Criminal Law

Sports are our country’s favorite pastime and with football season in full swing, fans will be flocking back to the stadium to cheer on the players ...

Domestic violence cases are some of the most serious and difficult cases in the North Carolina Justice System. When the case involves people on a ...

In today’s modern age of smartphones and the internet, almost everyone has encountered or seen videos of police interactions. The days when camera ...

College is starting up again for thousands of students across North Carolina. It brings the beginning of athletic seasons, club sports, the rushing ...

One of the most common questions from Defendants in criminal cases is, what is going on with my concealed handgun permit? The answer to this question ...

College students all over North Carolina are returning to campus. While class begins in earnest, so will extracurricular activities… some of which can ...

To be completely clear, North Carolina law, specifically, North Carolina General Statute § 14-447(a) states that there is no prosecution for public ...

If you have been charged with a crime, you may qualify for a diversion program or some sort of deferred prosecution that ends in a dismissal of the ...

Being charged with a crime can cause consequences related to employment, housing, and transportation. If you are a current U.S. passport holder or are ...

In the greater Charlotte area, there are several different airports, and crimes that are committed in the airport usually involve serious punishment ...

Registration as a Sex Offender If you have been convicted of a crime requiring Sex Offender Registration , then you will need to register as a Sex ...

Federal sentencing law is a complicated mixture of statutory penalty provisions, enhancements, and Sentencing Guidelines, all of which have developed ...

The most common criminal charges are related to traffic offenses. Nearly everybody drives, and nobody is perfect. Take a look at the chart below from ...

The most common criminal charges are related to traffic offenses. Nearly everybody drives, and nobody is perfect. Take a look at the chart below from ...

In North Carolina and throughout the United States, college towns and campuses see false identifications being used by incoming college students every ...

One of the most common situations that gives rise to a DWI charge is when someone drives through a checkpoint. These checkpoints are often operated at ...

There are over 30 types of crimes in North Carolina that require sex offender registration upon conviction. Being on the registry is a crippling ...

Summer is here which means lake season is here! If you are a boat owner, renter, or passenger, it is important to know the North Carolina laws ...

Over the summer and Fall one of the busiest law enforcement agencies in North Carolina is the Wildlife Division. Wildlife charges can carry ...

Without diving into the specifics of a DWI just yet...it should strongly understood that a person has a better opportunity in defending against a DWI ...

One of the most common questions that comes up in the North Carolina Justice System is what is the crime of Domestic Violence. Until recently, the ...

The court may not be over once your case is resolved, especially if you are on probation. Probation comes in two varieties: supervised and ...

Before we take a deep dive into the difference between Hemp and Marijuana, the legalization of hemp in North Carolina has stirred up a number of ...

One of the most challenging times in any person’s life is when a relationship is coming to an end, especially if that relationship is a marriage with ...

BAC, three letters that don’t mean a whole lot… unless you’re talking about driving while impaired. The concept of BAC is central to proving whether a ...

What is Discovery? When someone is arrested, one of the first things they will often ask is “where is the evidence?” Evidence gathered by the ...

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper just signed a new bill into law that will greatly affect how some criminal defendants are processed in the criminal ...

Otherwise known as ignition interlock or in-car breathalyzer, the interlock is a testing device that is installed in your vehicle to measure the ...

You do NOT need to talk to the police One of the costliest decisions made by people who are charged with child pornography crimes, is the decision to ...

The legal limit. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below a .08. If your BAC is .08 or more you can be charged with a DWI. If you have a ...

You Should Never Speak to the Police Without an Attorney, Under Any Circumstances If you are accused of sexual assault, the police will usually want ...

If you have been accused of a crime, it can be an overwhelming experience. You may feel scared and confused as to what your next steps should be. One ...

First and foremost, anytime law enforcement wants to conduct an interview or “ask you a couple questions,” ask to speak to an attorney. Most ...

In North Carolina, some killings are prosecuted as murder while others are charged as voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. What do those charges ...

One of the most serious situations that North Carolina college students can find themselves in is when they are facing allegations of violence against ...

Not all charges related to child pornography are prosecuted at the federal level. A handful of these cases remain in state court where they are ...

Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code lays out a number of fraud offenses. The two that will be explained below are mail and wire fraud. ...

