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Gaston County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Our Criminal Defense Lawyers and DWI-DUI Attorneys in Gaston County NC

By: Bill Powers, Gaston County Criminal Defense and DWI Lawyer in Gastonia NC

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*For additional information regarding the criterion for inclusion or membership for lawyer associations, awards, & certifications click image for link.

Gastonia and Gaston County North Carolina will most certainly soon be one of fastest-growing regions in North Carolina. That isn't just because of its close proximity to Charlotte, with the International Airport, real time stock exchange and banking center, or pro-sports teams like the Carolina Panthers or Charlotte Hornets.

Gaston County is flat-out a great place to live.

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Development in the area has been revitalized with the internationally known US National Whitewater Center and Olympic Training facility. Gaston County continues to grow as people who work in-and-around Charlotte realize how easy it is to live in Gaston County, Cherryville, and Belmont and drive to work every day. Developers have plans for massive expansion for lakeside property on the west side of Mecklenburg County, where it borders Gaston County NC.

Within the next decade, "The River" as locals know it, will be the hot part of the Charlotte-Metro region to live. Until mass transit extends to Gaston County, Interstate I-85, Highway 16, and Highway 321 will continue to be some of the busiest roadways in North Carolina. With that comes a massive number of vehicles, car accidents, speeding tickets, and other violations of the NC Criminal Laws.

If you have found yourself accused of criminal charges in Gaston County, even if they're DWI First Offense charges, larceny embezzlement cases, or Murder and Manslaughter, it makes sense to seek legal representation by an experienced criminal defense lawyer Gaston County NC without delay.

The Gaston County District Attorney's Office aggressively pursues criminal charges and are quite good at what they do.

Gaston County DWI Charges and Criminal Defense for the Prosecution of Criminal Charges

The DA's Office for Gaston County falls within the North Carolina Judicial District 27A and is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal charges and traffic citations for all of Gaston County, including:

  • Belmont
  • Bessemer City
  • Cherryville
  • Gastonia
  • Kings Mountain
  • Lowell
  • Holly
  • Cramerton
  • Dallas
  • High Shoals
  • McAdenville
  • Ranlo
  • Spencer Mountain
  • Stanley
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The elected District Attorney Locke Bell and his staff zealously advocate for the State's position. Indeed, Gaston County Assistant District Attorney Donald Rice recently received a statewide award as a prosecutor with a particular fervor and dedication to DWI charges in Gaston County NC.

As reported in the Gaston Gazette story "HE'S HARD ON IMPAIRED DRIVERS," Mr. Rice was recently named "Judicial Partner of the Year" by the Governor's Highway Safety Program for vigorous prosecution involving driving while impaired charges Gaston County NC.   In 2015 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) named Mr. Rice "Prosecutor of the Year" again for his work on DWI charges in Gaston NC.

Contrary to MADD's name and stated purpose, North Carolina "drunk driving charges" are actually referred to as Driving While Impaired or DWI in NC. You do not need to be "drunk driving" or "drunken driving" to be accused of criminal charges and prosecuted for DWI in North Carolina. Other states refer to driving while impaired by similar names including DUI or Driving Under the Influence, OWI Operating While Impaired, or OUI Operating Under the Influence.

"We enjoy working with the prosecutors in Gaston County. They are always prepared, dedicated to their position, and work hard to serve the citizens of Gaston County NC. If you're facing allegations of criminal charges in Gastonia, part of your legal defense and trial strategy should start with retaining legal representation from an experienced criminal defense lawyer Gaston NC or DWI defense attorney, as the case may be." Bill Powers

Our law office provides legal representation to clients charged with criminal matters. How to choose a criminal defense lawyer Gaston NC. kings mountain

Most people facing criminal charges have questions. That's entirely normal. The NC criminal laws and how things work in court can be confusing.

