CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Criminal offenses in North Carolina fall into two different categories: misdemeanors and felonies.
The District Courts have original jurisdiction on all misdemeanor charges. There are hundreds of different misdemeanor crimes and the list can sometimes seem endless but we typically see misdemeanor charges in the form of assaults with no injury, assault on a female, assault on a law enforcement officer, larceny of less than $1.000.00, possession of a small amount of marijuana or drug paraphernalia, trespassing, public disturbance, DWI, or the underage possession of alcohol.
Felonies originate in District Court and depending on the charge they may be disposed of in District Court or may be sent to the Grand Jury and bound over to Superior Court. Once a felony is moved to Superior Court motions for discovery must be filed and depending on the facts of each case additional motions may be filed for the suppression of evidence of the dismissal of charges.
The type of felony cases that we typically see usually fall into one of three categories:
First, property crimes like frauds, forgery, larceny, and obtaining property by false pretense; secondly, drug crimes like possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a car or house for the possession or distribution of drugs, possession with intent to sell drugs, drug trafficking; and the third and final category contains the most serious charges such as assaults with injury, robberies, sexual assaults and homicides.
Andy Sandman and Bill Finn are both Wake County former prosecutors. Their practice is concentrated in defending individuals charged with serious criminal offenses in Wake County. We have a deep understanding of the courthouse, the judges, clerks and the prosecutors. We know the elements that the state needs to prove in order to convict an individual, the proper defenses and the pitfalls that seem to be present every step of the way for both the state and the defendant.
If you are charged with a criminal offense in Wake County and you are looking for experienced, professional representation contact us at 919-845-5588. You will always speak to either Mr. Sandman or Mr. Finn and your case will never be handed off to an unseasoned associate.