DeKalb County Criminal Law Blog

Did an officer illegally search your vehicle?

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Friday, August 14, 2020.

Your knowledge of the law may be minimal at best. Like most people in Georgia and across the country, you likely know enough about legal issues to know what actions could get you in trouble. However, also like many people, you may not know enough about your legal rights to fully know whether an officer violated those rights during a traffic stop.

If you found yourself pulled over by a police officer and that traffic stop ended in your arrest, you may have a suspicion that the officer did not conduct him- or herself in accordance with the law. In particular, you feel that the officer may have illegally searched your vehicle. How can you know?

Are you a suspect in a smash and grab burglary?

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Friday, May 15, 2020.

Grainy security footage, mistaken identity, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and other factors could result in a person facing criminal charges for something he or she had no involvement in. You may have recently found yourself under arrest after authorities responded to reports of a burglary and, for whatever reason, considered you the prime suspect.

You may have tried to explain that you had no involvement, but likely, the police did not take you at your word. A smash and grab burglary took place, and police may believe that you show up on surveillance video or may have found you in the area where the burglary took place around the time it occurred. Though you want to vehemently maintain your innocence, you must now do so in court.

Did trying to defend yourself lead to assault or battery charges?

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

When a situation gets out of hand, it can be difficult to know exactly what happened. You may have been minding your own business when someone else got in your face or when a seemingly minor incident turned into an unnecessary altercation. Whatever the case, you ended up in a physical altercation with another person.

In the heat of the moment, your thoughts may have only revolved around protecting yourself or maybe a loved one. You may have even tried to apologize for a misunderstanding and walk away. Unfortunately, the other party involved continued to antagonize you until you felt you had no choice but to fight back.

Drug trafficking is a serious charge; know your options

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Thursday, November 21, 2019.

Landing in serious trouble with the law can have long-lasting consequences. You may have tried to keep your life on the straight and narrow, but various circumstances may have led you off course. You may have told yourself time and time again that you would get back on track, but unfortunately, you were not able to do so before you came under the radar of law enforcement.

Now, you stand accused of serious drug-related charges in Georgia. You may undoubtedly worry that these accusations may ruin your future, but you may want to keep in mind that you have the right to defend against any allegations brought against you, including those for drug trafficking.

Did authorities accuse you of shoplifting?

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Friday, August 23, 2019.

The path that life takes any Georgia resident differs from person to person. In some cases, people may wonder how their lives ended up just where they did. This feeling may be particularly prevalent for individuals who have had criminal charges brought against them.

If authorities have accused you of some type of theft, your mind may already be reeling in regard to how you ended up in this situation. Unfortunately, the worry and anxiety you feel may not be helping you determine how to best address the criminal charges you face. Fortunately, you can help yourself by becoming more knowledgeable about the allegations and your legal options.

What you wear in court matters

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Friday, June 28, 2019.

Anna Sorokin, known as the “socialist scammer,” and Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the now-dismantled health technology company Theranos, are prime examples of how your courtroom outfit can factor into the outcome of your case. Lawyers and law firms have been long-known to hire image consultants, but courtroom style has become so big that dedicated “courtroom stylists,” are now a thing. It is rare that the average defendant could afford a stylist to guide them toward making a good first impression in court – but nonetheless – what you choose to wear is something to think about.

Speaking to Huffington Post, Julie Zerbo, a Toronto based image consultant, mentioned “Your appearance is part of your presence

Can you refuse a breath test in a DUI stop?

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

You are driving home after a casual night out. Just minutes from arriving home, you spot red and blue lights behind your car. Nervous, you pull over. Now with thoughts racing through your head, you wonder whether you should consent to taking a breath test.

Georgia's implied consent law stated that drivers consent to cooperating with law enforcement officials and taking roadside tests. However, a recent decision by the Georgia Supreme Court has dramatically affected the state’s DUI law. This decision affects both the approach of police officers and the decisions of drivers in DUI stops.

Fake fantasy football league sends Atlanta man to court for fraud

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.

Recently, an Atlanta man appeared in court for allegedly scamming investors out of money intended to start a fantasy football league. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the man received $500,000 to start the league, but he instead used the money to dine at restaurants and take personal vacations. He then allegedly withheld information about the money when he filed federal income tax returns. Because of his actions, the man faces charges of wire fraud and tax fraud.

There are several actions that are considered federal tax fraud, including:

Intentionally underreporting income
Reporting personal expenses as business expenses
Failing to deposit cash payments to avoid tax consequences
Inflating the value of business expenses

Your criminal activity may stop you from working with children

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense on Friday, August 24, 2018.

You have a criminal record for crimes you committed in your younger years. Though, at the time, the punishments and penalties seemed minuscule, you now realize that you may not have the ability to apply for your dream position as a caretaker of children.

Criminal activity affects some job applicants from receiving a second look. Though you may possess the aptitude and experience for the position, your passionate attitude may not be enough for your potential employer to look past your transgressions with the law. It proves important to speak with an attorney about expungements in Georgia, but if you cannot remove your charges from your record, you may want to consider different career paths.

Georgia man accused of several felonies after domestic incident

On behalf of Cohen & Hirsch Criminal Defense posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, July 12, 2018.

In many ways, it is amazing to consider how one incident can ultimately completely alter the course of a person's life. A person charged with a crime, for example, will likely be left creating new plans for their future. One man in Georgia may be doing so following his recent arrest; he is now accused of multiple felonies and misdemeanors.

Police claim that they became involved with the man when they received a phone call about a domestic incident at approximately 6:30 a.m. on a day in early July. The caller reportedly claimed that a man had been physically violent while under the influence of drugs. Reports indicate that statements made by children at the home and physical injuries on a woman indicated physical abuse.

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