The North Carolina police raid discovered a large amount of marijuana and Xanax pills. The pills are considered a controlled substance and illegally obtaining or distributing these pills is considered a crime and can result in drug charges. There was also an assortment of drug paraphernalia in the home.
]]> The approximate street value of the drugs was around $4,200. The police also confiscated around $1,400 in the raid. After the raid, both residents of the home were charged with both felony drug charges and a few misdemeanors per person.The felony drug charges include intent to sell or distribute, possession, and controlled substance charges. The misdemeanors include resisting address and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. There is no word if the police have any evidence against the two young people besides what was reportedly found in the home.
Despite the amount of drugs that were purportedly found in the home, the accused individuals are entitled to the same presumption of innocence that protects everyone accused of a crime in North Carolina.. There must be an overwhelming amount of evidence presented against them to be declared guilty. The defendants have the right to build a criminal defense and present evidence for their own benefit. Moreover, they have the right to challenge the admissibility of evidence offered against them, as well as to confront witnesses for the prosecution in the courtroom.
Source: The Pilot, "Pinebluff Residents Face Felony Drug Charges," April 24, 2013
]]>The driver was tailed by police after a concerned North Carolina citizen reported an erratic driver. The woman was swerving from lane to lane before she was pulled over by police. While it was not indicated what the results of the Breathalyzer test were, the driver was immediately arrested when she hit the police car on suspected DUI. At that point, there was sufficient evidence to bring a drunk driving charge.
]]> The woman facing the drunk driving charge denied being under the influence when approached by police. According to police, there was a strong smell of alcohol wafting from the car. They also noticed additional alcohol in the car when they stopped the driver.The police officer that was searching the vehicle was injured on his right side when the woman backed her vehicle into the police car. A North Carolina State Patrol officer will be completed the investigation of the scene. The drunk driving charge was filed immediately after she was taken into custody.
There is no indication if the driver has any previous criminal charges or a previous drunk driving charge. She will make a court appearance to answer for her charges and find out what the next step is this process. No matter her behavior behind the wheel, she is considered innocent of all charges until she is proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: clintonnc.com, "Woman facing drunk driving charge," Sherry Matthews, April 29, 2013
]]>There is no clear indication if the North Carolina drug charges were related to the accidental deaths of the two children in his backyard. The children were killed when a dirt wall collapsed as the man was working on a project on his property. As of now, the man has not been charged with anything directly related to the deaths of his daughter and nephew.
]]> In addition to the drug charges, the man is also facing weapon charges. Specifically, the police say they discovered six firearms in his home, including one semi-automatic rifle. He has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and manufacturing a controlled substance.Presumably, the variety of charges, in addition to the drug charges, that will ultimately be brought against this man are varied. Nevertheless, he certainly retains the same legal rights as any other citizen under the law. Despite the emotions that are likely accompanying any case that involves children, this man is still owed a fair and impartial legal process. One can only imagine the emotional turmoil the man is facing as a result of the tragedy.
Drug charges can carry a variety of punishments is a conviction is ultimately obtained. There is, however, a significant difference between an accusation of criminal conduct and a conviction before the court. When faced with such charges, an accused individual has every right to challenge the admissibility of any evidence that the government seeks to offer in support of the allegations. Unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, he remains innocent in the eyes of the law.
Source: upi.com, "Deaths of daughter, nephew lead to gun, drug charges for NC man," April 16, 2013
]]>In early April, police officers received a call from concerned neighbors about an incident that begin in the house of a 59-year-old man. Between the time the call was received and the arrival of police, neighbors reported hearing a gun shot inside the house. As police arrived, they say they noted a 29-year-old, the man's son, escaping the house through an open window.
]]> At this time, a stand-off ensued between the 59-year old and police. Over the course of an hour, people in neighboring houses were evacuated from the area before the man finally surrendered. Police allege that the man had been drinking.Today the man faces several charges from North Carolina authorities, including felony charges. Although the case against the man may look damaging, he still has not had a chance to defend himself or tell his version of events, and as in all cases, he is considered innocent unless prosecutors are ultimately able to prove his guilt. Even if he is guilty, there could be extenuating circumstances that led to the events and subsequent arrest. All families have conflict; some are simply more volatile than others. The man will be given an opportunity to respond to the suspected crimes in a court of law, and as always, the burden of proof rests solely with the government.
