Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” The term “riot” is a sensitive one in many cities across the nation these days, including in the Queen City. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested at least 72 people over the six (6) days of…
Articles Posted in Criminal Defense
Could Trump Throw Hillary In Jail?
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Should I ever plead guilty to a charge?” For those following the 2016 election, it’s been a very interesting past year or so, to say the least. No one could have predicted many of the headline-grabbing events that have occurred, including…
New DWI Deadlines: One May Help Defendants, the Other Helps…Court Scheduling?
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What steps should I be taking outside legal guidance to help my DWI case?” Two (2) new deadlines for DWI trials in North Carolina took effect at the beginning of this month, and it’s a mixed bag for defendants. One of…
Understanding No Contest and Alford Pleas
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Should I ever plead guilty to a charge?” Everyone knows that you have the right to plead “not guilty” to criminal charges filed against you. Meanwhile, “guilty” pleas are usually used when a person is taking a plea bargain in exchange…
Can you go to jail for environmental crimes?
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question:”What is an expungement?” The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently announced that people responsible for serious environmental crimes could be prosecuted by the court. The announcement represents a shift for the ICC, which has long focused on prosecuting…
North Carolina Man Charged In False Clown Sighting Incident
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What should parents tell their children to do when interacting with police officers?” If you’ve been following the news closely you’ve likely seen articles about a recent rash of clown sightings. The stories have popped up everywhere, in North Carolina, Minnesota,…
New “Blue Lives Matter” Law Taken For A Spin in Louisiana
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Should I talk to the police?” There’s been a recent push by legislatures in some states to pass what are known as “Blue Lives Matter” laws. This broad category refers to measures intended to stiffen penalties faced by offenders who perpetrate…
Attorneys Permanently Disbarred for Setting Up Opposing Counsel for DUI Mid-Trial
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Is there more than one way for police to charge a person with DWI?” The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled to permanently disbar two Tampa civil attorneys for one of the most movie-plot-level setups the Court said it had ever seen:…
Pokémon Go: Helping, and Annoying, Police Since 2016
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Am I allowed to videotape an interaction with police? Can they make me stop filming?” Whether you’re an avid catcher of Pikachus or are convinced the era of technology taking over is upon us, you’ve no doubt noticed Pokémon’s rather public…
Criminal Law and the Ryan Lochte Mess
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “How is getting charged with a crime on a college campus different from being charged off campus?” Anyone with access to the internet has likely heard about the mess Ryan Lochte and his fellow American Olympic swimmers recently got themselves into…