"Attorneys in North Carolina attend continuing legal education for a reason: Our criminal courts often involve complicated laws and rules of procedure and evidence. As defense lawyers, part of building a defense and creating a legal strategy involves explaining the NC criminal laws and procedures to our criminal defense clients." Bill Powers

Selecting a criminal defense lawyer for your matter is an important first step. Just like each case is different, each person facing criminal charges in Gaston NC is different. What may be important to you or a loved one if you stand accused of felony or misdemeanor charges may not matter to someone else. It therefore makes sense to ask questions like:

  • How long has my defense attorney practiced law?
  • What is the defense lawyer's experience handling matters in court?
  • Have they ever handled a jury trial in Gaston County criminal court?
  • Was that jury trial for criminal charges?
  • How often do they appear in District Court or Superior Court for criminal matters?
  • Do they file Motions? Motions to Suppress/Motions to Dismiss charges?
  • Are they certified by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification or the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Specialist?
  • How active is the defense lawyer in the legal community?
  • Are they a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ)?
  • What professional leadership roles have they held?
  • Has the criminal defense lawyer in Gastonia received professional accolades or achievements?
  • What notable cases have they handled?
  • How do they respond to the media in high-profile criminal charges?
  • Do they handle DWI charges in Gaston County NC?
  • Have they tried a murder case or manslaughter charges to a jury?
  • What experience does the defense lawyer have with robbery charges or robbery with a dangerous weapon?
  • What experience does the criminal defense attorney have handling drug crimes like trafficking charges, PWISD Possession with Intent Sell Deliver, Possession Drug Paraphernalia, or cocaine, marijuana, or heroin charges?
Gaston County NC DWI Lawyer

If you face criminal charges, a traffic ticket, allegations of DWI or some other "moving violation" in Gaston County NC, our team of experienced defense lawyers can help prepare your legal defense and guide you through an often-complicated legal system.

Gaston County is located to the west of Charlotte. The population of Gaston County is approximately 213,442 including the surrounding areas of Belmont NC, Lake Wylie, Gastonia, and Kings Mountain.

Gaston County is quite large in terms of population, being the 10th most populated county in the state of North Carolina. There are 9 major law enforcement agencies that all work very closely with the Gaston County District Attorney and Gaston County Sheriff's Office. Those police departments include Belmont, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Dallas, Gaston County, Gastonia, Lowell, Mt Holly, and Stanley.

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The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and NC SHP - State Troopers also actively patrol I-85, Highway 16, and Highway 321, focusing on NC traffic law offenses. Officers also issue traffic tickets and Uniform Citations, arrest people for Gaston County DWI charges, and indictments for felony or misdemeanor criminal charges in Gaston.

Another NC State agency, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) in North Carolina, provides uniform control over the sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, consumption, and possession of alcoholic beverages in Gaston County North Carolina.

People sometimes confuse the NC ABC Commission with the "ALE," which is a state agency or branch of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (SBI). They are the Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch of the SBI.

ALE is responsible for the NC lottery laws and prosecution of criminal lottery charges in North Carolina, and is considered the primary law enforcement organization for beverage control legal issues.

The special agents for ALE investigate and help prosecute criminal charges in Gaston County NC involving drug charges, organized crime, money laundering, crimes of violence, and gang affiliation/criminal charges.

The NC ALE is not limited to criminal charges in Gaston County. It is one of the few North Carolina law enforcement agencies that has what defense lawyers and other legal professionals in NC refer to as "statewide jurisdiction." In fact, North Carolina ALE may enforce any violations of NC criminal laws within any criminal, judicial, or prosecutorial district for any criminal matters in North Carolina.

As you might understand, given the likelihood of pending criminal charges in Gaston NC, the listed law enforcement agencies take their jobs seriously and actively enforce all NC criminal laws and North Carolina traffic laws. Law enforcement in Gaston County are motivated, highly-training professionals. Put simply, they know what they're doing. They're good at their jobs.