Some of the most serious and most difficult cases in the justice system are sex-related offenses that involve child victims. These crimes all carry ...

Over the summer, one of the most common charges is a BWI or boating while impaired. One of the most common questions from clients about this charge ...

Currently in North Carolina, there is not a charge for domestic violence. However, there are charges like assault on a female or simple assault. ...

When you are under the legal drinking age, even consuming one sip of alcohol and getting behind the wheel can get you arrested. Under N.C.G.S. § ...

Being accused of robbery, either Common Law Robbery or Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, is an incredibly difficult process. Both are serious violent ...

Young people will often seek out alcohol well below the legal drinking age of 21. Whether someone under 21 gets caught buying beer with a fake ID, ...

During the 2023 General Assembly of North Carolina, Session Law 2023-8, Senate Bill 41 eliminated the requirement that North Carolina residents obtain ...

We are asked numerous times (sometimes in the middle of the night) if I should blow when there is a suspicion of a person driving while impaired. To ...

One of the more serious traffic offenses in North Carolina is the offense of failure to heed lights and sirens. Punished as a misdemeanor, you can be ...

One of the most common questions we see in DWI cases is what is going to happen to my license? There are several different stages in the process of a ...

Engaging in a prearranged speeding competition may seem like a fun idea in the movies, but getting caught by the police has real consequences in North ...

Boating While Impaired or BWI is one of the most common charges in North Carolina over the summer months, with the Department of Wildlife Resources, ...

Spontaneous racing (otherwise known as “Willful Racing”) is different from prearranged racing because of one requirement which is that the race be ...

A common gun-related offense in North Carolina is the charge of taking a gun into the airport. Whether in a purse or in a backpack that was not ...

As a driver in North Carolina, it is important to know and understand the many driver's license and insurance points that can affect a person’s ...

When a small amount of narcotics are found by law enforcement, sometimes the penalties can be severe. But when a massive amount of narcotics are ...

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (Otherwise, known as a “HGN”) : Specifically, Nystagmus means an involuntary jerking of the eyes. Alcohol and other drugs ...

When it comes to self-defense, in some states you have a duty to retreat before using force against another person. But in other states, you can ...

For many years purchasing a firearm in North Carolina was a confusing process. With different rules for purchasing a pistol and a long gun, many ...

Intentionally disciplining a child can sometimes lead to unintentional consequences. The worst of these can often be charges for child abuse. Whether ...

On our roads and highways, tragedy can strike in an instant. Perhaps a distracted driver is texting on their cell phone, a speeding driver loses ...

Anytime a person is charged with a federal offense it is serious and must not be taken lightly. More than likely, the federal government ...

During police questioning, the truth is expected of the person being questioned. Therefore, it is natural to infer that the same would be true of the ...

One of the most serious felony crimes in North Carolina is the crime of kidnapping. Punishable by up to 231 months in prison. These kinds of charges ...

Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-196, using profane, indecent or threatening language to any person over the telephone, annoying or harassing ...

While you are in jail after an arrest, you only have one real lifeline to everyone in the outside world; the telephone. In Mecklenburg County, phone ...

One of the more common traffic offenses in North Carolina these days is the charge of failure to move over for emergency vehicles or illegally passing ...

The most important thing to understand is what type of Hit and Run a person has been charged with. There are many different types of Hit and Run and ...

Depending on the county a person is arrested in determines which local policies and practices are put in place by the Chief Judges of that judicial ...

If you have been charged with a crime involving allegations of sexual assault, the accuser will often undergo a series of physical and psychological ...

DWI’s are some of the most common cases in the North Carolina Criminal Justice System. When charged with a DWI one of the most important pieces of ...

Have you found yourself accused of misconduct with a child that allegedly occurred in the 2000’s, 90’s, or even earlier? Trying to remember what ...

The Charlotte airport has become one of the busiest airports in the nation. One of the most common criminal charges that stems from this airport is ...

North Carolina Law: Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-415.1, it shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to ...

In North Carolina, one of the most serious driving offenses is hit and run. If you are charged with a hit and run, you can face prison time and a ...

If you or someone you love has been charged with Discharging a Firearm into Occupied Property, you probably have many questions. What does this charge ...

