» Criminal Defense

If you live in North Carolina, or reside elsewhere and visit the Outer Banks or another part of the state, you need to be completely familiar with our state laws that limit cell phone use while driving. The laws prohibit specific uses of a handheld d… Read More

If you face a Driving While Impaired (DWI) charge in district court, the charging document does not disclose the level of sentencing that may be imposed on conviction. Aggravating factors can significantly increase the maximum sentence on a defendant… Read More

Drug arrests in North Carolina can be based on either state or federal law. In some circumstances, an initial state charge may even change to a federal charge during the investigation. It’s important to understand the difference between federal and… Read More

When an off-duty police officer makes an arrest, one of the first questions to ask is whether the off-duty officer had the authority to make the arrest. While issues about the officer’s status and authority depend significantly on the actual situat… Read More

North Carolina law prohibits firearm possession by a person convicted of a felony. While federal courts and many other state courts recognize justification as a defense to this type of gun possession charge, North Carolina courts previously did not r… Read More

The state laws that apply to charges for DWI (Driving While Impaired) in North Carolina are extremely complex. One particular issue that frequently leads to questions relates to whether you can refuse to take a DWI breath or blood test. The simple an… Read More

North Carolina DWI charges are serious matters. Regardless of whether you are a resident of the state or a visitor, the impact of a guilty plea or conviction can be substantial. In addition to the possible penalties, a DWI conviction on your record c… Read More

The United States government owns a number of wildlife refuges, parks, memorials, and military bases in northeastern North Carolina. If you commit a crime on any of this federally-owned property, a federal law called the Assimilative Crimes Act autho… Read More