Criminal Defense

At the Fayetteville, North Carolina law firm of Smith, Dickey, Dempster, Carpenter & Harris, P.A., the lawyers representing clients in criminal and traffic cases are all former prosecutors and one is a former District Court Judge. We have years of experience in the trial of all types of criminal cases. Your case is too important not to get the best, and most expert, legal assistance you can find. We have rightfully earned the respect of judges, prosecutors and police officers as aggressive attorneys who are not afraid to challenge them on tough cases

If you are charged with a crime, remember, you DO NOT have to answer questions from the police without your lawyer. Contact us immediately. We will schedule a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your case.

A criminal conviction, whether for a misdemeanor or a felony, can result in serious consequences, including:

• Large Monetary Fines
• Probation
• Loss of Your Driver's License
• Loss of important civil rights
• Civil Forfeiture of property
• Military Discharge
• State & Federal Prison Time

We are experienced trial attorneys and we will do everything we can to protect your rights and shield you from conviction.

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED (DWI) AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

At Smith Dickey Dempster & Carpenter, we have considerable experience representing military personnel stationed at Fort Bragg on drunk driving (DWI) charges in federal court. A DWI conviction can taint your military record, your driving record, and establish a civilian criminal record. You could also lose your driver's license for an extended period of time. If you are charged with DWI, do not hesitate to contact us. We are experienced DWI trial attorneys and we will do everything we can to protect your rights and shield you from conviction.

Concerns about issues from incarceration to loss of driving privileges and insurance increases often cause unnecessary stress and confusion. Many people never have any involvement with the court system prior to being charged with an offense such as driving while impaired. It is extremely important to retain a qualified attorney as soon as possible after being charged, in order to protect your rights and to navigate the complexities of ever-changing laws and regulations. You may not have to go to court. Let us save you time and money. In most circumstances we can waive your appearance for the most routine district court appearances. Contact us and we will handle your case without the inconvenience of making a court appearance.

STATE AND FEDERAL CRIMINAL COURTS

We also represent clients in state and federal court on serious misdemeanor and felony charges, such as homicide, drug possession, sale, drug trafficking, burglary and robbery, weapons and gun charges, and assault. We also have experience representing clients on a variety of post-conviction matters, including appeals as well as parole and probation violations. If you are charged with a crime, remember, you DO NOT have to answer questions from the police without your lawyer. Contact us immediately. We will schedule a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your case.

JUVENILE COURTS

When a child is accused of a crime, the criminal process is very different than in adult court. The crime is called an act of delinquency and requires juvenile court intervention. If your child is in trouble, we provide experienced advocacy in juvenile delinquency proceedings.

EXPUNGEMENTS

Certain crimes, as well as the related arrest records, may be "expunged" or erased from a person's record upon application to the court after the passage of a set period of time. Our criminal lawyers can determine whether a prior conviction is eligible for this remedy and then work quickly to process the necessary court papers to obtain it.