Asked 6.17.2016 – Jasper, TX

Ok so back in 2011 I was picked up on a charge from 2009. In 2009 I was living with my then girlfriend at the time. She told me she owned her house and land. So we moved out the house into an apartment because she wanted to build a house. So we demolished (burned) the old house. I paid to have the debris cleared. Then she left me. I was picked up on a first degree felony charge of arson. I got out as was assigned a public defender. I called the defender every day and he never had time for me. So i was picked up again for failure to appear which I didn’t even know I had a court date. So the defender eventually showed up. He didnt even know who I was or anything about me or the case. He pleaded for me for 10 years of straight probation. This is my first and only charge EVER! They brought into evidence my statement from the police station. The police told me to just write a statement saying that I did it, and I could go home and that would be the end of it. I was scared and had never been in trouble so that’s exactly what I did. Apparently, I owe restitution to the insurance company. This is ruining my life. How can I make all this go away?

Answer

You have already squeezed the toothpaste out of the tube and you can’t put it back. You signed a confession, entered a plea and agreed to probation. This will go away when you successfully complete all the terms and conditions of probation. The time to contest the case has passed. You have the right to contact the local Bar Association and get contact information for any criminal defense appeal attorneys, but you are probably stuck with the deal you agreed to.