Greenville Violent Crimes Lawyer
Charged with assault, robbery, or a violent offense in Greenville? Your side of the story matters, and right now it is the part nobody has heard.
- Former state and federal prosecutorsSloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton
- U.S. Attorney's Award for Excellence in Prosecution2020 and 2021
- Free consultation, with an attorneyNot an intake screener
A violent crime charge in South Carolina can carry severe punishment. A crime is deemed “violent” based on a specific list of offenses set by the statute, and the label describes the charge, not the person. A violent crime charge won’t change how we treat you.
The managing attorneys at Ironside Criminal Defense spent years prosecuting violent crime cases in both state and federal courtrooms. We know exactly how prosecutors build their cases, because we’ve been on the other side. Give us a call at 864-568-4750 for a free consultation with our Greenville violent crimes attorneys and a better idea of where you stand.
Other charges
we defend
If what you are facing is not here, it does not mean we do not take it.
What Counts as a Violent Crime in South Carolina?
S.C. Code Section 16-1-60 establishes what is considered a violent crime. The list includes domestic violence in the first degree and domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature. It also includes assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, and other offenses.
The legal label doesn’t always match the everyday meaning of the word. For example, common-law robbery, stalking, and the lower degrees of assault and battery are serious charges, but they aren’t on the list. Knowing the exact label on your charge helps you understand the consequences you may face.
Violent Crime Charges We Handle in Greenville
Ironside Criminal Defense represents people charged with violent crimes in Greenville County and across South Carolina. Depending on the degree, some of these charges carry the violent crime label and some don’t. Each of these crimes is handled differently and has its own penalties:
- Domestic Violence. Domestic violence charges involve current or former household members and range from third degree up to high and aggravated nature. An arrest can also bring additional bond conditions, such as a no-contact order.
- Assault and Battery. South Carolina separates assault and battery charges into four degrees, from third degree up to high and aggravated nature. The facts alleged and injuries allegedly sustained determine which degree applies.
- Robbery. Robbery charges can be classified as common-law robbery or armed robbery. An alleged weapon changes both the classification and the sentence the statute sets.
- Stalking and Harassment. Stalking and harassment charges are built on an alleged pattern of contact. They can come with court orders that limit contact while the case is pending.
If you’ve been accused of or charged with any of the crimes listed above, contact our Greenville violent crimes attorneys. We’ll answer all your questions during our consultation and help you get clarity about your situation.
What Does the Violent Crime Label Actually Change?
South Carolina law treats a charge on the violent crime list differently in two important ways before a case is ever resolved:
- Bond. Bond is the court’s decision about whether you can be released while your case is pending, and on what conditions. For a violent offense, the South Carolina Constitution allows the court to deny bond altogether.
- Pretrial intervention. Pretrial intervention (PTI) is a program that lets some people resolve a charge without a conviction by completing its requirements. However, S.C. Code Section 17-22-50 excludes charges on the violent crime list.
This is why the label on your charge matters. Confirming how your charge is classified is one of the first things we do.
What Happens After a Violent Crime
Arrest in Greenville County?
- 01
Booking
After an arrest, you’re booked into jail, where your identifying information, photograph, and fingerprints are recorded.
- 02
Bond hearing
Shortly after booking, a judge decides at a bond hearing whether to set bond and on what conditions.
- 03
Indictment
An indictment is the grand jury's formal approval of the charge. You have the absolute right to be indicted, and a case must be indicted before it can go to trial. In most cases, the person charged waives (gives up) the indictment process instead.
- 04
General Sessions
The case goes to the Court of General Sessions, the criminal side of the circuit court, where the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecutes cases.
Consequences Beyond the Sentence
For many of our clients, the sentence isn’t the biggest fear. It’s the job, the home, or the future they’ve been working toward. A violent crime conviction can affect:
- Your job and housing. A conviction can appear on background checks and result in losing a job offer or being turned down for an apartment.
- Your right to own a firearm. Under S.C. Code Section 16-23-500, a conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison can result in losing the right to possess a firearm or ammunition. The statute doesn't count a misdemeanor punishable by five years or less. There are also federal laws that may prohibit your ability to own a firearm.
- Your immigration status. A conviction can affect immigration status. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen, we look at that before we advise you on any decision in your case.
- Your record. An expungement is a court order that removes an arrest from your record, and it may be available depending on how your case ended.
How Ironside Criminal Defense Handles Violent Crime Cases
After being charged with a violent crime in Greenville, you need an experienced attorney who will be your advocate and help you get the best outcome possible. Here’s how we approach a violent crime case:
- Two former prosecutors on every case: As former state and federal prosecutors, Sloan Ellis and Brandi Hinton know how these cases are built. With years of experience prosecuting violent crimes, they know how to defend you in the courtroom.
- We contact the solicitor early: The police report shouldn’t be the only picture the solicitor has. We work to make sure they hear your story and see the person behind the charge.
- Honest about your situation: We’ll tell you what’s likely before it happens, including what you don’t want to hear. If your case is hard, we’ll say so, and we’ll explain what we can do about it.
If You’re Calling for
Someone Who Was Arrested
If you’re reading this for someone you love, you’re already doing the right thing by learning how the process works. You don’t need to know the legal terms to help. If your loved one is unable to speak for themselves, you can call us and have a free consultation on their behalf. Here’s what you should do now:
- Find out where they’re being held and when their bond hearing is scheduled.
- Write down the charge, the county where the arrest happened, and any case numbers you’re given.
- Don’t discuss what happened on calls from the detention center. Those calls are recorded, and prosecutors and officers often listen to those recordings.
- If the judge sets a no-contact condition, help them follow it, even if it involves someone in your own household.
Violent Crime FAQs
Short answers. None of them replace a conversation about your own case.
Is Every Assault Charge a Violent Crime in South Carolina?
Not every assault charge is a violent crime under South Carolina law. Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and assault and battery with intent to kill are on the Section 16-1-60 list. Assault and battery in the first, second, and third degree are not. Each of those is still a charge that can carry jail time, and we treat it that way.
How Much of My Violent Crime Sentence Will I Actually Serve?
The time a person actually serves is often different from the sentence a judge imposes. South Carolina law sets minimum time requirements for some offenses. In practice, many people serve part of their sentence and are then released on community supervision, which is similar to probation. We'll tell you at the first meeting how this applies to your charge.
Do Violent Crime Charges Always Go to Trial?
A violent crime charge doesn’t always go to trial. A case can end in a dismissal, a negotiated resolution, or a trial, depending on the evidence, the charge, and the decisions you make with your attorney. We’ll explain your options at each stage, and the decision about a plea or a trial is yours. If your case does end up going to trial, our fee doesn’t change.
If you have been charged,
the clock is already running.
Talk With a Greenville Violent Crimes Lawyer About Where You Stand
Whether you’ve been charged or you’re calling for someone you care about, the first step is an honest conversation. Tell us what happened, and we’ll explain what you’re facing, what comes next, and what we would do if you decide to work with us. The consultation is free and with one of our attorneys. Call 864-568-4750 or contact our team online.
A charge doesn't have to define your future
What comes next depends on how you move forward from it. Tell us what happened, and we will tell you what you are facing. Our consultations are free, and with an attorney.
- [email protected]
- Office
- 21 Augusta Street, Suite C
Greenville, SC 29601 - Consultations
- Free, and with an attorney. Sloan or Brandi reads every inquiry.