Author Archives: Brent D. Ratchford

There are a lot of costs associated with a conviction for drinking and driving: fines, the cost of getting your driver’s license reinstated, legal fees and so on. Even after you pay the penalties the judge…

Doctors or clinics in North Carolina sometimes offer free medical services as a form of community outreach and support. However, these seemingly positive actions can result in violations of federal laws. Unless conducted in careful compliance…

Assaults and violent crimes are not always prosecuted in the courtroom; a plea agreement is often reached before the case ever reaches trial. You may want to know what you can expect if you find yourself…

The courts in North Carolina have used eyewitnesses in criminal proceedings for decades. Witnesses are supposed to establish facts and help the authorities determine whether someone is guilty of a crime. However, witnesses can make mistakes…

No one can be convicted of a crime in North Carolina unless the prosecution can prove that they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The term “beyond a reasonable doubt” implies that any reasonable person would…

Everyone convicted of a sex offense in North Carolina is required to register with the Department of Public Safety as a sex offender. The registration period typically requires the convicted sex offender to be listed for…

Insider trading is a white-collar crime that you may have heard about in North Carolina, but you might not know what it entails or why you should care. Insider trading is when someone who has access…

It is hard to definitively define wire fraud. There are many different techniques that people use to commit mail or wire fraud in South Carolina. However, the same types of wired technologies are used, and the…

If you have no prior convictions for drinking and driving, being found guilty of DWI is unlikely to result in serious jail time. Unless there were aggravating factors involved, the judge could impose only a short…

There is a good chance that you obtained a mortgage to finance the purchase of your North Carolina home. It’s also likely that you obtained the loan in a lawful manner. However, it’s not uncommon for…