a

Facebook

Twitter

Copyright 2015 Libero Themes.
All Rights Reserved.

8:00 - 19:00

Our Opening Hours Mon. - Fri.

843-800-0809

Call Us For Free Consultation

Facebook

Twitter

Search
Menu

Criminal Defense

When you have been charged with a crime, it can make you feel powerless. But no matter what the charge, you still have rights under the law. You deserve smart, tenacious criminal defense attorneys who know what they’re doing.

We Know Charleston’s Criminal System

Criminal defense attorney representing a defendant in courtAs former local prosecutors, our lawyers know how governmental forces can make your life difficult. When you work with us, we will use our knowledge of the state and local legal systems to vigorously protect your rights under the law.

 

Attorneys Trip Riesen and Rutledge DuRant are both former prosecutors. 

 

Now in private practice, we represent those accused of multiple crimes, which may include the following offenses:

  • Drunk driving violations, including license suspensions and refusals to submit to BAC tests
  • Illegal substances — drug possession, trafficking, distribution, manufacturing, and cultivation
  • Assault and battery
  • Criminal domestic violence and child abuse cases
  • Theft and robbery, including financial identity fraud
  • Felony crimes
  • Weapons offenses — violations of eligibility requirements for ownership, ownership of illegal weapons, and violations of federal gun control laws
  • Illegal Substances (Link to drug crimes page)
  • Domestic Violence (Link to assault and criminal domestic violence page)

 

If you have been charged with a crime, be sure to hire a criminal defense attorney who knows the community and the South Carolina legal system from inside-out. Trip Riesen and Rutledge DuRant are ready to use their knowledge of the Charleston courts to fight on your behalf.

Get A Free Consultation Today

Let us know how we can help. Call us at our Mount Pleasant office: 843-800-0809. Or, email us via our online contact form and we will be in touch to set up a time to meet.

Know What To Do After A Drunk Driving Arrest

DUI arrestFor most South Carolina citizens, a DUI arrest is a scary experience. Wondering what to do after a DUI can make you too anxious to think clearly, which is why it is important to keep the following things in mind.

 

At Riesen DuRant, we recommend the following steps to take after a DUI arrest:

 

Stay silent but polite and cooperative. It’s your right to say nothing, so it’s smart to be cooperative but quiet during an arrest. Don’t make the mistake of incriminating yourself. Everything you say and do will be recorded both by audio and video from the moment the officer approaches your vehicle until you are transported to the police station and asked to provide a breath sample.

 

Call an attorney right away. Remember that the state has to prove you broke the law. If the evidence they have against you is weak or flawed, an attorney can negotiate on your behalf, which may result in the charges being lowered or dropped altogether.

What We Can Do For You

When you hire our DUI attorneys after your arrest, we will fight to challenge the evidence being used against you. Our goal will always be to reduce or eliminate the penalties you face for drunk driving.  As former prosecutors, we understand the process from the State’s perspective.

 

Are You Ready To Face These Penalties? And the Possible Collateral Consequences?

 

There are many ways our DUI attorneys can evaluate and, if necessary, challenge the evidence against you and help alleviate some of the penalties you may be facing. Those penalties can be severe and life-altering, so it’s crucial that you consider them carefully before pleading guilty.

 

Ask yourself:

  • Are you ready to take the bus and attend meetings for six months? If you refuse a BAC test or plead guilty to a DUI, your license is automatically suspended and you will face hundreds of dollars’ worth of fines, depending on your situation. You will also be required to enroll in the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program.
  • Does your current employment depend on maintaining a clean criminal record? If so, then a guilty plea or conviction might put your job in jeopardy.
  • Do you need to be able to pass a background check for a financial application, a job application or volunteer work? A criminal conviction may affect these outcomes as well.

 

It may seem easier to just accept a DUI conviction than to hire a Charleston DUI lawyer to fight for you, but if you do, know that it could negatively impact your life for years to come. There is absolutely nothing wrong with accepting responsibility but your constitutional rights also require that law enforcement follow the law and experienced lawyers can make sure your rights are protected.

 

Pursue the best defense.

We Offer Free Consultation

Let us know how we can help. Call us at our Mount Pleasant office: 843-800-0809. Or, email us via our online contact form and we will be in touch to set up a time to meet.

