Harris County, GA forfeiture law firm

The procedure in which forfeiture will be effected, and whether the proceedings are "criminal" or "civil" in nature, will vary significantly from state to state. It is generally advisable to take help from an experienced Harris County, GA forfeiture law firm, if you are facing any kind of forfeiture proceding. Criminal forfeiture takes place when, after the owner is convicted of a criminal offense, and when forfeiture is allowed under the rules of the jurisdiction, it is demonstrated that the property has a sufficient connection to the criminal offense to justify depriving you of the property rights. For instance, the jurisdiction can have a law which provides the court the right to forfeit your vehicle, if you are convicted of drunk driving. The prosecutor's office can request forfeiture of the property including your business or home if you are convicted of certain offenses, including drug trafficking or racketeering. Civil forfeiture is very much like criminal forfeiture in many ways. But, while criminal forfeiture imposes an additional penalty upon the property’s owner for his wrongful conduct, a civil forfeiture action is brought against the property itself. For criminal forfeiture to start, the property’s owner ought to be convicted of a crime, whereas civil forfeiture may occur even if the owner is acquitted.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com

Harris County, GA drug defense law firm

Under Georgia law when a police officer finds that you have illegal drugs, you will be charged with drug possession even if you weren’t actually holding the drugs in your hand. You will be considered to be the owner of drugs found in your pockets or clothing, car or home, or any place over which you exercise control. When an officer finds drugs in your briefcase or purse, you will be considered in possession of those drugs. You may also be charged with drug possession if police find the materials to make a drug or the equipment to use it. When you are found with a certain amount of drugs or you are caught selling drugs or when an officer finds you with a scale, or even wads of cash in certain circumstances, you will be charged with possession of drugs with intent to distribute. It is a much more serious charge than mere drug possession. You must immediately contact a seasoned Harris County, GA drug defense law firm. The amount of drugs required for this charge depends on the drug involved. If you are caught trying to sell drugs to minors, the penalties are more tough.

Whereas a DUI offense involving drugs can be prosecuted by the State even if the drugs are prescribed by a physician, special rules apply to DUI-contraband cases. These charges involve illegal substances such as marijuana, cocaine, heroine, etc. in the driver’s blood system. The DUI offense in Harris County, GA is based upon driving while having an unlawful substance in the blood system. Although this issue is currently on appeal, the prosecutor is not presently required to prove impairment because of the illegal contraband drugs in your system. Mere proof of the presence of a contraband substance or its "metabolites" is sufficient to result in a conviction. However, recent case law (Love v. State) holds that if a person has marijuana present in his/her system, the State should establish that the individual was rendered incapable of driving safely as a result of using the marijuana.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com

Harris County, GA Marijuana law firm

Marijuana possession in Harris County, GA with intent to distribute charge attracts some especially harsh penalties. This felony offense includes jail term and also fines beginning in the thousands. If you have a large amount of drugs, you may be slapped with this offense even if you had no intention of distributing the drug. In these instances, intent depends on the quantity of the drug in your possession. If you're found with marijuana, you will charged a heavy fine and/or go to jail. If you are caught more than once, or when appears as if you're going to sell the drug, the punishment is tougher. The severity of the penalty varies based on several factors:
• Quantity - Penalties vary based on the amount of marijuana recovered from the person's possession.
• Selling - Penalties are much severe for those intending to sell.
• Growing - Penalties are much severe for those cultivating cannabis.
• Location - A person caught selling marijuana near a school will generally face severe penalties.
The legal consequences are probably far more severe than you’ve ever imagined. When you’ve charged with a marijuana related offense, it is important that you choose a seasoned Harris County, GA marijuana defense law firm to defend the marijuana charges against you.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com

Harris County, GA drug law firm

Marijuana laws are different in every state. It is important to understand the subtle differences. Buying, selling, using or growing marijuana is illegal in every part of the United States. Penalties differ from state to state, however typically consist of prison term, a fine or both. Besides the misdemeanor DUI-contraband penalties, Georgia law has other more punitive statutes for possession of drugs when marijuana or other drugs are found in a vehicle or someone’s pocket. A "possession" offense may be committed by a person driving a car, or by a person not operating a car. Your driver’s license can be suspended upon a guilty plea or a conviction for possession of drugs, although you were not driving when at the time of arrest. This law has been upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court after an appeal on challenges to its constitutionality.

