Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol is something that few people would admit to doing. However, studies suggest as many as one in four people have driven under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Some DWI arrests are the result of a poor decision while other times, faulty breath testing devices or other issues lead to an unjustified DWI arrest. 

If you were charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), you may also be very nervous about the consequences you face for your actions. While this is natural, it is also important to know that the legal consequences for something like a DWI are rarely set in stone. The advocacy of a great attorney can help you fight the charges and possibly even get them dropped. 

What Can an Attorney Do in My Defense? 

Depending on the facts of the case, an attorney has several options available for fighting the charges. These include, but are not limited to: 

While North Carolina may not have a national reputation for being a hotspot of gang violence, large numbers of gangs are active in the state - well over a thousand by some counts. In 2018 and then again in 2020, members of the United Blood Nation were put into prison for crimes such as drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, wire fraud, and committing other crimes using weapons. 

These are serious crimes with serious consequences, but not all gangs or groups are involved in criminal activity, and it may only be natural for a young person who is curious about a gang, or the parents of a young person who has shown interest in gang membership, to wonder if simply being in a gang is against the law in North Carolina. 

Is Being a Gang Member Illegal? 

In North Carolina, simply being a gang member is not against the law. However, whether someone gets in trouble for conduct committed as part of a gang is a much more important question. North Carolina has laws in place that are specially designed to punish gang activity. 

If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter in North Carolina, you can bet that prosecutors will be motivated to put you behind bars. In the face of the charges against you, it may be tempting to simply give up; after all, surely no prosecutor would bring an unwinnable case of murder or manslaughter without evidence, right? Wrong. Prosecutors can be so eager to make it look like they are punishing someone responsible for murder that they might bring a weak case or even bring a case against the wrong person. When this happens to you, you need help from a North Carolina criminal defense attorney who will help you fight to stay out of prison and continue living your life. 

How Can a Lawyer Help Someone Accused of Murder? 

It may seem like the charges against you are hopeless, but with a great defense attorney, there is always a strategy for trying to beat the charges. Your attorney will carefully look at your case and, using the facts, the prosecutor’s evidence, and your own testimony, try to create the best defense possible. Among the defenses your attorney may use are: 

• Self-defense - North Carolina has a so-called “Stand Your Ground” law that allows citizens to exercise their legal right to defend themselves without having to first retreat. If you reasonably believed that lethal force was necessary to protect yourself or someone else from imminent bodily harm or death, especially if you are at home, in your car, or at work, the right to self-defense can be a powerful defense option. 
• Mistaken identity - If you have been confused with someone else and been wrongfully identified as the perpetrator of a murder, you will need to prove that you have an alibi or that the person identifying you is wrong. 
• Insanity - When someone’s mental state makes them unable to distinguish between right and wrong, understand the consequences of a crime, or plan ahead to commit the kind of crime they have been accused of (such as first-degree murder), insanity may be an appropriate defense. 
• Accidental death - People have been killed in tragic accidents, even by seemingly minor actions like playing a prank on a friend. If you had no criminal intent to cause someone else harm and are not guilty of criminal negligence, you may be able to avoid murder charges by claiming it was an accident. 

Call a Raleigh, North Carolina Murder Defense Attorney Now

If you or a loved one have been charged with any kind of murder or manslaughter, do not delay - get legal assistance right away from an aggressive, experienced Wake County homicide defense attorney with Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC. We fight passionately for our clients’ rights and have a proven track record of obtaining results in every area of our practice. Call us now at 919-533-7000 to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Hablamos Español.

Even with the best criminal defense attorney, it is not always possible to avoid convictions for crimes. An unfortunate feature of our criminal justice system is that a criminal record often makes someone continue to pay for their crimes, sometimes long after that person has paid back their debt to society. Worse, even being arrested for or charged with a crime without being convicted can have the same effect. If you have a criminal record and are wondering whether you can get it wiped clean, speak with a North Carolina criminal defense attorney with experience in record expungement. 

How Can I Get My Criminal Record Expunged? 

It is important to note that North Carolina law uses the term “expunction” rather than “expungement,” but that these terms mean exactly the same thing and can be used interchangeably. An expunction is the erasure of a criminal record by order of a judge. After a criminal record has been expunged, the person for whom it was expunged can honestly say that they have not committed that crime (with exceptions for certain immigration purposes). 

The criminal records that can generally be expunged in North Carolina include, but are not limited to: 

Under North Carolina law, any theft charge, no matter the value, is considered “larceny.” Charges of larceny, which fall under the criminal offense umbrella of property crimes, can range from misdemeanors to felonies. Convictions can result in stiff penalties such as community service, jail time, and hefty fines. One of the most troubling consequences of a conviction, however, is the subsequent criminal record, which can tarnish reputations and make securing employment difficult. 

Fortunately, there could be mitigating circumstances in your larceny case that reduce your chances of conviction. A criminal defense attorney can explain charges and possible penalties and help build an effective defense.

Two Types of Misdemeanor Larceny

Under the law of North Carolina, shoplifting or stealing merchandise from a retail store is divided into the following two categories.