Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers
With Criminal Defense Offices in Statesboro, Swainsboro and Springfield
If you’ve been arrested for a serious crime, you deserve to have representation that takes protecting your rights very seriously. Please give our Georgia criminal defense lawyers a call right away to get the help you need. This is a scary time, but we can help ease your worries.
Testimonials
“You helped me restore my faith in so much that looked bleak and decrepit. Along this bumpy road, my lovely daughter is safe, and home, and starting to find peace again…Thank you. All the pieces unfolded and fell into place through a progression only the Lord could have planned. But the people who fulfilled his plan did it through greatness and kindness and strength. In my opinion you and Martha have done Gods work and the Judge came through! I am indebted to you both. Please understand, I can be a force and support as well. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. I still have a long way to go…so I hope that statement is true. My commitment to be there for you is equally strong. It will be a tough journey. I Pray. You guys are amazing. Thank you for everything.”
BONNIE GRINGER
“We were referred to Mike Hall by a friend who told us that if they had used him in the beginning, they would have had a lot better result. Using Mike ourselves, we have had the same experience. Mike is very personable and gave us some very wise council. We could tell he was trying to help us. We have used him for several issues that have come up, and he has always handled them in a professional and timely manner. He is quick to answer emails or phone calls, and takes his time answering all of your questions. We are very pleased with his services and would highly recommend him to anyone who has a legal problem.”
LYNN & PAM KELLEY
“After a two and a half year battle, my son and I got the justice we longed for. The only quality that I didn’t like about Paige was that she was patient. Which, is a very good quality to have. However, hindsight being 20/20, I’m glad she was so patient. Paige and Ashley (her paralegal) were always in communication with me, and responded in a timely and appropriate manner. When opposing counsel started her antics and attempted to berate and take Paige’s eye off the prize, she didn’t allow it. I sincerely appreciate all they did for me and my son. I know my circumstances were extreme, but Paige looked out for the two of us. I highly recommend the law group, and will always be indebted to them.”
DUSTIN SHAW
“This review is in regards to how attorney Martha Hall handled my cases. Before Martha Hall, I was taken advantage of in family court in Jefferson County and Effingham County with sub par attorneys that resulted in rulings that were unfair to me and created headaches and financial difficulties. I experienced three attorneys before Martha Hall. I never felt that I had equal representation in the courthouse, until I discovered Martha Hall. Since I have hired Martha Hall, I have had equal or better representation and my cases have closed with fair rulings. This is solely a result of having Martha Hall as my attorney. I will not change thus moving forward if I need any legal services. She is worth every penny.”
KEN GIBSON
“I just have to say the professionalism and conduct of the Hall and Hall attorneys was fantastic from the time we walked in the door. We met Sarah then Mrs. Martha Hall. They were all very attentive and compassionate. Kara, our paralegal, was always there for us. She was always there via email or phone contact. We had a very sensitive legal case and Mrs. Martha Hall walked us through it with compassion and professionalism. I cannot say enough good things about this group or thank them enough for doing what needed to be done.”
MYA AND DEAN CAPE
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What Happens After Getting Arrested?
If you were arrested or indicted, that means that the state of Georgia’s prosecution have reason to believe you committed a crime. In order to make the arrest, they don’t have to have proven that you 100% did the things they are arresting you for. They only have to show that you likely did. Indictment is a bit different. For the prosecution to indict you, that means a grand jury has already deliberated on whether or not you have likely done the crime and said that they believe you have.
Typically in Georgia, you won’t see these cases get dropped upon a preliminary hearing, but this hearing must take place if we are to find out what the prosecution has against you. Once you have been charged with the crime, then you will go in front of a judge and plead guilty or not guilty.
From there, the prosecution has to tell us what evidence they have against you in a process called discovery. We use all this information to build your defense.
Possible Outcome: Charges Dismissed
It is very much within the realm of possibility for your charges to be dismissed. This can happen during pretrial motions, if our defense wins. We can make a motion to suppress evidence the prosecution is trying to use against you. Georgia state law and the United States Constitution say that the prosecution is not allowed to use evidence that was gathered in an unlawful way, so we will be thorough when we see what they have against you. It may be that they have information from a search of your home without a warrant. None of that evidence can lawfully be used against you.
