Learn about our areas of experties involving state crimes, and better understand your rights.
Learn about our areas of experties involving state crimes, and better understand your rights.
If you are accused of a crime, the only thing standing between your freedom and a verdict of "guilty" is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Bloomingdale, GA.
Those who have been arrested before know that life in the legal system is no laughing matter. Aside from the imminent ramifications of fines and jail time, any goals you have of bettering yourself and advancing your life could be compromised. Without a trusted attorney by your side, you could face a lifetime of embarrassment and poor employment prospects due to a tarnished criminal record.
The good news? Dennis O'Brien and his team of experienced lawyers in Bloomingdale are ready to clear your name. By retaining the help of a criminal defense attorney early in the legal process, you have a much better chance of securing your freedom and living a life as a productive member of society.
At O'Brien Law Firm PC, our practice was founded to fight for the rights of individuals accused of or charged with a crime. Our team of legal experts is well-equipped to take even the most difficult, contentious cases. From violent felonies to DUI, there is nothing we haven't seen and handled. As a former law enforcement officer, founding attorney Dennis O'Brien knows exactly how much a person can lose if convicted. That's why we work tirelessly to secure a verdict that is favorable for our clients.
Regardless of how serious or minor your case may be, know that we will fight fearlessly on your behalf. You deserve zealous representation - when you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC, you will receive nothing less.
Many of our clients are surprised to discover that founding lawyer Dennis O'Brien was a police officer prior to his criminal defense career. As a former Field Training Officer for the Memphis Police Department, he has over two decades of knowledge and experience in the criminal justice system. Dennis truly understands the nuance and complexities involved in a criminal defense case. This rare experience gives Dennis a clear edge in any criminal defense case and gives clients priceless peace of mind when they need it the most. Unlike some criminal defense attorneys in Bloomingdale, Dennis O'Brien and his team believe that every client deserves effective, empathetic legal assistance. While some Bloomingdale criminal defense firms will take weekends off or pass along cases to paralegals, Dennis personally reviews each of his cases. There is no case too small or big for O'Brien Law Firm PC. When you hire our firm, you can rest easy knowing that we will be by your side when the going gets tough.
When you are charged with a drug crime in Bloomingdale, it can change your life forever. Georgia imposes very strict punishments for drug offenses. The truth is, it's hard to get your life back on track with a drug charge on your record. Your freedom and way of life could be in the hands of your criminal defense attorney. As such, you need a competent lawyer with years of experience handling drug cases. Leaving your fate in the hands of an incompetent attorney could have long-lasting effects on your family and may result in a conviction.
While the consequences for a drug crime in Georgia are serious, there's reason to be hopeful: O'Brien Law Firm PC is here to fight for you. Remember - being charged with a drug crime is NOT the same thing as being convicted.
Our stellar team has represented many clients facing numerous drug-related charges. While each situation varies, one constant remains the same for clients facing drug charges: a fear of what lies ahead. At O'Brien Law Firm PC our job is to help you overcome the fear of the unknown. We do so by ensuring you understand your charges, the possible outcomes associated with those charges, and the options you need to consider from a criminal defense standpoint.
No matter what charge you are facing, our team has the experience and resources to build a comprehensive defense strategy for your drug case in Bloomingdale, GA. Without a criminal defense attorney acting as your advocate, you could be facing very harsh penalties. Here are a few punishments you could be facing for drug crimes in Bloomingdale:
Having less than a gram (or one milliliter for liquids) of this type of drug results in a prison term of one to three years. Having four grams or milliliter carries a term of one to eight years.
Any substance on this list is punishable by a prison sentence of one to three years.
If you have less than two grams or milliliters of this substance, punishments can be between one year and three years. Having up to four grams or milliliters results in a prison sentence of one to eight years.
Those who are in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana are subject to a jail sentence of up to 12 months. Fines may be no more than $1,000. Possession of more than an ounce of marijuana can result in a prison term of one to 10 years.
