Working with my clients has taught me better than any philosophy class that as human beings we are all innately fallible. As a criminal defense lawyer I have no need to be reminded that “to err is human”– I see it every day. My clients are people like these:

· Sasha, on scholarship to an exclusive private college in Boston. Under pressure to conform to the lifestyles of her wealthy friends, she succumbed to the pressure to shoplift a party dress “just this once.” The store’s policy against selective prosecution landed Sasha in jail and sent her parents frantically seeking legal advice.

· Joe, a contractor, family man, and supporter of his local law-and-order politicians. When the police pulled him over one evening for failing to stop completely at a stop sign, he failed a breathalyzer test and found himself in jail on a Georgia DUI charge.

· Martha, a single woman in her twenties who worked as a bookkeeper. When she resorted to “borrowing” from the company accounts to pay some overdue bills, the company fired her and had her arrested.

· Jerry, a long-distance trucker with a wife and two kids. The pressure to provide “just on time delivery” for his big corporate clients led Jerry to boost his drive time with crystal meth. Stopped for a moving violation, Jerry couldn’t hide the signs of habitual drug use from the officer, who arrested him and took him to jail.

· Bill and Dana, a married couple who got into a fight one night. She got so angry that she threw a glass at him. When he shouted and threw her onto the couch, she called 911. When the police came to find the fight had blown over, but because of a Zero Tolerance arrest policy they still charged Bill with battery and Dana with aggravated assault.

The reality is that it is much easier today for the average person to be arrested than it was twenty or thirty years ago. Many actions for which people are arrested nowadays would have been dealt with very differently a generation ago. Either they would not have involved the police at all, or they would have involved only a warning or some other conduct by an officer short of making an arrest. This situation is a result of numerous changes in the criminal justice system over the past few decades, including the expanded definition of crimes, the creation of new classes of crimes, and the rise of Zero Tolerance policies. These changes are affecting Good Decent Law-Abiding Citizens in the marketplace, on the Internet, on the road, at home, and in their children’s schools.

Call Conaway & Strickler, PC so that you can ensure that an arrest will not destroy your life.

Popularized in a vast array of television shows – “Law and Order,” “CSI,” “Cold Case,” “COPS,” and “Nancy Grace,” to name a few – as white-knight police and prosecutors battling wily criminals with slick defense lawyers, the criminal justice system is widely misunderstood by the average American. The “good guy – bad guy” image is reinforced by politicians of every stripe vowing to be “tough on crime” and by special-interest groups promoting Zero Tolerance policies on the streets, in the schools, and in the workplaces. What most Americans fail to realize is that the effect of our law-and-order political philosophy has been the passage of many more criminal laws, broader definitions of what constitutes a crime, greater restrictions on civil liberties, and harsher punishments.

In the many years of defending individuals charged with crimes, Dan Conaway of Conaway & Strickler, PC has found that most of his clients have never been arrested before, or have had only minor previous infractions. Instead of hardened offenders who know how to “beat the system,” as they are portrayed on the television shows, many people questioned or arrested by the police are just ordinary individuals who have run afoul of the law. They are nearly always terrified, confused, and completely ignorant about what to do next. What’s more, because the ramifications of a conviction – even for a minor offense – have increased exponentially over the past two decades, a single misstep early on can lead to disastrous results.

Champions of “law and order” policing often take aim at the rights of criminal defendants. But these rights are not “trivial and arcane,” as a “Law and Order” character once called them. They are based in the U.S. Constitution. The founding fathers put them there to protect individual citizens from the absolute power of the government. Unlike in medieval England – or Saddam Hussein’s Iraq -- the police cannot force you to answer questions without consulting an attorney. They cannot send you to prison without a trial. And you cannot be found guilty unless the government proves its case against you beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you are in need of an experienced Georgia criminal defense attorney to help you navigate the treacherous criminal justice system minefield, call Conaway & Strickler, PC now! Let us help you.

First, courtrooms are more crowded than ever before, and judges and prosecutors are often overworked and overwhelmed. America’s criminal justice system has grown into a huge industry – the “prison-industrial complex” -- that provides millions of jobs and massive amounts of tax revenue for states and counties. Criminal justice is the one area besides the military where politicians today can advocate for bigger government and more taxes and get elected.