Our Georgia criminal defense lawyers have also seen charges get dismissed if the defense is able to show during pretrial that the indictment was wrong. They may be able to prove that you were brought up on charges for a crime that happened outside of the statute of limitations, for example. It is definitely something that could happen in some cases.
Possible Outcome: Plea Deals
Understand that it has become more challenging overtime for the defense to do their job. That is why it is imperative that you find the right lawyer for your case. Plea deals are a possible outcome. They offer some benefits, and a lot of cases result in plea deals. It can sometimes save you from the harshest consequences. A plea deal sometime means you are pleading guilty for a minor charge, as opposed to going to trial for something that could wind up with you getting convicted for something with much harsher penalties.
It is a decision you should not be making lightly, as it could mean surrendering some of your rights. You won’t go to trial to present your case to the jury. That means a judge will make the final call. Juries can often be unpredictable, so deciding not to take a chance with them could be the right move for you.
You can discuss whether you want to made a plea deal with one of our Georgia criminal defense lawyers, but it is something you ultimately must decide for yourself.
Possible Outcome: Jury Trials
Jury trials happen when things are not resolved in pretrial motions and when you choose not to take a plea deal. The trial is going to be the prosecution and the defense making their arguments against and for you, respectively. The jury will then decide if they think you are guilty or innocent beyond a reasonable doubt.
Everything begins with the selection of the jury which is going to be the foundation of the case. After all, they are the ones who will decide your fate. The prosecution and defense each have an opportunity to remove jurors who they think are going to be biased.
Then the prosecution and defense each give opening statements. They can bring witnesses to testify, argue each other’s evidence, and then finally make closing arguments. The jury will take everything they know about your case and the evidence they heard, and they will deliberate.
They will do one of three things: convict you, acquit you, or call a mistrial. If they cannot unanimously agree on conviction or acquittal, that would call for a mistrial, which means there will be more litigation. If you are acquitted, you are free to go home. If you were convicted, you will have to be sentenced at a later time.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions
How can you help me if I’m charged with disorderly conduct?
How can you help me if I’m charged with disorderly conduct?I had a client who was charged with disorderly conduct in Georgia. He was inquiring as to what an attorney could do for him in this case. Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor in Georgia. If I’m the attorney on the case, I certainly can help you with that.
The misdemeanor punishments are up to one year in jail, up to $1,000 fine, and you may also have to do some anger management classes or have some other terms and circumstances that the court requires of you. If you hire me as your attorney to assist you, we can mitigate that punishment, and, in most cases, do away with the jail time or limit the fines. It may even be a situation depending on the circumstance that the disorderly conduct can be either dismissed or reduced to a county ordinance so that your criminal history is not affected, and it doesn’t follow you on through your life.
Please call me. Every case is different and unique. I’m happy to help you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call.
How do I choose the right criminal defense attorney?
I was speaking with a client of mine about how to select the best criminal defense attorney in Georgia to handle his particular matter. The best way to choose a good criminal defense attorney is to do Internet research on their experience. It is ideal for a criminal defense attorney to have both defending experience and prosecution experience. That makes them very well balanced and very able to handle your case because they’ve seen your case and other cases from both sides of the coin: the prosecution side and the defense side.
They will be prepared; they will know what to expect. That is what I would advise in terms of selecting the ideal criminal defense attorney. I have that type of experience. I would love to help you with your matter. Please call us.
How does the criminal defense process work?
I had a client call recently because he was charged with a felony in Georgia. He asked me how the process worked, how the criminal defense process works. In the state of Georgia, if you’re charged with a felony, there are several different court dates that will occur in your case. The very first court date is called an arraignment. It is when you are notified of the specific charges and allegations against you.
The next step in the process after arraignment is the court will be scheduled – will schedule several plea days where you can negotiate your case with the assistant district attorney that is on the other side and is actually prosecuting the matter. Then eventually, you will be set for a pre-trial calendar where you discuss whether or not you want a bench trial, which is a trial simply in front of the judge, or whether or not you want a jury trial. That would be a trail in front of 12 Georgia citizens that your attorney would have an opportunity to weigh in and help select. Then once the jury trial or bench trial is complete, there will either be a conviction or an acquittal. If there is a conviction, there will be a sentence after that.
The procedure can be complicated. Every case is different. I’d love to talk with you about your individual matter. We can walk through exactly what will happen in your case. Please call me.
How long does a criminal case take?
