Author Archives: Aaron Goforth
What is a “nonviolent misdemeanor” or “nonviolent felony”?
Under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5, you may be eligible for the expunction of a prior conviction. However, this law specifies that the prior conviction must be a “nonviolent misdemeanor” or a “nonviolent felony.” Determining whether a prior conviction is “nonviolent” or not may seem obvious at first, but a further exploration of the statute shows that […]
Wake County Speeding Tickets and Wake County Improper Equipment
Getting pulled over in Wake County for a traffic ticket can be stressful and scary, as well as confusing. You may be asking yourself what you should do next or what your options are for your speeding ticket. You may even be tempted to just go online and pay the ticket off to just be […]
I’ve been charged with larceny or shoplifting- what should I do?
A larceny or shoplifting conviction can have a big impact on your life. Anything from employment opportunities to housing applications can be adversely affected by a conviction to a theft crime. These charges can also result in you being trespassed from certain stores or entire shopping centers, causing you to […]
CCW at RDU: Forgetting to Check Firearms at the Airport
As you rush through the security line at the Raleigh Durham airport, you take everything metal out of your pockets and throw them in the bin your carry-on bag. You walk through the metal detector without any problem but as you approach the end to retrieve your carry on, you are horrified when confronted by […]
High Alcohol Levels and Driving Privileges
The charge of Driving While Impaired is complex. Likewise, so are the consequences of the charge if a Defendant is convicted and not properly prepared. There are potential consequences that one may expect, such as alcohol treatment, fines, probation, or even jail time. These may be imposed as part of a DWI judgment- meaning the […]
3 Roads to DWI
What does it mean to “drive while impaired” in North Carolina? In Wake, Durham and Franklin Counties, many people know the legal limit of alcohol when driving is a 0.08. However, there are other ways that you can be found guilty of Driving While Impaired in North Carolina. In fact, if the State is able […]
Driving While Impaired, Even When You’re Not.
Many times clients ask us, “How can I be arrested for DWI? I wasn’t even drunk!” What they’re referring to is the fact that they felt perfectly fine while they were driving. They had no doubt in their mind that they were safely within the legal limit and yet they were still charged with Driving […]
What is an Expunction?
Many people have questions about what it means to get an expunction. Will it erase my charge completely? Will it take my mug shot offline? Will a background check still show that I was charged with this? The reality is that an expunction may be a wonderful tool to help clear up your background, but […]
When Red Hands Fade: The Doctrine of Recent Possession
The State does not have to catch you red handed to be able to find you guilty of the crime of larceny or the crime of breaking and entering. Rather, the Doctrine of Recent Possession allows the State to create an inference of your guilt based solely on your possession of stolen goods in a […]
Are you Eligible for an Expunction? And another? And another?
As of December 1, 2020, the expunction laws of North Carolina are expanding. Under the new expunction guidelines, you may be eligible for expunction relief for which you may not have been previously eligible. You may have the opportunity to expunge more charges than you were previously able to, or you may be able to […]
