Category: Criminal Defense

Shoplifting is an offense that all states take very seriously — some more than others. In Alabama, a conviction can result in serious legal consequences, including jail time and hefty fines, not to mention the resulting criminal record. The potential sentence will depend on the degree of the offense, which is tied to the value… Continue reading Can you be charged with felony theft for shoplifting in Alabama?

A DUI conviction is scary, especially if it’s your second within 10 years. You’ll no doubt be worried about how it might impact your finances, relationships and career. It can be frightening to have to accept that you could lose your driver’s license and possibly spend time in jail for making a mistake that you’ve… Continue reading What are the consequences of a second DUI conviction in Alabama?

Most people have a general awareness that they have a constitutional protection against “unreasonable” searches and seizures by law enforcement officers – especially when they’re in their homes. However, things can get a little fuzzy when a person is out walking around or maybe just standing outside a business talking on the phone or with… Continue reading When can an officer legally stop and search you?

What do you do when a police officer either calls out for you to stop moving or pulls up behind your vehicle and flashes its lights? Most people probably will stop – but not everybody. Some people panic and run or drive off for no clear reason at all, probably simply because they’re intimidated and… Continue reading Fleeing from the police could soon be a felony in Alabama

Many criminal cases do not end up going to trial. Instead, a fairly common resolution is the plea bargain. Here, the person facing criminal charges (the defendant) reaches a deal with the prosecution to plead guilty to some or all of the charges against them in return for some form of leniency. Plea bargains are… Continue reading Understanding how plea bargains work

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people from “unreasonable” search and seizure. In most cases, unless they’re given permission to enter, law enforcement officers need a search warrant to look around and take potential evidence from a person’s home or other property. That warrant, which must be based on “probable cause,” outlines what… Continue reading When is evidence legally considered to be in “plain view?”

All states look harshly at theft crimes, but Alabama has some of the strictest theft laws in the country. Defendants face penalties ranging from a few hundred dollars in fines to years or decades in jail. Those arrested for theft crimes need to take their situation very seriously. Depending upon the value of the property… Continue reading How serious are theft crimes in Alabama?

There’s a lot of controversy around something called the “felony-murder rule.” Some states have revised their laws considerably but have kept some form of it on the books. Essentially, the rule states that if someone dies during the commission of a felony (including one of the alleged perpetrators), the person directly responsible for the death… Continue reading Explaining the “felony-murder rule” in Alabama

Generally speaking, those who are charged with shoplifting are people who have been caught with merchandise as they tried to leave the store. Maybe they put something in their pocket and then tried to walk out past the cashier without paying. Maybe they put something in a bag and tried to go out an emergency… Continue reading Could you face shoplifting charges after the fact?

The police need a warrant to search your house, or they need your consent to do so. Without it, even if they suspect they may find evidence in your house, they’re not allowed to enter. They have to show this reasonable suspicion to the judge and then be issued the warrant first. Otherwise, you have… Continue reading Can the police look in your trash can?