Many of my clients are very concerned with how long a criminal case will take in Georgia. Many of my clients are employed outside the home. They have children. Timelines and timeframes are very important so that the family can plan, and their employers can plan.
Particularly in a felony case, there is no set time period or length that a case can take. It varies widely. I’ve had one case where it took two years, another case where it took five years. There is no pro forma timeframe on a felony matter.
Again, these cases are very individualized. The facts differ from case to case. I’d love to talk with you about your specific case and your specific concerns. Please don’t hesitate to call me.
How should a loved one help someone who has been arrested for a crime?
How should a loved one help someone who has been arrested for a crime?When I’m talking with my clients about how to prepare for defending their criminal charge, I always ask them to reach out to their friends, to their neighbors, and to their family who know them. As a friend of someone who is charged with a criminal offense in Georgia, you can do what’s called a witness affidavit, a character affidavit that speaks to the particular person’s character if they’re a good person or if they’re a good employee. You can offer this to assist your friend or family member if they’re charged with a criminal offense in Georgia.
Every one of these cases is unique. Every one of these cases includes different penalties. I would love to talk with you about your individual matter, whether it’s your family member or your friend. I can speak with you about it and give you some advice about how to direct them. Please don’t hesitate to call me.
Should you bond out of jail?
I had a client call me from the jail. He was asking whether or not he needed to bond out of jail. He was charged with an offense in Georgia.
Absolutely, you would need to bond out of jail. It is ideal for you to be out of jail so that you can assist your criminal defense attorney, whether it’s me or someone else, with your case. It is so much easier to plan your defense and be more prepared if you’re actually out of jail and able to assist your lawyer.
If you’re charged with a misdemeanor in Georgia, that is automatically bondable. You should be able to receive a bond almost immediately. If you’re charged with a felony in Georgia, it may take a little longer because some of those charges, those bonds have to be set by a superior court judge. I’m happy to talk with you about your case, whether it’s a misdemeanor or a felony. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.
What could I be charged with if I lied to the police about my identity?
In Georgia, you can be charged with giving false information to law enforcement if you provide inaccurate information to a police officer when you’re questioned about your name or date of birth. It’s giving false information to a law enforcement officer. It is a misdemeanor charge in Georgia.
It is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. I’ve seen where community service has been ordered in these particular cases, as well. It is a bondable offense. If you are charged with this particular offense, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to help you with this.
What could I be charged with if I was caught with drugs and a gun on me?
I had a client recently who was charged with a drug offense, but then also had a weapon in his possession at the time that he was charged with the drug offense. In Georgia, because he was charged with having possession of a weapon, that is an additional five-year sentence that has to be served consecutively to any other sentence; consecutively means after you serve the sentence in the drug charge, the firearms charge is tacked on. It’s a very significant charge because it has to be handled consecutively.
If you are charged with a drug offense and also had a weapon on your person, please call us. We can help you early enough in your case and assist you in the best resolution possible. Please call us.
What happens if I fail to appear in court?
I’ve had a client call and ask what will happen if I fail to appear in court in a case in Georgia. If you fail to appear at a court date that has been noticed and you have received notice of the court date, you can be charged with a bench warrant. A Bench warrant can be issued. You will be arrested.
You will remain in jail until the judge on your case opts to bring you into court. That could be days, weeks, or months. It’s quite imperative that, if you have a court date, whether it’s a misdemeanor charge or a felony charge, you appear at each and every court date.
If you learn after the court date has passed and you missed the notice, you need to call the clerk of that court immediately and let them know that you did not receive the notice and that you will attend the next court date. You need to ask whether or not a bench warrant has been issued against you. If you’re in this situation and you think there may be a bench warrant out there, I’m happy to help you with that. Please don’t hesitate to call me.
What is going to happen if I’m charged with shoplifting?
What is going to happen if I’m charged with shoplifting?I had a client call recently who was charged with shoplifting in Georgia. Shoplifting can be a felony, but it can also be a misdemeanor. If it is under $500, it’s a misdemeanor; if it’s over $500, it is a felony. If it’s under $500, the punishment is up to 12 months in jail, and up to a $1,000 fine. There also may be some restitution depending on the situation.
The felony charges have increased and enhanced punishments. If you’re charged with shoplifting currently, please call me. I’ll talk with you about your individual circumstance and assist you in your case.
