Feb 1, 2013 | Criminal Defense, Uncategorized
When a child is a victim of a crime or accident, the child’s testimony will often play a critical role at trial, especially if other evidence is lacking. However, there are obvious issues with a child’s testimony. Will the child be able to communicate his or her thoughts to the judge and jury? Will the child understand the importance of the trial and telling the truth? Is the child being manipulated or unduly influenced? Will a sympathetic child’s testimony unduly sway a jury’s opinion over other persuasive facts and testimony?
The recent South Carolina Supreme Court case State v. Kromah addresses a prevalent practice especially in crimes involving children: the use of forensic interviewers. Given the concern about the truthfulness of children in situations where the child’s welfare is at stake and the competency of children to testify in open court, there arose a filed concerned with training individuals specific expertise in interviewing children and determining the truthfulness of the child. This field is generally called forensic interviewing. If a crime in South Carolina involves a child, the investigation is likely to involve a forensic interviewer and that forensic interviewer is likely to testify at trial.
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Jan 30, 2013 | Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes and Controlled Substances Defense, Felony Drug Possession, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Uncategorized
A Tegay Cay man had been fooling hospital authorities for some time now. According to a report, the man used five different names over a period of almost six years to obtain prescription pills from the Piedmont Medical Center.
Authorities stated that the man obtained the prescription pills by giving the hospital different false names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers to obtain the pills. A nurse and hospital director also stated to police the man came to the hospital on Friday morning complaining of pain and asking for a prescription. One of the nurses identified the man as having used a previous different name at the hospital.
Upon further investigation, the nurse found the man had been to the hospital before and he used different names to obtain controlled substances. Apparently, the man realized police were coming to question him at the hospital as he attempted to eavesdrop a conversation between a nurse and police officer. Authorities located the man in the hospital parking lot where he stated he went to grab his debit card. Officers placed the man under arrest for attempting to obtain the prescription pills and for driving under suspended license as his license had been suspended at the time of arrest.
Any criminal charge can bring hardship to the person facing the accusations. Contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower to consult with one of our criminal attorneys. Our criminal attorneys handle many types of criminal cases in North and South Carolina, including drug charges. Our criminal attorneys want to help you or someone you know with his/her drug charges. We are licensed in both North and South Carolina, where you can contact us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Jan 30, 2013 | Child Accidents, Criminal Defense, Uncategorized
A Gaston County mother is accused of leaving her toddler in a cold car while she went shopping.
According to the warrant, the mother left her two-year-old son in a locked vehicle for almost an hour Tuesday while she went inside Walmart to shop. The temperature was 34 degrees and the vehicle was not running. Investigators say the child was cold to the touch.
The mother is being charged with felony neglect/child abuse resulting in serious injury. If you or someone you know has been charged with a serious crime, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower to consult with one of our criminal attorneys about any criminal charges. Our criminal attorneys handle many types of criminal cases in North and South Carolina and want to help you with your criminal charges. We are licensed in both North and South Carolina, where you can contact us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Jan 30, 2013 | Burglary/Robbery/Larceny, Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes and Controlled Substances Defense, Uncategorized
A man and a woman were arrested in Lincoln County, NC on outstanding warrants and for larceny, according to a police report.
The two were traveling in a vehicle on Highway 18 in Lincoln County when officers pulled the vehicle over at 2 a.m. for speeding. The man had two tires in his backseat and told officers he received the tires from a friend, but could not provide any additional information about the tires. A background check on the two revealed they both had outstanding warrants for their arrest.
The man then admitted to officers he stole the tries from a house on Highway 18 in Cleveland County. The tires were valued at over $300 and were returned to the owner after officers took the man back to the location where he stole them. Contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower to consult with one of our criminal attorneys. Our criminal attorneys handle many types of criminal cases in North and South Carolina. We are licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina, where you can contact us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Jan 28, 2013 | Assault and Battery, Criminal Defense, Felony Possession of a Firearm, Uncategorized
A man trying to repossess a car barely escaped with his life after a Rock Hill man fired a gun at him for coming onto his property, authorities stated.
The homeowner was arrested a week after the incident occurred. Authorities with the York County Sheriff’s Office stated that the homeowner ran outside his home with a shotgun when the man was trying to repossess his car. The homeowner warned the man twice to get off his property before discharging the shotgun behind the wrecker. The homeowner then backed his truck up into the wrecker before speeding away.
One witness told authorities that he saw the incident and heard the gunshot and the homeowner threaten the repo man. The homeowner’s wife said she heard her husband arguing with somebody but did not hear the gun discharge. The man has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful presentment of a firearm and unsafe discharge of a firearm.
If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower to consult with one of our criminal attorneys. Our criminal attorneys handle many types of criminal cases in North and South Carolina. Our criminal attorneys also understand the hardships that come with any criminal charges and want to help you or someone you know through his/her difficult time. We are licensed in both North and South Carolina, where you can contact us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Jan 27, 2013 | Child Accidents, Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes and Controlled Substances Defense, Felony Drug Possession, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Uncategorized
A Rock Hill man and woman are facing multiple drug charges and endangerment of a child charge after both were found in a residence Wednesday with a large amount of heroin and pills around a 1-year old, according to a report. Another man was arrested at the same residence the next day on possession of heroin and possession of pills.
Authorities were responding to a call from the residence on an overdose charge. According to a report with the York County Sheriff’s office, the man arrested at the residence on the first day had been selling prescription pills and heroin to the woman and the man arrested the second day. The man arrested the second day had overdosed at the time of his arrest and was taken to the hospital.
When the authorities discovered the needles and pills, they also discovered the man and woman’s 1-year old son, whom they deemed to be neglected at the time. Both were charged with child endangerment along with possession charges.
If you or a loved one is facing drug charges, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP to consult with one of our criminal attorneys. Our criminal attorneys also handle many other types of criminal cases in North and South Carolina. We are licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina, where you can contact us at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
