Earlier this month we reported that Missouri basketball player Zach Price was arrested on suspicion of assault charges. On April 3, Price had more than one brush with the law. During the early morning, as we previously discussed, Price was arrested after an alleged altercation in the Stadium Boulevard area. It turns out that police a second time that same day on suspicion of assault near Rock Bridge Elementary. The basketball team later cut ties with the 20-year-old.



Prosecutors now claim that Price engaged in unlawful tampering with a vehicle related to the events in early April. Tampering in the first degree is a class C felony under Missouri law. Price faces a statutory maximum of up to 7 years in prison on the felony charge. Authorities say that more charges could follow, as the investigation is ongoing.

An arrest is but one step that a person may face after an investigation opens. As time passes, and prosecutors pore over the allegations, other charges may often follow. In fact, charges may not necessarily be filed for a period of time after an initial arrest. In other cases, charges may be tacked on at a later date.

Notably, a person suspected of a crime does not have to wait for formal charges to seek the representation of a criminal defense lawyer. As the state reviews evidence and begins building a case, law enforcement may also continue working to gather more evidence. Often, police may seek to question a person throughout the process.

A person suspected of a crime has the right to representation during questioning. But the right is fragile and may be waived if the person does not affirmatively assert the right.

Source: The Kansas City Star, “Former MU basketball player Zach Price charged in car-ramming incident,” Tod Palmer, April 24, 2014