What is important to know about criminal damage to property charges?
I had a client call yesterday. He was charged with the offense of criminal damage to property. Criminal damage to property can be a misdemeanor offense or it can be a felony offense, depending on the amount of damage done to the specific property. Each case is different. Each case is unique.
If you are charged with a felony, there would be enhanced punishment in terms of prison, and restitution, and probation. If you’re charged with a misdemeanor, those penalties are less: less than 12 months in jail and less than a $1,000 fine. If you’re charged with criminal damage to property, I’d love to help you with your case. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.
What is important to know about vandalism charges?
I have several clients who were charged with vandalism charges in Georgia. That’s destruction or defacing of property. Depending on the degree of damage done in the vandalism, that will dictate whether or not the individual is charged with a felony, which is punishable by more than one year and any fine higher than a $1,000, or if the damage is a little more limited, you can be charged with a misdemeanor which is punishable by 12 months or less or up to 12 months in incarceration and up to a $1,000 fine. The vandalism charge will be dictated by the amount of damage done during the course of the vandalism.
I’d love to talk with you about your particular situation if you’re charged in this manner. I would love to help you with it. Please call me.
What should I do if I’m arrested for assault?
I had a client who was arrested recently in Georgia for assault. The main thing that you need to do if you’re charged with assault is contact a lawyer. An assault can be a felony or it can be a misdemeanor.
In addition to that, you need to avoid contact with the alleged victim in your case. That can amplify the charges against you. It is safer and better to stay away from the alleged victim. Contact an attorney immediately and get direct advice about your unique situation.
Again, every case of assault is different. The facts are very specific. I’m happy to talk with you about your individual matter and provide advice and guidance about how to handle it. Please don’t hesitate to call me.
What should I do if I’m charged with domestic violence?
What should I do if I’m charged with domestic violence?We have represented clients charged with a domestic violence criminal offense in Georgia. If you are charged with a simple battery, a family violence battery, those are all domestic violence charges in Georgia. What you definitely need to do is stay away from the individual that was the alleged victim. That can only cause you additional problems and difficulties. You could have enhanced punishment if you try to contact the alleged victim in the domestic violence case.
Every one of these cases is unique. I would love to talk with you about your particular circumstance and help you with a resolution of that charge. Please call me.
What will happen if I’m arrested for possession of drugs?
I had a client call recently who was charged with possession of a controlled substance in Georgia. He was very concerned about what the outcome of his case would be. When you are charged with simple possession of a controlled substance, the type of substance that you have possession of will dictate what the penalty will be. If it is marijuana, it’s one thing; if it’s cocaine, it’s a different punishment.
Each one of these cases is very different and unique depending on the substance that is possessed. If you are charged with possession of any substance in Georgia, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d love to talk with you about your specific matter.
What will happen if I’m charged with distribution of a controlled substance?
I had a client recently call who was charged with distribution of a controlled substance in Georgia. His concern was what he could face in terms of the penalty. Each case is different. In this situation, it depends on what the controlled substance was and also the weight of the substance that was distributed.
All of those unique factors go into what will happen in each individual case. I would love to talk with you about your particular situation if you are charged with distribution. Please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to help you.
Will I go to jail for a first-time offense?
Will I go to jail for a first-time offense?I was speaking with a former client of mine who was charged with a felony criminal offense in Georgia. He was concerned that he was going to go to jail, and lose his job, and be away from his family. Every felony in Georgia is different. Some of them require mandatory jail time; some of them do not. It depends on the degree of the offense, what type of offense it is, if it’s a battery or an injury case, or if it is a drug matter.
Every particular felony criminal case is unique and individual. I’d love to talk with you about your specific concerns, if you’re charged with a felony in Georgia. I’d love to help you with that. Please don’t hesitate to call us.
Call Our Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers Today
Hiring the right person to represent you is vital to the success of your case. Our Georgia criminal defense lawyers know how to get cases dismissed, get verdicts of not guilty, or avoid charges altogether. Please call us right away. We want to help you safeguard your future.
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Client Reviews
“Hall & Navarro Law Firm is the best law firm you will find!! Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Navarro and Mr. Hall are very professional and will bend over backwards to help you in anyway they can! There is no doubt that their clients come first and that they care for them!! Hall & Navarro is the only law firm I will ever use!!!!!”
– Jane Smith
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