Criminal Defense

“House arrest” refers to a criminal defendant who is confined to their home instead of jail or a juvenile facility. There are generally two situations when house arrest instead of incarceration may be available for a defendant: Release on bond before trial. Generally, defendants who cannot meet the bail/bond requirements that a judge imposes may…

South Carolina is a state rich with history and charm and – as it turns out – some really weird laws. Here we’ve compiled some of the many statutes that would make you scratch your head and wonder how they ever came to be. Although many of these laws aren’t actively enforced today, they’re still…

When we think of crime, violent offenses, car chases, drug deals, and burglaries may be the first things to come to mind. However, not all crimes involve the physical acts or dramatic events we routinely see on television. White-collar crimes, often committed in offices or through a computer, are non-violent but can have serious consequences…

If you’ve ever sent a text message in the heat of the moment – you’re not alone. Unfortunately, you might not think about the way that message might look out of context, especially in a criminal investigation. Text messages can and do come up when people face criminal charges. So it is important to remember…

A plea deal, also called a plea agreement or a plea bargain, is an agreement between an accused person (defendant) and the state about criminal charges. If you are accused of a crime, at some point the Solicitor’s Office may hand you a plea deal. Do you have to take it? Short answer: no. You…

As you know, you can be pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in South Carolina. You can also be arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana and other drugs. South Carolina’s driving while impaired laws make it illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol “to the extent that…

In murder defenses, expert witnesses play an important role, offering specialized knowledge and insights that can sway the outcome of a trial. Expert witness testimony is often the key to building a strong defense strategy, providing jurors with a deeper understanding of complex issues. If you are facing murder charges in South Carolina, it is…

If a person is convicted of a crime in South Carolina state court, then the pardon cannot come from the President. In many states, a pardon is granted by that state’s governor, though in South Carolina pardons are granted by the seven-member Board of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. To secure a pardon, two-thirds of…

During his four years as president, Donald Trump has granted clemency to approximately 100 individuals, with a flurry of pardons going out at the end of the year as his presidency wraps up. A few days before Christmas, President Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of over 40 people, and is assumed to grant between…

Research from two prestigious national institutions, the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, indicate that drug-related deaths for the 15-64 year-old population were 9 percent in 2016 – more than twice what it was 20 years ago. New research from these two schools indicate that the drug mortality rate may be more than twice that…