A lot of folks in Georgia and around the U.S will openly admit that they don’t like lawyers. It’s a pretty common theme amongst most people. But what is worse than finding out that the lawyer that you put your trust in (even if you didn’t like him or her) isn’t as great at their job as they said that they were?
It’s a horrible feeling to realize that your lawyer isn’t up to par, but if you take to heart some of the following tips, you can avoid that feeling altogether.
Do Your Homework – This of it like this: if you just moved to a new city, and you knew that your car needed some body work, wouldn’t you ask around and do some research to find the most trusted body shop with the best prices?
Finding the right criminal defense lawyer in Savannah or Atlanta is similar, in that you should do your due diligence and find the right lawyer for you. If you are facing a criminal charge, the result of your case is one that you will have to live with for the rest of your life, so take the time to make sure that you choose a great criminal defense lawyer. Searching the phone directory is just the first step.
Experience Matters – It might be hard for a lot of people to believe, but there are a lot of lawyers in this world who have never tried a case in the entire span of their career. One of the first questions you should ask your lawyer is how many trials he or she has had. Also consider asking:
• Were the cases that you been involved in civil or criminal cases?
• Were the cases in front of a jury or a judge?
• How many cases did you win last year?
• How many cases have you won this year?
Specialized Case=Specialized Lawyer – It is a good rule of thumb to not hire a general practitioner to do a specialized job. Most criminal defense cases are very in-depth and contain many nuances and intricacies that only a seasoned attorney like Dennis O’Brien can navigate through.
If time is of the essence in your case and you do not have enough time to search for a proper criminal defense lawyer, Dennis O’Brien can help. With years of experience as a lawyer as well as a police officer, O’Brien Law Firm PC brings a unique set of skills and understanding to the table that other lawyers cannot. Contact us today for your free initial consultation.
In the state of Georgia, the community and more importantly law enforcement agencies take criminal charges involving the abuse and exploitation of children very, very seriously. Indeed, law enforcement may consider it one of the worst crimes an individual can commit.
Those who are accused and subsequently prosecuted for production, possession or distribution of materials that contain child pornography are certain to face severe consequences – consequences that will most likely stay with them for the rest of their life – and change the way that they are perceived by people in society and employers in the workforce. That is why it is so important that these individuals contact a sex offender criminal defense attorney as soon as possible, to help navigate them through their case proceedings.
According to the law in the state of Georgia, it is illegal to knowingly advertise, distribute, create or possess any sexually explicit material that contains images of children under the age of 18. The laws in Georgia and many other states were constructed so that anyone who has interaction with these materials knowingly, or has direct or indirect involvement with such materials is exploiting children, and can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
If an individual unwittingly discovers these materials, however, they are able to file a report to the state of Georgia or to their local authorities and may be exempt from prosecution, so long as that individual does so quickly and in good faith.
Violating Georgia’s laws in regards to child pornography carries with it a sentence of between five to 20 years in prison, as well as a fine costing as much as $100,000. Most sex offenders must register with several databases, and inform their neighbors about the fact that they are sexual predators.
All sex offenders in the state of Georgia will face a hard battle in court, but especially those who have been charged with crimes against minors. If you or somebody that you know have been accused of such crimes, contact the O’Brien Law Firm PC immediately. Dennis O’Brien is not a judge; his job is to simply make sure that you are protected under Georgia law.
Some of the most common cases that the Courts in the State of Georgia hear are cases involving the possession of marijuana. The penalty for such a charge, as is the case with most misdemeanors, is imprisonment for up to 12 months in jail, in addition to a fine up to $1,000. While most people are concerned about the potential for jail time in a marijuana possession case, a significant number of those who are charged are more worried about having their license suspended. Having a suspended license is not only a hassle, it can bring about serious problems if you or somebody you know relies on their car to make ends meet, or is caught driving on a suspended license.
