Criminal Defense Areas of Practice
Raleigh Criminal Defense Lawyer
Have you recently been arrested for a criminal offense, or are you presently under investigation for a crime? If so, then we urge you to contact a Raleigh criminal defense lawyer from the Hopper Law Firm PLLC without delay. Just because you were arrested for a crime, does not mean that it has to lead to a criminal conviction. However, if law enforcement has already made up their mind about you, then they will use their unlimited resources to pursue a conviction against you, and this is not a good position for anybody to be in. Having a skilled and experienced lawyer fighting in your corner to protect your rights and your liberty can mean the difference between going to jail or prison and remaining a free man or woman.
At the Hopper Law Firm PLLC, our criminal defense practice areas are hi-lighted below for your convenience. If you need more information, please contact our firm directly; we are here to help in every way possible. With nearly two decades of experience under our belts, we are more than prepared to question every aspect of the prosecution's case against you and search for any errors or flaws that can be used to your advantage in court.
Hiring a Criminal Lawyer
Hiring a criminal defense lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself from the harsh criminal justice system. If you are under the watchful eyes of law enforcement, then you are at risk of paying hefty fines, jail or prison, probation or parole, community service, driver's license suspension, restitution and more upon conviction.
Assault
An assault charge can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense. If a weapon was involved in the assault, then it can be charged as assault with a deadly weapon which is a felony offense in North Carolina. Whenever guns or knives are involved in an assault case then it is almost always prosecuted as a felony offense.
Assault on a Female
The courts take this form of an assault very seriously; assault on a female is an A1 misdemeanor, which is the highest form of misdemeanor in North Carolina. If you are found guilty, you could be kept in jail for as long as 150 days. What's more, following your release you might find it difficult to find employment since many employers frown upon assaulting a woman.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence would otherwise be categorized as assault, or battery, or a sex crime; however, what sets domestic violence apart is the relationship between the attacker and the victim. Domestic violence is violence that occurs between husbands and wives, parents and children, other family members, people who have a child in common, or other people that live together.
Restraining Orders
Restraining orders and protective orders are issued by the court to restrain the conduct of one person in order to protect someone who has been victimized by that person in the past. A restraining order can not only restrict one's movements, but it can have an impact on their rights to their home and their children. What's more, any violation of a restraining order can result in an arrest and incarceration.
Drug Crimes
Drug crimes involve any illegal activity associated with a controlled substance. Common drug crimes include possession, sales, trafficking, manufacturing, cultivation, distribution and transportation. Drug crimes range from misdemeanors to felonies; how someone is prosecuted will depend upon the type of the drug and the quantity, as well as what it was intended to be used for.
DUI/DWI
It's unlawful to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or greater. If you are convicted of DUI/DWI, then your penalties may include: jail, hefty fines, driver's license suspension, sky high insurance premiums and a mark on your criminal record. What many people don't realize is that at times a DUI charge can be successfully challenge, potentially retaining your driver's license and in the best case scenario getting your case dismissed.
Traffic Violations
Traffic violations can not only lead to too many points on your driving record, but they could cost you hundreds of dollars if not more, increased insurance rates and they can make you one step closer to a suspended driver's license. Hiring an attorney from the Hopper Law Firm PLLC may ultimately save you from points on your driving record, increased insurance premiums and other negative consequences.
Second DWI/DUI
If you are facing charges for a second or subsequent offense for drunk driving, then you are facing heavy penalties. When you are arrested for DUI a second time, the courts consider that you didn't learn your lesson the first time and therefore punish you more severely than the first time around. If convicted, you could be facing up to 12 months in jail and fines reaching $1,200.
Theft
Theft crimes refer to taking the property of another without their consent, or without paying for them (as in a retail establishment). Theft crimes can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies depending upon the value of the item stolen. Common theft crimes include: shoplifting, identity theft, burglary, robbery, armed robbery, carjacking and auto theft.
Probation Violations
When a person is put on probation they will be required to adhere to certain conditions for their probation. Conditions for their probation may include meeting with their probation officer once a month, abstaining from drug or alcohol use, notifying the probation officer if they move, staying away from known criminals or a known victim, and not getting arrested for a new crime.
Burglary
Burglary, also known as "breaking and entering," involves unlawfully entering a residence or other building with the intent to commit theft or another crime. In North Carolina, burglary may be charged in the first or second degree depending upon the circumstances surrounding the case, and both of which are felony offenses.
Contact Our Firm Today
At the Hopper Law Firm PLLC, we have been defending the residents of Raleigh and the surrounding communities since 1994. If you are facing criminal charges, then you are going to need help from a law firm that you can trust. From the moment we take on your case our mission will be to comb through every detail of your case in order to reveal any potential flaws or errors made by law enforcement that can either get your charges reduced or dismissed entirely. We are a family oriented law firm that cares just as much about your future as you do; therefore, we want to do all that we can to minimize the consequences of the North Carolina criminal justice system, and how it will impact your future. Contact the Hopper Law Firm PLLC to schedule your initial consultation with a member of our legal team.