One of the main questions we get asked after being hired is whether the client will have to come back to court. This question is especially important to those clients who were only in Myrtle Beach for a short time (on vacation, passing through) at the time of their arrests, and for whom there could be great financial cost and considerable inconvenience associated with a return visit. The answer to whether one Read More
Sexual Registry in South Carolina
A common question brought to us is: if someone pleads guilty to a charge of criminal sexual conduct, will they have to register as a sex offender? The short answer to this is, generally, yes. And in South Carolina, currently*, the requirement to register as a sexual offender is a life-sentence. Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) is the offense of sexual assault and it has several levels. If you enter a plea to any level Read More
Is it Illegal to Drive a Golf Cart in Myrtle Beach?
Whether you’re a long-time resident or just visiting Myrtle Beach, you may be looking for an easy way to get around the beachfront. Regular street traffic, especially in the summer, is subject to inexplicable slowness and no one wants to spend their vacation stuck in a car. For that reason, Golf Carts are a common means of transportation around the beach. But it’s all too easy to get complacent with such a means of Read More
Plea/Arraignment
In typical court proceedings, an arraignment occurs when a person goes in front of a judge and is formally advised of what charges are being brought against the defendant. In the larger districts, like New York and Los Angeles, the arraignment occurs at the very beginning of the process and culminates with the defendant entering a plea, usually of “guilty” or “not guilty.” In South Carolina, it’s a little bit Read More
What is Unlawful Carry of a Pistol?
People are generally aware of the fact that every state’s laws may differ, but it’s a rare person who goes to the effort to fully research those differences before visiting a new state. And in most cases, that works out fine – you may end up with a traffic ticket you wouldn’t have received in your home state, but that’s not the end of the world. Of course, if traffic tickets were the worst consequence, we wouldn’t be Read More
What is an Open Container Charge?
When one goes on vacation to Myrtle Beach, one expects to enjoy themselves. A popular method of relaxation is a day at the beach – which is often, for folks 21 and older, accompanied by an adult beverage. We all know that it is illegal to drink and drive, and we’ve already discussed how there are laws regulating the consumption of alcohol on the beach, but we haven’t yet acknowledged that even the containers from Read More
Understanding Diversion Programs
Being charged with a crime does not mean that you will be convicted of a crime. While most defendants would prefer to have their charges simply dismissed outright, that is not a common outcome. Instead, many defendants are offered the chance at a Diversion Program which, if completed successfully, would result in dismissal of the charges. In general, Diversion Programs require participants to pay some fee or fine and Read More
I Have to Do ADSAP Twice?
When you are charged with a DUI in South Carolina, you might also have your license suspended. Either, or both, of these issues could result in the requirement to take South Carolina’s Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP). And yes, since there are two different reasons that you might be required to take ADSAP, that also means that there may be a scenario in which you take the course not once but twice. As Read More
What Does a Defense Attorney Actually Do Once Retained?
If you’re considering hiring an attorney to represent you on a criminal charge, you may find yourself wondering whether you even need one. If you’ve already hired an attorney to represent you, you may find yourself wondering what, exactly, you are paying for. So, what do attorneys do once they’re hired? The goal of a defense attorney is to find the most reasonable or best outcome for their client. Depending on when Read More
I Failed PTI, Now What Happens?
If you are given the opportunity to do a Pre-Trial Diversion program, we hope that you will take that opportunity seriously. But we also understand that our clients are human and that there are a variety of reasons why a person might “fail” or be kicked out of their PTI program. The good news is that this is not a worst-case scenario. You still have options if you don’t complete your PTI Program. When you sign up for Read More