Cobb County Criminal Defense Lawyer

Cobb County Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges, it’s important to contact a Cobb County criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights. Whether you’re arrested for a crime against a person, like robbery, a crime against property, like theft, or any other offense, a Cobb County defense attorney can help. An experienced attorney can also help with DUI and DWI matters, and if you have questions, can discuss your unique case.

Why Choose Marc A. Watkins for Your Criminal Case?

An attorney can provide invaluable assistance to help you negotiate a plea bargain or present a strong defense case in court if needed. However, it is just as important what attorney you work with, their experience, and their abilities. You want someone who can defend you and your future.

Over the years, Marc A. Watkins has successfully helped clients in almost all areas of criminal defense. Whether it’s a drug crime, DUI, or theft crime, Marc A. Watkins pays one-on-one attention every time you visit us.

Though you might find many attorneys licensed in Cobb County, it’s important to consult an attorney with experience handling cases just like yours. The Law Offices of Marc A. Watkins, P.C., has over 18 years of criminal law experience and many beneficial results. It’s critical to contact a competent defense attorney right away so they can immediately start investigating the charges you face and begin working on your defense case.

Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer: Criminal Cases We Handle at the Law Offices of Marc A. Watkins, P.C.

At the Law Offices of Marc A. Watkins, P.C., we manage many types of criminal cases, including:

• Theft offenses
• Drug crimes
• Fraud
• Probation violations
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
• Sex crimes
• Violent crimes

What Court Handles Criminal Cases in Cobb County?

The court that handles criminal cases in Cobb County depends on the severity of the offense you are being charged with:

• The Superior Court of Cobb County handles felony offenses and shares jurisdiction with the state court on misdemeanors.
• The State Court of Cobb County handles misdemeanors and traffic cases, including DUIs.

Our attorney can help you prepare for a criminal case handled by these or other courts.

Terms to Know for Driving Under the Influence Charges

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated – in Georgia, it’s illegal for someone to drive or have control of a moving vehicle while they are under the influence of substances that make it unsafe for them to drive, including drugs, alcohol, marijuana, glue, and/or toxic vapors. Some key terms in DUI cases include:

• Breathalyzer – This is a portable device used by Cobb County law enforcement to measure your blood alcohol concentration.
• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) – This is a unit of measurement that describes the exact amount of alcohol in someone’s breath, blood, or urine.
• Field sobriety test : This test typically helps a Cobb County law enforcement officer determine whether someone in control of a vehicle is, in fact, impaired.

There were 157 juvenile arrests for DUI offenses in Georgia in 2024. Driving while impaired can also have other serious consequences. There were 408 confirmed impaired driving crashes in Cobb County in 2024, of nearly 23,600 crashes total. There were four fatal impaired driving crashes out of 66 fatal crashes.

What If I’m Not Driving My Vehicle, But I May Have Been Impaired?

Today, DUI and DWI incidents are on the rise, and fatalities are becoming more common. Unfortunately, some people have even been charged with DUI while parked. It’s no longer an option to sit in your vehicle to make the good choice of ‘sleeping it off.’ Even if your vehicle is not in motion, if an officer sees you asleep inside the vehicle, they won’t hesitate to decide that you could have had the intent to drive.

If you are in actual physical control of the vehicle, you could be charged with a DUI. It’s no longer an option to sit in your vehicle to make the good choice of ‘sleeping it off.’ Even if your vehicle is not in motion, if an officer sees you asleep inside the vehicle, they won’t hesitate to decide that you could have had the intent to drive. It can take a strong defense to prove you didn’t have this intent or the physical control of a vehicle.

If you have been charged with DUI, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the charges you face and your rights in that particular situation. Before things escalate and you find yourself fighting a difficult battle, it’s important to hire a criminal defense lawyer in Cobb County. An attorney can explain the extent of the charges and any possible consequences you might face, and they can help build a strong defense case on your behalf.

What Defenses Might My Cobb County Attorney Use?

An attorney familiar with DUI matters can help mount a strong defense to the charges you may face. They might argue:

• To challenge the accuracy of any field sobriety tests you were subjected to and assert the tests were not given correctly.
• Against the lawfulness of the underlying traffic stop.
• To address the known issues with many breathalyzer results.
• That the responding officer didn’t have probable cause for the arrest and didn’t have a reasonable suspicion that you were impaired or unsafe to drive.
• That your Miranda’s rights were potentially violated during your arrest questioning.

After hearing your explanation of your arrest, a knowledgeable attorney might challenge that the police conducted an unlawful search and seizure of you or your vehicle. They might also be able to argue that a medical condition or prescription medications explain your behavior. Sometimes, law enforcement isn’t trained to make a DUI arrest, and an attorney can help explore this defense. The right defense will depend on your unique case and the specifics of your arrest.

Just because you are arrested for a DUI does not mean you will be convicted. In Georgia, about 54% of DUI citations in a five-year period resulted in DUI convictions, and 17% of DUI citations led to another, lesser charge.

Many legal defenses can help to poke holes in the prosecution’s case against you. While you can choose to represent yourself, criminal matters can quickly become overwhelming and complicated, and it can be important to have an attorney by your side. A trusted Cobb County defense attorney can fully investigate your case and help you decide whether any specific defense is available for your case.

What Should You Do After a Criminal Arrest in Cobb County?

If you are arrested for a criminal offense, there are certain things you should be aware of and steps you should take. This includes the following:

1. Remain silent: You have the right to remain silent, and you should invoke this right and not say anything to law enforcement that can be used against you. Be polite but maintain your silence.
2. Do not give consent: Law enforcement requires a warrant, probable cause, or your consent to conduct a search. Calmly refuse any requests to conduct a search.
3. Get a lawyer: You have the right to a lawyer. Get legal representation before you answer any questions. An attorney can help you deal with important issues immediately after an arrest.
4. Do not discuss the case: Never talk about criminal cases over the phone, text, or anywhere online. Any of these statements could be used against you.
5. Gather information: When possible, gather important documents related to your arrest, including those about your arrest, citation, booking, bond or bail, and court information. An attorney can help you gather the relevant information. Write down information you remember about the arrest or alleged offense before you forget important details.

Contact a Cobb County Criminal Defense Lawyer at the Law Office of Marc A. Watkins for effective legal defense.

You don’t have to navigate this process alone. Marc A. Watkins can help walk you through the entire legal process and is ready to help you anytime you need assistance, including days, nights, and holidays.

Contact the Law Offices of Marc A. Watkins, P.C. right away to schedule a confidential initial consultation. Let us help you or a loved one with your defense case. Our team puts forth the effort to pursue the most optimal possible outcome for each and every case that we take on.