Criminal Defense Lawyer in Columbia, SC

Being arrested and charged with a crime can be a scary, stressful experience. You might be concerned about your future, including whether you will have to pay substantial fines or spend time in jail or prison, as well as what kind of impact a criminal conviction might have on your personal and professional life. If you have been charged with a crime in Columbia, know that you’re not alone, and help is just a phone call away. Turn to the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis to speak with a Columbia criminal defense lawyer about your case.

How a Criminal Attorney in Columbia Can Help You

If you are facing criminal charges, working with an experienced criminal defense attorney could give you the best chance for a favorable outcome. By retaining a Columbia criminal defense lawyer from the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis, you can rest easier knowing that you have an experienced advocate fighting for your interests. Our firm can assist you by:

Providing you with award-winning legal representation from attorney Chris Davis, who has been named a “Top 40 Under 40” attorney by the National Trial Lawyers Association for the past several years
Keeping close communication with you throughout your case, including a direct working relationship with Chris
Answering your calls and emails day and night, when a need to speak with an attorney regarding your criminal matter cannot wait
Thoroughly and independently investigating your charges to take a fresh look at the facts to identify potential defenses available to you and to develop effective legal strategies
Discussing your charges so that you understand what you are facing and what you can expect during your case
Challenging the state’s case at every stage, including moving to exclude irrelevant evidence or evidence that was obtained in violation of your rights
Aggressively pursuing the best possible result, even if fighting for your best interests means going to trial

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

At The Law Offices of S. Chris Davis, our Columbia criminal defense lawyer can help you regardless of whether you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. The most common criminal charges that Chris Davis defends against include:

DUI, including DUI involving alcohol or drug intoxication, second and subsequent DUI offenses, and felony DUI
Driving under suspension, including license suspension or revocation due to BAC testing refusal, DUI conviction, or other traffic offense convictions
Drug offenses, including simple possession, possession with intent to distribute, manufacturing, trafficking, and possession of drug paraphernalia
Criminal domestic violence, including assault, harassment, sexual battery, trespassing, or kidnapping
Criminal sexual conduct, including sexual battery, coercion through the threat of force or violence, or sexual battery of a person incapable of consent
Assault and battery, including simple assault, attempted injury, non-consensual sexual touching, or aggravated assault/assault and battery in the first degree
Burglary, which is defined as entering a dwelling or building without consent with the intent to commit a crime therein
Armed robbery, or theft from a person while armed with a deadly weapon and through the threat or use of force
Attempted homicide, including the lesser offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated natures, as well as conspiracy to commit homicide
Murder, defined as the killing of another person with premeditated malice, as well as lesser homicide offenses such as manslaughter

What to Do If You Have Been Arrested

If you or a loved one has been placed under arrest, remember these important tips to protect your/their rights:

Remember to exercise your right to remain silent. You are not required to answer any questions asked of you by police officers, detectives, or prosecutors, except to simply identify yourself. If the police or prosecution asks you to submit to questioning, simply tell them that you wish to exercise your right to remain silent and then keep silent.
Invoke your right to an attorney as soon as possible. You have the right to an attorney and to speak with an attorney before any questioning takes place.
Preserve anything that you might think may become evidence in your case. If you attempt to alter, destroy, or dispose of something that could become evidence, you may be charged with the separate offenses of tampering with evidence or obstruction of justice.
Do not attempt to contact the alleged victim or any witnesses, or you could also be charged with victim or witness intimidation/tampering.
Avoid discussing your charges with anyone other than your attorney. If you do, the person you speak with may be called as a witness in your criminal case to testify about what you said.

Finally, make sure to speak with a Columbus criminal defense lawyer with the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis as soon as possible so that Chris Davis can get started with investigating your charges and preparing an effective defense on your behalf.

“I will and have recommended the Law offices of Mr. Steven C. Davis as his entire firm are very professional. Mr. Davis has represented me a few times and he is compassionate as he cares about his clients. His team will get the job done as they work to do so every time. Please check Mr. Davis and his team out to help you in the future.”

