Asheville, North Carolina, Criminal Defense Blog

Convictions for possession of illegal substances can carry serious, long-term consequences. Employers often take seriously the criminal records of candidates, and a drug possession charge, even for a small amount of marijuana, has the potential to jeopardize many future opportunities. While the National Football League continues to consider the inclusion of marijuana on its list of banned substances, for now, its possession is a crime in North Carolina.

Recently, defensive lineman T.Y. McGill was charged when alcohol enforcement agents claim to have seen him with marijuana outside his North Carolina hotel. After denying he was carrying marijuana, he is said to have eventually told agents he was in possession of the substance. He was apparently assessed a fine and also charged with misdemeanor possession.

A speeding ticket or other moving violation may seem like no big deal. You may even laugh about the number of citations you have gotten or brag about the times you just missed getting a ticket. If those tickets resulted in points on your license, you may be aware that, after a certain amount of time, the points disappear from your driving record.

On the other hand, those points can accumulate quickly, especially if you have a heavy foot. Before you know it, you may be facing the suspension of your driver's license. Currently, the only solution to a suspended license is to wait it out. However, a new law is making its way through the North Carolina legislature that may change that policy.

The new college semester is in full swing at many institutions across the country. Fall semester also means the start of football season, and fans of college football may have waited through a long summer to once again enjo...

Accidents on interstates happen every day in North Carolina. While some occur because of drivers engaging in illegal activities, many occur due to an unexpected change in road conditions or lack of familiarity with an area. Despite this, it is easy for police officers to assume that an accident was caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, for example. In fact, they believe that a recent crash on an interstate was the result of drunk driving.

The incident happened on a day in August. State troopers claim that the driver of a pickup truck lost control, causing the truck to crash. Another vehicle was ultimately involved in the accident as that driver reportedly attempted to avoid the accident.

Few would argue that the recent increase in heroin addiction and overdoses is alarming. Law enforcement agencies in North Carolina make a commendable effort to rid the streets of drugs that threaten the lives of many. However, despite the desperation of the drug epidemic across the country, police must still perform their duties within the confines of the law. These laws protect those suspected of involvement in the drug trade from illegal search and seizure.

The U.S. Constitution forbids police from entering the private home of a citizen without a valid warrant. Similarly, unless a person grants permission, officers may not search his or her car or body without a warrant. Search warrants are granted by judges who are convinced that probable cause exists, allowing police and investigators to enter a private home and look for specific evidence of illegal activity.

Parent sending their children off to college this month are likely reminding their dear ones to be safe on and off campus. Some North Carolina parents may be taking the extra step of providing weapons for self-protection. However, some school administrations are warning students that they may be risking weapons offenses by bringing certain items on campus.

North Carolina State University invited police officers to speak to students about what they may and may not have for personal protection. For example, stun guns are not permitted on many campuses throughout the state, although manufacturers of the devices are advertising sales aimed at college students. Additionally, while a student may not possess a gun, certain employees may be allowed to keep them in their cars or in on-campus housing.