Wilmington Criminal Defense Law Blog

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.

4 mistakes to avoid if you are a tourist accused of a crime

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

People from across the country come to North Carolina, whether they are college students, corporate executives or families on vacation.

Unfortunately, some of these people wind up accused of committing a crime. If you are in this situation, you might be tempted to make one of the following mistakes that tourists accused of a crime often make.

The future of texting and driving--and how it can affect you

On behalf of Woody White Law PLLC posted in Traffic Violations on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

That quick "be there soon" or "grab milk" text you send while driving down an empty neighborhood road, at a red light, or even while sitting completely still in traffic, can cost you. Any driver of a motor vehicle in North Carolina is banned from texting-no exceptions. It is considered a primary offense, meaning that a police officer doesn't need to see any other violation going on to pull you over. They can pull you over then and there based only on seeing you texting in the car.

Texting and driving exist under the "distracted driving" laws in North Carolina and will add to your points in the DMV point system enforced in the state. Too many points can result in a suspended license that can last for 60 days to a year, and the penalties get worse the more points you stack up in a short time.