When someone is accused of federal crimes, the stigma alone can be extremely detrimental for that person. If the charges lead to a conviction, the consequences could change the course of a person's life forever. A solid analysis of the charges at hand, as well as the conduct of all authorities involved, is crucial in protecting the rights of those accused of such serious charges.

A recent news story highlights the importance of a strong criminal defense when faced with criminal accusations. After a seemingly routine traffic stop in the city of Graham, a 22-year-old Greenville man faced gun and drug charges. According to court documents, when the officer came to the man's car, the officer apparently noticed a heavy smell of air freshener and said the young man's hands were shaky. The officer claimed the man was distracted during the traffic stop.

According to documents, the man denied having anything illegal in his car and also denied consent to search his vehicle. That's when a second officer began using a drug dog to search the car. Police claim the dog alerted officers that there were drugs in the car. Police claim they found marijuana and a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun during a further search of the vehicle.

The man's defense lawyer spoke for the man in court and proved the police dog was used without probable cause, making the search illegal. The judge agreed and his ruling suppressed the evidence found in the vehicle. Based on this ruling, the judge dismissed the charges against the man.

Source: The Times News, "Judge invalidates evidence gained from search, dismisses charges," Jan. 24, 2012