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").
Lashmeet is an unincorporated community in western Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 10 northwest of the city of Princeton, the county seat of Mercer County. Its elevation is 2,539 feet (774 m). Although Lashmeet is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 24733.