Criminal Defense

Compared to some other states, Georgia has relatively liberal knife laws. But to understand Georgia’s knife laws, let’s first define what a knife is. Here, knives are defined as cutting instruments made for personal defense and offense that have blades and attached...

Yes. In Georgia, you can face arson charges even if no one suffered physical injuries. The state does not need to prove that someone got hurt. Instead, prosecutors focus on what burned, how the fire started and whether they believe someone knowingly caused it. Georgia...

Facing arson charges in Georgia can be confusing and stressful. Not all fires are treated the same under the law, and knowing how your case may be classified helps you understand what you are facing. The type of property involved, whether anyone was present and the...

When facing assault charges, there is the potential for fairly serious sentences. You may have to spend time behind bars, pay restitution to the victim, spend time on probation and have a permanent record, for example. It depends on the severity of the specific...

When an eyewitness identifies a suspect in a crime, it can have a major impact on a trial. A judge and jury may believe that the eyewitness has no reason to lie about what they saw. If they take that statement as fact and the witness places the suspect at the scene of...

When a person finds out that they’re facing criminal charges, one of the first questions they may have is what the charge means. Criminal charges are typically divided into categories—misdemeanors and felonies.  There’s no such thing as a good criminal charge, but...

Before a judge decides to release you on bond, the court must be satisfied that you will appear for every required court date. This is not about your guilt or innocence. It’s a practical judgment about whether you might disappear once the case begins. Being labelled a...

When a fire breaks out in Georgia, the line between accident and arson becomes a consequential legal question. Investigators, prosecutors and insurance companies all look closely at the circumstances to determine whether a particular fire was the result of negligence,...

Being questioned by police officers is a stressful situation, but it should be handled carefully. One way that people can protect their interests is to invoke their Miranda rights. These rights include the right to remain silent and to speak to an attorney, both of...

You’ve been charged with a crime, and the prosecution has offered you a plea deal. Maybe it promises a lighter sentence or drops a more serious charge. However, it still doesn't feel right. Perhaps you believe you’re innocent, or the deal just seems unfair, and you’re...