North Carolina’s sex offense laws and statutes are constantly changing. This makes it extremely difficult to determine whether or not you could be ...

Domestic violence is taken really seriously in the criminal justice system in North Carolina. People often mistakenly believe they have been charged ...

When you are charged with a crime of Domestic Violence, one of the first things that the Judge or magistrate who is setting your conditions of ...

When someone has been charged with a DWI in North Carolina and refuses the breathalyzer test potential consequences arise. In North Carolina when ...

Like most states, North Carolina has made it illegal to make, distribute, or possess child pornography. North Carolina classifies these actions as ...

What is a 50B Domestic Violence Protective Order ? Under North Carolina General Statute § 50B-1, domestic violence means the commission of: Attempting ...

In North Carolina, a common scenario that prompts the prosecution of a domestic violence case is one where neither side wants to be involved or press ...

A police officer has made contact with you and wants to speak with you regarding an investigation where your name has come up. What should you do now? ...

North Carolina General Statute § 15A-534.1. The simplest answer is NO. Why? A deep dive into North Carolina General Statute § 15A-534.1 – Crimes of ...

While the laws surrounding receiving nude images from a minor are very clear and well-known, the laws around sending nude or explicit images to a ...

One of the most serious results of being convicted of a sex-related crime is the requirement that you must register as a sex offender. Once on the sex ...

When someone is charged with a violent crime in North Carolina, one of the ways they can be found not guilty is to raise the affirmative defense known ...

One of the most serious criminal charges that you can face in North Carolina are sex crimes. On top of that, just the charge of a sex crime could ...

In North Carolina, a person charged with a crime has numerous ways to fight against that charge. One of those ways is through the use of an ...

Indecent exposure in North Carolina is a serious crime and can carry stiff penalties. It is important to understand what the law says about indecent ...

A person may not be guilty of a crime, even if the person committed the crime if there was a legal justification. One of the most common legal ...

North Carolina’s sex offense laws and statutes are constantly changing. This makes it extremely difficult to determine whether or not you could be ...

Some of the most serious cases in the North Carolina Criminal Justice system are sexual assault cases. During these cases, one of the most important ...

On Friday, January 13, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or ATF submitted and had signed by the Attorney General new ...

One of the most serious criminal charges that you can face in North Carolina are sex crimes. On top of that, a sex crime involving a minor could ...

When people hear someone was arrested for a sexual offense crime that allegedly occurred 20 years ago, the logical question that comes to mind is ...

When most people hear the phrase “Title Nine” or “Title IX” they think about men’s and women’s sports and scholarships. However, Title IX covers much ...

Authorities announced the arrest of a man accused of violent crimes . Tyson Corpening allegedly shot a park ranger and threw a rock with a hate-speech ...

The death of a 2-year-old boy in an accidental shooting has led to his father being charged with misdemeanor failure to properly and safely store his ...

President Joe Biden announced pardons for anyone convicted of federal simple marijuana possession . No other marijuana-related crime or other types of ...

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) announced in June 2022 that it was implementing a new criminal diversion program for young adults . ...

Summer is a popular season for motorcyclists. Day trips and simply enjoying the beautiful weather are common reasons to put on a helmet and hit the ...

Laws passed in the last five years have altered how North Carolina’s justice system views crimes committed by juveniles. The changes mean that fewer ...

A recent school shooting that resulted in the arrest of both the teen shooter and his parents has adults across the country wondering about their own ...

If you look up the definition of trafficking, you will find that it means to “buy and sell” and “do business.” Knowing that, it would be ...

When you are pulled over by law enforcement for suspected Driving While Impaired, your job prospects might not be the first worry on your mind. That’s ...

Instead of driving after having a few alcohol beverages, many people believe riding a bicycle is the wisest and safest alternative. Unfortunately, it ...

While traffic violations are mostly infractions that are punishable by a costly fine and points administered to your driver’s license, there are some ...

From semi-trucks to buses, commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders are an integral part of our country, whether they are transporting essential ...

Drug possession is a serious offense in North Carolina. Possession of a Schedule I substance like heroin, opiates, fentanyl, or ecstasy is a felony, ...

