There are a lot of ways to win a criminal case--and there are a lot more ways to lose them. When an attorney tells you not to talk to anyone about your case, you had better believe he or she means it. Unfortunately, many defendants fail to understand that their online activities are not invisible, and they often feel a false sense of privacy when posting on Facebook or Instagram. Others do not realize that their appearance in the courtroom can create an impression that won't do them any favors.

A recent Brain Jet article looked at several ways lawsuit plaintiffs and criminal defendants wrecked their own cases by running their mouths, posting on Facebook, and more. Here are some of the top ways criminal defendants messed up, according the article entitled "Lawyers Reveal the Most Idiotic Thing Their Client Has Done that Screwed Them Over":

  • A defendant charged with assault wore a shirt proclaiming "Natural Born Killer" to a hearing.
  • A man charged with domestic violence showed up to his preliminary hearing wearing a shirt that said, "'I have the d--k so I make the rules."
  • A defendant charged with DUI showed up drunk to court--TWICE--and both times tried to drive away and was arrested and charged with DUI again.
  • A defendant failed to appear in court. When his attorneys finally discovered where he was, they learned he was in jail two counties over for trying to rob a convenience store the night before his court date.
  • A defendant with a very visible eye injury insisted upon a line-up to identify him as the offender. His attorney called it "the most identifiable mark on a human's face I have ever seen," and noted that he was instantly positively identified by every witness. 
  • A man arrested for a crime was told by his attorney, "Don't say anything. Wait until I get there." While waiting for his lawyer to arrive, the man confessed to a crime he wasn't even being investigated for.
  • A judge was trying to determine whether or not a defendant qualified for a public defender. He asked the defendant if he had any source of income, to which the defendant replied, "Yes." When asked for the source of the income, the defendant replied, "Selling marijuana."
  • A man on probation for drug trafficking was not allowed to own/use a cell phone. When he went for his drug test, a cell phone rang in his pocket. When the probation officer confiscated the phone, he also found a bag of cocaine. Bringing drugs to your drug test is never helpful with probation.

When charged with a crime, it is critical to get legal counsel and representation. But the best lawyer in the world can't help you if you don't listen to his or her advice, and if you put aside common sense. Don't be like the defendants mentioned above. Instead, find an attorney who will fight for you, and listen to your lawyer's advice in handling your case.