To avoid these life-changing punishments, you must take action now. Contact O'Brien Law Firm today for a consultation about your case.
Contact Me!Violent crime offenses in Bloomingdale typically involve some form of bodily harm to another individual, actions committed against an individual's will, or threatening someone with bodily harm. Aggravated violent offenses are more severe charges and often occur when a violent crime is made more serious due to circumstances like deadly weapons.
Much like serious drug cases, violent crimes create an added layer of negativity that follows the accused for the rest of their life. In these cases, even an accusation is enough to cause irreparable damage to a person's reputation. Those convicted of a violent crime face severe penalties that can include years in a correctional facility.
When you are accused of any of the above crimes, your freedom hangs in the balance. The outcome of your case will determine whether you leave the courtroom with your freedom intact or stripped away to serve time behind bars. Because the punishments for violent crimes are so extreme, you should be seeking legal counsel from a criminal defense attorney in Bloomingdale, GA, as soon as possible. As a former police officer with a long record of positive verdicts in violent crime cases, Dennis O'Brien is well equipped to represent you in court.
Having a criminal defense lawyer by your side is the best way to avoid the serious punishments associated with violent crimes. These punishments usually result in prison time if convicted and include: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Forced rape: | 20 years | |||
Armed robbery: | Up to 20 years | |||
Simple assault: | Up to 12 months | |||
Aggravated assault: | 10 to 20 years | |||
Aggravated battery: | Up to 20 years | |||
Involuntary manslaughter: | One to 20 years | |||
Vehicular homicide | Up to 15 years | |||
Murder: | Life in prison or the death sentence |
As a former police officer, Dennis O'Brien has seen the toll it takes on a person when charged with a crime. His time in law enforcement allows him to empathize with his clients who desperately need competent representation. Despite being innocent until proven guilty, accusations are scary, and conviction could be a reality. That is why you must work with a trustworthy criminal defense lawyer in Bloomingdale, GA who will work tirelessly to clear your name.
Clients choose O'Brien Law Firm because we believe in open communication, honesty, and hard work. It is not our job to act as judges for those who have been accused of crimes. Rather, our goal is to find the best defense that allows us to protect our clients' rights and freedoms.
Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common crimes committed in Georgia. Punishments for such a crime can be severe, and for understandable reasons - when a person operates a vehicle while they are intoxicated, they're putting their life and the lives of others at risk.
While DUI is a serious crime that completely upend the accused's life, the earnest desire to end drunk driving can make police officers too eager to catch a person who they believe is under the influence.
The city of Bloomingdale, Georgia, has implemented severe punishments for DUI, even for first-time offenders. Individuals charged with DUI in Bloomingdale could face:
Fortunately, if you or someone you love has been charged with DUI, there is hope. This is particularly true when the accused is administered a breath or blood test for DUI. In fact, cases that involve a breath and/or blood test are beaten daily. When you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC, we will dive deep into your DUI case in Bloomingdale and examine every angle possible for your case to be dismissed. Here are just a few questions our team will investigate:
There are numerous ways to beat a DUI case in Georgia, from unreliable field sobriety tests to inaccurate state-administered breath tests. As a veteran criminal defense lawyer in Bloomingdale, GA, Dennis O'Brien has the knowledge and experience to expose the state's mistakes and fight for your rights. When you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC your chances of dismissal are greatly increased. When your case is dismissed, you can continue living life without the burden of a criminal record.
If you or someone you love is accused of a crime in Bloomingdale, GA, don't leave fate up to the prosecution. Take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family before it's too late.
Contact usBLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (WTOC) - Some residents and drivers in Bloomingdale are concerned about a particular intersection right off of I-16 and say it could become a big safety hazard in a matter of weeks.They’re concerned about a few things... the main one being a new Quick Trip opening here next month. They’re afraid it’s going to attract more traffic than the area can handle.They’re asking the state to step in and make some changes.“We are trying to get ahead of the opening of the Quick Trip,&r...
BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (WTOC) - Some residents and drivers in Bloomingdale are concerned about a particular intersection right off of I-16 and say it could become a big safety hazard in a matter of weeks.
They’re concerned about a few things... the main one being a new Quick Trip opening here next month. They’re afraid it’s going to attract more traffic than the area can handle.
They’re asking the state to step in and make some changes.
“We are trying to get ahead of the opening of the Quick Trip,” said Amanda Wilson.
Amanda Wilson is the co-founder of the greater Bloomingdale neighborhood alliance and had led this army of red in charge to get some type of traffic relief.
“We are asking you to please fix the infrastructure before the QT opens and before new developments are approved.”
Bloomingdale is a small town that will soon reap the benefits of the growth felt by many of the surrounding counties in the upcoming years.
They fear the infrastructure in place right now can’t handle this new wave of traffic.
“We have a lot of new business coming in there and we are very excited about that we are very excited, we might be getting a new grocery store and all kinds of new things but we are concerned that the infrastructure is not in place.”
However, Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis entered the meeting is news the alliance was hoping for.
“Help is coming,” said Chairman Ellis.
But word on what help is, isn’t quite out yet.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has recently finished up a survey in the Coastal Empire to find places that could be affected by this upcoming growth and this road has come up.
“I can tell you that this road, that you are talking about has come to GDOTs attention,” said Chairman Ellis.
GDOT officials will be coming to Chatham County on September 6th to talk about some of these concerns.
And just like that, it feels like sunshine through the sunroof…
“I feel like we are finally being heard,” said Wilson.
Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.
BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. —It’s time once again for one of the favorite events for the town of Bloomingdale.The Ottawa Farms Rodeo will bring its family entertainment to town this weekend, and there’s more to the event than just competition.“Where else in America can you take your grandparents and your kids and everybody enjoy the show," Justin Thigpen, organizer of Ottawa Farms Rodeo, said. "They don’t like the same movie and same concert, but you can get them all under o...
BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. —
It’s time once again for one of the favorite events for the town of Bloomingdale.
The Ottawa Farms Rodeo will bring its family entertainment to town this weekend, and there’s more to the event than just competition.
“Where else in America can you take your grandparents and your kids and everybody enjoy the show," Justin Thigpen, organizer of Ottawa Farms Rodeo, said. "They don’t like the same movie and same concert, but you can get them all under one stop at the rodeo.”
And perhaps that is why the Ottawa Farms Rodeo resonates so well with the folks in Bloomingdale. The event returning Friday and Saturday night with plenty of family activities.
“There’s going to be a mechanical bull," Thigpen said. "Everybody wants to be a bull rider, so they can try their luck. There’s going to be rodeo novelties, belts, boots, hats, bouncy houses for the kids, and a chance to meet and greet and rub elbows with the cowboys and cowgirls before it ever starts.”
And once the action does start, it will be the usual rodeo elements, all while competing for a championship.
“This is the Southeastern Regionals Tour finale, so you’re looking at the best of the best," Thigpen said. "They’re competing for championships as well as prize money and dollars to earn themselves a spot to the international professional rodeo association.”
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Not only will the Ottawa Farms Rodeo be providing plenty of fun and excitement for the entire family it will also be helping a charity as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Pegasus Riding Academy, which provides therapeutic horseback riding for those with physical, emotional and developmental challenges.
“It’s for a great cause," Thigpen said. "They need the support to get to travel to their different events that they go to, and we’re just glad to be in partnership with them.”
The Ottawa Farms Rodeo will take place Friday night, Sept. 29, and Saturday night, Sept. 30, at Ottawa Farms in Bloomingdale.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with events starting at 7:30 p.m.
You can purchase tickets here.