SURPRISINGLY the answer is YES! North Carolina law does NOT require a car to be in motion in order to be charged with a DWI. Instead, the statute says ...

From e-mail and social media to entertainment and news outlets, we rely on the internet to communicate, work, learn, and stay connected with loved ...

As the nation progresses towards a more lenient view of marijuana, legislatures have also had to come up with more lenient ways to handle minor drug ...

Our experienced attorneys at Jetton & Meredith, PLLC understand that getting a DUI/DWI can be a frightening experience, especially if you don’t know ...

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the COVID-19 outbreak has become a pandemic. Within the next few weeks, North ...

Sexual battery is one of the most serious misdemeanor crimes in North Carolina. A conviction of sexual battery carries the potential of jail time, ...

Shoplifting is a common offense prosecuted in North Carolina courts. How you are charged in this offense, however, will depend on various factors. ...

Some of the most serious criminal charges you can face in North Carolina are sexual based offenses that involve a child, such as Indecent Liberties ...

Your permit to carry a concealed handgun must be carried along with valid identification wherever the handgun is being carried. When approached or ...

Are you facing a first-time criminal offense in or around the greater Charlotte area? If so, you are likely anxious about how this will affect your ...

In December of 2019, two new laws took effect in North Carolina reforming the states sexual assault laws. These two key changes substantially altered ...

One of the most serious charges you can face in North Carolina is the charge of Forceable Rape. A conviction for one of these crimes can destroy your ...

Forceable rape cases are often very complex and bring up numerous questions. It is imperative that you speak to an experienced and knowledgeable ...

One of the most serious criminal charges that you can face in North Carolina is statutory rape. If you are charged with a sex crime then your future ...

Most DWI charges in the state of North Carolina are misdemeanors. These fall into five levels, with Level V being the least serious and Level I being ...

One of the most serious crimes you can be convicted of is a crime of domestic violence. Whether it is a felony or a misdemeanor the consequences are ...

There are three elements that must be met to be charged with assault on a female. The first element is that an assault must have occurred. This ...

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the COVID-19 outbreak has become a pandemic. Within the next few weeks, North ...

Domestic Violence cases in North Carolina are always serious, even more so now during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the different consequences that ...

North Carolina takes domestic violence convictions very seriously. It can have rippling effects across many aspects of your life that you may not ...

On March 13, 2020, North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley announced that due to the COVID-19 or coronavirus, North Carolina Courts ...

When someone is arrested for a criminal charge in North Carolina there is usually a lot of different processes going on at the same time, this mass of ...

On top of everything happening at the present date with COVID-19, individuals may be dealing with circumstances surrounding child custody or ...

When North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued a statewide stay in place order on March 27, 2020, directing all residents to remain in their homes and ...

In 2018, North Carolina voters approved a new amendment to the North Carolina Constitution known as Marsy’s Law the Crime Victim’s Rights Amendment ...

One of the most daunting situations to be faced with in life is to be contacted by the police regarding a crime or a potential charge against you. An ...

Crimes of Domestic Violence are often some of the most serious charges a person can face. In North Carolina, crimes that have been marked as domestic ...

Once someone has been charged with a DWI, one of their first thoughts is, “am I going to jail for this?” While there isn’t a straightforward answer to ...

Communicating Threats; A charge commonly seen in North Carolina District Court and as a headline in some of the recent North Carolina Court of Appeals ...

A no contact order—commonly known as a “50C order” in North Carolina—is a type of restraining order for sexual assault or stalking victims who do not ...

Can a Victim/Accuser of Domestic Violence Drop/Dismiss the Charges? Although many spouses and family members love each other unconditionally, ...

What is the North Carolina First Step Act? North Carolina’s first step act is currently not a law; it has passed the State Senate and it is our belief ...

It is a well-known fact that once you are convicted of a felony, you lose certain rights and privileges. Some of these losses include the right to ...

If a person is arrested for allegedly committing a misdemeanor or felony domestic violence offense in North Carolina, he/she will be held in jail ...

A North Carolina deferred prosecution, simply put, is a contract between a criminal defendant and the State of North Carolina. Deferred Prosecutions ...

One of the questions we’re asked most frequently from people who have been charged with a DWI is, “should I have blown?” One of the questions we hear ...

