843-936-6680
CDH Law Firm: Giving Hope to
Criminal Defense Clients in
Chesnee, SC
Getting charged with a crime in Chesnee can be a traumatic experience. Even "petty" crimes can cause an individual's life to fall apart professionally and personally. Spending time in jail is bad enough, but the ramifications of a criminal record run deep, resulting in loss of employment, loss of friends, and even family. For many people, having a zealous criminal defense attorney in Chesnee, SC, to defend their rights is the only shot they have of living a normal life.
That's why, if you have been charged with a crime, you need the help of a veteran criminal defense lawyer early in the legal process. That's where CDH Law Firm comes in to give you or your loved one hope when you need it the most.
Our criminal defense law firm was founded to help people just like you - hardworking men and women who are looking at diminished employment opportunities and a possible lifetime of embarrassment. But with our team of experts fighting by your side, you have a much better chance of maintaining your freedom and living a normal, productive life. When it comes to criminal law in Chesnee, we've seen it all. With decades of combined experience, there is no case too complicated or severe for us to handle, from common DUI charges to complicated cases involving juvenile crimes. Unlike some of our competition, we prioritize personalized service and cutting-edge criminal defense strategies to effectively represent our clients.
Clients rank Cobb Dill & Hammett, LLC as the top choice for Chesnee criminal defense because we provide:
- One-on-One Counsel
- Education on the Chesnee Legal Process and Its Risks
- Ardent, Effective Representation
- Commitment to Our Clients and Defending Their Rights
- Prompt Inquiry Response
- Robust Experience with Criminal Law Cases in Chesnee
- Innovative Defense Strategies
- Effective, Thorough Research and Investigation
Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer in Chesnee can mean the difference between conviction and acquittal. Our firm has represented thousands of clients in the Lowcountry, and we're ready to defend you too. Some of our specialties include:
DUI Cases
in Chesnee, SC
DUI penalties in Chesnee can be very harsh. Many first-time DUI offenders must endure a lifelong criminal record, license suspension, and the possibility of spending time in jail. Officers and judges take DUI very seriously, with 30% of traffic fatalities in South Carolina involving impaired drivers, according to NHTSA. Criminal convictions can have lasting impacts on your life, which is why CDH Law Firm works so hard to get these charges dismissed or negotiated down. In some cases, we help clients avoid jail time altogether.
When you hire our DUI defense firm, our team will always work towards your best interests and will go above and beyond to achieve the best outcome in your case. Depending on the circumstances of your DUI charges, we will investigate whether:
- Your DUI stop was legal
- You were administered a field sobriety test correctly
- The breathalyzer used was calibrated correctly and properly maintained
- Urine and blood tests were administered and collected properly
The bottom line? Our criminal law defense attorneys will do everything possible to keep you out of jail with a clean permanent record. It all starts with a free consultation, where we will take time to explain the DUI process. We'll also discuss your defense options and speak at length about the differences between going to trial and accepting a plea bargain.
DUI Penalties in Chesnee, SC
The consequences of a DUI in Chesnee depend on a number of factors, including your blood alcohol level and how many DUIs you have received in the last 10 years. If you're convicted, the DUI charge will remain on your criminal history and can be seen by anyone who runs a background check on you. Sometimes, a judge will require you to enter alcohol treatment or install an interlock device on your automobile.
If you're on the fence about hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Chesnee, SC, consider the following DUI consequences:
First Offense
48 hours to 90 days
in jail
with fines ranging from
$400 to $1,000
Second Offense
Five days to three years
in jail
with fines ranging from
$2,100 to $6,500
Third Offense
60 days to five years
in jail
with fines ranging from
$3,800 to $10,000
Additional consequences can include:
1
Alcohol or Drug Treatment
When convicted of DUI in South Carolina, most offenders must join the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. This program mandates that offenders complete a drug and alcohol assessment and follow the recommended treatment options.
2
Community Service
Some first-time DUI offenders in Chesnee may choose to complete community service in lieu of jail time. Community service hours are usually equal to the length of jail time an offender would be required to serve.
Sanctions to Your Driver's License
Typically, when a person is convicted of driving under the influence in Chesnee, their driver's license is restricted or suspended. The length of restriction or suspension depends on how many prior DUI convictions an individual has.
First DUI Offense
First-time DUI offenders must endure a six-month license suspension. Drivers convicted with a blood-alcohol level of .15% or more do not qualify for a provisional license. However, sometimes they may still drive using an ignition interlock device.
