Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

The website onlineathens.com reported in an article on June 27, 2009 that two DUI checkpoints in Georgia patrolled by the University of Georgia police, Athens-Clarke police, and Georgia State Patrol on the second night of AthFest resulted in the arrests of 48 people for DUI in Georgia. An additional 100 citations were given for lesser offenses.

Police also believe that they apprehended a burglary suspect when a keen officer unaffected by the late hour of 3:15 a.m. and, suspiciously late at night, noticed that a man age 39 had large amounts of beer and several cartons of cigarettes along with big packs of lighters. The officer called in to headquarters to see if there had been any calls for a robbery. Sure enough there had been a robbery at the QuickSpot located at 840 Hull Road and the stolen items were similar to the ones the officer noticed. Review of the store’s security tape revealed a man that appears to be the suspect throwing a rock through the front door and stealing all the items found in the suspect’s car.

Police had another big score when a 37 year old Lawrenceville man was arrested for possession of 25 pounds of marijuana. An officer going by the vehicle happened to get a hint of the aroma of marijuana. A drug sniffing dog working the checkpoints was summoned and verified the officer’s suspicions finding 21 gallon sized bags of marijuana and a large sum of cash. The suspect was detained and charged with driving without a license and trafficking marijuana.

Continue reading "Georgia DUI Sweeps Net 4 Dozen in One Night" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , DUI Defense , Drug Crime , Drug Defense , Non-Violent Crime , Theft Crimes

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A man is being held in Fulton County Jail and has been charged with sex crimes in Georgia including rape, child molestation and procuring for pimping by the Fulton County police. The underage girl who accused him of rape met the suspect at the West End MARTA station on June 6. The two exchanged phone numbers and met up again a few days later on June 10, according to a story.

During the second meeting, the suspect took the girl to a hotel on Fulton Industrial Circle. He then provided her with a fake ID and some marijuana and when she refused his proposition to have sex with five different men to pay off the money she owed him for the room, he allegedly attacked and raped her.

Authorities were able to use the cell phone number the victim provided to them to catch the accused. An investigating officer recognized the man’s voice from a voice mail recording and knew him to be a pimp in the area.

Rape and child molestation are some of the most serious crimes a person can commit. Child Molestation in Georgia is defined as "any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of or with any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person".

Continue reading "Man Held in Rape, Pimping of Juvenile" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Sex Crime Defense

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Atlanta placed 5th in cities with road rage in the country, and its surrounding areas must surely not fall far behind them, as the following story illustrates. A preacher was not intimidated when he faced a man who acted very aggressive and threatening. The 41-year-old priest was driving at night when a man sped past him illegally over the yellow line on the highway, according to an article.

According to the Church of God minister, he honked his horn as the man passed him. The driver who went around the vehicle illegally then made a vulgar gesture towards the minister. As the man who the authorities say is from Hull approached the Jackson County line, he pulled over and pointed his rifle at the preacher. Not only did the preacher not panic, but he was able to take down the license plate number of the truck and dial 911 to report the weapons violation. Police were able to trace the license plate back to a man from Hull and upon their arrival at the home; a mother answered the door and told the police that her son was in a Dahlonega drug rehab clinic. Authorities will end up filing criminal charges against the man who pointed the rifle at preacher.

We must always be presumed innocent. In this specific incident, the priest is accusing a man of aiming a weapon at him but the man was supposed to be in a rehab clinic. Surely there are many unanswered pieces to this story, and for the sake of the accused, he better have good answers as his word is going up against a minister’s.

Continue reading "Weapons Charges Filed In Road Rage Case" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Weapons Charges

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Police are seeking a man who attempted to rob a bank in Sandy Springs, according to a published report in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The man walked into the Bank of America, which was on Roswell Road, at 11:30am and presented a large envelope with a note to a bank teller. The suspect left before he got any money or before the police arrived.

Authorities treated the envelope as a suspicious package, calling in hazardous materials teams to determine if there was a threat or not. The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 180-200 lbs with blond hair and a thin beard. Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the man.

There are a variety of Federal and Georgia State laws which have been enacted to severely punish people convicted of theft related crimes. Crimes involving the theft of another person's belongings are taken very seriously in Georgia and the legal repercussions are very harsh. Depending upon the accusations you are facing for a theft crime in Georgia, and the monetary worth of the alleged stolen goods, you may be charged with a felony or misdemeanor and have to serve a jail or prison term and pay expensive monetary fines.

Continue reading "Man Sought After Attempted Bank Robbery in Sandy Springs" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Theft Crimes

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The nydailynews.com website reported in a story on February 10, 2009 that Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, had been arrested for the NY drug crime of illegally selling steroids to bodybuilders. Lucente is also the main doctor involved in a steroid scandal involving NYPD officers. Lucente operated the New York anti-aging and wellness center in W. Brighton, Staten Island. He was one of the principal doctors writing prescriptions for police officers and high school athletes. Lowen’s Pharmacy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was also indicted.

Charles Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney said, “He gained a reputation as someone who would sell to any bodybuilder, weightlifter or athlete.”

According to the authorities, Lucente wrote a prescription for Joseph Baglio, a bodybuilder who had just recently had a heart transplant because of steroid use. Police believe Baglio’s death is connected to steroid use. Homicide charges were not placed on Lucente because medical examiners could not be absolutely sure that the steroids were the cause of Baglio’s untimely death. Therefore Lucente was charged with reckless endangerment.

Hynes said, “Dr. Lucente knew he had a heart transplant. He had no business giving him any kind of steroid.”

Lucente would receive kickbacks for sending patients to Lowen’s Pharmacy whose owner John Rossi, 56, killed himself in his office in 2008.

Hynes added, “Dr. Lucente’s greed resulted in the tragic death of two people.”

Investigators believe Lucente made $500,000 from steroid patients between 2005 and 2007. Lucente faces 5 ½ years for each of the 76 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance.

It was not disclosed if police officers or firefighters cooperated with the investigation.

John Meringolo, Lucente’s lawyer said, “He will be vindicated. He has helped people. He has saved peoples lives. It’s actually absurd what they are doing here.”

If you have been charged with a drug offense in New York or Georgia, you are facing serious charges and should hire a skilled Georgia or New York drug charge attorney from Conaway & Strickler immediately. Depending on the amount of narcotic seized, you could be facing a long jail term and heavy fines. Do not fight these charges on your own. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Drug Crime

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