Second, prosecutors and judges no longer have the independence to exercise discretion in prosecution and sentencing that they had a generation ago. Powerful special interest groups spend millions of dollars monitoring conviction rates of judges and prosecutors across the country. Officials who do not live up to the conviction targets of organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) face a very real threat of losing the next election. If you appear in their courtroom and they show you any leniency, their jobs may be on the line.

For example, John is a middle-aged man who owns a pool-supply company. He invites his girlfriend and her teenaged daughter to move in with him. The daughter has a history of discipline problems at school and a juvenile record for drug use and petty theft. One day she tells her school counselor that John has sexually molested her. Although there is no physical evidence and no witnesses, the counselor makes a determination that molestation may have occurred and contacts the police. In full view of his neighbors, John is arrested, handcuffed, and taken to jail, charged with aggravated child molestation and sexual battery. John maintains his innocence, but the prosecutor has a “no drop” policy for these types of crimes and takes him to trial. The jury finds him not guilty. Though vindicated in court, John’s customers have dwindled away, his business is failing, and his legal fees have left him deep in debt. His neighbors still whisper about him behind his back, and his health has declined due to the stress of the trial. John has no legal recourse because the law does not allow compensation from the government that brought the charges, or from the school, the counselor, or the teenager for making false accusations against him.

Call Conaway & Strickler, PC now to avoid your life being destroyed by our overzealous criminal justice system.

Finding a job with a conviction on your record has become much harder than it used to be. Corporate employers and franchisers employ companies that specialize in doing computer background checks to “weed out criminals.” These big corporate employers are not like the local mom-and-pop businesses that once might have given you a second chance. If you have a crime on your record, there is an excellent chance you won’t be hired.

Even high-ranking government officials may have trouble reentering the workforce following a criminal conviction. Former Assistant Attorney General Webster Hubbell went to jail for refusing to testify against President Clinton. When he got out, his troubles were not over. He found that many companies will not hire a convicted felon because their insurers will drop their coverage if they do. Insurance companies also may decline to issue necessary coverage – such as property or malpractice insurance – to someone with a criminal record who wants to start their own business.

The Internet leaves those with a conviction – or even an arrest – on their record vulnerable to retaliatory attack. Today we are seeing the rise of the cyber-vigilante, who posts information about people’s private criminal information on-line. In cyberspace, there are no secrets and no second chances.

Call the Georgia Criminal defense attorneys at Conaway & Strickler, PC now to avoid a conviction.

The law will become effective in February. Among other things, this law will also stop requiring officers to have to read the Miranda’s rights three times. According to police officers, that provided a way out for offenders who would avoid conviction by pointing out that the arresting officer missed one reading. The law would also get rid of community service as a sentencing option for repeat offenders. In addition, suspects who refuse to take a blood alcohol test could have their license suspended for six months instead of 90 days.

Laws regarding the treatment of individuals arrested on suspicion of a DUI are becoming more stringent. The trend is to reduce the possibility of receiving alternative sentencing if found guilty and most DMVs are moving towards longer license suspensions for those convicted of DUIs. A good DUI defense attorney can make all the difference in the world in your case and can often mean the difference between jail time and walking free.

At Conaway & Strickler, our attorneys don’t look for loopholes. We look at the law and the rights its gives citizens. Our job is to protect your rights. If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI, call us today for a free consultation.

One of those patients filed a lawsuit against the dentist March 26 alleging he was physically abusive to her during a visit in May 2006. The suit accuses Austin of extracting the patient’s teeth without sufficient anesthesia and then hitting her in the face with a heavy metal object when she tried to resist. Austin’s defense attorney is saying that the woman’s account of events in the civil lawsuit, are “erroneous.”

The violent crime defense attorney says his client has a spotless track record of serving as a doctor in the community. Austin is of course innocent until proven guilty and that’s what many of us forget when it comes to criminal cases. Accusations that are horrible are just that – accusations. No one has testified to them under oath. Allegations are just statements made by people until they are proved in a court of law before a judge or a jury.

It is of the utmost importance for you to get an experienced and knowledgeable Georgia criminal defense attorney to represent you when you’re accused in criminal matters. Your choice of defense attorney could make all the difference to the final result of your case. At Conaway & Strickler, we have a track record of getting acquittals for our clients or even getting their charges or fines reduced.

An accusation such as this could ruin your career, your finances and even your personal relationships. Don’t let it happen to you. If you have been accused of committing an assault or any crime, call us for a free consultation to discuss your case.