— Tasha Cooley

“Professional, courteous, and knowledgeable staff. The Law Offices of S. Chris Davis remained diligent and focused throughout the lifecycle of my case. They listened to my requests, shared my concerns and proved to be effective legal representation, advocating on my behalf. Based on my experience, I would recommend the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis for your personal injury case.”

— Mia Jennings

“I would definitely recommended the Law offices of S. Chris Davis. His law firm offers exceptional service and professionalism is top tier. Chris is very thorough and educates his clients throughout the legal process. He will not only serve you legally but Chris Davis builds a lasting relationship with his clients. The Law office of S. Chris Davis is highly recommended for your legal needs.”

— Brittani B

“Best office to work with. Chris is a great and genuine guy. He keeps you updated so you don’t have to worry about always having to call. He won’t let the big people cheat you and he is very persistent on your end so you don’t have to he. Highly recommend.”

— Thomas Dowdle

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Potential Defenses to Charges You Are Facing

Just because you have been charged with a crime does not automatically mean that you will be convicted. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, you may have factual or legal defenses available to you that can help you obtain a dismissal, an acquittal, or a reduction in your charges. Common defenses used in criminal cases include:

Identity, in which you argue that you were not the perpetrator of the alleged defense or that the victim(s) or witness(es) have misidentified you
Alibi, a defense which proves that you were somewhere else when the alleged offense occurred
Consent, which can serve as a defense against sex offenses and certain property crimes
Mutual assault, which may help reduce sentencing in an assault case if you can show that both you and the alleged victim were both aggressors in your altercation
Lack of possession, which can serve as a defense in drug and weapons charges by proving that you did not have actual or constructive possession of contraband
Unreliable testing, which may be asserted to challenge laboratory results or other forensic analysis supporting the state’s case
Improper chain of custody for evidence, a defense that argues reasonable doubt as to whether the evidence presented at your trial is the same unaltered evidence that was originally obtained by investigators because the prosecution cannot clearly document who had possession of the evidence at all times
Witness fabrication, where your attorney argues that the alleged victim or witness has a motive to fabricate or embellish their testimony against you
Illegal search and seizure, a strategy to have the state’s evidence excluded from your case on grounds that it was obtained by the police in violation of your constitutional rights

Ways a Lawyer Could Improve the Outcome of Your Case

By hiring an experienced Columbia criminal defense lawyer to represent you, you will benefit from having a dedicated legal professional advocate on your behalf. Chris Davis may be able to improve the outcome of your case by:

Reviewing the circumstances of your arrest and the evidence against you
Identifying legal defenses and case strategies that might result in your charges being reduced or dismissed, such as moving to exclude the state’s evidence
Negotiating with the prosecution on your behalf to try to reach a plea deal that allows you to avoid the harshest consequences of a conviction on your charges

Advocating on your behalf at trial to raise reasonable doubt in the state’s case
Negotiating for a more lenient sentence if you are convicted, including citing your personal history and circumstances as reasons for a lower sentence or for sentencing alternatives

Why You Need a Lawyer When Facing Criminal Charges in Columbia

You should not assume that you can talk your way out of criminal charges. Working with a criminal defense attorney may be critical to the outcome of your criminal charges in Columbia. Some of the reasons why you need legal representation when being prosecuted are as follows:

Your attorney can also protect your interests during an investigation following your arrest, including advising you whether to submit to police questioning and intervening if investigators want to conduct searches of your property in violation of your rights.
Your lawyer can advise you of the charges filed against you, the potential penalties you may be facing in the event of conviction, and the likely outcomes in your case based on the facts and circumstances.
Most importantly, your attorney can advocate aggressively on behalf of your interests to secure a favorable outcome for your case if doing so is at all possible.

Contact Our Columbia Criminal Defense Attorney

Have you been arrested and charged with a crime in Columbia, S.C.? If so, the Columbia criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of S. Chris Davis is ready to stand up and fight for you. Call us or reach out to us online for a confidential case evaluation right away. We’ll discuss your situation and how we can help you fight back against the charges you face.

Get Your Case Reviewed at No Charge

Monday	9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday	9:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday	9:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday	9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday	9:00am - 5:00pm