At the end of the current school year, the Bloomingdale Elementary School building will be demolished to make way for a completely new school facility, according to the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS).Students and staff will relocate to a “swing site” during demolition and construction, which is slated to begin in September 2023 and finish July 2025. An exact location for the swin...
At the end of the current school year, the Bloomingdale Elementary School building will be demolished to make way for a completely new school facility, according to the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS).
Students and staff will relocate to a “swing site” during demolition and construction, which is slated to begin in September 2023 and finish July 2025. An exact location for the swing site has yet to be determined, according to district officials, but students will remain together and not be split up into different schools.
The school district will host a District 7 Town Hall meeting Nov. 17 at the Bloomingdale Elementary School at 6:30 p.m., where officials will provide additional information.
More:Bloomingdale has a new growth plan. What does this mean for future development in the city?
Bloomingdale Elementary, which serves about 380 pre-k through fifth grade students, is located at 101 East Main Street, just south of U.S. 80. The new school facility will be built on the same site.
The current elementary school building is about 60 years old and is in need of upgrades, according to the district’s project executive, Slade Helmly.
Critical systems have exceeded their useful system life, said Helmly. That includes the HVAC, electrical, fire protection, plumbing, architecture and technological infrastructure.
“You can imagine a school from 60 years ago needs big upgrades,” said Helmly, “It makes more sense to build new than renovate existing.”
Bloomingdale Elementary school was originally slated for renovations as part of ESPLOST IV plans. ESPLOST is a penny sales tax on goods and services purchased within the county that is used to fund capital improvement projects for the county school district. Extended through a voter referendum every five years, ESPLOST has generated more than $1 billion for public schools since its inception in 2006.
Original plans to repair Bloomingdale Elementary shifted when total costs for renovations exceeded 50% of costs to build a replacement facility, said SCCPSS spokesperson Sheila Blanco. At that rate, it would be more cost-effective to build an entirely new facility, said Blanco.
The exact cost for the new school building isn’t finalized, but Helmly puts construction for new facilities generally around $25 to $30 million. White Bluff Elementary, which was completed July of 2020 and serves about 650 students, cost $22.6 million to construct.
At the Oct. 5 school board meeting, district officials approved transferring $28,705,000 from various ESPLOST IV accounts – specifically Pooler Elementary School and Bloomingdale Elementary School renovation accounts – to a new school replacement account. Construction for the replacement school will come entirely from ESPLOST funds.
As the project is still in its early stages, specific design plans have not been drawn up yet. According to the program schedule, the project is still in its programming phase, which will be followed by schematic development and design development in February 2023.
Once the baseline spaces have been established according to Georgia Department of Education standards, community meetings to solicit input from staff and community members and stakeholders will begin, said Helmly.
Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.
Bloomingdale City Council approved the first phase of a 4.5 million square foot warehouse project known as the Ottawa Farms Tracts during last Thursday’s council meeting. The large-scale, long-term project anticipates the building of nine warehouses on more than 400 acres of land over the cours...
Bloomingdale City Council approved the first phase of a 4.5 million square foot warehouse project known as the Ottawa Farms Tracts during last Thursday’s council meeting. The large-scale, long-term project anticipates the building of nine warehouses on more than 400 acres of land over the course of the next decade.
McCraney Property Company, a Florida-based company that develops and manages commercial/industrial, office/flex, office and warehouse distribution properties, is the developer for the project. McCraney received approval for tract A, the first warehouse building comprising about 33 acres, located off of Bloomingdale Road and adjacent to the city’s main visitor attraction, the Ottawa Farms.
Story continues below.
The warehouse project stirred controversy in the small and quiet residential town when Ottawa Farms' owner, Pete Waller, requested that a significant portion of his agricultural land be rezoned to light industrial in 2019.
