Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

There was much media attention over the recent search for a drunk driving suspect who was wanted for allegedly running over a deputy. According to a wtoc.com article, the man was found and arrested in Effingham County. Based on authorities’ statements, the man was stopped on US 1 for suspicion of drunk driving and allegedly failed a field sobriety test.

Before the deputy could arrest the suspect for DUI, the suspect reportedly jumped in his truck. When the officer tried to reach into the truck while the man began to drive away, the officer lost his balance and was run over by the truck after falling to the ground. Apparently, the deputy suffered major injuries and said that he had arrested this particular suspect many times before on alcohol-related charges. This time, the man may face charges relating to battery, aggravated assault, DUI, and perhaps even more offenses considering that he fled the scene of an accident and Police.

Drunk driving incidents in Georgia are not as clear-cut as many people may think. First of all, field sobriety tests can be unreliable in providing an accurate determination that a motorist is in fact intoxicated. In any case, if you find yourself pulled-over and are asked to perform a field sobriety test, you may have to perform the one leg stand, the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, and the walk and turn test. However, these tests are often left to the subjective interpretation of an officer. In some situations, a driver may not fully understand a test’s instructions or may have problems with all or at least one of the tests due to a physical disability, yet, he or she may still be arrested for drunk driving.

Being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be an intimidating experience, especially when a person is not thoroughly familiar with his or her legal rights. In such situations, it may be in the best interest of a suspect arrested for DUI in Georgia to obtain the legal advice and representation of an experienced Atlanta DUI defense attorney.

Continue reading "Effingham County Arrest of DUI, Deputy Hit-and-Run Suspect" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Defense , DUI Defense , Violent Crimes

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A report from foxnews.com discusses the recent events of the largest drug bust of the last 10 years conducted by the Justice Department, in which New York State and many other U.S. states were main sites for receiving the shipment of illegal substances. According to the article, over 400 members of an alleged Mexico-based cartel have been taken into custody for charges of distributing tons of methamphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana in the U.S.

Aside from New York, other locations that are suspected of receiving the drug shipments include the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles, and the states of Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, North Carolina , Florida , Oregon and Washington.

Apparently, the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the assistance of more than 100 federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies, spent 20-months investigating the drug ring that is allegedly based in Sinaloa, Mexico. The investigation, referred to as “Operation Imperial Emperor,” led to the seizure of an estimated $45.2 million, 27,229 pounds of marijuana, 9,512 pounds of cocaine, 705 pounds of methamphetamine, 227 pounds of pure methamphetamine, and 11 pounds of heroin. $6.1 million in assets and property was also confiscated, in addition to approximately 100 weapons and 94 vehicles.

Drug trafficking is a serious criminal offense, and although incidents are usually not as widespread as the recent bust of the alleged Mexico-based cartel, these types of cases are some of the most complex. If a person is convicted of drug trafficking, he or she may face spending years in prison, having valuable assets taken away, and paying hefty fines, all in addition to having his or her own personal reputation and relationships compromised.

Continue reading "Mexico-Based Cartel Bust: New York One of Many Drug Shipment Sites " »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Drug Crime , Drug Defense , Federal Crimes , Law & Information

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A recent wsbtv.com news article reported that during an audit, it was discovered that $275,000 was stolen from the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Atlanta Branch. According to the article, the Atlanta NAACP Branch President stated that the organization’s former executive director and her assistant are suspected of stealing the money from the association over a period of six years. Apparently, they used the money for a wide range of personal benefits including paying for dental work and buying furniture.

Law enforcement also suspects that the duo applied for credit cards with American Express using the organization’s name and marked themselves as authorized uses. They are also suspected of receiving credit cards in their own names and using checks belonging to the NAACP to pay their own personal bills. The report confirmed that the two suspects are no longer employed by the association.

Theft-related offenses in Georgia are very serious matters due to the various strict penalties laid out by Federal and Georgia State law. The legal consequences of such crimes are even more severe when an employee is accused of stealing from the company or association that he or she works or worked for. These offenses are referred to as white-collar crimes, and, if convicted, a person may face lengthy prison time, steep fines, loss of employment, loss of future employment opportunities, and much more. With these repercussions in mind and your professional reputation on the line, if you’ve been accused of a white-collar crime, it may be in your best interest to seek legal representation from a skilled Atlanta white-collar crime defense attorney.

Continue reading "$275,000 Stolen from NAACP: Ex-Employees Accused" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Defense , Non-Violent Crime , Theft Crimes , White Collar Crimes

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According to a wsbtv.com report, a 21-year-old man has been arrested for murder and aggravated assault in Atlanta. The man is considered the only suspect in a shooting that took place on the campus of Spelman College on September 3, 2009. Apparently, police believe the man fired six shots into a large group of people, and that one of the gun shots killed a 19-year-old female student from Missouri. Police think that the arrested man was mixed up in a fight on campus at the time of the fatal shooting. The report also mentioned that the slain woman was most likely not an intentional target and was probably hit by a stray bullet.

This shooting incident has sparked concern amongst college officials in regards to the security on campus and the safety of teachers, staff, and students. However, law enforcement officials say that the death of the 19-year-old appears to be an isolated incident. Police also stated that although the Spelman College campus does border neighborhoods known for having high crime rates, the campus does not have history of violent crime, nor do any of the other nearby college campuses have such a history.

The article stated that it is not known at this time whether or not the arrested suspect has obtained an attorney, although it is safe to assume that it is in his best interest to seek the legal advice and representation of a skilled Atlanta violent crime defense lawyer as soon as possible. The fact that police do not believe this particular man deliberately meant to shoot and kill the deceased woman is a factor that may hold great strength in his potential case.

Continue reading "Man Arrested in Spelman College Shooting" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Defense , Murder/Homicide , Violent Crimes

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After being pulled over for suspicion of DUI, a man decided his best option for escape wasn’t the allegedly stolen U-Haul vehicle he was driving, but the police car that had pulled him over for the possible infraction. According to an article, the main reason police did in fact pull the man over was because he left the scene after apparently striking another automobile, although the man claimed that he didn’t know he had hit another vehicle. Consequently, law enforcement determined that they could smell alcohol on the man’s breath upon closer examination. The man was then handcuffed, and finally placed in the backseat of a police cruiser.

So how did the suspect end up in the driver’s seat? In the report, one officer speculates that the man “was able to slip the handcuffs under his buttocks, get the window open and crawl through it…it can be done.” Police believe the man managed to pull off this impressive feat all while the on-scene officers checked on the passenger in the U-Haul. The man managed to successfully escape, and remains at large.

While police continue their hunt throughout Atlanta to locate the man, this incident serves as a good example of what not to do when pulled over for a traffic violation of any kind, especially one relating to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Just because you are arrested for DUI does not mean that you are guilty.

Continue reading "From a DUI Stop to a Stolen Police Car" »

Posted by Conaway, Strickler & Margolis, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Defense , DUI Defense , Theft Crimes

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