Source: myfox8.com, "Police: Intoxicated man fires gun in Winston-Salem home, prompts standoff," Ryan Sullivan, April 5, 2013
]]>In early April, an 18-year-old student was driving a sedan at night. In the car with her were three passengers: an 18-year-old, a 15-year old, and her young son. Just before midnight, the car crashed into a tree after the driver lost control of her vehicle.
]]> The 15-year-old was killed, and the 11-month old was severely injured. Both 18-year-olds, students at the same high school, had minor injuries. Upon release from the hospital, the young mother was arrested and charged with several crimes. These charges range from underage consumption of alcohol to manslaughter and child neglect.Situations such as this are clearly tragic. A young life was lost, and a small child was injured. However many charges, including a drunk driving charge, the Charlotte teenager faces, cooperation with authorities could go along way of reducing her sentence if a conviction is obtained, as well as showing her contrition over the apparently rash decisions that were made. If the allegations against the young woman are true, even without the sentence that a court of law might impose upon her, the knowledge that her actions possibly cost the life a friend and injured her baby will serve as a reminder of the dangers of drunk driving.
Source: CharlotteObserver.com, "Police charge student suspected of drinking alcohol in fatal wreck," Steve Lyttle, April 4, 2013
]]>For two days, residents in the area of their rental house noticed that the door was open. Concerned about the well-being of the occupants, they contacted the police. The police then entered the house to ensure the safety of any inhabitants. Once they entered, they discovered marijuana plants in the basement and one of the bedrooms. Caldwell County deputies returned with a warrant.
]]> A search of the house was said to have turned up drug-related items, including $250,000 worth of marijuana plants. In addition to the plants, North Carolina police say they discovered cash and other supplies used to grow the plants. The roommates face several charges related to the discoveries, including possession with intent to sell and manufacturing marijuana.The two college students certainly face an uncertain future thanks to the drug charges. Although they will be spending some time in a North Carolina courtroom, the debate regarding whether or not marijuana should continue to be an illegal substance continues in the United States. Since many people feel marijuana should be legalized, the students could find themselves with many supporters in their ensuing court battle. Nevertheless, the penalties that could come with a criminal conviction mandates that they work to protect their legal rights while fighting for optimal results.
Source: CharlotteObserver.com, "2 ASU students face marijuana-grow charges," Steve Lyttle, March 28, 2013
]]>In early March, a North Carolina woman from Charlotte pleaded guilty to charges that she defrauded the Medicare program of almost $5 million over the course of two years. To do so, she stole the identity of a therapist. She then billed Medicaid for procedures and care that was never given.
]]> Prosecutors say the woman and her conspirators were able to direct the reimbursements into personal bank accounts. The woman reported that she used the money to buy a luxury vehicle. Prosecutors also claim that her actions are detrimental to those who actually need Medicaid for medical care.The woman faces identify theft and money laundering charges in addition to the fraud charge. Although her sentencing hearing has not been scheduled at this time, the charges could result in up to 32 years in prison. The focus of the defense will now shift, and every effort will be made to convince the judge to consider mitigating circumstances while imposing a sentence. While her actions are regrettable, her cooperation with Charlotte authorities could paint her in a more favorable light with the judge and result in a shorter sentence than she might otherwise receive. Although she will still receive appropriate punishment for the charges she had pleaded guilty to, this type of cooperation could go a long way of easing her through the system.
Source: CharlotteObserver.com, "Charlotte woman pleads guilty to $4.8 million Medicaid fraud," Gary L. Wright, April 2, 2013
]]>When the man refused to give his address to emergency personnel at the hospital, officials of the hospital contacted deputies at the Currituck County Sheriff's Office. They told the authorities that a man with burns refused to give his address. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said that deputies later located and visited the man's home in Currituck, presumably for suspicion of drug offenses.
