Simple possesion of marijuana, should i mail the fine, represent myself or hire an attorney?
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Simple possesion of marijuana, should i mail the fine, represent myself or hire an attorney?
Im a 19 yr old resident of NC and i was pulled in SC. Me and my friend were both fined $570 for simple possession. I had a misdemeanor for purchasing tobacco underage when i was 15. Should I mail the fine take the charge and expunge it later? Should I represent myself in court? or should I hire an attorney for $1200? What is the best option?
Asked on June 24, 2009 under Criminal Law, North Carolina
Answers:
M.S., Member, Connecticut Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Although I do not practice law in the State of South Carolina, anytime anyone is accused of committing a crime it is unwise to proceed forward without competent legal representation. Pleading guilty to any crime may stay on your record and cause you unanticipated consequences for years to come. Moreover, it may complicate any future criminal charges that you are accused of. Although I know that $1,200.00 may seem like a large amount of money, and, truth be told, you may end up with the same resolution of these charges without a lawyer, you owe it to yourself and your future to have the best legal representation possible. Therefore, I suggest that you consult with and/or retain a criminal defense attorney in the interest of evaluating both the strength of the state's evidence as well as the merits of any and all potential defenses that may be available to you in order to obtain the most favorable resolution of this matter as possible.
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