Harris County, GA has strict drug laws. If convicted, you may face long jail temrs and significant fines. If you are charged with a drug crime, contact a seasoned Harris County, GA drug law firm. In Georgia if a police officer finds that you have illegal drugs, you will be charged with drug possession even if you weren’t actually holding the drugs in your hand. You will be considered to be the owner of drugs found in your pockets or clothing, car or home, or any place over which you have control.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com

Harris County, GA murder and homicide law firm

State and federal laws about homicide and murder are the most complicated of all criminal laws. Do not attempt to defend a murder or homicide charge by yourself. Before you hire a Harris County, GA murder and homicide law firm, request for references. Request to be provided with a copy of the attorney’s retainer agreement and have it explained to you before you decide on retaining the lawyer or the attorney’s law firm. A Harris County, GA murder and homicide law firm will want to know who you are and how you can be contacted. The Harris County, GA law firm can also ask for a personal and business background and any information relevant to your case. The classifications of homicidal and murder offenses are complex but are often divided into a handful of categories based on severity. There are a few types of homicide, or murder, which are defined by law. First degree murder is the premeditated, deliberate, and/or malicious act of willfully causing the death of another person. First degree murder is often referred to as "cold-blooded" murder because it is calculated and committed willfully with the intention to kill or do serious harm. Murder in the second degree refes to the crime of murdering in "the heat of passion" that can involve cases where a person acts during a period of intense fear, rage, anger, terror, or fear. This type of murder is generally treated as voluntary manslaughter. This type of murder can also occur if death results in the commission of another criminal act. A homicide by vehicle is considered as first degree if the driver:
(1) illegally met or overtook a school bus;(2) unlawfully did not stop after a collision;(3) was driving recklessly;(4) was driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;(5) failed to stop for, or otherwise was trying to flee from a law enforcement officer, or (6) had been declared a habitual violator in the past.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com

Harris County, GA Arson Law firm

Arson is a serious charge that generally doesn't involve being let off with a warning. A seasoned Harris County, GA arson law firm can help you if you are charged with arson. The penalties can be severe, but a seasoned arson law firm can get you the best possible results. A person helping with the crime is generally charged with arson rather than being an accomplice to the crime. Putting gasoline on the floor of a building or possessing firebombs might be offenses related to arson under some state laws. Arson that involves damage to federal property is almost always prosecuted in federal court, and also anything involving interstate or foreign transport. The elements of arson are lighting a fire that reaches a structure and, in turn, burns down said structure. Arson law also treats explosions as burnings. The police and firefighters determine the factors to be considered for arson like the type of structure and amount of damage. Arson is a crime of general intent meaning that arson was committed "willfully and maliciously." All that’s required for an arson charge is evidence that the individual intentionally started the fire.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com

Harris County, GA criminal appeal law firm

If arrested in Harris County, GA, your first court appearance is at the arraignment. During arraignment, the judge will read out the charges filed against you in the complaint and you have to plead "guilty," "not guilty" or "no contest" to those charges. The judge will also review your bail and set dates for further hearings. A preliminary hearing, or preliminary examination, is an adversarial hearing in which lawyers examine witnesses and both parties make arguments. The judge then makes the ultimate finding of probable cause. In a grand jury, the jury hears only from the prosecutor. The grand jury can call their own witnesses and ask that further investigations be done. The grand jury then determines whether enough evidence has been presented to indict the defendant. On conviction, you usually have the right to appeal. A seasoned Harris County, GA criminal appeal law firm will request the higher court to overrule the trial court’s decision due to legal or procedural mistakes. The judges on appeal are looking for mistakes which may have changed the verdict. In a appeal, you submit written "briefs" to the appellate court, together with a copy of the trial court transcript and any exhibits that were produced at trial. Oral arguments can be scheduled. Arguments are typically very short in duration, and tend to be academic in nature, discussing legal issues. In an appeal, the higher court looks for errors in the decision of the trial court. If the higher court finds mistakes in the trial court’s decision, the appeal court can order a re-trial or set aside the conviction.

-------------------------Columbus GA DUI Lawyer | Fort Benning Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney. www.columbus-dui-defense.com