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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Wilmington, NC

Our Recommended Best Wilmington Criminal Defense Lawyers

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Wilmington criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

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Providers

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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
401 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (30)
Avvo
4.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Wagoner Law Firm, PLLC, provides criminal defense to those in Wilmington and the rest of North Carolina. It reviews evidence, interviews witnesses, and develops a legal strategy to protect the rights of clients who have been arrested and charged with drug crimes, traffic violations, underage drinking, sex crimes, and domestic violence. The law firm has served the community for over 15 years and helped acquit a client charged with insurance fraud.

Joel Merritt Wagoner is experienced in representing clients before jury trials and district court judges. He received his Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law with Latin honors. Joel is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
615 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (115)
Avvo
5.0 (16)
Facebook
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

James Rutherford, Attorney at Law, defends individuals detained or accused of crimes in Wilmington, North Carolina. It works with prosecutors to lower charges against defendants or bargain plea agreements for lesser punishments. It also protects clients' rights in various criminal defense proceedings to help them achieve the best possible outcomes in their cases, such as charge dismissals and exoneration. Owner James Rutherford is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a criminal law specialist.

James Rutherford is a criminal defense lawyer with over 19 years of legal experience. He holds a field sobriety testing certification from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2013 to 2015.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
321 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (120)
Avvo
4.9 (36)

Why choose this provider?

Led by an attorney who is a former law enforcement officer at the Rocky Mount Police Department, The Gross Law Group serves Wilmington, North Carolina. It provides criminal defense to clients facing a range of charges, including DWI, drug abuse, assault, robbery, and felonies like murder. With an understanding of state and federal legal systems, the Gross Law Group is dedicated to protecting clients' rights and achieving favorable outcomes through detailed case analysis and courtroom advocacy.

David K. Gross brings extensive experience in law enforcement and legal practice. His professional background includes service in the U.S. Air Force and the Army National Guard. During his time in law enforcement, he worked on cases involving narcotics, firearms, and felonies such as rape and murder. He also served on the department's Narcotics Enforcement Team, collaborating with federal agencies like the DEA and SBI.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
3490 Old Ocean Highway, Bolivia, NC 28422

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (302)
Facebook
5.0 (98)
Avvo
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Established in 2007, Sullivan Law offers criminal defense to the citizens of North Carolina, including areas such as Wilmington. It was founded to provide strong representation to defendants in the interest of justice by conducting investigations, scrutinizing police reports, reviewing witness statements, and examining submitted evidence to look for gaps in the prosecution's case. The firm constructs compelling arguments to support its clients’ version of events to have charges dismissed or reduced.

Dustin R. T. Sullivan is a strong supporter and active member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. He was also part of the National Advocacy for DUI Defense from 2014 to 2016. Sullivan has been featured on national television outlets during his legal work and has appeared on "Teen Mom 2" on MTV. Sullivan graduated from the Appalachian School of Law.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
4434 Main Street, Shallotte, NC 28470

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (9)
Google
4.0 (8)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

W. James Payne Law Firm provides criminal defense to the residents of Wilmington, North Carolina. It provides personalized and results-driven representation to protect clients' rights in cases resulting from murder and violent, military, and white-collar crimes. Its attorney has an unwavering commitment to protecting defendants’ lives, property, and liberty by tenaciously and aggressively fighting for them and striving to achieve the most favorable results. W. James Payne has over 40 years of experience defending the accused in thousands of cases.

Criminal defense attorney W. James Payne is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve colonel who served for 30 years in the military, five of which he spent as a judge. He is a highly sought-after lecturer and writer on white-collar defense and other criminal law topics. Payne obtained his J.D. from Campbell University's Law School.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
4626 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (36)
Facebook
4.6 (16)
Avvo
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Girdwood & Williams, PLLC, has over 33 years of combined legal experience and has dealt with over 300 DWI charges. The criminal defense firm represents those in Wilmington, North Carolina, who have been accused of various offenses, such as assault and illegal possession of weapons. It also helps those issued a traffic ticket for speeding, driving on a suspended license, and fleeing to elude arrest. Those who wish to have their criminal records expunged can consult the firm.

