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Pelham, Alabama is a Birmingham suburb located in Shelby County Alabama. With a population of 20,000 it is a fast-growing city of nearly 40 square miles that is also home to Oak Mountain State Park, the largest state park in Alabama.
Our Pelham criminal defense attorneys represent clients facing all types of misdemeanor and felony charges in Pelham and the surrounding areas, including DUI/Drug charges, assault charges, burglary, robbery and theft charges, sex crimes, and serious misdemeanor charges, including solicitation of prostitution and shoplifting.
Pelham C riminal Charges
Homicide: 1
Rape: 2
Robbery: 7
Assault: 22
Burglary: 65
Theft: 374
Auto Theft: 18
Source: Alabama Criminal Justice information center, 2010 report.
Theft charges are the most common felony charges filed in Pelham and often include allegations of robbery or burglary. Burglary is theft from a structure while robbery alleges that you stole from a person by force or threat of force. As such, robbery is the more serious of the two charges, although both frequently lead to prison time and/or lengthy periods of probation. An experienced Pelham theft defense lawyer can often succeed in having the charges reduced or dismissed, by challenging evidence, including the results of search warrants, or by working with prosecutors to obtain a deal in a client’s best interests.
Drug charges in Pelham are also quite common. The seriousness of the charges can depend on the type and quantity of drugs involved, whether you are accused of possession or of drug sales, and of whether the alleged drug activity occurred near a school or other sensitive area. The selling of drugs or drug paraphernalia to juveniles can be particularly serious and can trigger Alabama’s mandatory minimum sentencing, which may leave a defendant facing a mandatory prison sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Common drug charges include illegal possession of prescription drugs, marijuana charges, grow houses, manufacturing and cultivation, possession and methamphetamine charges.
Domestic violence and assault charges are an area of law that sees plenty of activity; too often, a defendant is unfairly charged. A domestic violence defense lawyer in Pelham must be particularly vigilant; false accusations made during contentious breakups or during divorce or child custody battles can be particularly devastating to a defendant. In some cases, a protection order may even prevent you from returning home or seeing your children. These laws are among the most abused laws on the books and being unfairly convicted can have life-long penalties, including an inability to own firearms.
As Juvenile Defense Attorneys, we believe special care must be taken in representing teenagers charged with a crime. Too often, the courts and prosecutors look upon sentencing as being punitive, rather than rehabilitative, which is what the law intends when dealing with youthful offenders. Being convicted of a crime as a teenager can have a lasting impact. Consulting an experienced Pelham juvenile defense lawyer should always be the first priority when it comes to protecting your child’s rights.
If you are facing criminal charges in Pelham, don’t wait, contact us for a confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
Pelham DUI Charges & Probabale Cause
Like other areas of Shelby County, we understand that with growth comes an increase in the number of law enforcement officers patrolling the roads. More than 14,000 Alabama motorists are charged with drunk driving each year – the most often filed criminal charge in the state. Defending your rights has become more important than ever amid the constant pressure on law enforcement and lawmakers to increase the penalties faced by those found guilty of driving under the influence.
Sobriety checkpoints, law enforcement roadblocks, roving patrols and periods of increased enforcement may all lead to questionable arrests. So, too, can the conduct of an inexperienced or aggressive officer.
Probable cause is a critical legal issue in drunk driving arrests in Alabama. From time to time we hear about an officer who has made the most drunk driving arrests in a department, or a city, or even in the state. Because of the constant emphasis placed on such arrests by superiors and by lawmakers, aggressive enforcement is a good career move. Most frequently, such officers pad their stats by playing fast and loose with the issue of probable cause. Staking out a bar or restaurant is one common tactic.
Law enforcement officers often trade strategies among themselves when socializing. One such time-tested strategy is to pull over work trucks after dark during the week – the theory being that the crew stopped at happy hour and there is an increased chance that the driver making his way home after dark is intoxicated.
These are issues an experienced Pelham DUI defense attorney will review in working with you to decide upon the best course of action. Nationwide, the cost of a conviction is as high as $20,000, counting everything from missed work to court costs and increased insurance premiums. Investing in an experienced defense lawyer can help protect your rights, your job, and your ability to drive. And can help ensure that you are not setting yourself up for additional legal problems down the road.
If you are facing a drunk driving charge in Pelham or the surrounding area, contact us for a confidential consultation to discuss your rights.