Federal crimes and criminal procedure
If you get into a scrape with the law, you may end up on probation as a result of a conviction or plea agreement. Maybe you were convicted of simple possession. Perhaps you were caught vandalizing a building. Whatever the case may be, now you have landed a probation sentence and are stuck having to [...]
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law… “ Whether from watching TV shows, reading books, or even personal experiences, most people have heard at least a portion of the Miranda rights. If you are ever questioned by police, your [...]
Hollywood and the media like to glamorize criminal court proceedings. Whether you watch a movie or TV show that portrays a fictional case, or the news coverage of a real-life case, what you are seeing is the highlight reel. Unfortunately, those snapshots and soundbites oversimplify the complex nature of criminal courts. The incomplete portrayals of [...]
You should never resist an officer’s attempt to bring you into custody, even if you do not believe the arrest is warranted. Resisting Arrest is illegal under SC Code Section 16-9-320 and Section 16-3-625. South Carolina’s criminal court system deals out harsh penalties for resisting law enforcement. Besides the immediate penalties of possible fines and [...]
Have you ever been pulled over while in someone else’s car? You may have thought that if you do not have anything illegal on you, then there is nothing for you to worry about. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If drugs are found in the car, even without your knowledge of them being in [...]
It happens. You made a mistake, and now you are facing criminal property damage charges. A celebration with friends got a little out of hand and some store windows were broken. A simple prank resulted in some damage to a neighbor’’s property. Maybe your emotions got the best of you and [...]
An experienced DUI lawyer can work with you to clarify the laws and explain how they apply to your specific case. The questions and answers below explain some of the basic facts about DUI cases, probation violations, and possible consequences. Still, the best way to understand your unique situation is to discuss it with a [...]
There is a good chance that you will have to deal with legal matters at some point in your life. Yet, if you are like most people, you do not have a lawyer on standby, and you will have this decision to make: hire an attorney or represent yourself. There are many benefits to hiring [...]
First off, our Fourth Amendment and court interpretation of that right, has established that a search not based on a warrant issued by a court, is presumed to be unconstitutional. However, the courts have recognized “exceptions” to this requirement for a warrant. A warrantless search that factually falls under a recognized exception is not presumed [...]