My spouse took out a warrant on me and wants to drop the case, what happens now? One of the more confusing situations in court is what happens when ...

One of the more common traffic charges in North Carolina is Driving While License Revoked. Cases involving DWLR charges can be complex and can leave ...

With holiday parties and gatherings on the horizon, there is a heightened risk of being on the road with drunk drivers. If you happen to be injured by ...

Cyberstalking, the Crime In today’s world where just about everyone has a smartphone and communication is often completely digital, cyberstalking has ...

Many cases in North Carolina begin when you’re charged with a crime and are then arrested; but once you’ve been arrested, what happens next? The ...

In North Carolina, one of the most common criminal charges is Driving While Impaired, or DWI. While DWI may be one of the most commonly charged crimes ...

One of the most common punishments after a criminal conviction in North Carolina is being placed on probation. There are two kinds of probation in ...

In North Carolina there are several different types of theft-related crimes, ranging from the lowest level misdemeanors, such as misdemeanor ...

Once a court date is missed, it is important to know what the consequences are and what to do next. Questions arise such as: is there a warrant for ...

In North Carolina, assault charges are usually broken down into two groups; felony and misdemeanor assaults. One of the most serious misdemeanor ...

In North Carolina, one of the most common ways to be pulled over by the police is by allowing your vehicle’s registration to expire. It is a violation ...

After an arrest, an arraignment--the first court hearing--will be scheduled within 30 days or so. Once you are read the charges filed against you and ...

In North Carolina there are certain charges that are by their very nature, crimes of domestic violence. This is most commonly seen in the charge of ...

In North Carolina, there are two types of restraining orders: domestic violence protective orders and civil no-contact orders . In the court system, a ...

In North Carolina there are many different types of assault charges, ranging from misdemeanor simple assault, all the way up to felony assault ...

One of the most common domestic violence crimes in a violation of a Domestic Violence Protective Order (“DVPO”) , commonly referred to as a ...

North Carolina closely regulates the carrying of concealed weapons by the public. NCGS 14-269 prohibits the carrying of deadly weapons, except as ...

North Carolina’s Controlled Substances Act can be found in North Carolina General Statute Chapter 90. There are several different sections outlining ...

The Miranda Warning, commonly known as being ‘Mirandized,’ is one of the most talked about and misunderstood aspects of criminal arrest and ...

When an officer knocks on your door and hands you a criminal summons, what does that mean? While most of us will never experience this, many citizens ...

What You Need to Know About Boating While Impaired (BWI) Laws in North Carolina In 2016, North Carolina enacted Sheyenne’s Law in response to an ...

Domestic violence is a crime. It’s a crime that not only impacts the victim, but can have a lasting effect on loved ones, family members, friends and ...

A number of people in North Carolina and throughout the U.S. currently sit behind bars, serving a sentence imposed on them by a court of law. ...

Legislators in North Carolina are considering a new law that would increase the penalties associated with certain drug crimes. The law specifically ...

When imposing a sentence on more than one misdemeanor offense, a judge may order a concurrent or consecutive sentence. A concurrent sentence means ...

Like misdemeanor sentencing, felonies in North Carolina are sentenced according to structured sentencing, which bases your punishment on a grid that ...

In 2013, a North Carolina mayor was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. According to ABC News Channel 12, the man said he had taken ...

Since the police have no numerical reading of your breath can you still be convicted of DWI? We are often asked about the choices one must make when ...

You have been recently arrested for DWI and refused the breathalyzer test. What are the consequences of refusing the breathalyzer test? What are your ...

You have been recently arrested, written a citation, or questioned by police and NOT read your Miranda Rights. Does that matter? Can your case be ...

People in North Carolina are often encouraged to take care of things themselves. If one goes into a local bookstore, that person would find dozens of ...

Lawmakers, police and prosecutors take impaired driving extremely seriously in North Carolina and offenders, no matter their age, routinely face ...

The possession of marijuana with intent to sell is a more serious offense than simple possession and such intent may be shown by direct or ...

Bills target DWI offenders with stiffer penalties and license restrictions The North Carolina House has passed two bills aimed at both first-time and ...

Even though most drivers may not be aware of it, everyone with a North Carolina driver’s license has agreed to allow police to test their blood ...