Second DUI Offense
Offenders convicted of a second DUI charge must use an ignition interlock device (IID) for two years.
Third DUI Offense
Offenders convicted of a third DUI charge must use an ignition interlock device (IID) for three years. That term increases to four years if the driver is convicted of three DUIs in five years.
Immobilized Vehicle
For offenders with two or more convictions, the judge will immobilize their vehicle if it is not equipped with an IID. When a judge immobilizes a vehicle, the owner must turn over their registration and license plate. Clearly, the consequences of receiving a DUI in Chesnee can be life-changing, and not in a good way. The good news is that with CDH Law Firm, you have a real chance at beating your charges and avoiding serious fines and jail time. Every case is different, which is why it's so important that you call our office as soon as possible if you are charged with a DUI.
Traffic Violation Cases
Most drivers brush off traffic law violations as minor offenses, but the fact of the matter is they are criminal matters to be taken seriously. Despite popular opinion, Traffic Violation cases in Chesnee can carry significant consequences like fines and even incarceration. If you or someone you love has been convicted of several traffic offenses, your license could be suspended, restricting your ability to work and feed your family.
Every driver should take Traffic Violations seriously. If you're charged with a traffic crime, it's time to protect yourself and your family with a trusted criminal defense lawyer in Chesnee, SC. Cobb Dill Hammett, LLC is ready to provide the legal guidance and advice you need to beat your traffic charges. We'll research the merits of your case, explain what charges you're facing, discuss your defense options, and strategize an effective defense on your behalf.
Common Chesnee
Traffic Violations That CDH Law
Firm Fights
There are dozens and dozens of traffic laws in Chesnee, all of which affect drivers in some way. Our Chesnee defense attorneys fight a full range of violations, including but not limited to the following:
- Driving Under Suspension: If you drive while your license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, you could be looking at 30 days in jail and fines up to $300.
- Driving Under the Influence: Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on drugs or alcohol is illegal and often results in jail time and fines.
- Reckless Driving: You could be ordered to pay up to $200 in fines or jailed for up to 30 days if you drive with wanton disregard for the safety of other people.
- Racing: You can be cited and fined if you aid or participate in street racing.
- Hit and Run: When you leave the scene of an accident that involved injury to another party, you can be arrested. This serious charge can lead to up to one year in jail and fines of up to $5,000 for first-time offenders.
- Disregard Traffic Signals: Drivers must obey all traffic signals and control devices, less they be ticketed and sometimes fined.
As seasoned traffic violation lawyers, we know how frustrating it can be to get charged with a Traffic Violation. While some traffic charges can be minor, others are severe and can affect your life for years to come. Don't leave your fate up to chance call CDH Law Firm today for the highest-quality Traffic Violation representation in Chesnee.
Juvenile Crime Cases in
Chesnee, SC
At Cobb Dill Hammett, LLC, we understand that children are still growing and learning about the world around them. As such, they may make mistakes that get them into trouble with the law. Children and teens who are arrested in Chesnee can face much different futures than other children their age. Some face intensive probation, while others are made to spend time in jail.
This happens most often when a child's parents fail to retain legal counsel for their son or daughter. Cases referred to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice often move quicker than adult cases, so finding a good lawyer is of utmost importance. With that said, a compassionate criminal defense attorney in Chesnee, SC, can educate you and your child about their alleged charges. To help prevent your child from going to a detention center, we will devise a strategy to achieve favorable results in their case.
Juvenile Detention Hearings
Unlike adults, juveniles don't have a constitutional right to a bond hearing. Instead, once your child is taken into custody a Detention Hearing is conducted within 48 hours. This hearing is similar to a combination of a Bond Hearing and a Preliminary Hearing. Unfortunately, there is little time to prepare for these hearings, which is why you must move quickly and call CDH law firm as soon as possible.
Our team gathers police reports, petitions, interviews your child at the DJJ, speaks with you about the case and talks to the prosecutor to discover if they have plans for detention. In most cases, we strive to avoid detention and seek alternatives like divisionary programs or treatment facilities. This strategy better addresses your child's issues and keeps them out of the juvenile legal system in Chesnee. If your child is charged with a crime, and South Carolina decides to prosecute, your child will appear before a family court judge, who will find them delinquent or not delinquent. There are no juries in juvenile cases in South Carolina, which is why it's crucial to have a lawyer present to defend your child if they go in front of a judge.
Common penalties for juveniles charged with crimes in Chesnee include:
- Probation: Children charged with probation are released to their parents or guardians. Depending on their charges, they must abide by certain stipulations while at home and may be subject to random drug screenings. Violation of probation often results in jail time.
