North Carolina Criminal Lawyers

The Charlotte Observer published an interesting article this week exposing a little known fact about North Carolina treatment courts: that they cannot use the ankle bracelets designed to detect alcohol in the body. Due to a committee decision in 2007 judges in these treatment courts aren’t allowed to utilize what some other state’s see as a useful tool in alcohol offense control. [read more...]

The Winston-Salem area is looking to streamline DWI cases as Forsyth County adds a DWI specific court, and works to get through the backlog of DWI cases that have piled up. [read more...]

The US Supreme Court’s Recent Melendez-Diaz decision changing the rules of allowed forensic and scientific evidence, is not expected to be a significant factor in the prosecution of cases that previously used documentary evidence. [read more...]

The North Carolina General Assembly is proposing a mandatory ignition interlock law on any first offense DWI conviction. House Bill 1489 has been passed signed off on by the House Science and Technology Committee, and currently sits in the Committee on Judiciary for further action. [read more...]

An afternoon wedding at the Council Baptist Church this past weekend didn’t happened as planned. The church was decorated, the bride was dressed, and they were just waiting on the groom. Brandon Tedder, age 23, was on his way to his big day with his best man and his little brother when tragedy struck. The Prelude Tedder was driving was hit head on and all three died instantly.

A horrific interruption to the day this couple had waited nearly 8 years for. The other vehicle involved was a Sebring Convertible driven by John Daniel Kelley of Whiteville.   He also had a passenger, his 17 year old son Michael. Upon arriving on the scene troopers found several empty alcoholic containers in the Sebring according to this report from WRAL.

Kelley’s blood was drawn and he was immediately charged with DWI. He could face additional charges for the deaths that occurred although the prosecutor has failed to disclose that as of yet. Kelley is currently hospitalized and listed in serious condition. [read more...]

North Carolina State Representative Joe Boylan plead guilty to a DWI in Moore County District Court.

His plea agreement was typical for a first time DWI conviction, and included:

• A 45 day license suspension
• A requirement for an ignition interlock device to drive his car, after his license is reinstated following the suspension period.
• A number of fees and fines.
• 24 hours of community service to be served.
• 12 months on unsupervised probation.

According to police reports, Boylan registered a .17 BAC on a breathalzyer machine at the police station, which is more that twice the legal limit of .08% BAC in North Carolina.

Boylan has admitted to being an alcoholic, and has taken responsibilites for his actions.

We wish him the best, and hope he is on the road to recovery.

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If you are facing a DWI charge in North Carolina, please contact our criminal defense law offices for a free consultation on the charges.