Previously:Industrial development proposed for Ottawa Farms site
The six-person council was evenly split on the rezoning decision, with then-mayor Ben Rozier breaking the tie with a yes vote. In a previous interview, Rozier told the Savannah Morning News that Waller had talked about possibly deannexing and incorporating his land into the neighboring city of Pooler if Bloomingdale did not approve the rezoning,
'It's in your blood': Ottawa Farms' Pete Waller reminisces on decades of farming in Chatham
Ottawa Farms encompasses nearly 800 acres of land south of residential neighborhoods near U.S. 80. About 150 acres will remain agricultural, according to previous interviews with Waller. The third-generation farmer recognizes residents’ desire to preserve the last-remaining farm in Chatham County, but he said the math is no longer there to maintain farmland in this region.
Skyrocketing property taxes have rendered the agricultural business unfeasible. To keep the land in his name, Waller is renting, not selling, the parcels to the warehouse business.
Before:Bloomingdale council: City 'not open for business' for warehouse, apartment development
Residents and city officials across western Chatham County are resisting the pressures of industrialization as the rapid growth of the Port of Savannah continues to bolster the logistics and manufacturing industries.
In January, Bloomingdale's council unanimously approved an eight-month moratorium on applications for industrial and multi-family developments while the city assesses its infrastructure capacity and ensures current land use falls in line with the city’s comprehensive plan.
Also:A second West Chatham city freezes industrial development. Why growth trends are troubling
More recently, Garden City followed suit by imposing its own moratorium on industrial rezoning applications, citing a need to increase residential builds in the industrial and commercial-heavy municipality.
Goals outlined in Bloomingdale’s 2021 comprehensive plan include preserving the small city charm by discouraging heavy industry and large, multifamily, high-density developments such as apartments, which would strain the city’s limited infrastructure capacity.
However, with the warehouse park in tow, city officials hope the project can be a financial windfall to the city of 2,800. Attracting light industrial and the jobs that come with it is also part of Bloomingdale’s long-term goals to sustaining the municipality's economy.
According to previous reporting from the Savannah Morning News, the $300 million investment would create upwards of 1,000 new jobs in a city with 300 to 500 jobs.
Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.
Two Savannah elected officials join in the fight, speaking out against the change. Infinite Scroll Enabled GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTSThe latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.Your Email AddressPrivacy Notice BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. —Neighbors in Bloomingdale, and two elected officials from Savannah, are furious over possible rezoning and a ...
Two Savannah elected officials join in the fight, speaking out against the change.
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BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. —
Neighbors in Bloomingdale, and two elected officials from Savannah, are furious over possible rezoning and a lack of communication.
“The way that this has been handled, it is unacceptable. It's unacceptable,” said neighbor Garnasia Bogus.
The area ... between John Carter Road, Old River Road, Little Neck Road and I-16 is currently zoned for industrial-light use, which means it's built for warehouses.
Next week, Savannah's Economic Development Authority will request the land be rezoned to industrial-heavy use. That means almost anything could go there.
“We have stood up time and again about rezoning issues, poor public notification. You see this sign in the woods, that's one example,” said resident Carrie Bieber.
That legally-required public notice sign sits far away from the access road, barely in view. Its placement even has Chatham County Commissioner Aaron Whitely baffled.
“I was tremendously appalled to come and see where the sign placement for the public meeting for this development, that is behind us, where it was,” Whitely said.
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Neighbors are concerned, too, about the impacts this rezoning could bring. Noise, heavy traffic and bright lights at night, just to name a few.
“Our community has been under constant threat and this is our way of dealing with it,” neighbor Cheryl Sanderlin said.
The residents tell me they'll be out in full force at the May 24 meeting of the planning commission.
“We'll fight,” said Anne Horn. “We the people of this area will fight. We'll show up and show out.”
The area facing rezoning is currently neighbored by two other pieces of land zoned for industrial-heavy use.
WJCL reached out to the Metro Planning Commission to ask why the sign was placed where it was and the ultimate plan for the land. So far, we haven’t received a response.