Articles Posted in Criminal Defense

What Is a Misdemeanor in Georgia? A misdemeanor in Georgia is a criminal offense less serious than a felony but more serious than a local ordinance violation. Misdemeanors are usually tried in state court or municipal court rather than superior court. Shoplifting merchandise worth $500 or less from a retail store is a common example…

What Is an Abandonment Warrant in Georgia? An abandonment warrant is an arrest warrant issued when a parent is accused of willfully abandoning a dependent child without necessary support. This support includes food, clothing, and shelter. In Georgia, this criminal charge is separate from civil child support enforcement and carries potential jail time. Understanding the…

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is an FBI database built for police work. It contains records on wanted persons, missing persons, and stolen property. It also links each officer to the FBI's national index of criminal history records. Law enforcement and authorized criminal justice agencies across the country share that information in real time.…

What Is a No Trespassing Order in Georgia? A no trespassing order in Georgia is not a formal court order. It is a criminal trespass warning – sometimes called a "ban letter" or criminal trespass notice. A property owner or authorized person gives this notice to someone they want to keep off their property. Once…

What Is Odometer Fraud? Odometer fraud – also called odometer tampering or "clocking" – means changing a car's mileage to fool a buyer. A seller may roll back, disconnect, reset, or simply misrepresent the number. The goal is to hide how far the vehicle has actually travelled. That inflates the resale price, and it conceals…

What Are Home Defense Laws? Home defense laws are state statutes and common-law doctrines. They govern when a resident may use force – including deadly force – against an intruder. Home defense laws by state differ dramatically, and the rules where you live may look nothing like the rules one state over. Three core legal…

Is There an Official Dress Code for Jury Duty? Most courts do not publish a strict uniform dress code for jury duty, but they do require attire that shows respect for the court. Your jury summons paperwork typically includes general guidance such as "business casual" or "neat and appropriate clothing." Beyond that, expectations can vary…

The Coweta County DA is the elected prosecutor for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, and this office brings felony cases on behalf of the State of Georgia. Under Georgia law, the district attorney replaced the older office of solicitor-general, a change that took effect July 1, 1977, per the district attorney statute. The circuit covers five…

What Does Making False Statements Mean in Georgia? Making false statements is a crime in Georgia, and prosecutors bring the charge far more often than most people realize. A person violates the statute by knowingly and willfully deceiving a state or local government department or agency. The deception may be a spoken lie or a…

What Is Swatting? Swatting is a false emergency call made to send armed police to another person's home. The caller often claims there is a hostage, a shooter, or a bomb. The purpose is to draw a large police response to that address. SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics. Those are the specialized units…