Greenville Criminal Law Blog

Your college student should know how to deal with campus police

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Monday, May 11, 2020.

Heading off to college is a time of growth and excitement, but it can also be a time when many young people make mistakes. As your son or daughter prepares to move on campus or live at school, it's important that he or she know how to properly deal with campus police. Knowing what to do in case of questioning or a problem can help them protect their own rights and interests.

Campus police are there to protect and support students who live on campus, but there may be limits to their authority. When a student is facing accusations of wrongdoing or even facing criminal charges, he or she will find it beneficial to work with a South Carolina legal professional who understands the limits of campus police and how to protect student rights. When a college student is in trouble, his or her education, future opportunities and personal freedoms could be at stake.

South Carolina eviction court proceedings postponed until May 15

By Ryan Beasley Law on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

People facing evictions and foreclosures got a reprieve this week from the South Carolina Supreme Court - another example of how Covid-19 is changing the legal system.

Chief Justice Donald Beatty ordered an extended postponement of court proceedings on evictions and foreclosures until May 15, but stressed that this does not mean people can avoid paying rent. If they fail to pay rent, an eviction may proceed once the postponement has passed.

Why are you suspected of health care fraud?

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Friday, April 24, 2020.

When you decided to become a doctor, you agreed to do no harm to your patients. You committed yourself to helping Greenville residents recover from injuries and illnesses and get back to a healthy and normal life. If you can't do that, you provide them with the best care possible in order to manage their ailments.

While you expect to receive payment for your services, you may not directly involve yourself in how that happens. Instead, you rely on staff you personally chose in order to handle the "business" aspects of your practice. Then, one day, you discover that you are under investigation for health care fraud. How did this happen?

Classifications and what they mean for federal drug cases

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Monday, April 6, 2020.

Charges involving the use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of prescription drugs are serious. A conviction can lead to penalties that can change the course of your life, and the right way to confront these charges includes developing a strong defense. This is particularly important in federal cases where the stakes are high and the penalties are grave.

One factor that will impact the nature of the charges you are facing is the type of drugs involved in your case. Classifications are important in federal drug cases, and they can determine the type of penalties you are facing. It is helpful to understand what you are up against and how you can fight for your personal freedom and future interests.

The world is in flux right now as we all take our steps to battle COVID-19

By Ryan Beasley Law posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

While many of you are worried about sick family members and friends; staying in place and keeping yourself fed; we at Ryan Beasley Law have an extra onus of work. Our clients. We are a criminal defense firm. We help those people facing charges ranging from drunk driving and drug possession to serious felony offense in state and federal courts throughout the Upstate of South Carolina.

SC Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Beatty first gave attorneys official warnings about preparing for COVID-19 on March 4, but last week word came down that all jury trials have been postponed through the end of next month. This has changed a lot of what we do when preparing for clients. Some have been put in limbo, but for many other people facing non-violent charges this actually has helped them because there is an effort to expedite their cases.

Law changes can impact drug testing and criminal cases

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Drug charges are serious, and a conviction can greatly impact a South Carolina defendant's life for years to come. Because of the implications of these types of charges, the way law enforcement handles and tests for substances is important. Thanks to new changes in the law, this issue is more important than ever.

Hemp is now legal in South Carolina, and its legalization has brought up questions as to how law enforcement can test this substance and know the difference between marijuana and hemp. These both are variations of the same plant, and it's not easy for the police to know with certainty what they are dealing with. The state recently decided to leave all marijuana testing to trained scientists instead of law enforcement.

Does shooting count as police seizure?

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

You may know that the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects you from unreasonable actions of South Carolina police during a search or seizure. However, perhaps you do not fully understand what it means to have police "seize" you. Does it mean that they have physically put their hands on you? Are you still under seizure if you struggle free and run away?

These are some of the questions the U.S. Supreme Court must decide as they currently examine a claim of excessive force against police officers. Although the incident took place in another state, its decision may have serious ramifications across the country.

Did peer pressure lead to a DUI for your college student?

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Friday, February 7, 2020.

Sending your child off to a South Carolina college was likely an event that left you with mixed emotions. You most likely felt pride, concern, sadness, happiness, excitement and apprehension for the new chapter in life your child was starting. You may have anticipated phone calls telling you about college life and learning that your child was excelling in his or her classes.

What you may not have expected, however, was for your child to inform you that he or she had received a DUI charge. Undoubtedly, you felt shocked at first and then possibly angry. How could your child have made such a poor decision? Peer pressure may have played a role.

Lawmakers look to revise unfair asset forfeiture laws

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

You may be fully aware of the possible consequences for a conviction of drug charges, especially distribution or trafficking. You might expect fines, imprisonment, community service and other penalties. Certainly, the burden of a criminal charge on your record will follow you the rest of your life.

However, what you may not expect after an arrest for certain criminal offenses is the confiscation of your property. Asset forfeiture is a common practice in South Carolina. State law allows law enforcement to collect any items they believe you may have obtained through the profits of the crime for which police have arrested you. Recently, however, some are protesting the practice of asset forfeiture as contrary to state and U.S. constitutions.

The stress of being a doctor can lead some to alcohol

On behalf of Ryan Beasley Law on Monday, January 6, 2020.

You may have known from the time you were young that you wanted to be a doctor. You studied hard all through your school years and looked forward to the time when you could gain practical experience in helping people with their medical concerns. In the beginning of your career, you may have been bright-eyed and eager to touch the lives of others.

Unfortunately, over the years, you came to closely understand just how demanding and difficult it is to be a doctor. You may feel that you have little social life because you spend most of your time at the hospital. Even when you do have time off, you likely lack energy to do anything fun. You may even suffer from mental issues of your own, like depression, due to the strain of the job.