An Athens drug crime lawyer can work to get charges reduced or dropped. They also help clients better understand the legal process and prepare a strong defense.
Managing attorney Mo Wiltshire has an AV-Preeminent peer rating with Martindale Hubbell. He has years of experience representing individuals charged with crimes in Athens-Clarke County.
Possession
Possession of certain drugs can be a state and federal offense. The USC defines the offenses and their penalties.
Actual possession is straightforward and entails the individual having the drug in their hand, their pocket or in their shoe. Constructive possession however is much more difficult to prove. It requires the State to show that the individual knew what it was, where it was and exercised dominion and control over it. This is why it is important to have a Athens Criminal Defense Lawyer who can raise any possible defense to this charge.
Mo Wiltshire is an experienced Athens Drug Crime Attorney who has defended thousands of clients. He has a wealth of seasoned expertise, insider knowledge and ability that can be used to your advantage. He has a unique perspective having worked as a prosecutor and Solicitor General in Athens-Clarke County. He knows how law enforcement thinks and can use that to your benefit. He travels to courts throughout North Georgia and the State of Georgia defending drug charges.
Trafficking
A person is considered to be trafficked when they are forced to work against their will or for a fee. Trafficking can be the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or provision of a person for forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficking can occur across borders, within countries or even a single community. It can include threats, physical or psychological coercion, debt manipulation, confiscation of identity documents, reputational harm, use of addictive substances, and other means.
Victims can be anyone from anywhere in the world, including children, adults of any gender or citizenship status, and individuals with specific vulnerabilities. These can be people living in poverty or unstable housing, those with mental health and substance abuse challenges, recent migrants and refugees, and people who identify as LGBTQ+.
Drug trafficking is a complex crime that requires prosecutors to prove the elements of their case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a high standard that can be difficult to meet.
DUI
A DUI conviction can wreak havoc on a person’s life and career. It can result in a suspended driver’s license, fines and fees, jail time and secondary consequences like loss of employment marketability or not being able to keep a professional license.
Depending on the circumstances, driving under the influence can range from a misdemeanor to a felony. A top Athens DUI Lawyer knows how to defend you against the charge and all the associated penalties, including fines, charges, and jail time.
DUI cases that occur within the city limits of Athens-Clarke County are initially arraigned in Athens Municipal Court. Felony DUI offenses, however, are heard in the county’s state court system, with the exception of Extreme DUI and Vehicular Homicide. If you are facing a DUI case that will be heard in state court, you should contact an Athens DUI Lawyer immediately to discuss how best to defend your rights and freedom. Oftentimes it is best to move the case from municipal court to state court for a jury trial.
Drug Crimes
A lawyer can help you fight a drug possession charge, whether it is a felony or misdemeanor. Depending on the type of drug and how much you had in your possession, you could face a prison term ranging from one year to life. In some cases, prosecutors will add an aggravated charge, such as supply to minors or being near children’s homes.
A good defense attorney can use arguments such as lack of knowledge, entrapment, and illegal search and seizure to have the charges dropped. He or she can also challenge the evidence presented by prosecutors, including DNA evidence from a small amount of marijuana or a syringe.
The Wosnik Law Firm provides representation for individuals facing a variety of criminal charges in Athens and surrounding areas. Managing attorney Peter J. Wosnik has extensive experience handling complex cases and is admitted to practice in state and federal courts. In addition to criminal law, he handles matters involving family and personal injury claims.