Assault & Criminal Domestic Violence

Defending Your Right To Legal Protection

 

Judge watching over a criminal trialIn South Carolina, assault and criminal domestic violence cases are treated extremely seriously. If you have been accused of committing a criminally violent act against another person, contact our domestic violence attorneys right away. Our experienced, aggressive domestic violence attorneys are ready to protect your rights.

 

A Record Of Violence Can Change Your Future

 

Criminal domestic violence cases can be very complex. There are often competing versions of events and misunderstandings that can lead to a variety of outcomes when presented to the court. Without quick action on your part, a simple disagreement can profoundly affect your future.

 

Penalties for domestic violence and assault can range from small fines and short jail time to bigger fines and more jail time. If weapons are involved, you can expect a stiffer punishment, including the loss of your ability to legally possess a firearm.

 

Former Charleston Prosecutors On Your Side

 

When you contact our office, we will use our years of experience as Charleston domestic violence attorneys to advocate on your behalf. We will work to build the strongest defense possible, no matter the severity of the charge or your previous criminal history.

 

Assault and criminal domestic violence charges are serious crimes that require serious lawyers who know the local community. We have lived and worked in the Charleston area for decades. You can trust that we know the courts and the legal system well.

 

Pursue the best defense.

Call Us For A Free Consultation

Let us know how we can help. Call us at our Mount Pleasant office: 843-800-0809. Or, email us via our online contact form and we will be in touch to set up a time to meet.

Drug Crimes

Former Prosecutors Have The Experience You Need

 

Drug arrest legal defenseIf you have been charged with a drug crime in South Carolina, you need an aggressive criminal attorney by your side. At Riesen DuRant, we know the system inside and out. As former prosecutors, we can use our knowledge to provide you with outstanding strategic defense in your case.

 

We Handle All Types Of Drug Cases

 

We handle all South Carolina drug crimes, no matter the circumstances. These charges might include:

  • Simple possession
  • Possession with intent to distribute
  • Distribution
  • Trafficking
  • Manufacturing
  • Cultivation
  • Punishments Can Increase Quickly

 

Potential punishments may include a simple fine for possession to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years. It is important to know that many penalties for drug crimes include graduated offenses. That means penalties may increase with each subsequent offense. If you have a prior offense, you will definitely want a tough, experienced South Carolina lawyer by your side.

 

Our goal is to use our knowledge of the system to aggressively pursue the best defense possible for you. Our experience as prosecutors enables us to anticipate legal hurdles and work strategically on your behalf, protecting your rights and putting your best case forward.

 

Pursue the best defense

We Offer Free Consultation

Let us know how we can help. Call us at our Mount Pleasant office: 843-800-0809. Or, email us via our online contact form and we will be in touch to set up a time to meet. We look forward to hearing from you.

A Guilty Plea Should Be The Last Resort

Pleading guilty to DUI should be your last option, not your first. Even if you provided a BAC sample and were well beyond the legal limit, that doesn’t mean you need to let the power of the law lie only with the government. As an individual, you have rights, too. Call our DUI attorneys first.

 

At Riesen DuRant, we understand how the Charleston legal systems work and as former prosecutors, we are very familiar with just how powerful our state DUI laws can be. When you have us by your side, you can trust that we are looking out for your freedom.

 

Don’t Lose Your License Or Go To Jail

 

If you have been charged with DUI, you could face heavy fines, permanent suspension of your license, or even jail. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to defend your rights, and we will fight hard to get the charges resolved in a way that keeps your liberties intact.

 

In South Carolina, a DUI is a misdemeanor offense that can result in a number of penalties that leave you with a permanent criminal record. Having a criminal record will make it difficult for you to pass standard background checks that may be required for employment, housing and financial assistance. It’s important to protect yourself from these collateral consequences.

 

Why Hire A DUI Lawyer? Why Not Just Plead Guilty?

 

In short, it’s your right to defend yourself. DUI cases are not as clear-cut as they often seem. Challenging the charges means protecting your freedom and future opportunities by preventing a DUI from being on your record. As DUI attorneys, we can challenge the evidence by reviewing police reports and questioning BAC tests, which could minimize or eliminate the impact a DUI charge has on your life.

 

Due to the life-altering legal consequences that are involved, it is always in your best interest to hire a DUI defense lawyer to defend yourself. We have the legal background and knowledge it takes to fight charges of drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs.

We Offer Free Consultation

Let us know how we can help. Call us at our Mount Pleasant office: 843-800-0809. Or, email us via our online contact form and we will be in touch to set up a time to meet.

Contact us now

free consultation