Travis A. Newton Criminal Defense Attorney Anderson, South Carolina

Criminal Defense Attorney Travis Newton defends criminal charges in Upstate, South Carolina including Anderson, SC Summary Courts and the Anderson County Court of General Sessions. Summary Courts are the venue for most misdemeanor criminal charges in South Carolina. There are two types of Summary Courts. The Summary Courts for S.C. counties are the Magistrate Courts. The Summary Courts for S.C. towns and cities are the Municipal Courts. The Court of General Sessions is the venue for felonies and serious misdemeanors. Examples of misdemeanors heard in the Court of General Sessions include failure to stop for a blue light and criminal domestic violence. 

The 4th amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized

Search warrants are issued when a Summary Court Judge is presented with an affidavit from law enforcement establishing a good faith belief (probable cause) of illegal activity. Search warrants are required to identify the property and describe the person or premises to be searched. The issuing judge will direct the warrant to a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction over the area where the search is to be conducted and it is required that the search warrant be returned to the issuing judge within ten days of signing. The officer executing the warrant is required to return a signed inventory of articles seized to the issuing judge and to issue a copy of the inventory to the person or premises where the search was conducted.

The exclusionary rule excludes evidence from being admissible (in court) if discovered from an unreasonable search and seizure. The purpose of the exclusionary rule is to deter law enforcement officers from conducting searches and seizures in violation of the fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution and to provide remedies for defendants whose rights have been violated. Fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine extends the exclusionary rule to make evidence inadmissible if discovered from other evidence illegally obtained. Evidence may still be admissible at trial if obtained with a search warrant that appeared to have a lawful basis but later turned out to be invalid. The "Good Faith Exception" does not apply if an officer lies and misrepresents facts to the issuing judge or if an officer relies on a warrant supported by an affidavit based on lies or intentional misinformation.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Anderson South Carolina

Criminal Defense Attorney Travis Newton defends clients charged with drug crimes including possession, possession with intent to distribute (PWID), trafficking, manufacturing, or the sale of controlled substances. Controlled substances include illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine as well as prescription drugs such as oxycodone and Xanax when used or possessed without a valid prescription. Penalties for possession of a controlled substance are defined by quantity and are drug-specific. Possession with intent to distribute is a felony in South Carolina with potential penalties ranging from high fines to imprisonment or both. Drug trafficking is the most serious drug charge in South Carolina involving the transportation, distribution, or sale of large quantities of a controlled substance. The penalties for drug trafficking can include lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines. Felony drug convictions can have additional long-lasting consequences, such as the revocation of the right to vote and the right to own or possess a firearm.

Juvenile Charges

Criminal Defense Lawyer Travis Newton defends juveniles charged with crimes in the Upstate including Anderson County. Most juvenile matters in South Carolina are handled in the family court. A juvenile conviction can result in counseling, intervention programs, community service, probation, or placement in a juvenile facility. Juvenile offenses can include gun charges, drug charges, shoplifting, domestic violence, and any other illegal activities involving a juvenile defendant. Juveniles charged with a crime in South Carolina have the right to be represented by legal counsel but do not have a right to a jury trial as a family court judge will preside over most criminal matters involving a juvenile defendant. The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is responsible for providing custodial care and rehabilitation for South Carolina's children who are incarcerated, on probation or parole, or in community placement for a criminal offense. DJJ also provides a variety of prevention and intervention programs for at-risk youth. If you are a parent or legal guardian of a juvenile charged with a crime in Anderson, SC attorney Travis Newton can help you. 

Criminal Charges

The purpose of attorney-client privilege is to encourage open communication between clients and lawyers. The duty of confidentiality requires attorneys to keep client information related to a case private. All client communications with Criminal Defense Attorney Travis Newton and the staff at Travis Newton Law P.A. are confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. Criminal convictions can have serious consequences from the State of South Carolina and lasting implications on professional and educational opportunities long after court-imposed penalties have expired. Now more than ever it is important to view legal advice coming from non-lawyers on the internet or social media with skepticism. Unreliable legal advice from non-lawyers can have a negative impact on a defendant's case from both a procedural and substantive standpoint. A consultation with Anderson Criminal Defense Lawyer Travis Newton can provide answers that lead to informed decisions on how to proceed.  Criminal Defense Attorney Newton defends clients facing criminal charges in South Carolina's 10th (Anderson & Oconee) 13th (Greenville & Pickens), and 8th (Abbeville & Greenwood) Judicial Circuits including Anderson, SC Summary Courts, and the Anderson County Court of General Sessions.

The materials available on this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use of and access to this Web site or any of the e-mail links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between Travis A. Newton or the user or browser.