Richard Scott Girdwood has been practicing law since 2004. He accommodates clients charged with alcohol and drug offenses, including DWI. Richard graduated from Campbell University School of Law and has been a DRC-certified mediator since 2014.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Wilmington
212 Walnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (165)
Facebook
4.9 (52)
Avvo
4.6 (22)

Why choose this provider?

Goolsby Law Firm provides criminal defense services in Wilmington, North Carolina. It has a track record of obtaining acquittals and minimizing penalties for its clients facing charges for white-collar crimes, traffic violations, and drug offenses. It also accommodates those who need help with probation violations. Goolsby Law Firm is led by lawyer Thom Goolsby, who has been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel under its Nation’s Top One Percent category.

Former North Carolina senator Thom Goolsby is a criminal defense lawyer providing legal services since 1993. He previously secured probation for a client whose best pre-trial offer was 18 months of active time.

Compare Best Wilmington Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
The Wagoner Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
401 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
James Rutherford, Attorney at Law
615 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Gross Law Group, PLLC
321 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Sullivan Law
3490 Old Ocean Highway, Bolivia, NC 28422
W. James Payne Law Firm
4434 Main Street, Shallotte, NC 28470
Girdwood & Williams, PLLC
4626 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405
Goolsby Law Firm
212 Walnut Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Wilmington, NC Criminal Defense FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Wilmington, North Carolina?

    The Wilmington Police Department can be reached at 910-343-3600 or at 910-452-6120 for information and non-emergency dispatches, respectively.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Wilmington, North Carolina?

    Local residents can visit the Wilmington Police Department's Records Section to request and obtain copies of crime and incident reports. These become available after five to seven business days since their filing. The Records Section can be reached at 910-343-3640 for additional inquiries. People can also visit the department's Police to Citizen website at http://p2c.wilmingtonnc.gov/ to search for specific reports and print public police records.

  • Do property crimes commonly occur in Wilmington?

    Yes, property crimes are relatively common in Wilmington. Based on crime statistics derived from more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the country, the city averages 31.07 property crimes per 1,000 residents compared to the state's median of 22.04. It also records more than 2,000 theft incidents and over 450 burglaries per 100,000 residents on an annual basis. As such, an individual in Wilmington has a 1-in-32 chance of becoming a victim of property crime.

  • When does a person become eligible for an expunction in Wilmington?

    An individual in Wilmington becomes eligible for an expungement if they have not had any subsequent convictions within two years from the date of their misdemeanor. The person in question must also not have any prior felony convictions to be deemed eligible. However, exceptions may apply for non-violent and low-level felonies that occurred over 15 years ago, or more than four years ago if the individual was convicted before their 18th birthday.

  • What are the conditions for probation in Wilmington?

    According to North Carolina law, a defendant in Wilmington under probation must not commit any criminal offenses in any jurisdiction, and they must submit to routine searches of their home as carried out by a probation officer. The individual in question must also remain within the state, undergo periodic drug and alcohol testing, and avoid using alcohol or drugs (unless prescribed). In addition, they must follow a given curfew and pay any reparations and supervision fees.

  • What is the difference between a temporary and final domestic violence protective order in Wilmington?

    In domestic violence cases in Wilmington, a temporary protective order is filed to grant immediate protection to a spouse from their abuser, and it expires after a formal court hearing begins. This typically occurs after 10 days from when the order is granted or within seven days from the date that the respondent in the case is served. Conversely, a final domestic violence protective order is issued after a full court hearing and can last for one to three years.

  • What is the statute of limitations for crimes in Wilmington?

    In line with North Carolina law, the statute of limitations in Wilmington lasts for two years for misdemeanor crimes, ranging from Class 3 to Class A1. However, this can last up to 10 years for misdemeanors involving child abuse, neglect, and sexual battery, as well as the failure to report such crimes. Felony crimes such as armed robbery, second-degree rape, and voluntary manslaughter have no statute of limitations.