Top Criminal Defense Lawyers Near Me in Asheville Area

We are here to help you get your life back on track and get you the information you need to make the right decisions about moving forward with your case.. Effectively navigating a DWI charge and its consequences begins with planning. During our initial consultation we want to learn about the details of your arrest and the impact the DWI charge is having on your life, so that we can provide sound legal advice on your next steps.. We will work together to create a detailed Action Plan on your case. This Action Plan will give you a to do list and explain how we plan to proceed as your attorney.. Getting the best result on your case means having the best information when making important decisions. We want to be the information hub when it comes to answering questions about the courtroom, driving, and life consequences of your DWI charge.

Public Defense Attorney

Please see my personal page on my website at . The "About' link will take you to my professional page, and the "About Sam Craig personally..." link at the bottom of that page will show you more personal information.

Our firm is committed to providing exceptional representation.  I am a Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law.

I'm a former prosecutor practicing exclusively in the areas of Criminal, DWI, and Traffic Law.

I spent 10.5 years prosecuting every kind of crime for the State of North Carolina.  I have asked for the death penalty twice.  I have been the crime scenes while the police are still processing the evidence.  I have taught police how to investigate and prosecute domestic violence case. I have been to the autopsy of a homicide victim to speak with the medical examiner about the cause of death.  Put that experience to work for you.  As a defense attorney, I have successfully defended  people in Asheville from DWI charges, Habitual Felons, Drug Trafficking, Marijuana Growing (Manufacture), Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury with Intent to Kill, and potential murder charges involving self defense using lethal force.  I am a gun enthusiast, and enjoy helping people protect their constitutional rights to arm themselves and protect themselves.  I am want you, and everyone, to retain all the freedom we are entitled to.

I believe that every person charged with a criminal offense deserves a fair trial and equal treatment under the Law.  I try to treat all of my clients with the same dignity and respect that I feel the law is supposed to afford us all.  Therefore, when I represent you, it is important to me that you walk away knowing you received the best possible legal representation.. My time as an Assistant District Attorney gave me the experience and knowledge necessary to defend your rights and go to trial when appropriate.  The decision to plea, negotiate or go to trial are yours and yours alone.  However, I will give you an honest assessment of the situation from an experienced trial lawyer and the law in relation to it so that your decision is an informed one.. Call our office and come in for a free initial consultation.  When you leave, I guarantee you'll know exactly where you are in the court process, and either I or my staff will answer any questions you may have about what to expect next.”

I am a native of Asheville, North Carolina and had the opportunity to begin my legal career with the Buncombe County Public Defender’s Office in 2004 where I represented indigent defendants and juveniles charged with a wide range of criminal offenses. It was a wonderful experience to provide legal services to the community. I entered private practice in 2005 and continued to represent clients charged with serious felonies and gained experience in the areas of family law and personal injury. In 2007, I launched my own firm and have worked hard to build a reputation in Western North Carolina as an attorney with vast knowledge in criminal law, and with an understanding of the practical dynamics of the local criminal court system. Advocating for the best possible outcome for my clients while making them aware of the variables related to their case is my practice philosophy.. When I am not practicing law, I support animal rescue efforts and enjoy running, cycling, fishing and conservation efforts.

For more than twenty-two years I worked as a prosecutor, first for the state of North Carolina and then as an Assistant United States Attorney. But I needed a change. My soul needed a change.. I founded The Pritchard Firm at the onset of 2024 because I wanted to quit work for the government and start working for people. I understand that you may be facing one of the most scary moments of your life if you are charged with a crime. It could be a speeding ticket or it could be murder--everyone has a different level of comfort and fear when dealing with the criminal justice system.. I want to help you through that. I'll do my best to both explain the legal system and your situation to you and then to represent you to the best of my ability. Sometimes that may mean we fight it every step of the way. Sometimes that may mean I do everything in my power to make this as least painful for you as possible. But always, I will be considerate of you and your circumstance as we navigate the waters together.

For more than 30 years, I have helped clients in western North Carolina navigate through matters involving criminal and family law.  As a native Ashevillian, my community ties and my lengthy experience in criminal and domestic litigation allow me to effectively right for your rights to the fullest extent North Carolina law allows.

Doug began his career as an assistant district attorney in Asheville, North Carolina where he worked for over 10 years. He served as Chief Assistant District Attorney for the last year as a prosecutor.. Doug has vast experience handling cases ranging from low level misdemeanors to complex felonies including first-degree murder. Doug has a particular focus in DUI/DWI defense including felony impaired driving cases.. Doug is a Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law. He is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.. Doug Edwards offers unparalleled experience and ability to negotiate favorable outcomes. He is a highly experienced trial lawyer who will fight hard to protect your rights, and achieve positive results no matter the circumstances.

