Criminal Defense Litigation
Defending South Carolina
Jekel-Doolittle, LLC, understands that not everyone who is charged with a crime is a hardcore criminal.
Criminal offenses are established by the federal and state government. At Jekel-Doolittle, LLC, we understand the nuances of South Carolina criminal law and can apply our expertise to your unique case.
Criminal charges include but are not limited to:
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South Carolina criminal law
In South Carolina, it is legal for a police officer to stop you and keep you in one location without formally arresting you.
You can also be searched if you are arrested. Your person can be searched as well as the vehicle in which you were traveling. Warrantless searches are usually legal but may be contested. Contact Jekel-Doolittle, LLC, if you believe that your search was not performed properly.
When you are arrested, you are taken to a police station where your fingerprints are recorded and you are asked generic questions. Mostly, these questions are simplistic, such as “what is your name.”
However, once you are arrested you have the right to refuse any questions and these inquiries are no exception. You should contact a knowledgeable South Carolina criminal lawyer before you submit to any questioning.
You will also need skilled legal representation at your arraignment, which is often held just hours after your arrest.
Pleas
During the arraignment proceedings, you will be asked to enter a plea. The three possible pleas include:
- Guilty
- Not guilty
- No contest
There are times when the prosecuting attorney will offer a defendant a plea bargain. This is a guilty plea in return for lesser criminal punishment or for information concerning another legal matter.
A plea bargain is still a guilty plea and will be on your record as such. Do not accept any arrangement before speaking to a criminal attorney.
A plea of no contest or "nolo contendere" is when you do not contest the charges but do not admit guilt at the same time. While this is occasionally better than a guilty plea, because the results may or may not be used against you in later civil proceedings, there are still punishments. Also, the crime remains on your record.
While you can always change your plea from not guilty to any other form of statement, you cannot change from any other plea. You would benefit greatly by having an attorney at all criminal proceedings.
Contact Jekel-Doolittle, LLC
Our law firm can assist you through the complicated criminal system and defend your rights in court. Call us at (843)654-7700 or you can always email us.
