Raleigh Student Crime

Defense Lawyers
David Coolidge, The Coolidge Law Firm
When you are a high school or college student, youre excited about your future.
However, if you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor in North Carolina,
including alcohol-related offenses, that future could suddenly be in great jeopardy.

We dont always make the wisest choices or find ourselves in the best situations when
we are young. An arrest can happen at a party or at a home, dorm or fraternity. It can
arise at a concert or music hall, bar or restaurant. It can occur in the bleachers at a
sporting event or in the parking lot at a tailgate party. From that point on, your
decisions have to be wise.
Common crimes that high school and college students face in Raleigh, Wake County
and the greater Triangle area include:

Traffic offenses
Possession of alcohol, drugs, or paraphernalia
Underage drinking
DWI/DUI
Violent crimes, including assault and disorderly conduct
Sex crimes, including rape, sexual battery, peeping and indecent
exposure
Theft or property crimes, including larceny, trespassing, and
vandalism
If you are a student under age 16, then you may be charged as juvenile or adult. If
you are treated as a juvenile, then your case will be heard in District Court before a
judge. You may face probation or be ordered to spend time in a juvenile facility. If
you are tried as an adult, your case may be heard first in District Court before a judge
and then appealed to Superior Court for a jury trial. Adult criminal consequences
tend to be more severe than juvenile punishment.
At The Coolidge Law Firm, we know that students face special issues in their
criminal case, such as:

Student aid / admissions: A high school student convicted of a
felony is barred from securing admission or financial aid for college
in most cases. Even a misdemeanor conviction can prevent students
from attending the college of their choice or severely impact
financial aid
Disciplinary action: Even a student who has criminal charges
dismissed may still have to face a school disciplinary board or
student council. These hearings can be daunting, with little due
process protections afforded defendants in the criminal justice
system. The results can be devastating, including suspension,
expulsion or being kicked out of a club or removed from a sports
team.
Our criminal defense attorneys understand the unique issues facing Wake County high
school students and college students charged with crimes, including students from Cary
High, Apex High, Green Hope, Panther Creek, Cardinal Gibbons, Broughton, Millbrook
High, NC State, Wake Tech, Shaw, Meredith College, Duke, UNC, and NC Central. We
will work hard on your case and use all of our experience, resources and skill to deliver
the best possible outcome for you and your family.
We are tough negotiators. We can work with prosecutors on options that include
dismissal, deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued (PJC). In some cases,
we may be able to have a charge reduced to a lesser offense that may one day be
expunged from your criminal record. If no agreement with prosecutors can be reached,
then we will put our aggressive trial advocacy skills to work for you in the courtroom. We
care about our clients future. We work tirelessly to deliver results that will help to protect
that future.
If you or your son or daughter is a student facing criminal charges, our criminal
defense lawyers are just a phone call or a click away. For a free consultation, call us
today at (919) 239-8448.