Can I appeal a criminal conviction if I have accepted a plea deal?

Yes, you can appeal a criminal conviction if you have accepted a plea deal in Virginia. A plea deal is an agreement between a defendant and the prosecutor in a criminal case, where the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest in exchange for a reduced charge or more lenient sentence. In Virginia, the appeal process is governed by the Virginia Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Virginia Code. If you have accepted a plea deal and are not satisfied with the outcome, you can file an appeal. To file an appeal, you must first contact your attorney (or the public defender, if you did not have one) and inform them that you would like to appeal your conviction. Your attorney will file the appropriate appellate documents on your behalf, which should include a brief that outlines your arguments for why the conviction should be overturned. You will also have an opportunity to submit additional evidence to support your argument. Once the documents have been filed, the Virginia Court of Appeals will review the case. The appellate court may either affirm the conviction, reverse it, or reduce the sentence - depending on the arguments and evidence presented. Overall, it is possible to appeal a criminal conviction in Virginia, even if you have accepted a plea deal. Be sure to tell your attorney if you want to appeal and work with them to file the appropriate documents with the court. Good luck!

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