Criminal Defense Attorney Hollywood, SC

Quick Answer: Lower-level offenses from the Hollywood area are usually heard in a local municipal court or a Charleston County magistrate court, and felonies and serious misdemeanors go to the Charleston County Court of General Sessions at 100 Broad Street, prosecuted by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Boating under the influence is a separate offense under S.C. Code Section 50-21-112, often investigated by the Department of Natural Resources. Many first offenders may qualify for diversion and expungement.

On this page:

• Which court will hear a Hollywood case?
• What happens after a boating under the influence stop?
• Can you be charged for driving a golf cart impaired?
• What should you know about a DUI on Highway 162?
• What about theft of tools, equipment or property?
• What about family and neighbor disputes?
• How are drug charges handled?
• What if a teenager is charged?
• Can a first offense be dismissed?
• What should you say to police or DNR officers?

Which Court Will Hear a Hollywood Criminal Case?

What Happens After a Boating Under the Influence Stop?

Operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime under S.C. Code Section 50-21-112. Officers from the Department of Natural Resources and other agencies can stop boats for safety checks, and a stop can lead to field sobriety testing and a breath or blood test. Boating conditions such as sun, wind, waves and fatigue can affect sobriety tests, which is one reason these cases require careful review. A BUI conviction can carry fines, jail time and the loss of boating privileges, and if someone was injured, the consequences increase significantly.

Can You Be Charged for Driving a Golf Cart While Impaired?

Potentially, yes. Golf carts operated on public roads are motor vehicles for many purposes under South Carolina law, and an impaired operator can face DUI-related charges and other traffic offenses. Permitted golf carts are also limited to certain roads, distances and daylight hours under S.C. Code Section 56-2-105, so operating outside those limits can lead to tickets. These cases raise unusual legal questions, so do not assume a golf cart charge is minor.

What Should You Know About a DUI on Highway 162?

A DUI arrest creates a criminal case and, if you refused the breath test or tested at .15 or higher, an administrative license suspension under S.C. Code Section 56-5-2950, which you generally have 30 days to challenge. S.C. Code Section 56-5-2953 generally requires video of the stop, field sobriety tests and breath test, and missing or incomplete video can lead to dismissal. On dark rural roads, the conditions of the field sobriety tests, such as uneven ground and poor lighting, can also be important.

What About Theft of Tools, Equipment or Property?

In rural areas, theft charges often involve tools, trailers, equipment or scrap metal, and sometimes disputes over who owns an item. Theft offenses are graded largely by value, and higher-value thefts can be felonies. Receipts, titles, texts and witnesses can show ownership or permission, and many first-offense cases can be resolved through diversion and restitution.

What About Family and Neighbor Disputes?

Disputes among family members and neighbors can lead to domestic violence, assault, trespass or harassment charges. Domestic violence offenses are graded by degree under S.C. Code Section 16-25-20, and bond conditions usually bar contact with the alleged victim, which can be difficult when families share land or homes. A lawyer can ask the court to modify conditions that are unworkable. The State decides whether to prosecute, and a conviction can affect firearm rights.

How Are Drug Charges Handled?

Simple possession of a small amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor, while larger amounts, intent to distribute and trafficking can be felonies. Many first-time possession charges may qualify for a conditional discharge under S.C. Code Section 44-53-450, and the lawfulness of the stop and search is often the deciding issue.

What If a Teenager Is Charged?

Charges against people under 17 generally go to Charleston County Family Court, which focuses on rehabilitation. Underage alcohol possession, vandalism and golf cart or ATV violations are common. Diversion is often available, and protecting a young person’s record early preserves future opportunities.

Can a First Offense Be Dismissed?

Often. The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office offers diversion programs, including Pretrial Intervention (“PTI”) under S.C. Code Section 17-22-10 et seq. Completing a program generally leads to dismissal, and dismissed charges can generally be expunged under S.C. Code Section 17-1-40.

What Should You Say to Police or DNR Officers?

Very little, without a lawyer. You have the right to remain silent and to an attorney, whether you are stopped on the road or on the water. Politely decline to answer questions about what you drank or did, and avoid discussing the case on recorded jail calls, by text or on social media.

When Can Officers Search Your Car or Boat?

On the road, officers generally need consent, probable cause, a lawful arrest in limited situations, or a lawful inventory to search a vehicle. On the water, officers have broader authority to stop boats for safety and documentation checks, but a search beyond that generally still requires a legal basis. You are not required to consent to a search, and politely declining cannot by itself justify one. If a stop or search was unlawful, evidence may be suppressed, which can lead to dismissal of drug and weapons charges.

What Happens After an Arrest Near Hollywood?

After booking at the Charleston County detention center, a judge holds a bond hearing and sets release conditions based on the charge, history and ties to the community. For many lower-level charges, release is on a personal recognizance bond or a set amount. Follow every condition, keep your paperwork and note your court date, since missing court can lead to a bench warrant.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of a Conviction?

A conviction can affect employment, professional and commercial licenses, firearm rights, boating and hunting privileges, housing and, for non-citizens, immigration status. A BUI or DUI conviction can also raise insurance rates for years. We weigh these consequences carefully before recommending any plea.

What Should You Bring to Your First Meeting?

Bring your ticket or arrest paperwork, bond papers, court notices, any DNR or DMV paperwork, and the names of witnesses. For property disputes, bring receipts, titles, surveys or texts that show ownership or permission. Write down your own account while it is fresh, but share it only with your lawyer.

Related pages: Our main North Charleston criminal defense lawyer and Charleston criminal defense lawyer pages explain this practice area in more depth. Clients in Hollywood also turn to our Hollywood personal injury lawyer, Hollywood car accident lawyer, Hollywood workplace injury lawyer, Hollywood medical malpractice lawyer and Hollywood wrongful death lawyer pages, and we handle the same kinds of cases for clients who need a criminal defense lawyer in Ravenel or a criminal defense lawyer in Walterboro.

If you have been charged with a crime in or near Hollywood, SC, our Hollywood criminal defense lawyers at Clekis Law Firm can explain your options. Call 843-900-0000 or contact us to schedule a consultation. We meet clients by appointment at our Charleston office at 171 Church Street, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at our North Charleston office on Ashley Phosphate Road, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can also meet by phone or video call.

Attorney responsible for this page: Nicholas J. Clekis, Clekis Law Firm, 2850 Ashley Phosphate Road, North Charleston, SC 29418.