Wilmington Criminal Defense Law Blog

Three types of military court-martial

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

Members of the military are well aware they must obey military law and procedure. Training emphasizes zero tolerance for infractions. Consequences could result in mild to severe punishment, such as pay forfeiture, extra duty, brief correctional confinement, significant fines, reduction in rank, confinement ranging from a few months to years, a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge.

Military personnel is aware of sanctions and, in general, avoid them. There are times, however, when enlisted men or women violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and they can face a court-martial. Whether the person breaks the law deliberately or accidentally, military consequences occur. The severity of the infraction determines one of three possible levels of a court-martial.

What you need to know about tax evasion

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC on Sunday, September 9, 2018.

If you are like most North Carolinians, you have a deep respect for, if not an actual fear of, the Internal Revenue Service and the extraordinary powers it possesses. You therefore likely do your very best to make sure you correctly compute your taxes and file your income tax return on time each year, along with paying any taxes you owe.

Nevertheless, you sometimes worry that you inadvertently made a mistake. Will the IRS come after you? Will it charge you with tax evasion? In all likelihood, the answer is a resounding “no.” The IRS undoubtedly will question you about any mistakes it finds on your tax return or in the amount of taxes you paid as a result thereof. It will not, however, charge you with tax evasion unless IRS agents believe that you deliberately sought to understate your income and/or sought to overstate your deductions.

Can a drug conviction disqualify your child for financial aid?

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC on Friday, June 8, 2018.

If you are the parent of a North Carolina college student who is heading off to school in the fall, you are probably doing your best to steer your child in the right direction. Making sure your child makes sound decisions in your absence can dramatically improve your peace of mind once he or she leaves the nest. Additionally, it can also improve the chances that he or she will avoid getting into any trouble that could potentially impact financial aid.

If your child receives a conviction for a drug-related criminal charge, for example, this can potentially hinder his or her ability to continue to receive federal financial aid. Virtually any type of state or federal drug conviction can cause your child to lose financial aid, potentially leaving you on the hook to make up the difference.

Oversharing can lead to criminal charges

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in blog on Sunday, March 11, 2018.

For many people in the Wilmington area, posting all their thoughts and actions on social media is the norm. You may enjoy sharing your thoughts and activities on Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and other popular social media outlets for support, to make new friends and interact with individuals all over the world. But you should keep in mind that what you post online can become evidence if you commit a crime.

There are different types of social media crimes that you may unknowingly commit while on the internet, such as stalking, cyberbullying, fraudulent transactions and hacking. Here is a brief overview of how social media can impact your situation.

What you should know if you are facing drug trafficking charges

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

You may feel that selling opioids and other synthetic drugs in Wilmington is a good gig for you to have. However, if you have not yet learned how unlawful the activity is, you may not realize how much you stand to lose. The law takes a strict stance against alleged drug dealers and individuals who sell and distribute them. Not only do you risk incarceration, but you may also end up having to live with the knowledge that your actions contributed to someone’s death.

You may be under the impression that your charges will not stick because you are not dealing enough for the law to consider you a high-volume dealer. It does not matter how much you intended to sell or how much law enforcement accused you of selling or distributing. The penalties are harsh and lawmakers are working to revamp the laws to penalize small-time drug traffickers, sellers and distributors more.

Expungement is now more accessible in North Carolina

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in blog on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

While we all make mistakes, a mistake resulting in a criminal conviction can have a long-term impact on your life. Perhaps the best way for someone to move beyond a conviction is by applying for an expungement.

Expungement has often been difficult to secure in North Carolina. A new law implemented last December may now make it accessible to more than 2 million people in the state.

Leaving the scene of an accident can lead to a misdemeanor

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, December 21, 2017.

Many people in North Carolina assume that traffic stops are for motorists who speed, run red lights and disregard other traffic laws. Those infractions often only result in tickets, points on driving records and fines. There are some traffic crimes that are much more serious and can result in criminal misdemeanor or felony charges.

Under normal conditions, you can avoid injuring someone by paying attention and driving defensively. However, there may be circumstances in which you accidentally end up in a collision that causes minimal property damage. The moment you leave the scene of the accident, you have committed a crime and could end up facing a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge.

Injured in an accident? You should pursue any lost wages

By Woody White Law PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

A sudden injury from a car crash or accident puts a wrench in your life, especially around the holiday season. Suddenly you cannot work, are worried about your upcoming bills, and may fear your to afford the events and travel headed your way.

In the state of North Carolina, there are laws put in place to help you through this challenging time and recovery when you are not at fault for the accident. This payment of lost wages can apply whether you are employed or not.

How long after an accident can I file a personal injury claim?

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Friday, December 8, 2017.

Small accidents or non-catastrophic vehicle crashes are a reasonably common occurrence in a person's life. You will probably be involved in a few throughout your lifetime-whether you hit another car or another person accidentally injuries you. However, what happens when that seemingly painless accident from weeks ago suddenly becomes-literally and figuratively-a pain in the neck?

Small tinges, ongoing joint pain or sudden daily headaches should not be ignored. Many people will begin to feel pain or slightly different than usual and pass it off as a new issue. This can be a problem when the source of the pain is a direct result of your car crash.

5 college crimes (and how they can derail your child's life)

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in blog on Monday, December 4, 2017.

Think back to when you were a teenager. You might shudder to think about what you wore, how you talked and what kinds of things you liked to do with your friends. Now imagine being judged by those same decisions well into adulthood.

Under most circumstances, it doesn't make sense to have the mistakes and poor choices of our youth define us as adults. However, that is the very real possibility your child is facing if he or she is accused of one of the following common criminal offenses involving college students.