Below is a table of the penalties involving possession of marijuana and license suspensions.
| Conviction Nolo | Contendere Available? | License Suspension Limited Permit Available? | Requirements for Reinstatement |
| 1st Conviction in 5 Years | Yes If the Court accepts a plea of Nolo Contendere, a suspension of 180 days will be implemented. | No | Defendant must complete a DUI Alcohol or Drug Risk Reduction Course, in addition to a $200 license reinstatement fee. |
| 2nd Conviction in 5 Years | No 1-Year Suspension | No | Defendant must complete a DUI Alcohol or Drug Risk Reduction Course, in addition to a $200 reinstatement fee. |
| 3rd Conviction in 5 Years | No 5-Year Suspension | Yes, but only after two (2) years of what some Courts call “Hard Suspension” is completed, in addition to a Drug Treatment Program licensed by the Department of Driver Services. Defendant must also meet all other requirements from the DDS. | Defendant must complete a DUI Alcohol or Drug Risk Reduction Course, in addition to a $200 license reinstatement fee. |
If you have been accused of possession of marijuana in the State of Georgia, and have questions about your charges, contact Dennis O’Brien at O’Brien Law Firm PC today. Dennis has years upon years of experience offering clients criminal defense for drug cases in Savannah GA and also as as a police officer. As such, he has dealt with many cases involving marijuana. His dynamic approach to defending client’s cases has made him one of the most trusted defense lawyers in the State of Georgia.
In the State of Georgia, any act of violence or threat to a member of one’s family who is living underneath the same roof can possibly lead to charges of domestic violence. Domestic violence is unique, in that these types of cases usually do not require much evidence in order for a police officer to make an arrest.
While most people think that a domestic violence charges usually involve a boyfriend-girlfriend or husband-wife situation, domestic violence cases in Georgia can include verbal abuse, dating violence, threats of violence, and neglect.
Being accused of domestic violence is a serious accusation, and one that can ultimately end in time spent in jail, loss of one’s job, and issues with child custody. It is because of these serious consequences that those who are accused of domestic violence need to contact an experienced Savannah criminal defense lawyer like Dennis O’Brien with O’Brien Law Firm PC, who can help save your character and public reputation.
Below, you will find a few definitions pertaining to domestic violence so that you will be privy to some terminology commonly associated with these serious charges.
Domestic Violence Terminology
Family Violence – This term refers to any felony offense or any simple assault, assault, simple battery, battery, criminal damage to property, criminal trespassing or unlawful restraint of a household member or family member.
Household or Family Member – Those who are considered household or family members can be past or present parents of the same child or children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, or anybody who is living or formerly lived in the same home together.
Family Violence Protection Order – An alleged victim will file this petition in a Protective Order Hearing. Commonly known as a restraining order, this petition is filed by an alleged victim with the Court. The person who files this petition feels that there is evidence to support the fact that domestic violence has happened in the past, and will most likely continue to happen in the future.
In today’s age of ultra-sophisticated technologies, where any man or women with a regular income can purchase high speed internet for their home computer, laptop, mobile device or tablet, more and more citizens in the State of Georgia are finding themselves in situations involving internet sex crimes. It is a known fact that federal agencies as well as local police departments have units that specialize in finding sexual predators.
Those who are convicted of these types of crimes often have to deal with very harsh consequences, including lengthy prison time as well as time on parole, when that sex offender will register with the Georgia Sex Offender Registry. Because of this reality, it is wise for every citizen to know and understand some important questions that are commonly asked pertaining to sexual crimes in the State of Georgia.
What is a Sexual Offender?
- A sexual offender is any individual who has been convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or any dangerous sexual offense.
- A person who has been convicted under the laws of another state or territory, under the laws of the United States, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or in a tribal court of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor.
What is a Sexually Dangerous Predator?
- A person who was designated as a sexually dangerous predator between July 1st, 1996, and June 30, 2006.
- A person who has been determined by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to be at risk of perpetrating a dangerous sexual offense in the future.
Who is Required to Register with the Georgia Sex Offender Registry?
- Any man or woman that has been convicted after July 1st, 1996 of a dangerous sexual offense.
- Any man or woman that has been previously convicted of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor and may be released from prison or placed on supervised release, probation, or parole after July 1st, 1996.
- Any man or woman that has been previously convicted of a sexually violent offense or dangerous sexual offense and may be released from prison or placed on parole, supervised release, or probation on or after July 1, 1996.
If you or somebody that you know or love has been accused of being an internet sex offender, and you live in the State of Georgia, it is crucial that you contact a quality Savannah criminal defense attorney who offers sex offender criminal defense such as O’Brien Law Firm PC, so that you or your loved one’s case can be reviewed.