- 90 Days in Juvenile Detention Center: When probation is not a viable option, prosecutors may push for 90 days of jail time in a juvenile detention facility.
- Juvenile Detention: Children who commit very serious crimes can be sent to a juvenile detention center for a long time. These sentences can last up to the child's 21st birthday.
- School Expulsion: When a child is convicted of a crime, their school is notified of the offense. Sometimes, the administration may decide to expel the child from school for the misdemeanors or felonies they commit.
We Fight to Protect
Your Rights So You Can
Provide for Your Family
Whether you are facing a DUI charge or a serious traffic violation, CDH Law Firm is here to fight for your rights so you can continue living life. The future might seem bleak, but our criminal defense lawyers in Chesnee, SC, have the tools, experience, and strategy to win your case, as we have with so many others. Don't lose hope call our office today and maintain your freedom tomorrow.
Ask us anything
Call Now 843-936-6680 PH
Latest News in Chesnee, SC
Upstate SC weather: Severe storm risks Thursday with sunny Memorial Day weekend ahead
Bob Montgomeryhttps://www.goupstate.com/story/weather/2022/05/25/memorial-day-weather-spartanburg-upstate-sc-rising-gas-prices/9913522002/
...
Memorial Day weekend is shaping up to be a gem with plenty of sunshine.
But first, there's more rain – and a lot of it – along with the possibility of thunderstorms to contend with, according to the National Weather Service at Greenville-Spartanburg.
In fact, the Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg areas could see at least 1 to 2 inches of rainfall through Thursday night, according to the latest forecast.
"The area should get at least an inch of rain from that system coming through on Thursday," meteorologist Doug Outlaw said. "Rain should diminish Friday and end in the evening, and then a dry weekend."
This week began stormy Monday, with thunderstorms, over an inch of rainfall and a 200-yard-wide EF-1 tornado with 110 mph winds that uprooted trees and damaged roofs of homes along a 5.3-mile path near Chesnee.
Severe weather in SC:NWS confirms tornado in Chesnee, Boiling Springs area
After a cloudy and breezy Wednesday, rain should arrive late Wednesday night into Thursday morning,
The Upstate is under a risk for thunderstorms Thursday, according to the NWS. A large area from Texas to lower Michigan is under a marginal risk for severe weather Thursday.
Showers, storms Thursday
For the region, the forecast calls for an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday with a high near 81. There is a 90% chance of showers and a thunderstorm Thursday night.
A 70% chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected Friday with a high near 79. By Friday night, there is a 30% chance of showers as the storm system moves away.
On Saturday, expect plenty of sunshine with a high near 80 to 82. Sunday will be sunny with a high of 84 to 86, and Memorial Day will see a high near 88 under a sunny sky.
More:What to know and things to do if you're headed out to Spartanburg County's lakes
Rising gas prices for Memorial Day travelers
Meanwhile, those traveling on highways this Memorial Day weekend can expect continued high gas prices, according to AAA Carolinas.
South Carolina's gas price average on Monday was $4.29 a gallon, 10 cents higher than last week and 50 cents higher than a month ago. Compared to last year at this time, it was %1.56 higher.
Gas prices reach record highs:Here's how to take a summer road trip without spending a fortune as gas prices reach records
Tighter supply and increased demand have pushed pump prices higher, according to AAA Carolinas spokeswoman Tiffany Wright.
For updated state and metro prices, go to https://gasprices.aaa.com/.
Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com. Please support our coverage of Spartanburg County with a digital subscription.
Decomposing body discovered when deputies open barrel found at SC lake, coroner says
Mark Pricehttps://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article276879918.html
UPDATE: Eric Shawn Fetzer, 25, of Chesnee, S.C., has been charged with “destruction, desecration or removal of human remains regarding the body being placed in a barrel and dumped into Lake Thicketty,” the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 30 update. “Investigators expect to make additional arrests regarding this incident in Cherokee County in coming days,” officials said.The original story is below.A decomposing human body was found stuffed in a barrel at Lake Th...
UPDATE: Eric Shawn Fetzer, 25, of Chesnee, S.C., has been charged with “destruction, desecration or removal of human remains regarding the body being placed in a barrel and dumped into Lake Thicketty,” the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 30 update. “Investigators expect to make additional arrests regarding this incident in Cherokee County in coming days,” officials said.
The original story is below.
A decomposing human body was found stuffed in a barrel at Lake Thicketty in Upstate South Carolina, according to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler.
