Charleston Criminal Defense Lawyers

Name: Columbia Criminal Defense Lawyer
Brand: The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A.
SKU: PI
Rating: 5.0 (29 reviews)

Fighting for the accused throughout South Carolina

Any arrest is frightening. Convictions for any crime, be they misdemeanors or felonies, can result in jail time, prison time, and large fines. You face other serious consequences as well, such as the possibility of a lifetime criminal record. The criminal process has numerous stages – detention, bond hearing, arraignment, preliminary hearing, suppression motions, motions to dismiss, and possibly a bench or jury trial. It’s critical that defendants have an experienced criminal defense lawyer on their side every step of the way.

At The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A., our experienced Charleston criminal defense lawyer is ready to fight to win your case. He has helped thousands of people accused of criminal offenses get outstanding results. His experience includes work as a prosecutor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Contact us today to learn more.

“Remember, an arrest is not a conviction.” - Attorney Hough

What you stand to lose if you are convicted

Convictions for serious crimes can result in a loss of your freedom. Felonies generally mean more time in prison than misdemeanor convictions. In addition to large fines, defendants who are convicted of a crime can end up with a lifetime criminal record, and be denied:

Student loans, small business administration loans, or other government assistance
The right to vote
The right to own a gun or firearm for certain types of convictions
Employment and educational opportunities

Convictions can also result in forfeiture of assets, deportation, and other serious consequences. Anyone convicted of a DUI may also lose their right to drive.

Experienced defense for the accused in Charleston

The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. represents clients in both state and federal court, and in juvenile courts. We work with parents when their college student children have been accused of criminal actions on or off campus. Contact us if you have been accused of, or charged with:

The firm also handles white collar criminal charges, including fraud, embezzlement, corruption charges, money laundering, tax evasion and RICO charges.

Representing drivers accused of DUI in Charleston

Charleston defense attorney A. Randolph Hough has successfully handled more than 2,000 DUI cases – first as a prosecutor, and later as a defense attorney. He is a member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and the prestigious National College for DUI Defense.

He represents first-time offenders and repeat offenders. He also fights for people who refused a breath test and now face a license suspension hearing.

What’s the difference between an expungement and a pardon?

Our criminal defense team fights to have criminal records expunged and to obtain pardons.

Expungements are a way of erasing your criminal record, including any arrest and conviction related to the charge. Expungements may be available if a defendant completes certain diversion programs or has been found not guilty, if the case was dismissed, or there are special statutory circumstances.

Pardons for state crimes are granted by a seven-member board and not by the Governor. In South Carolina, you typically cannot apply for a pardon until your sentence is complete. Although pardons will not result in an expungement of your arrest record, they will restore your rights and place you, in the eyes of the law, as if you had never been convicted. For example, under federal law, you are not allowed to possess any firearm anywhere in the United States if you have been convicted of a crime which could have resulted in more than one year in prison, or for other offenses like criminal domestic violence. If you receive a pardon, you may have your right to possess a firearm restored to you. Our firm can greatly increase your chances of securing a pardon

This is very exciting us to. At The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. we are all about expungements. It informs the way we handle all state cases, from speeding to murder. Our knowledge of procedure for more than the one hundred courts in South Carolina is critical to your success.

Where are Charleston criminal cases heard?

The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. represent citizens accused of state or federal crimes throughout Charleston and the entire Lowcountry, including Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties. This includes courts in the City of Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, Moncks Corner, and Goose Creek.

Most federal cases are heard in United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (DSC). There are seven DSC locations, including one in Charleston. There are specific rules of evidence and rules of procedure for federal cases. In South Carolina, most federal criminal cases involve drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses. Additionally, a large number involve accusations of possession and distribution of child pornography. The remainder are typically white-collar offenses involving any number of fraudulent activities related to interstate commerce, such as defrauding a federally insured lending institution.

State criminal cases (traffic offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies) are heard in General Sessions, magistrate, and municipal courts. If a state case is serious enough, it is tried in General Sessions court, and each county has one courthouse that hears General Sessions cases; these courthouses are in the county seat. Less serious cases are heard in magistrate and municipal courts, which are both numerous and state-wide. As an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Charleston, Attorney Hough understands the state laws, state rules of criminal procedure, and state rules of evidence. He has successfully disposed of thousands of cases in these courts. He is an experienced trial lawyer who knows how to win. Perhaps more importantly, as a life-long South Carolinian, a Citadel graduate and a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, A. Randolph Hough has close ties to the community and law enforcement agencies, prosecution offices and courts.

The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. also aggressively defends clients against other criminal charges, including assault, arson, kidnapping, and charges against college students. We also handle drunk driving defense.

Why choose The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A.?

The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. provide aggressive and effective defenses for people charged with criminal offenses. Attorney Hough fights to suppress evidence that was seized or obtained in violation of your Constitutional rights, and to create the reasonable doubt necessary for acquittal. He also fights to negotiate plea bargains to lesser offenses. Over the course of his career, Attorney Hough has successfully represented thousands of clients whose lives and future were at risk because of criminal charges, winning their cases and helping them remain free.

As a former prosecutor and Special Assistant United States Attorney, Attorney Hough can anticipate how the government will build its case against you and he can create a defense to defeat the government. His decades of experience have allowed him to hone his skills in courtrooms and in boardrooms, making him a skilled negotiator and fierce litigator. When you are facing criminal charges, he will fight to protect your rights and freedoms.

Remember: an arrest is not a conviction. You have options available to you. The Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough, P.A. is easily accessible and located in Downtown Charleston and Mt. Pleasant.