Statesville Drug Crime Lawyer

Statesville Drug Crimes Attorney

Drug charges in North Carolina vary depending on the activity and the drug involved in the situation. For example, both the trafficking and possession of cocaine is a felony, while many other possession charges are only a misdemeanor.

No matter the charge, a drug record can seriously impact your future. To fight against these charges, you need a Statesville drug crime lawyer who is skilled in criminal defense to uphold your rights.

Michael D. Cleaves is a skilled drug offense attorney with over 20 years of experience. He is committed to your cause, evaluating your personal situation to provide you with individualized representation. Mr. Cleaves is a valuable ally against any drug charge.

Experienced Representation on Your Side

North Carolina only has one statute that covers most drug charges, so penalties are very specific to each case. That is why it is important to have an attorney on your side who has strategic negotiation skills and a comprehensive understanding of the justice system.

Attorney Michael D. Cleaves provides a strong defense if you are facing any drug charges, including:

• Possession — This could lead to a significant fine and a misdemeanor charge.
• Distribution — The charge depends on the type and amount of the drug.
• Trafficking — Like distribution, this charge also depends on the type and amount of the drug. However, drug trafficking is more serious, and usually leads to a felony.

Attorney Cleaves strives to help you get these charges reduced or even dismissed.

One of the most important elements of a criminal drug case is the chain of evidence. Prosecutors must provide clear evidence linking you to the charge. At The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC, we understand how prosecutors think. That is why we monitor and investigate the chain of evidence to ensure that your rights are protected at every step.

Mr. Cleaves will not let your case get lost in the system. He fights for you, helping you to understand all your options and providing you with the support you need. Often, these matters also involve issues with drug addiction. Mr. Cleaves will not only fight for your rights against a drug charge, but also strive to get you the help you need.

A drug charge should not jeopardize your entire life. You need someone who will look out for you and your future. You can find that dedication in attorney Michael D. Cleaves.

What Can a Statesville Drug Crime Lawyer Do for Your Case?

Working with a Statesville drug crime lawyer can be critical for giving yourself a strong chance of avoiding a conviction. Drug crimes are taken seriously in Statesville, North Carolina, and a conviction can leave a serious impact on someone’s life.

Prison time, fines, probation, and more penalties are all possible. Getting or adding to a criminal record can also bring a host of challenges that could impact your career prospects, financial outlook, and possibly even your social life. You need a lawyer who can exhaust every option available to protect your future.

Investigate Your Charges

Our process usually begins with a full investigation of the circumstances regarding your arrest and charges. There are often details that the police and prosecution miss that could be tremendously helpful in defending you.

We look at any evidence we can find, and we can use our ability to subpoena anything relevant that we may need to. If there are any witnesses, we may talk with them as well to see if their testimony could be helpful in your defense.

Formulate a Defense

Even while we are investigating, we begin to formulate a place for a defense for your case. This often means putting ourselves in the position of the prosecution and trying to understand how they will likely go about prosecuting the case.

The job of a drug crime lawyer is to create a “reasonable doubt” in the minds of the jury, as that is the basic requirement to avoid a conviction. We consider where the weak points are in the jury’s claims and how we can amplify them for the jury.

Pre-Trial Hearings and Motions

Before the trial even starts, we start your defense with pre-trial hearings and motions. If there are possible grounds for dismissal, we make every effort to work toward that possibility. We can also use pre-trial hearings and motions to challenge questionable evidence or anything else that might help the prosecution’s case.

Plea Deal

A part of the pre-trial process could include a potential plea deal offer. While this is probably not preferable to most people, there may be some cases where it is a better option than taking the case to court. If it is, as your representative, we negotiate on your behalf for the most favorable offer that we can get. While we may offer advice about where your case stands, the decision to accept an offer is, of course, up to you.

Represent You in Court

If the case goes to trial, we act as your representation and advocate before the judge and jury. It’s our role to defend you through the course of the trial. This will start with challenging the prosecution’s claim. We attack the weak points in their narrative and evidence. When it’s our turn to offer a defense on your behalf, we can progressively offer an alternative to the prosecution’s view of your case.

There are times, though, when even the strongest of defenses still results in a conviction. If that happens, we make the case before the court for a lesser sentence. Even after that point, if there is a possibility of appealing the decision, we can represent you through that process as well.

Contact Our Statesville Drug Crime Lawyer Today

You can protect your future by contacting The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC. Call our Statesville office at 704-871-0425 or email us to arrange a free consultation.