Raleigh Student Crime Defense Lawyers

David Coolidge, The Coolidge Law Firm

When you are a high school or college student, you’re excited about your future. However, if you are charged with a felony or

misdemeanor in North Carolina, including alcohol-related offenses, that future could suddenly be in great jeopardy.

We don’t always make the wisest choices or find ourselves in the best situations when we are young. An arrest can happen at a party or at a home, dorm or fraternity. It can arise at a concert or music hall, bar or restaurant. It can occur in the bleachers at a sporting event or in the parking lot at a tailgate party. From

that point on, your decisions have to be wise.

Common crimes that high school and college students face in Raleigh, Wake County and the greater Triangle area include:

• Traffic offenses

• Possession of alcohol, drugs, or paraphernalia

• Underage drinking

• DWI/DUI

• Violent crimes, including assault and disorderly conduct

• Sex crimes, including rape, sexual battery, peeping and indecent exposure

• Theft or property crimes, including larceny, trespassing, and vandalism

If you are a student under age 16, then you may be charged as juvenile or adult. If you are treated as a juvenile, then your case will be heard in

District Court before a judge. You may face probation or be ordered to spend time in a juvenile facility. If you are tried as an adult, your case may

be heard first in District Court before a judge and then appealed to Superior Court for a jury trial. Adult criminal consequences tend to be

more severe than juvenile punishment.

At The Coolidge Law Firm, we know that students face special issues in their criminal case, such as:

• Student aid / admissions: A high school student convicted of a felony is barred from securing admission or financial aid for college in most cases. Even a misdemeanor conviction can prevent students from attending the college of their choice or severely impact financial aid

• Disciplinary action: Even a student who has criminal charges dismissed may still have to face a school disciplinary board or student council. These hearings can be daunting, with little due process protections afforded defendants in the criminal justice system. The results can be devastating, including suspension, expulsion or being kicked out of a club or removed from a sports team.

Our criminal defense attorneys understand the unique issues facing Wake County high school students and college students charged with crimes,

including students from Cary High, Apex High, Green Hope, Panther Creek, Cardinal Gibbons, Broughton, Millbrook High, NC State, Wake

Tech, Shaw, Meredith College, Duke, UNC, and NC Central. We will work hard on your case and use all of our experience, resources and skill to

deliver the best possible outcome for you and your family.

We are tough negotiators. We can work with prosecutors on options that include dismissal, deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued (PJC). In some cases, we may be able to have a charge reduced to a lesser offense that may one

day be expunged from your criminal record. If no agreement with prosecutors can be reached, then we will put our aggressive trial advocacy skills to work for you in

the courtroom. We care about our clients’ future. We work tirelessly to deliver results that will help to protect that future.

If you or your son or daughter is a student facing criminal charges, our criminal defense lawyers are just a phone call or a click away. For

a free consultation, call us today at (919) 239-8448.