Investigators have identified the man as 56-year-old Jeffery Sutphin, WYFF reports.
The body was found shortly before noon Thursday, June 29, in the Macedonia Community near Gaffney, officials said in a news release. Gaffney is about 55 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Deputies found the barrel near the shore and upon opening it found human remains. It appears the body had been in the container for a number of days,” Fowler said.
“Since the discovery, investigators were able to confirm late Thursday that the death occurred in Spartanburg County. ... I transferred the remains to Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger who will assume the death investigation as is protocol.”
A cause of death has not been released, officials said.
Details of how the barrel was discovered and who reported it to authorities were not released.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reports it was located near the boat ramp off Trout View Road, a two-lane road that reaches a dead end at the lake.
An interview with “a person of interest” led county investigators to conclude the death happened in Spartanburg County, the sheriff’s office said.
As a result, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office has assumed control of the death investigation, while Cherokee County detectives intend to pursue “charges for the disposal of the body in Cherokee County,” officials said.
Lake Thicketty is a 100-acre public fishing lake that is open 24 hours a day, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. It is largely surrounded by forest land, maps show.
This story was originally published June 29, 2023, 6:30 PM.
Chesnee hires Boiling Springs assistant Zach Baldinelli as boys basketball coach
Sam Albuquerquehttps://www.goupstate.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2023/04/13/sc-high-school-boys-basketball-chesnee-hires-zach-baldinelli-as-coach/70111264007/
Spartanburg School District Two and Chesnee High School have announced the hiring of Boiling Springs associate head coach Zach Baldinelli as the Eagles' boys basketball coach.Baldinelli, 22, a Boiling Springs alum and former Limestone player, spent the past season as the Bulldogs' top assistant under Craig Martin and has been coaching on the AAU and offseason circuits since his was still a player in high school."To have the opportunity to stay in Spartanburg School District Two has meant the world to me,&quo...
Spartanburg School District Two and Chesnee High School have announced the hiring of Boiling Springs associate head coach Zach Baldinelli as the Eagles' boys basketball coach.
Baldinelli, 22, a Boiling Springs alum and former Limestone player, spent the past season as the Bulldogs' top assistant under Craig Martin and has been coaching on the AAU and offseason circuits since his was still a player in high school.
"To have the opportunity to stay in Spartanburg School District Two has meant the world to me," Baldinelli said. "I have so many ties to the Chesnee community, a lot of the faculty and staff, a lot of the kids. A number of the community members are people I've known for a long period of time. So it was just the perfect opportunity. I knew when it came open, I had to go after it."
BOYS SOCCER:Here are 23 Spartanburg area's top boys soccer players to watch in 2023
BASEBALL:Here are 25 of the Spartanburg area's top baseball players to watch in 2023
SOFTBALL:Here are 25 of the Spartanburg area's top softball players to watch in 2023
The first-time high school head coach plans to take a lot of what he learned under Martin this past season and apply it to his new program. To put it quickly, the Eagles are going to be flying.
"We're going to play extremely fast. We're going to try to get a ton of baskets in transition," he said. "Our philosophy at Boiling Springs was always that we're gonna be in your face, full court man-to-man defense, constantly running.
"We took pride in being the toughest and most conditioned team on the court. I think that when you are out of shape, all you're thinking about when you're playing is being tired."
Baldinelli replaces Andy Pitt, who according to Pitt had a 117-174 record in 12 seasons as the Eagles' coach.
Chesnee went 8-18 last season, including 3-7 in Region 1-AA and failed to make the playoffs, but with six of its seven top scorers returning, the Eagles have the chance to take a step forward in 2023-24.
Chesnee area 'very fortunate' to avoid injuries: EF-1 tornado damages rooftops, uproots trees
Bob Montgomeryhttps://www.goupstate.com/story/news/local/2022/05/24/crews-assess-tornado-damage-tornado-near-chesnee-boiling-springs-sc/9906304002/
Damaged rooftops, large trees uprooted and downed power lines – but no injuries – are what Spartanburg County damage assessment crews found Tuesday after Monday night's tornado that touched down near Chesnee."It could have been much worse," said Emergency Management Director Doug Bryson. "We are not aware of any injuries. We're very fortunate."His crews are adding up the damage and talking with property owners to tally a storm cost total.An tornado touched down at 7:10 p.m. ...
Damaged rooftops, large trees uprooted and downed power lines – but no injuries – are what Spartanburg County damage assessment crews found Tuesday after Monday night's tornado that touched down near Chesnee.