The judge entered the order Friday, January 22nd against Mona and Bobby Brewer and their attorney, for costs incurred by three different legal firms who defended Paulk in the Superior Court case.

Atlanta Sexual Misconduct charges are some of the most serious charges one can claim against another individual. The damage that these claims can have on an individual’s reputation can be devastating, regardless of whether the charges turn out to be true or not. A series of sexual misconduct allegations plagued Paulk’s work and as a result of this, he lost influence in the community, and eventually, his ministry.

The Law Firm of Conaway & Strickler, P.C. has years of experience in Georgia sex offense law and legal matters. Our office concentrates on criminal and sexual offense cases and has significant experience in our field. Because of the seriousness of the charges you are facing, you should not have inexperienced lawyers defending you.

Contact our office for a free consultation on your Georgia sex crime legal matter. All calls are strictly confidential and we can begin helping you immediately.

Their names are not being released because of their age. According to the article, the boys threw one of the devices onto the porch of a home where the 17-year-old boy, the target of the attack, reportedly lived. The mailman then found another device that was placed in the home’s mailbox. He reportedly suffered minor chemical burns and an inhalation injury, the newspaper reports.

This is apparently a case where the boys, who were pushed around by this neighborhood bully, decided to get back at him by trying to pull off this prank and in the end landed themselves in a lot of trouble. Georgia Juvenile crime cases are complicated and can go from bad to worse very quickly without the expertise of an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney.

If your child is facing criminal charges you should hire a skilled Georgia juvenile crime attorney, who has a track record of successfully defending children and young people who have been accused on serious felony and misdemeanor crimes in the State of Georgia. At Conaway & Strickler, we understand that being accused of a crime or facing the possibility of jail or prison time can be frightening. We will do our best to fight for your rights and achieve the best possible results in your case. Call us today for a free consultation.

The article points out that the current bill does not distinguish between severe and low-risk offenders and fails to make sensible provisions for people who are barred from living where children congregate. If passed, the law could reinstate restrictions on where registered offenders live and work, a move that could actually increase public risk as some sex offenders fail to register with their local sheriff due to fear about the law’s impact on their lives.

If you’re struggling with a sex offense accusation, you’re probably frightened, frustrated, and angry. Be proactive – go with an attorney who understands criminal justice, protects the rights of his or her clients, and has a track record of wins in a variety of Georiga criminal defense areas. Experienced, professional, fair, and unbiased, Conaway & Strickler PC is here to help. Don’t want to enter the sex offender database? Win your case instead. Call Conaway & Strickler today for a free consultation.

Georgia’s implied consent law used to require drivers involved in serious accidents to undergo drug and alcohol testing. However, recent probable cause cases and this Supreme Court case have served to chip away at the implied consent law, forcing officers to require DUI testing only when probable cause exists. This is good news for Georgians, whose rights to resist unreasonable search and seizure are endangered by the implied consent doctrine.

If you are forced to take a blood alcohol test, run, don’t walk to Conaway & Strickler, PC. You may have little time to deal with the preparation and planning it takes to win a DUI case, so don’t go it alone. Turn to the experts – Georgia DUI attorneys who specialize in retaining our clients’ rights and fighting DUI charges. Conaway & Strickler has earned its reputation with aggressive service, exemplary legal strategy, and a long track record of success. Are you dealing with an implied consent issue or DUI charge? Call today for a free consultation.

Police arrested Christopher Wade Payne after he crashed into 41-year-old Annie McKelly’s van. The Marietta woman was driving with her 10-year-old twins – a boy and a girl in the back seat of her 1993 Plymouth Voyager. Both children were taken to an Atlanta area hospital. The girl had a broken ankle, but the boy had serious head injuries, the newspaper reported. Another sibling, a 11-year-old boy who was in the front passenger seat, was not hurt, the article said.

According to the newspaper, Cobb Police officer M. K. Smith was on his way home when he spotted Payne driving erratically. The officer alerted his colleagues using a walkie-talkie about the man he suspected to be a drunk driver. Patrol officers within minutes tracked down Payne’s truck and tried to make a stop. But Payne seemingly took off in a panic, ran a red light and hit the family’s van.

Payne was charged with driving under the influence, attempting to elude officers, aggravated assault on a police officer and serious injury by vehicle. Payne was also reportedly driving a stolen truck. Officials said Payne was a “habitual DUI violator.”

