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In the court of public opinion, there is no presumption of innocence. There is also no Burden of Proof or anything close to Reasonable Doubt.
If your arrest photo shows up on a local Mugshot newspaper or on one of the local TV station websites or the Sheriff’s Website, you very well could be the talk of all your friends. It doesn’t help that people tend to pass the story around, time and again, on social media.
There can be a lot of “presumptions” among friends and family about what you may or may not have done. Rarely are they good.
Even accusations can hurt your good name. They can affect your job, your ability to earn a living, and your future.
What’s worse than getting arrested? A conviction for criminal charges.
This isn’t like high school. A permanent record generally means permanent. The legal system calls that your criminal history. (One exception may be an expunction in NC, assuming that’s even possible.)
Indeed, convictions can be used to enhance sentencing on any new charges, obviously that’s if you’re convicted. If you can avoid a conviction, you should.
Should I Hire a Lawyer?We have a pretty strong opinion on that. Yes. Heck yes. Our Criminal defense lawyers are here to help explain the legal system, to provide sound legal advice, and to guide you through the process.
“Even if your goal is only to limit your exposure to prison time, fines, and other penalties associated with a conviction, it’s helpful to have an experienced lawyer on your side.”
– Bill Powers, Criminal Defense Attorney Charlotte NC
Defense lawyers enjoy going to court (at least we do). It’s part of our daily life. It appeals to our competitive nature and our strong desire to seek justice.
That’s rarely true if you’re the one standing in front of the Judge.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand how uncomfortable, if not downright scary, criminal charges can be. Having someone literally shoulder-to-shoulder next to you in court, speaking up in for your best interests and defending you, makes sense.
As criminal lawyers, that’s what we do. We advocate on your behalf. We provide our best judgment, our experience, our training, and our courtroom skills to help clients.
We also do things like file and argue Motions in Court, review discovery, and go over the best-case and worst-case scenarios specific to your criminal charge. We negotiate with the State (the prosecutor or the “ADA” in North Carolina), we talk to law enforcement (police officers), we weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the charges, and we conduct trials.
It doesn’t matter if you face an arrest for DWI in Charlotte NC (or DUI in SC), a felony or misdemeanor charge in Monroe, Gastonia, or Statesville, or need some advice on a simple traffic ticket in Mecklenburg County, we’re here to help.
We want to make a difference. We offer professionalism, courtesy, and compassion. Any one of those is a really good reason to hire a criminal lawyer.
How Much do Lawyers Cost?There are several different factors that can affect legal fees and what lawyers charge. One of the biggest considerations is the relative training and experience of your defense attorney.
Years of courtroom advocacy and certification matter. Hard work and studying the NC criminal laws is a starting point. Practical trial experience often takes years to develop.
We firmly believe it’s imperative to understand how those criminal laws apply to real life, your criminal charges, and your future.
What Should I do if I was Arrested?There are several different things to consider. Checking out lawyers online is a good idea.
“After more than 26 years in the trenches as a defense attorney in NC, I think there is absolutely one thing you should do: Make sure you know your court date.”
– Bill Powers, Criminal Defense Attorney Charlotte NC
That may seem so obvious and frankly it is. And yet, most people are surprised how often we as defense lawyers are scrambling because clients wait until the absolute last minute to call.
We understand people get busy. In fact, to some extent it’s understandable. It’s easy to forget about court, especially if you’d rather not think about the severity of the charges.
Take a minute and do this. Confirm your court date here:
Then call our office. We offer free consultations for criminal charges. It doesn’t matter if you have a misdemeanor or felony.
If you’re a family member and have questions about really serious charges like murder or manslaughter or some type of sex offense, we also extend the offer of a free, confidential consultation to you. We regularly visit people in jail as part of providing legal services.
The defense attorneys at our firm provide legal representation for a wide range of matters including DUI charges, DWI in NC, drug charges, possession charges, tickets, assaults, domestic violence charges, etc.
Attorneys Bill Powers, and Chris Beddow are all licensed in NC. Associate legal counsel Chris Beddow is also a licensed attorney in Rock Hill SC. Mr. Beddow is responsible for all legal matters in South Carolina for the firm.
Call now. We’re here to help!
Helpful Information About Criminal Charges Free DUI/DWI Reference Guide
