Licking County Criminal Court

Licking County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Licking County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Licking County.

Required Court Appearances in Licking County

Any required court appearances in Licking County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.

The Right to Counsel

The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.

Licking County Criminal Court

Licking County Criminal Court

Appealing a Criminal Conviciton

A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.

Arraignments in Licking County

During an arraignment in Licking County, a defendant appears before the court and the judge reads the charges that have been filed against the accused and also informs the defendant of his/her rights. During the arraignment in Licking County, the defendant can choose to plead one of the following 1) Guilty 2) Not Guilty or 3) No Contest. If the defendant enters a plea of Not Guilty, a date for trial is set. In the event of a Guilty or No Contest Plea in Licking County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.

Can I request a Plea Agreement?

In Licking County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.

Who is the prosecutor for Licking County?

Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Licking County criminal cases will either be a representative of Licking County or a representative from Ohio. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.

Licking County Criminal Court locations

Criminal proceedings take place in the Licking County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.

If guilty, who sentences the defendant?

If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.

What is the Burden of Proof?

The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.

Jury Deliberations in Licking County

In Licking County, jury deliberations will take place in a jury trial after the prosecution and defense have presented their cases and rested. At this point, the judge will provide a list of instructions to the jury about what they are allowed and not allowed to do and what verdict options are available for them to decide. The jury will be sent to a private room to discuss the evidence presented in the case and attempt to reach a unaminous decision. When a unaminous decision is reached, the jury will inform the judge that they have reached a verdict and will return to the courtroom for the verdict to be read allowed. In the event that the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the jury results in a deadlock and a mistrial is declared.

Right to Jury Trial

For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.

Where can I get help for my Licking County criminal case?

The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Licking County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.

Licking County Criminal Court Locations

  • Licking County Court of Common Pleas – Domestic Relations Division

    Address: 75 E Main St, Newark OH 43055
    Phone: 740-670-5399 Fax: 740-670-5398

  • Licking County Court of Common Pleas – General Division

    Address: 1 Courthouse Square, Newark OH 43058
    Phone: 740-670-5791 Fax: 740-670-5886

  • Licking County Court of Common Pleas – Probate-Juvenile Division

    Address: 1 N Park Pl, Newark OH 43055
    Phone: 740-670-5624 Fax: 740-670-5881

  • Licking County Municipal Court

    Address: 40 W Main St, Newark OH 43055
    Phone: 740-670-7800 Fax: 740-345-4250

  • Alexandria Mayor’s Court

    Address: 4 W Main St, PO Box 96, Alexandria OH 43001
    Phone: 740-924-2539 Fax: 740-924-2535

  • Buckeye Lake Mayor’s Court

    Address: 5192 Walnut Rd SE, PO Box 27, Buckeye Lake OH 43008
    Phone: 740-928-7100 Fax: 740-928-8843

  • Granville Mayor’s Court

    Address: 141 E Broadway, Granville OH 43023
    Phone: 740-587-0707

  • Hartford Mayor’s Court

    Address: 2 N High St, PO Box 253, Croton OH 43013
    Phone: 740-893-2099

  • Hebron Mayor’s Court

    Address: 934 W Main St, PO Box 898, Hebron OH 43025
    Phone: 740-928-9402 Fax: 740-928-2222

  • Johnstown Mayor’s Court

    Address: 599 S Main St, PO Box 457, Johnstown OH 43031
    Phone: 740-967-5961

  • Kirkersville Mayor’s Court

    Address: 135 N 4th St, PO Box 267, Kirkersville OH 43033
    Phone: 740-964-9944 Fax: 740-964-1630

  • Pataskala Mayor’s Court

    Address: 621 W Broad St, Pataskala OH 43062
    Phone: 740-927-3361 Fax: 740-927-0228

  • St. Louisville Mayor’s Court

    Address: 1 School St, St. Louisville OH 43071
    Phone: 740-745-3401 Fax: 740-745-1283

  • Utica Mayor’s Court

    Address: 39 Spring St, PO Box 524, Utica OH 43080
    Phone: 740-892-4585 Fax: 740-892-3433

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