Criminal Defense

The main difference between simple assault and aggravated assault is the severity and intent of the act. Both assault charges involve causing fear or physical harm to someone else.  The consequences and nature of the assault determine how the crime is classified. ...

A burglary may seem like the most glamorous type of theft because of mainstream media depictions of the crime. People often think of burglary as a high-tech attempt to steal incredibly valuable assets. Numerous famous movies focus on high-stakes heists and make...

Law enforcement officers play a critical role in maintaining public safety, and conducting searches is a necessary part of their duties. These searches must adhere to certain legal principles, primarily those established by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S....

Those accused of impaired driving in North Carolina face several very significant penalties. A conviction could result in jail time, big fines and also the suspension of someone's driver's license. Yet, those who regularly drink aren't the only ones at risk of...

You came to North Carolina to relax and unwind, but things got a little out of control. Maybe you got into an altercation with someone at a bar, or maybe you got caught with drugs in your pocket. Bail got you out of jail, but can it allow you to go back to your home...

The situation can be stressful and scary if you are arrested for a drug crime. However, North Carolina § 90-96 offers a conditional discharge for first-time offenders facing certain charges. To take advantage of this, you must know the requirements and meet the...

Exercising caution on social media until your criminal case is resolved is crucial to protect your legal rights and maintain your privacy and reputation moving forward.  If you don’t feel like you can realistically refrain from social media use altogether, you’ll want...

Many people take prescription medication to cure or treat an ailment. However, some have an addiction and use underhanded means to obtain it, e.g., prescription forgery. Prescription forgery is when someone — like a patient or a doctor — uses a copy of a prescription...

We’ve talked here before about why it’s crucial for law enforcement to maintain the “chain of custody” for evidence they have that someone allegedly committed a crime. That’s because if the location of evidence or the person possessing it is unaccounted for at any...

If you are a fan of crime shows, you have probably heard a character mention the words, “I’m exercising my right to plead the fifth” But what exactly does this mean? The U.S. Constitution offers several protections to citizens. One of these is protection from making...