Harmon Law, PLLC

Insurance companies are usually looking for any reason to increase your rates and the DMV will revoke your license for many different minor traffic tickets if you plead guilty or just pay it off. Lawyer fees for speeding tickets start at $150 and usually eliminate the need to take a day off work and wait around in court all day. Different rates may be quoted depending on your speed, your prior driving history, and what type of charge you were cited with. Every court case is unique, and every client has a unique experience. Schedule an appointment for a free consultation to determine what options you may have in protecting your license and keeping your insurance costs low.

Paying off a ticket or pleading guilty to a moving violation while suspended will add on an additional year of revocation. However, there are ways to get you back on the road legally, avoid jail time, and reduce or eliminate fines. Not having a license can drastically reduce your earnings. Schedule an appointment to determine what your options are.

If you are being investigated or have already been charged with a felony, contact an attorney immediately before answering any questions or making a statement. If you or someone you know has been arrested and is being held on a secured bond, it may be possible to get the bond lowered or unsecured.

If you have never been charged with a crime before, it is crucial to keep your record clean. If you already have a record, it is important to not add to it. There are many options available that can result in your charge getting dismissed. It is not advisable to represent yourself no matter what you are charged with, so contact our office to determine what options may be available for you.

Just because your case was dismissed or you were found not guilty of a crime does not mean that you have a Clean Record. When you are charged with a crime, the charging officer turns a copy of the paperwork over to the Clerk of Court where a file is set up both as a hard copy and electronically. When your case is over, even if you are found not guilty or your case was dismissed, there is still a “Record” on file that can be accessed by employers, educators, landlords, etc.. However, an expungment is a court order that requires everything to be destroyed and erased so that it cannot be viewed or accessed by anyone. There are some cases that can be expunged even though you were found guilty.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Impaired (DWI) can have serious consequences to your livelihood. North Carolina prosecutors’ hands are tied when it comes to negotiation and reducing charges for DUI’s and DWI’s. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Boone or Watauga County, it is critical to take immediate and appropriate action towards building your legal defense. Since DWI’s are not reduced or negotiated by the District Attorney, most of the time you have two options: plead guilty or go to trial. Depending on your case and underlying historical factors, your case can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony conviction. Navigating your case and determining whether to plea or go to trial is a very important decision and should not be made without a thorough investigation to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

Our criminal defense law firm represents clients in state court throughout Watauga County, Avery County, Wilkes County, Ashe County, and Caldwell County. Drug addiction is a public health crisis in North Carolina and the United States. The High Country of North Carolina is no exception to the pandemic. State and federal governments criminalize the possession of controlled substances without addressing underlying factors such as addiction. If you are facing a narcotics charge in and around Boone, North Carolina, you should immediately seek legal counsel. Harmon Law is experienced in challenging the state’s evidence to have your charges reduced or dismissed and can help you seek alternative options such as drug deferrals programs.

Despite evolving laws and regulations around medical and recreational marijuana use in the United States, cannabis is classified as a controlled substance in North Carolina. In Boone and Watauga County, it is illegal to possess marijuana even with a legally obtained out-of-state medical cannabis prescription. If you are facing charges relating to marijuana possession, trafficking, paraphernalia, or cultivation, it is crucial to keep convictions off your criminal record. At Harmon Law, we have handled hundreds of possession cases in the High Country of North Carolina. In cases where clients are proactive about their charges, our firm can have marijuana-related crimes reduced or dismissed. No matter your criminal history, you need to seek legal counsel to set your best course for a favorable outcome. Pleading guilty to a drug charge can have detrimental consequences where you may be denied employment, loans, and educational opportunities. To ensure that your rights are not violated and for a sound legal defense, contact Harmon Law to schedule an appointment.

Are you a student at Appalachian State University who was recently arrested for an alleged criminal offense? Exercise your right to remain silent until you are able to contact Harmon Law. Every year, thousands of students enroll in North Carolina colleges and universities around Boone. While students are looking forward to their bright futures, the college experience sometimes can have distractions resulting in criminal behavior. Mistakes or misunderstandings can derail an academic career impacting the student’s ability to remain in school. Colleges and universities may suspend or expel a student for their criminal behavior. The outcome of felony or misdemeanor criminal charges is critical to determining the student’s future in the job market and education. Our experienced Boone criminal defense lawyer can help you protect your future and rights by presenting a comprehensive case against criminal charges.

Don’t pay off a citation, plead guilty, or accept responsibility for an underage alcohol offense, speak to an attorney to determine what your options might be. Under North Carolina Law, there are multiple alcohol offenses that an underage person can be charged with for drinking or possessing alcohol. Chapter 18B-302(b): Regulation of Alcoholic Beverages of the North Carolina General Statutes define the purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol as unlawful for: – A person less than 21 years old to purchase, to attempt to purchase, or to possess malt beverages or unfortified wine; or – A person less than 21 years old to purchase, to attempt to purchase, or to possess fortified wine, spirituous liquor, or mixed beverages; or – A person less than 21 years old to consume any alcoholic beverage. We often hear about different types of underage drinking charges referred to as drinking tickets, minors in possession of alcohol, underage possession, possession of alcohol, open container, consuming tickets, and so on. Often Law Enforcement Officers charge the incorrect offense or mistakenly charge an offense when one was not actually committed. So before you pay off a citation, plead guilty, or accept responsibility for one of these charges, speak to an attorney to determine what your options might be.