The defendant may plead guilty at any stage of the court process. If the defendant pleads not guilty, there will be additional court dates. This is a time of investigation and plea bargaining. You may be subpoenaed to appear. The case is assigned to a judge who will hear it if it goes to trial.
All witnesses testify and give evidence, such as photographs or medical records.
The defendant may or may not testify and you may be subpoenaed to appear. The defendant will be found guilty or not guilty, provided the case is not dismissed. You are NOT able to drop criminal charges. Once a charge has been filed by you or the police, it becomes the responsibility of the County Attorney's Office to prosecute. You can discuss any concerns you have regarding prosecution and sentencing options with a victim advocate.