On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Aug 19, 2020 | Firm News
In North Carolina, domestic violence is an attempt at bodily harm or harassment to a member of a person’s household. Domestic violence is intentional violence to an aggrieved party. It is not self-defense. When accused of domestic violence, people often receive...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Apr 16, 2020 | Firm News
An allegation of domestic violence often carries with it such a stigma that people in Statesville often rush to judgement against those accused of it. Some might say they have good reason to; statistics tend to show that victims of violent crimes often know (and are...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Aug 31, 2019 | Firm News
A North Carolina domestic violence charge can result in severe penalties if the prosecution is able to convince the judge that you are guilty and you receive a conviction. But what is it that the prosecution has to prove? Here is what the North Carolina statute §...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Apr 14, 2019 | Firm News
Being arrested for drunk driving is scary. You do not want to lose your license, have a criminal record or spend time in jail. If you failed a breath test, you may think you have no options, and you will be found guilty of DWI. Do not give up so quickly. The breath...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Apr 2, 2019 | Firm News, traffic violations
Any North Carolina driver who has gotten a speeding ticket or other moving violation knows that it can be a costly hassle to deal with. Speeding and other traffic violations are recorded on drivers’ records and can lead to the accumulation of points on...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Mar 19, 2019 | Firm News, traffic violations
Driving is a necessity for most North Carolina residents. Many people rely on their personal vehicles to get them to work and to help shuttle their children from school to activities and back to their homes. Without a car, a person may struggle to get their groceries...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Mar 5, 2019 | drug offenses, Firm News
The last few years have brought about a lot of changes with regard to how certain drugs and alleged drug crimes are viewed under the law. In some states, the possession of marijuana at certain amounts has been decriminalized, though under federal law, marijuana is...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Feb 19, 2019 | criminal defense, Firm News
There are two sides to every story, and this fact is particularly important when it comes to the defense of criminal charges. In North Carolina, certain alleged crimes can result in serious penalties being imposed on individuals who may be incarcerated and forced to...
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Feb 5, 2019 | drug offenses, Firm News
Most 17-year-old North Carolina kids are concerned about what their friends are doing, their grades and if they will get into college. Few are prepared to deal with the serious and life-altering consequences that accompany arrests based on alleged criminal conduct....
On behalf of The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC | Jan 31, 2019 | Firm News
Drive on North Carolina roads long enough and you’ll likely come across the scene of an accident. You might wonder what caused the accident and if someone died. The answers are often that excessive speed or drunk driving caused the accident, and unfortunately...