]]> At his home, deputies found the precursors to a meth lab along with drug paraphernalia. The spokesperson indicated that an arrest of the man on drug offenses is pending. Apparently, authorities did not identify any other individuals involved in suspect criminal activity.The details of how the authorities found the man's address haven't been revealed. There is also no identification of the so-called 'precursors' to a meth lab that were found. Presumably, the emphasis on precursors indicates that an actual meth lab was not operating. Once all of the shadows are uncloaked from this somewhat mysterious set of events, it may be that the drug charges are difficult to support. It's unknown what 'precursors' were picked up or whether they include items or substances prohibited by law.
A North Carolina arrest for drug charges is a serious event requiring the police to have sufficient evidence. Here, there were no witnesses or purchases of illegal substances. Even more critically, the entry into the man's home is questionable, at least based on the sparse facts reported. It seems doubtful, based on the reported facts, that there was probable cause to get a search warrant to enter the man's home simply because he had burns and didn't want to reveal his address. However, this is all currently speculative until the authorities actually make an arrest and issue further details.
Source: wavy.com, "Arrest pending in meth lab discovery," Mila Mimica, Mar. 25, 2013
]]>According to a recent report from North Carolina officials, the men were arrested after police say that they saw them and stopped the car in which they were travelling. They say that the men have committed property crimes against as many as two dozen local businesses. The alleged victims include nail and hair salons, pizza shops, small restaurants and dentist's offices. In addition, officials suspect the pair in additional property crime cases that have recently been across the state.
]]> Police from various agencies across the state allege that the men broke into businesses from the back door. Once inside the establishment, they took small amounts of cash. Often they only received $50 or $60 in a robbery. It is unclear if the pair always worked as a team or if others were involved in the alleged burglary cases.The men at the center of these property crime cases now face high bail amounts as they attempt to get released from custody. Regardless of whether the efforts to make bail are successful, the men must now work to present a complete defense against the criminal claims made against them. Like others in our state that face such charges, they may find it helpful to review all applicable laws to determine just how to fight the property crimes allegations made against the pair.
Source: NewsObserver.com, "Pair face dozens of charges in Cary business break-ins, attempts," Ron Gallagher, March 7, 2013
]]>Authorities described the operation as 'extravagant' and claimed the man had gutted out the walls of the trailer. They reportedly found over a dozen marijuana plants weighing almost eight pounds. The marijuana plants' street value ranged from $8,000 to $15,000, depending upon how the drug was packaged.
]]> The man was arrested at the site of the operation and faces several felony drug charges, including possession while intending to manufacture the drug, selling and delivery of the substance, manufacturing the drug and maintaining the dwelling for the substance. He also faces a single misdemeanor charge for possessing drug paraphernalia. The accused individual is currently at a local detention center with bond set at $25,000.If a conviction is obtained on any of the drug charges against him, it is possible he could face a lengthy jail term. As such, it would likely be in his best interests to begin mounting an aggressive defense against the charges. Fortunately, he is innocent until proven guilty in a North Carolina court of law. However, the man could be facing an uphill legal battle, making it extremely important that he understands his legal rights.
Source: wcnc.com, "Officials bust 'extravagant' marijuana grow op," Elizabeth Thomas, Feb. 28, 2013
]]>The accident occurred when the driver allegedly rear-ended a woman's vehicle at an intersection. The impact of the crash was severe enough to cause the woman's death. However, the accident also caused a secondary crash to occur, which resulted in injuries to the accused drunk driver and an additional person. Both were sent to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.
]]> The driver accused of causing the chain-reaction crash has been listed in fair condition, but there has been no word on the extent of his or the other surviving victim's injuries. A witness to the accident claims that he noticed a smoking truck and cars spread out across the scene. There were reports that the driver had been arrested hours before the crash for drug paraphernalia, but that has not been substantiated. There has been no word on what charges in addition to the DWI charge he may face. Authorities have not stated if toxicology samples were taken at the hospital.When a North Carolina resident faces a DWI charge, he or she should consider fighting the charge aggressively in order to protect themselves from a conviction. In the event that a conviction is obtained, there is a possibility of jail time, license suspension, stiff fines and higher auto insurance rates. It could also affect future employment prospects and even result in difficulty when a resident attempts to rent a home. Knowing one's legal rights and planning a strong defense strategy may assist those who have an uphill legal battle ahead of them.
