Criminal defense · Cumberland County
Criminal charges in Cumberland County, handled by the attorneys themselves
Infractions, misdemeanors and felonies, bond reductions after an arrest, and two attorneys who have worked as public defender and prosecutor in Cumberland County. The first conversation costs nothing.
Chapter 01
Infraction, misdemeanor, felony: what the label means
North Carolina sorts crimes into infractions, misdemeanors and felonies, and the legislature decides which is which by how serious the offense is and how much harm it does. The label controls almost everything that follows: whether you can ask for a jury, which court hears the case, and how much time is on the table. At 224 Dick Street in Fayetteville, we start by explaining the class of your charge.
An infraction carries no right to a jury trial and the state does not appoint a lawyer for it, which is why even a speeding ticket deserves a call. A misdemeanor can mean up to two years in jail and is tried in district court. A felony means more than two years in prison, and a repeat offender can see a misdemeanor raised to a felony. Which class applies to you is the first question we answer.
A bench in a quiet courthouse corridor, Fayetteville
The first days after an arrest, and the bond
If you or someone you love has been arrested on a misdemeanor or anything more serious, a secured bond may already be set. A secured bond can mean sitting in jail while the case waits. The way to ask for something different is a bond reduction motion, which asks the court to lower the bond or to set an unsecured one so that the person can be released before trial.
Being home matters. It lets a person keep a job and stay with family while the case moves through the Cumberland County courts. We cannot promise what a judge will decide, because every bond depends on the charge and the facts. Call the office on (910) 483-1176 and we will talk through where things stand and what a motion would involve.
Chapter 03
Two attorneys who have worked both sides of the courtroom
Zachary D. McLaurin was an Assistant Public Defender in Cumberland County until 2021, then an Assistant District Attorney in the same county. He has defended and prosecuted traffic violations, DWI, assaults, death by motor vehicle, misdemeanors and felonies, and has tried multiple jury trials in Superior Court. He knows how each side prepares a case because he has stood on both.
Carl L. Britt, Jr. has been in private practice in Cumberland County since 1980. He has argued before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the federal appellate courts, and has tried cases in both state and federal court. When you call the firm in Fayetteville, one of these two attorneys is the person who takes your case, and the first conversation costs nothing.
Carl L. Britt, Jr. has practiced in Cumberland County since 1980. Zachary D. McLaurin served as a Cumberland County Assistant Public Defender and then Assistant District Attorney. 4.8 from 93 Google reviews.
Charge classes
Read the class of the charge first.
The same facts mean different things as an infraction, a misdemeanor or a felony.
- Infraction
- No right to a jury trial, and the government does not appoint an attorney. Traffic offenses are the most common kind.
- Misdemeanor
- Punishable by up to two years in jail, tried in district court. A fine, court fees, probation, community service and restitution can come with it.
- Felony
- Punishable by more than two years in prison. A misdemeanor can be raised to a felony for a repeat offender.
- Bond reduction
- Open to anyone charged with a misdemeanor or higher. A motion asks the court to lower a secured bond or set an unsecured one.
We take cases from Fayetteville, Hope Mills and across Cumberland County. If the charge came out of a traffic stop, the DWI page and the traffic ticket page cover those cases in more detail. You can read about the attorneys who would handle your case.
The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.