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252-460-4190TOP 10 BEST LAW FIRMS BY AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF DWI ATTORNEYS
TOP 100 NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF TRIAL ATTORNEYS
Carteret County DWI & Felony Crimes Attorneys
As opposed to misdemeanor convictions, felony convictions usually have far severer penalties, ranging from fines to jail time. While misdemeanor convictions often come with jail time that is less than 1 year (or no jail time at all), felony convictions often result in more than 1 year of jail time.
A felony is a serious charge that can lead to heavy consequences if the defendant is convicted - in North Carolina, felony convictions can result from a variety of charges, including:
Murder
Rape
Child molestation
Conspiracy to commit murder
Aggravated assault
Involuntary manslaughter
Human trafficking
Robbery
Intimidating a witness
Forgery
Making terror threats
If you’ve been charged with a felony, it is imperative that you retain legal representation right away. Our legal team at Cummings & Kennedy Law Firm, PLLC can help you to understand your rights, your legal options, and how to navigate upcoming settings in court. We may be able to have the charge dropped, for instance, or at least reduced, if the circumstances allow it.
Joe Kennedy continues to aggressively defend thousands of clients charged across a full range of crimes in Carteret County since leaving the District Attorney’s office for private practice in 2012. As a prosecutor, Joe was continuously exposed to the strategies and tactics of elders in the criminal defense bar while gaining valuable insight into the techniques, procedures, sources, and methods of seasoned members of state and local law enforcement agencies operating within Carteret County. During that time, Joe received concentrated training through the NC Department of Health and Human Services on the Intox EC/IR II (Intoximeter) and DWI Detection & Standardization Field Sobriety Testing as promulgated by the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA).
While working as a prosecutor, Joe also served on the adjunct faculty at Carteret Community College and taught Criminal and Constitutional Law. He currently serves on the College’s Board of Law and Technology. Joe received his BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from UNC Chapel Hill in 2000 while serving as Treasurer of the Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. He interned for (then) Congressman Richard Burr’s Washington, D.C. office, followed by work in Raleigh and Charlotte. Joe attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and interned as a Civilian Summer Law Clerk at the Joint Law Center aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where he developed an appreciation for the unique legal issues facing men and women in uniform stationed near the Crystal Coast.
Memberships and Affiliations:
- American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys
- American Association of Attorney Advocates
- DUI Defense Lawyer’s Association
- National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- National College for DUI Defense
- The National Trial Lawyers
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- North Carolina State Bar
- The North Carolina Bar Association
- Current President/Treasurer – Carteret County Bar
- 2017 President – 3B Judicial District Bar
- 2016 Vice President – 3B Judicial District Bar
- 2015 Secretary – 3B Judicial District Bar
Carteret County Felony Crimes Attorneys
What Our Clients Have To Say
Joe Kennedy
With Cummings and Kennedy Law Firm, PLLC on your side, you will be defending against your felony charges with a formidable and experienced team.
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Carteret County, NC law enforcement officers can and will conduct enhanced investigations in connection with routine traffic stops, checkpoints, and wrecks where consumption of alcohol and/or drugs is suspected prior to, or during, the operation of the motor vehicle. Drivers in Carteret County, NC will be placed under arrest in connection with those enhanced investigations where law enforcement develops probable cause to believe that an individual has operated a motor vehicle on the streets, highways, or public vehicular areas of Carteret County within a relevant time of consuming a sufficient amount of some impairing substance(s) to cause appreciable impairment of the driver’s mental and/or physical faculties.
Definitions in North Carolina’s DWI statute are highly technical and may prove pivotal to the State’s ability to secure a guilty verdict, or a defendant’s ability to mount a successful defense resulting in a finding of not guilty. Be advised: North Carolina’s Driving While Impaired (DWI) statute applies to more than any variant of car, truck, or crossover: bicycles, golf carts, ATV’s and lawn mowers are among the vehicles covered by NC’s DWI statute. North Carolina also has specific laws for Boating While Impaired (BWI). The DWI statute gives an officer multiple routes to establish impairment when making an arrest in an attempt to secure a conviction: (1) proof that an operator’s Breath or Blood Alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher, and (2) “appreciable impairment” of an operator’s mental and/or physical faculties. The BAC threshold is 0.00% for drivers younger than 21 years old. Commercial drivers must never operate a commercial vehicle with a BAC that equals or exceeds 0.04%.
Carteret County DWI Lawyers
Can a Felony Be Expunged?
Conviction does not have to be the final reality. As of December 1, 2017, first offenders convicted of a felony while under the age of 18 may petition for expungement of their criminal record. Such an eligible candidate must also show a clean criminal history since their conviction. Note that in certain cases, traffic violations may not hinder an individual’s eligibility for expungement. A felony conviction is only eligible for expungement after 4 years from the date of the conviction or 4 years after the date of a served sentence. Contact our legal team to learn more about whether you are eligible to expunge your felony.
A Unique Defense Team Comprising a Former Prosecutor, Board-Certified Paralegals, and an Investigative Agent
While all criminal charges should be taken seriously, it is important to note that felony charges are much more severe than misdemeanors. Felony charges can relate to everything from manslaughter to domestic violence to drug crimes. While differing in type, however, felony charges all have one thing in common – unrelenting, life-altering penalties. Felonies are not something that can be dealt with in a month and then forgotten about. As a result, when facing a felony charge, you should consult an experienced Carteret County felony attorney you can trust to provide you with high-quality and experienced representation when it matters most.
At Cummings and Kennedy Law Firm, PLLC, we know the issues surrounding felony crimes and are firmly devoted to providing our clients with world class representation. We are a unique team led by a former prosecutor and supported by three NC board-certified paralegals and a special investigative agent with the state who can provide relevant legal and medical counsel.
- Alex S.
"Very convenient and professional definitely would recommend especially if it's your first speeding ticket in years."
- Ryan M.
"My specific case took several years and at no moment did I think Mr. Kennedy did not have my best interest at heart."
