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Can a guilty plea be expunged?
Anonymous7 views4 answers
I had no prior criminal history and I feel as though the attorney appointed to me was no help. I did not want to plead guily but was told it was in my best interest so that jail time would be avoided. I now have four felonies on my record and I am very unsatisfied with the way my case turned out. What can I do?
Unfortunately, in the Commonwealth of Virginia you are not allowed to expunge a guilty plea. Your best option would be to seek restoration of your rights from the Governor. If you'd like help in this process please feel free to contact me.
You may not expunge any criminal conviction in Virginia, misdemeanor or felony. You may contact the Secretary of State's office and inquire about a pardon.
You should listen to the advice of my Virginia colleagues. I would add for whoever else might be reading that you should never enter a plea unless you are doing so freely and voluntarily, well informed of the consequences. It is not the attorney's fault you accepted the deal; he can't do it for you.
Unfortunately, Virginia does not permit an expungement for convictions. You state that you now have four felonies on your record. That is quite substantial. Did you plead "No Contest" or possibly an "Alford Plea"? Your best options are petitioning for a Restoration of Rights (after the statutory period of time). You may also attempt obtaining a Pardon, but under the current Virginia administration, it is unlikely. One word of caution, be careful when seeking any type of remedy to clear your record. It can cost a considerable amount of money to seek these remedies, and more often than not, your efforts will meet with disappointment and a much lighter wallet. Good luck.
