What Works: Don’t be naive. Put yourself in the prosecutor’s and the judge’s shoes. Ultimately, your case may come down to whether they believe your explanation. If you think you have a good excuse, ask yourself, “If someone else told me this same story, what would I think?” If you’re hesitant to believe your own story, get a good criminal defense attorney. Sometimes, even the truth can sound unbelievable. A good criminal defense attorney can help prove the truth of your story.