If you or a loved one is currently facing criminal charges, a defense lawyer at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, may be able to build your defense argument and help you fight against a potential conviction. Our legal team can review the case and see if the prosecution has any grounds to file charges against you or if the Marion Police Department acted unlawfully during your arrest.
We want to speak with you about your current situation and create a plan to help you move past it. You can speak with our Marion criminal defense lawyer and learn more about our services today. Once you agree to be our client, we will get to work on your case right away.
We Represent Clients Facing Various Criminal Charges in Marion, North Carolina
Our team of criminal defense attorneys at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has worked with clients accused of various criminal offenses from misdemeanors to felonies. No matter what charges you are facing, we would love the opportunity to evaluate your case, determine an effective defense strategy, and help you chart a path that gets your life back to normal.
We have defended clients accused of:
Driving While Impaired (DWI)
According to G.S. § 20-138.1, driving under the influence of any mind-altering substance is a crime. With a DWI conviction, you could face:
- Jail time
- Fines
- Driver’s license suspension or revocation
We can take several different approaches to defend your case. For example, our team might review the breathalyzer or blood test results to see if you were over the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit legally allowed to drive.
Our ideal outcome is keeping you on the road and out of jail.
Drug Crimes
Drug crimes are heavily enforced and strictly prosecuted in Marion and the surrounding communities – and that does not exclude marijuana, which is not legal in North Carolina for recreational use.
If your charge involves selling drugs, you could be facing substantial prison time and possibly end up with a felony conviction on your record. We may be able to defend you and help you resolve these charges.
Larceny
North Carolina is very tough on any crime involving theft. Per G.S. § 14-72, if you are convicted of stealing property that totals over $1,000, you could be facing a Class H felony.
If you have been accused of theft, our legal team can review the case to see if there is any definitive evidence that ties you to the alleged offense. Other approaches to defending you may also include reviewing how the prosecution obtained evidence against you, which might involve reviewing whether law enforcement conducted an unlawful search and seizure.
Shoplifting
Even minor theft-related charges, such as shoplifting, can have a lasting impact on your life. Employers frown on any criminal conviction involving dishonesty, and you may face difficulty when seeking future employment. Our attorneys can review the details of your situation and work to have the charges against you dropped under certain circumstances.
Assault
If you are facing an assault conviction, our team may investigate your case to see if there are any witnesses or video footage that can bring more perspective to the alleged events. For example, you may be able to avoid being charged with assault if we can provide evidence that establishes you were acting in self-defense instead of assaulting someone with malicious intent.
Underage Drinking
If you have been charged with underage drinking, we may be able to employ a strategy that defends your name and reputation. Our team may be able to help prevent your adult years from being marred by a criminal record.
Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License
We have helped many clients deal with driver’s license issues, including those related to driving on a suspended or revoked license. If you do not meet this charge with a sound legal defense, you risk facing heavy fines and longer-term license suspension.
Felony Crimes
Our team also helps people facing more serious criminal charges. If you are facing a potential felony conviction, our team will work hard to investigate the facts surrounding your case to see if there are any inconsistencies in the prosecution’s argument that might allow you to negotiate lower charges or case dismissal.
There May be Defense Strategies Available in Your Criminal Case
Depending on the circumstances of your case and the strength of the State’s evidence, we can opt for several different defense strategies. A defense lawyer from our team may review your case in Marion and opt to use one or more of the following defenses to help you contest criminal charges:
- There is insufficient evidence to convict: If we decide the State lacks evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, we can try to get the State to drop the charges against you. Otherwise, we may advise you to plead not guilty, after which we can fight your case in front of a judge or jury and work to establish doubt that prevents the prosecution from proving you are guilty.
- The prosecution unlawfully obtained evidence against you: By law, the prosecutor must file a written warrant to search your property – such as your home or vehicle – and seize contraband to be used as evidence. If we find that there was no warrant out to allow officers to search you and seize your property, we may argue that they violated your civil rights.
- Other errors were committed during investigation: Our team can conduct a separate investigation to determine whether law enforcement had legal grounds to arrest you. For example, we may review whether the arresting officer calibrated their device correctly if you were arrested for driving while intoxicated.
- Law enforcement acted unlawfully during your arrest: Alternatively, we can also review whether the arresting officer read your Miranda rights and respected these rights throughout your arrest and processing, which they must do so until you receive due process.
Again, what defense strategies we employ on your behalf will rest on the elements of your situation. We may create a plan that we have not gone into detail about here.
Our Legal Team May be Able to Help You Negotiate a Plea Deal
If the State has strong evidence against you, our attorneys can work to establish a plea deal. With this deal, you agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge so that you can avoid a trial.
With many lower-level charges, you have the option of a pretrial diversion program, whereby if you stay out of trouble for a certain period of time and satisfy the terms of your probation or other specified terms, you can get the charge dismissed and subsequently wiped off your record as if it never happened.
Call for a Free Case Evaluation from a Team Member at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC
Our team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, wants to help you move past your current criminal charges, avoid a conviction and jail or prison time, and move forward with your life. We believe people should not be defined by a single incident, and we will work to clear your name and reputation.
To discuss your case and understand your legal options, call us today for a free case evaluation at (828) 286-3866. We can have a criminal defense lawyer begin serving you in Marion right away.