t been officially charged with a crime. If you are formally charged, it means the prosecutor has filed a criminal complaint or information, or, in some cases, a grand jury has returned an indictment, alleging that you are guilty of a specific crime. The investigation comes before charges are filed and determines what charges, if any, are filed. Lawyers can influence both the decision to charge and the level of charges during the investigation.

    There is no fixed time limit on how long a pre-charge investigation can last, but Wyoming’s statutes of limitations set the outer boundary on how long a prosecutor can wait to file charges after the alleged crime occurred. For serious felonies, the time limit for filing charges can be several years. For some crimes, especially those involving minors or fraud, the clock may not start until the crime is discovered. A long investigation without charges isn’t always a good sign; it could mean the investigation is still ongoing and getting bigger. It is helpful to have an attorney involved during this time, no matter how long it lasts.

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    Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve

    We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.

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    Wyoming
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    South Dakota
    Attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

    We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.

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    Request Your Free Pre-File Investigation Defense Consultation

    If you have been charged with a criminal investigation in Wyoming or South Dakota, the sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you have. Call Just Criminal Law today for a free, confidential case review.

      Start Your Free Case Review

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