Topsail Island NC Criminal Defense Attorney - Criminal Defense Lawyer

Anyone can be charged with a crime. Just because you are charged does not mean you are guilty. In fact, it is a fundamental principle in the United States, that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  If you are charged with a crime, you should exercise your right to remain silent (which you always have—even before you are read your Miranda rights) and immediately obtain counsel.

Criminal charges, in addition to a sentence imposed by the court, can result in criminal records which can affect a person for their entire life. Therefore, it is very important that people who are charged take the matter seriously and take appropriate steps to avoid or mitigate the negative consequences of criminal charges. In some cases, it is possible to have criminal records expunged, which means the records are removed from the public records and destroyed by a process called expungement.

Even relatively minor charges like traffic tickets can affect one’s driving privileges, employment, and can cause expensive insurance premium increases. Many times these consequences can be avoided, and sometimes without the necessity of our clients appearing in court. North Carolina is one of the few states that has a disposition known as a Prayer for Judgment Continued or PJC. However, a PJC is not always the best result for all traffic matters. One should always consult an attorney experienced in traffic law if they received a traffic citation.

Topsail Beach, North Carolina is located in Pender County, NC and is just south of Surf City, North Carolina. Topsail Beach, NC is on Topsail Island which is located just south of Camp Lejeune and just north of Lea Island.  If you receive a traffic citation or if you are charged with a crime at Topsail Beach, your court date will be in Burgaw, North Carolina at the Pender County court house.  Pender County is part of the 5th judicial district which also includes New Hanover County.  Because New Hanover County and Pender County courts are in the same judicial district, they have the same judges and prosecutors which rotate between the counties.

Collins Law Firm is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and does not have an office in Topsail Beach.  However, we regularly represent people charged with traffic citations or crimes which occur in Topsail Beach for which the court date will be in Burgaw, North Carolina.

The Pender County Courthouse is located at 100 South Wright St. Burgaw, NC 28425.