Georgia Criminal Defense Legal Questions

Arrests and convictions will show up on your criminal background report. Convictions for theft and drug possession are not eligible for expungement (removal) from your criminal record. If not much time has passed since you pleaded guilty, and if you were not represented by an attorney when you pleaded guilty, it's possible to hire an attorney to withdraw your guilty plea and get petty theft & misdemeanor marijuana charges dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense, such as "Littering"... Read More

When you apply for a job, the employer asks you questions about your criminal history. If they decide to offer you the job, it's very likely they will look at your criminal background report before hiring you. A criminal background report will show all arrests and convictions in your past history. So if you say you have no convictions or arrests, but the employer runs your criminal background report and finds that you are lying, you will look bad. Your best option is to find out in advance what is showing up on your criminal background report so you will know what potential employers will see. You can buy a copy of your criminal background report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on their website for around $10. For the most thorough background check, you can go to the police headquarters in the county where you live and ask for a copy of your criminal background report. They will fingerprint you, and they may charge a small fee, but that will be the best way to get the most thorough background report.... Read More

It may sound excessive, but that is how the code is written. However, having said this, these are the maximum penalties, which means that the court can sentence up to the maximum, but does not have to. What the judge ultimately sentences your daughter to would depend upon a lot of factors.... like if she has had any other run ins with the court, and whether it not she has a substance abuse problem. Not sure what your daughter's future plans are ( ie., college?). If this is the case. a conviction on her record, no matter what sentence the judge ultimately imposes, may exclude her from attending certain colleges, and may also impact her ability to obtain federal financial aid. My advice: retain an attorney who may be able to work a resolution that won't have a negative impact on your daughter's future.... Read More

Judges don't read letters sent to them by defendants. I don't know of any court in Missouri that allows you to contest or dispute a parking ticket by mail unless you are a lawyer. Since you didn't go to court and you didn't pay the fine, the court added late fees on to the total. You can always call the court clerk and ask for more details about what you can do at this point.... Read More

Receiving a ticket for marijuana possession has nothing to do with your driving record. It is a misdemeanor and will go on your criminal record if you are found guilty. I strongly recommend that you hire an attorney to represent you. Your attorney can probably get the charge reduced to a lesser offense, such as "Littering" and there is no reason your father will find out. Depending on which court your case is in, it's very likely that you won't have to appear in court at all. If you were charged under the "Abuse & Lose" law, then yes, there is a chance your license will be suspended. Without more information, that's all I can tell you. Most of my clients who are caught with marijuana do not face a suspension of their license. I suggest you call around and get price quotes from attorneys for legal representation. Attorneys who handle a lot of marijuana cases can give you a price quote over the phone and an estimate of the fine & court costs that you will end up paying to the court.... Read More