In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").
Flatonia is a town in southwestern Fayette County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 10 and the Southern Pacific Railroad, twelve miles west of Schulenburg. The population was 1,377 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated in 1875 and is known for its German and Eastern European heritage and the local "Czhilispiel" festival; the festival, named after Czech people who like to eat chili, receives visitors from a large area in Central Texas.