A federal gun charge can carry many times the prison time that the same conduct would carry in state court. Under the Federal Armed Career Criminal Act, the average sentence for a felon-in-possession conviction climbs from 67 months to 199 …
What to Expect at your Federal Arraignment in Texas
During the Federal Arraignment, the defendant is advised of the charges against him. The Magistrate will ask if the defendant wants the charges to be read allowed. As the defendant already has a copy of the charges, we waive a formal reading of the charges. The Magistrate asks what plea the defendant wishes to enter, and we always enter a plea of Not Guilty. Sometimes, the Initial Appearance, Bond Hearing, and Arraignment all occur in the same setting.
