North Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys

DA screening drug arrests NC

How District Attorneys Filter Drug Arrests Before Seeking Indictments in North Carolina

District Attorneys in North Carolina do not automatically seek indictments after every drug arrest. Instead, they review reports, evidence, and statutory elements before presenting a case to a grand jury. This filtering process determines whether felony charges move forward, are modified, or are declined prior to indictment. It serves as a checkpoint between arrest and […]

coerced consent search NC

Voluntary Consent: Challenging Coerced Roadside Searches in North Carolina Drug Cases

A roadside search in a North Carolina drug case often depends on whether consent was genuinely voluntary or influenced by pressure. A coerced consent search NC issue arises when officers rely on consent that was not freely given, even though no warrant was required. Courts examine whether a reasonable person would have felt they could […]

constructive possession proof NC

When Do Police Need DNA or Fingerprints to Prove Constructive Possession in NC?

Constructive possession cases in North Carolina do not require drugs to be found on a person’s body. Instead, prosecutors must show that an individual had both the ability and intent to control the substance. This is why questions often arise about when police need forensic evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints, to support a charge. […]

warrant scope suppression drug NC

Scope of the Warrant: Suppressing Drug Evidence Found Outside the Permitted Search Area in NC

Search warrants in North Carolina authorize law enforcement to search only specific places for specific items. When officers locate drugs outside those limits, the legality of the search becomes a central issue. Questions involving warrant scope suppression drug NC often arise when evidence is discovered in areas not clearly permitted by the warrant, such as […]

NC state lab delays drug cases

Discovery Delays: What Happens When the NC State Lab is Late with Drug Analysis?

When the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory does not complete drug analysis on time, criminal cases often stall at a critical stage. In drug prosecutions, lab testing confirms whether a seized substance is controlled, its identity, and in some cases its weight. Without that report, prosecutors may be unable to move forward, and defense attorneys […]

How Pre-Indictment Delays Can Weaken the State’s Case in North Carolina Drug Prosecutions

Pre-indictment delays play a critical role in how drug prosecutions unfold in North Carolina. When charging decisions are postponed, the quality and availability of evidence can change in ways that materially affect the strength of the state’s case. In pre-indictment delay drug cases NC, time often works against the prosecution, as physical evidence may degrade, […]

North Carolina drug charges lab delay

Why Forensic Lab Testing Delays Matter in North Carolina Drug Prosecutions

If you’re facing drug charges in North Carolina, one of the most frustrating parts of the whole process is how slow everything can feel. Court dates get continued, weeks turn into months, and you’re still waiting on the lab results that seem like they should be simple. In many drug cases, the State cannot truly […]

How North Carolina Prosecutors Prove Constructive Possession in Drug Cases

In North Carolina drug cases, prosecutors do not always need to prove that drugs were found directly on a person. Instead, many cases rely on a legal theory known as constructive possession of drugs, which allows the state to pursue charges even when the substances were not physically held by the accused. Understanding how constructive […]