Criminal, Traffic, and DWI defense is the primary, if not exclusive, thrust of my practice.  I grew up in Weaverville, NC, a small town just north of Asheville.  As a kid, I played baseball and football, went hunting and fishing, and was fortunate to enjoy a very close family.  I worked my way through college and law school, graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1998, and passing the North Carolina State Bar Exam that fall. As I attended law school while interning and volunteering with different firms and organizations, I had the opportunity to look into the legal culture of some larger firms.  While I had considered making a move to the "big city", and examined many different areas of law before beginning my course of study, I was naturally drawn back to areas of law that us regular folk might find ourselves.  I think I knew all along that I wanted to open my own law firm, partly because I did not like what I saw in other law firms- an impersonal service, frequently a lack of compassion for the clients, and often disdain for criminal defendants who may not have deserved such treatment.. At the Curtis Sluder Law Firm, you will not find any of that. I know what it is like to have to work hard all week to support your family, week in and week out. I know what it is like to build up a life that you are proud of and want to protect what you have built. I know what it is like to enjoy life, and know how much criminal or even traffic problems can disturb your routine and wreck your quality of life.  No one plans on getting arrested.  No one plans on a DWI. No one plans on getting traffic charges.  I try to help my clients get their plans, and their life, back on track, with the least amount of disruption in their lives possible.

Criminal defense is the main focus of the firm. Jim was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina and is a 1987 graduate of A.C. Reynolds High School.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law, which is located in Arlington, Virginia.. Jim is admitted to practice in all North Carolina State Courts, the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (formerly the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers), and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Christopher B. "Chris" Reinhardt is a native and life long resident of North Carolina. He is a second generation attorney, his father being an accomplished real estate attorney in Durham, North Carolina. Chris was admitted to practice in 2003, North Carolina and has practiced in the Asheville area since being admitted.. Community:. Chris is currently the Legal Counsel for Daniel Boone Council of the Boy Scouts of America serving all of the 14 western most counties of North Carolina. Chris is a Past-President of the Brevard College Alumni Advisory Board, which he has been a member of from 2004-2014. He also taught as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Policy at Brevard College for eight years. In 2008, Chris was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for Brevard College. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Asheville. Chris has been an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, being an Eagle Scout himself.. Personal:. While in law school at the University of North Carolina, Chris met Rebecca Johnston Reinhardt who was from Asheville and became a partner with the firm Roberts & Stevens, P.A. in Asheville.  Chris and Rebecca married shortly after law school, had two daughters, and lived together in Asheville until Rebecca lost her fight with brain cancer in the Spring of 2018.  With the support of friends, family and the church, school and legal community, Chris and the girls are coping and adapting to a new way of life and work.

Ben Scales is a lawyer, an activist, and a musician. He has built his law practice on a foundation of protecting his clients’ civil, contractual and intellectual property rights and promoting change in an archaic, unfair, and unjust law.

Before opening his own practice, Mike served with the Public Defenders Office in Buncombe County, where he gained in-depth experience handling a range of criminal cases.  At present, he gives back to the legal community by mentoring new attorneys.  He is also a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice as well as the North Carolina and Buncombe County Bar Associations.. Mike is committed to working hard to secure the results his clients need.

As a former Prosecutor and a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, Dustin has extensive litigation experience in courts all over Western Carolina. He has handled cases ranging from petty misdemeanors to 1st Degree Murder and Seven Figure Traumatic Injury cases. He has tried over 50 Jury trials to verdict and is ready to help you with your legal needs, big and small.

Anthony Tuorto graduated from Vermont Law School and completed an externship in the Buncombe County Public Defender's Office. Anthony served for several years as an Assistant District Attorney in Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania Counties before entering private practice. His years in the public sector have given him the opportunity to try hundreds of cases, spend countless hours in the courtroom, and develop expertise in all aspects of criminal law.

After spending a few years practising law in Georgia, I moved back to the Mountains of Western North Carolina.  I am passionate about cycling, soccer, and spending time on the rivers around Asheville.

A graduate of both Wake Forest University and its acclaimed law school, Paul Bidwell was a prosecutor for the first five years of his career. Entering private practice in 1991, he has litigated some of highest profile cases in Western North Carolina in the last twenty years, in both State and Federal Court. In addition to his criminal and civil litigation practice, Paul maintains an office practice providing advice and services for individuals and corporate clients alike. • Named to theRegistry of Pre-eminent Lawyers in America by Martindale-Hubbel• Recipient of Martindale-Hubbel highest peer review rating: AV• Former Chairman, Buncombe County Historic Resource Commission• Former Juvenile Evaluation Center Advisory Committee Member• Certified Family Financial Mediator