Source: wsoctv.com, "Police: Driver who caused Brookshire fatal crash to be charged with DWI," Feb. 21, 2013
]]>The victim died at the scene. Two other passengers were taken to a local hospital, one of them suffering from serious injuries. The driver was arrested, and his bond was set at $53,500. However, authorities believe that the man may be an undocumented immigrant, a fact that would force him to stay in jail even if his bond was posted.
]]> Authorities believe that the man was driving drunk at the time of the crash, but they did acknowledge that there were patches of ice on the road. They have stated that they will take into account the road conditions and any other factors that contributed to the accident. It is unknown whether toxicology samples were obtained or a breathalyzer was performed.Inclement road conditions are a hazard to every Charlotte driver and can lead to a fatal crash. Although it appears that such conditions could have been a contributing factor in this accident, the accused man will likely need to consider mounting a strong criminal defense against the DWI charge. A DWI charge can affect someone's life detrimentally enough, but a conviction could result in heavy fines or even jail time. Despite that fact, each defendant should be considered innocent until and only if proven guilty by evidence presented at trial.
Source: CharlotteObserver.com, "Man charged with DWI in fatal crash on icy road," Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Feb. 18, 2013
]]>Authorities responded to a call at a home in Mooresville last March where the child was reportedly found dead. The circumstances surrounding the child's death have not been divulged. Authorities have released little information and have refused to state the child's cause of death.
]]> There is also no word on why it took authorities almost a year to arrest the parents. The couple moved out of the state since the death, but they are now currently undergoing the extradition process. Law enforcement in the state of South Carolina assisted the Mooresville Police with the arrests.No matter what type of criminal charges someone is facing, they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This couple will have the right to fight against these accusations in a North Carolina courtroom. Not only are they dealing with the loss of their child, they are now required to defend themselves against three felony criminal charges. Seeking assistance could help them navigate the process and assist them in mounting a strong and meaningful criminal defense.
Source: wcnc.com, "Parents charged in 2-year-old's death," Joe Marusak, Feb. 7, 2013
]]>How the man may have come under suspicion by authorities was not reported. Detectives searching the home reportedly found a hidden room containing mature marijuana plants and packages of dried marijuana that were ready for sale. Authorities say the accused man was selling the drugs within our state.
]]> The man was reportedly not selling the typical marijuana found on North Carolina streets. Instead, it is claimed that the marijuana he was marketing contained additional amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, the drug's primary intoxicant. This purportedly boosted the cost of the drug per gram by as much as $20.When a North Carolina resident faces drug charges, many factors come into play. The evidence is normally examined to ascertain whether the accused consented to any attendant search for drugs, whether authorities had a valid reason to search the residence in the first place and other scenarios. A conviction on these types of drug charges could result in significant jail time and serious penalties, making it important for the accused to understand their legal rights as they work to defend their legal rights and seek the most favorable outcome attainable.
Source: wcnc.com, "Iredell Sheriff: High-grade pot operation found in secret room," Feb. 4, 2013
]]>Complaints against the man appear to have triggered the investigation. Investigators claim the alleged assaults took place at the recruiting office and at the man's apartment. The man came into contact with the two while performing his duties as a recruiter.
]]> Investigators interviewed the man at his apartment. He has since been charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment. Additional charges include sexual servitude, threatening the alleged victims and attempted rape. The charges include both felonies and misdemeanors.Military recruiters are placed in a position of trust within North Carolina communities and often work odd hours to meet the demands of the job, potentially placing them in circumstances where accusations of this nature can arise. Nevertheless, he is entitled to the same legal protections that apply to all individuals accused of a crime in our state, including the legal presumption of innocence. The prosecution is now charged with the responsibility of proving the criminal charges in a courtroom by a stringent measure of proof, without which no conviction can be achieved. The recruiter will have the opportunity to defend himself as he seeks to salvage his freedom, his reputation and his military career. If a conviction is returned, he could very well serve jail time and suffer additional consequences if he is also convicted by a military court.
Source: wsoctv.com, "Marine recruiter arrested after allegations of sexual assault," Jan. 26, 2013
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