This person clearly did something you DO NOT do when an officer tries to stop you, which is to take off and trigger a pursuit. This type of behavior does nothing but worsen the already bad situation you are in. Even when you are stopped on suspicion of a DUI, the least you can do is be courteous to the officer. Getting into a fight with the officer is a sure ticket to get to jail sooner. Understand that you don’t have the right to an attorney right away. But what you do have the right to do is refuse to take a field sobriety test.

If you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, call Conaway & Strickler right away to schedule your complimentary consultation. We’re here 24/7 to take your call.

The boy, whose name was withheld by police, was picked up early on Wednesday for probation violation, said Dale Davis, spokesman for the DeKalb County School System. He was later charged with four counts of aggravated assault in connection with the school shootings. It was not immediately apparent if he was a student at Mcnair High.

The second shooting occurred first, and involved a 19 year old standing at the same MARTA bus stop Friday night. In that incident, students alerted officers at a basketball game inside the school that someone outside had a weapon. Moments later, as officers approached the bus stop, they heard two or three gunshots.

If you are a minor who is facing criminal charges you should hire a skilled Atlanta juvenile crime attorney from Conaway & Strickler. Our lawyers have years of experience successfully defending children and young people who have been accused of serious felony and misdemeanor crimes throughout the State of Georgia. We know that being accused of a crime can be very scary and confusing, and we will use our knowledge of criminal and juvenile laws to aggressively defend you.

“Mr. McGee was placed on unpaid administrative leave effective January 7th pending the outcome of the matter,” a spokeswoman for Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Dan O’Connell, said in a statement.

McGee met the boy, who police said is between 12 and 16 years old in a bathroom at the resort a day before the incident occurred. The next day the two ran into each other in the resort’s steam room. According to the boy, McGee sat next to him, removed his towel, rubbed the boy’s back and shoulders and performed oral sex on him. The boy’s father contacted police after his son informed him of the incident.

Your best defense against the lifelong consequences of a sex crime conviction in Georgia is an experienced law firm. Contact Conaway & Strickler in Atlanta for a free and confidential consultation on your particular case. We will provide you with the information you need to help you have the best defense possible for your Atlanta sex crime charge. Because time is always of the essence do not hesitate to contact us as quickly as possible.

Jason Slaughter, 43 was president of S&W International Foods, a Forest Park Company that sold meats and freshly baked biscuits. He was charged with 31 felony counts of fraud for his part in a scheme to defraud Branch Banking & Trust of approximately $6 million. By manipulating accounts receivable and inventories by more than 200 percent he was able to obtain a BB&T line of credit for his company.

To justify the scheme, S&W kept two sets of financial books – one they showed to BB&T auditors, one that reflected the true financial position of the company. The phony financial numbers enabled Slaughter to obtain a loan his company otherwise would not have qualified for. When the loan defaulted, the company assets that Mr. Slaughter pledged as collateral were found not to exist. An investigation by the FBI found that the bank lost more than $5.5 million as a result of Slaughter’s fraud.

The Law Firm of Conaway & Strickler is nationally recognized for its high profile cases and successful results. This is not the time to have ineffectual or inexperienced legal representation. Call or contact the Georgia white collar crimes lawyers at our firm and have us working for you immediately.

What does this mean for Noland? If convicted, he will be mandated to register as a Georgia sex offender and cannot have unsupervised contact with minors. He is currently out on a $2,850 bond. Police say although he did not come to the meeting, sending out obscene material to an underage person is a crime. Investigators also told the newspaper that most of the men they communicated with broke off contact when they found out the posing officer’s made-up age.

According to Georgia law, electronically furnishing obscene material to minors is illegal if one knows or has good reason to know the character of the material furnished. This includes material such as pictures or photograph of a person or a portion of the human body, which is suggestive of sexual conduct or depicts sexual conduct, nudity or abuse. Written matter could also fall under this category.

As Atlanta sex crime defense attorneys we have seen that such misunderstandings can have serious consequences, such as landing you in jail or leaving a stain on your permanent record. Don’t let this happen to you. If your or a loved one has been accused of committing a sex crime, call an experienced sex crime defense attorney at Conaway & Strickler for a free consultation.

A conviction on a Georgia sex crime could mean any number of things – from public embarrassment to losing your job or career. You could even be penalized in the future if you fail to register as a sex offender. Call us and we will help you present your side of the story.