DeKalb County Criminal Law Blog

Convicted on criminal charges? You may have the right to appeal

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, June 15, 2018.

You were picked up on a crime in Georgia. Criminal charges were filed against you, and you ended up being convicted after your case was heard in court. Now what? If any errors made during your trial contributed to your conviction, you may have the right to appeal.

Here's the thing: judgment calls and error in procedure by one's attorney or by the prosecution can wind up costing an accused individual his or her freedom. It happens far more often than you would think. The court system is not perfect. This is why the appeal process was put in place.

Criminal records: Who needs to know?

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Friday, June 1, 2018.

As many as one in three adults has a criminal record, but no one expects their child to be one of them. It’s been a challenging road, but now, with lessons learned, you’re trying to help your child navigate the consequences of their decision. Having a criminal record in the U.S. means that just about everyone can find out, including current and future employers. With joblessness being a leading cause of recidivism, a change to the law was past due.

In 2013, the state of Georgia decided that it would be awarding fresh starts to some people with criminal records. If eligible, criminal records restrictions, previously called expungement, can seal a criminal history, reducing some of the barriers to success.

Georgia teacher facing fraud charges fired

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, June 1, 2018.

When it comes to managing the money of an organization, there often may be multiple people who are in charge of it. This could make it difficult to account for how that money is being spent. Unfortunately, a teacher in Georgia, accused of fraud, was recently fired from his position as a result of the criminal charges against him.

The man's arrest stemmed from an anonymous complaint made in May 2017. According to reports, both the tipster and the teacher were members of a local teachers' association; the accused man served as the president. The tipster claimed that over $66,000 was stolen from the organization, and either the president or the treasurer may have been responsible.

2 face drug charges following search of Georgia home

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, May 17, 2018.

Most people in Georgia and across the country have a basic understanding that the U.S. Constitution protects them from certain acts by the government. Despite having this knowledge, they may be unable to recognize and appropriately respond to certain unlawful acts. In fact, two people in Georgia may be wondering about their legal options following their recent arrest on drug charges.

The incident involves a man and a woman, reportedly a teacher in a Georgia school system. Their arrest follows the search of a residence conducted by a drug task force operation. It is unclear what prompted the search of the home.

3 arrested in Georgia, accused of burglary after cashing in coins

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Theft & Property Crimes on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

Many people who are accused of crimes in Georgia have little to no legal training. As a result, they are often unsure how to respond to criminal accusations. In fact, three young people may need guidance as they navigate the criminal process after being accused of burglary.

The events that led to their arrest allegedly happened in late April. Police reportedly responded to a residence after they received a report that "suspicious suspects" were at the front door. A young woman in the home reportedly hid upstairs and claims she heard multiple people enter the home.

10 in Georgia face drug charges following investigation

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

When drug use is relatively prevalent in an area, law enforcement officials -- both local and federal -- are often desperate to show that they are making progress in the war against drugs. While the desire to get illegal drugs off the streets is understandable, that desire often outweighs the need for evidence to support criminal charges. Unfortunately, 10 people in Georgia now face drug charges due to arrests allegedly made in connection to a drug trafficking operation.

Officials say that local officials as well as those with the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation in July 2017 against one of the people recently arrested and his associates. Reports regarding the incident did not clarify what prompted the investigation. However, officials claim that the investigation involved a methamphetamine trafficking operation.

Driver faces criminal charges following Georgia motorcycle crash

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, April 5, 2018.

Anyone who has encountered motorcycles on a Georgia roadway is likely aware that they are sometimes more difficult to see due to their smaller size. Unfortunately, even the safest drivers can sometimes fail to see a motorcyclist, even after taking precautions. In fact, a driver is now facing criminal charges following an accident involving a car and a motorcycle.

The incident happened one afternoon on a day in late March. Reports indicate that a motorcyclist was traveling southbound through an intersection. Unfortunately, another vehicle allegedly entered the intersection, and the two collided.

Man charged with burglary following Dekalb break-in

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Theft & Property Crimes on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Anyone who has attempted to describe a person's face after meeting him or her for the first time likely knows how difficult it is to provide an accurate description. When the describer is under stress and likely in a dark or poorly lit room, the accuracy of that description could be called into question. A man in Dekalb has been arrested and charged with burglary based on details created in a sketch of a suspect.

The incident that led to the man's arrest happened in March. According to reports, a man cut the power to a woman's house before entering it. She claims he began touching himself in the room she shared with her young son while she slept.

Criminal defense: Driver cited following Dekalb crash

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

Drivers often experience unexpected events while driving, and sometimes, things happen so quickly that they have no chance to react. As a result, even the safest of drivers in Dekalb can become involved in an accident with serious consequences. In fact, one woman is likely focused on her criminal defense after police say she was involved in a fatal accident.

The incident happened one afternoon on a day in late February. According to reports, a driver attempted a left turn out of a grocery store parking lot. Unfortunately, the vehicle allegedly struck one of two pedestrians in a crosswalk.

Georgia roommate disagreement results in felony charges

On behalf of Jill Polster of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Felonies on Monday, February 19, 2018.

Anyone who has lived with roommates in Georgia is likely aware of the conflicts that can arise from such an arrangement. Even people who live together who normally get along really well can sometimes become embroiled in a disagreement. Although these arguments rarely result in violence, one man now faces felony charges after police say he attacked three others.

The incident allegedly began as conflict between roommates on a night in early February. Police claim that a 23-year-old man attacked three people with a knife. One of the alleged victims was transported to the hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening while the other two declined medical treatment.