For that reason alone, should you find yourself needing a criminal defense lawyer or seeking legal representation for criminal charges in Gastonia NC, Belmont, or Cherryville (Gaston County Criminal Court), you deserve a team of experienced lawyers on your side, preparing your legal strategy and working to resolve the criminal charges.

The Powers Law Firm law firm can provide you with the legal assistance you need if you have received a moving violation in Gaston County or criminal charges in Gaston NC like statutory rape, sex offenses, and domestic violence charges.

Our team of experienced lawyers can help fight the citation that you have received for both criminal felony or misdemeanor charges and other traffic infractions. We help clients who have received violations for criminal violations such as driving under the influence (DWI in NC), driving with a suspended license (DWLR or DWLR Imp Rev in North Carolina), possession charges like possession of paraphernalia or felony possession of cocaine charges, fleeing to elude, and leaving the scene of an accident (Hit and Run).

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In some cases relating to traffic tickets in Gaston NC, we may be even be able to get the charges reduced, and limit the effect of insurance points or North Carolina DMV motor vehicle points. Keep in mind that every case is different, so please call one of our three CarolinaAttorney.com law offices at: 704-342-4357.

For criminal charges in Gaston County NC, including traffic tickets, alcohol charges, and alleged violations of the NC criminal laws felony or misdemeanor, (DWI charges, assault, assault on a female, assault and battery, rape, sex offenses), there is no charge to speak with someone from our criminal defense law team.

So you really have nothing to lose and much to gain by talking to one of our experienced Gaston County criminal lawyers.

We can also help if you have received non-criminal violations such as running a red light, driving over the posted speed limit (certain minor traffic infractions in NC), careless driving (reckless driving) and many other moving violations in North Carolina and non-moving violations.

Traffic tickets and traffic citations (if convicted or found "responsible" for traffic infractions in NC) can add up to points on your license. Having too many points over a short period of time may also result in the revocation or suspension of your privilege to drive in North Carolina, on top of insurance points and expensive increases to your insurance premiums.

Why not give us a call today and see how we can help? NC Flag

Our team of experienced criminal lawyers can be reached by calling 704-342-4357. You may reach senior partner Bill Powers directly at:

Bill@342HELP.com

Criminal defense lawyer Bill Powers has been serving residents of Gaston County, helping people with criminal charges (and DWI charges in Gastonia) for more than 20 years, and throughout North Carolina since 1992.

Let his years of experience as a criminal defense attorney (Bill Powers is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy / National Board of Legal Specialty Certification) become the ally you need in the legal system.

We cover all of Gaston County which includes, Alexis, Ashebrook Park, Belmont, Bessemer City, Brown Town, Cherryville, Cramerton, Crowders, Dallas, Dellview, Gastonia, Hardins, High Shoals, Lucia, King's Mountain, Lowell, Mcadenville, Mount Holly, Mountain Island, South Gastonia, Spencer Mountain, Springdale, Stanley, and Tryon.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
I am so fortunate to have had Bill Powers on my case. Upon our first meeting, Bill insisted that through the emotions of anger, sadness, confusion, and betrayal that I remain resilient. He was available to answer questions with researched, logical, truthful answers throughout our two year stretch together... J.R.
★★★★★
Bill Powers and his firm were a true blessing. If anyone is contacting an attorney, it's more than likely not from a positive life experience. If there was a rating for "bedside manner" for lawyers he'd get a 10/10 for that as well. The entire staff were helpful... K.C.
★★★★★
Bill Powers’ staff has handled several traffic citations for me over the years, and they exceeded my expectations each and every time. Would highly recommend anyone faced with a traffic citation or court case contact his office and they will handle it from there. M.C.
★★★★★
Bill and his staff are flat out great. I (unfortunately) was a repeat customer after a string of tickets. These guys not only took care of the initial ticket for me, but went the extra mile and reduced my problems from 3 to just 1 (very minor one) on the same day I called back! I would recommend them to anyone. A.R.