"It could have been much worse," said Emergency Management Director Doug Bryson. "We are not aware of any injuries. We're very fortunate."
His crews are adding up the damage and talking with property owners to tally a storm cost total.
An tornado touched down at 7:10 p.m. three miles west of Mayo, said Doug Outlaw, a National Weather meteorologist at Greenville-Spartanburg.
Tuesday night, the NWS confirmed a 200-yard-wide EF-1 tornado with 110 mph winds cut a 5.3-mile path near Chesnee.
"Trees were reported down, and there was a video of the apparent tornado," he said. "Then the damage concluded one mile southwest of Chesnee."
Severe weather strikes:Severe weather in SC: NWS: Tornado confirmed in Chesnee, Boiling Springs area
Reports of damage came from Parris Bridge Road, Casey Creek Road and Sandy Fort Road in the Chesnee area. Damage could be seen around the property of View Church on Parris Bridge Road.
He said a Weather Weather Service damage assessment team was near Charlotte Tuesday to look at storm damage there before heading to Chesnee later Tuesday afternoon to confirm the path and strength of the tornado.
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"They will look for a path of damage – where it starts and ends, the width and length," Outlaw said. "They will also look for rotation (for a tornado) as opposed to straight line wind damage."
The National Weather Service later confirmed it was a 200-yard-wide EF-1 tornado with 110 mph winds that uprooted trees and damaged roofs of homes along a 5.3-mile path near Chesnee.
Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier said Monday night's storms caused scattered power outages, and power was restored to most homes by later Monday night.
"There are still some customers still out in North Carolina as a result of that system and our teams are working to restore service to them today," Mosier said.
Bryson said some homeowners in the Chesnee area reported roof damage and were already talking with their insurance adjustors.
"They had no power for a little while, but no emergency housing needs," Bryson said. "The cleanup's going to take a while. We're asking people to be patient."
Outlaw said the system that produced tornadoes had two major storm lines. The first one swept through the Upstate mid-afternoon Monday, prompting tornado warnings and watches.
The second line that produced the tornado near Chesnee came came through Spartanburg County shortly after 7 p.m.
In all Monday's storms dumped a little over an inch of beneficial rain at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
"It was beneficial as far as a drought situation that was starting," Outlaw said. "It saturated the ground."
Damage from 2020 Spartanburg twister:Feb. 6 tornado causes $26.7 million in damage
As for what's next, Outlaw said there is a potential for more strong storms and heavy rainfall on Thursday.
"Spartanburg County area should get at least an inch of rain from that system coming through on Thursday," he said. "Rain should diminish Friday and end in the evening, and then a dry weekend."
Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com. Please support our coverage of Spartanburg County with a digital subscription
EF1 tornado leaves path of destruction in the Upstate; NWS surveys damages
Kimberly King & WLOS Staffhttps://wlos.com/news/local/possible-tornado-destruction-upstate-chesnee-south-carolina-cooley-springs-boiling-buck-creek-don-westbrook-national-weather-service-nws-national-weather-service-survey-damages
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WLOS) — Residents in Chesnee, South Carolina were reeling Tuesday after a tornado touched down Monday night.Possible tornado leaves path of destruction in the Upstate; NWS surveying damagesAt around 4:25 p.m. Monday night, the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for parts of North and South Carolina. Just before 7:15 p.m. the first Tornado Warning of the evening was issued. By 8:30 p.m., Emergency Services had multiple agencies responding to the Cooley Springs-Chesnee-Boiling Springs ...
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WLOS) — Residents in Chesnee, South Carolina were reeling Tuesday after a tornado touched down Monday night.
Possible tornado leaves path of destruction in the Upstate; NWS surveying damages
At around 4:25 p.m. Monday night, the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for parts of North and South Carolina. Just before 7:15 p.m. the first Tornado Warning of the evening was issued. By 8:30 p.m., Emergency Services had multiple agencies responding to the Cooley Springs-Chesnee-Boiling Springs area following a suspected tornado. Crews reported uprooted trees, downed powerlines and roofs being ripped off buildings.
The National Weather Service on Tuesday evening confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down near Boiling Springs on Monday, making its way through Chesnee.
DAMAGE REPORTED AFTER SUSPECTED TORNADO TOUCHES DOWN IN UPSTATE
May 24, 2022 - Drone footage of damage from a possible tornado that touched down in Chesnee, South Carolina on May 23, 2022. (WLOS)
Tuesday morning, Don Westbrook of Chesnee, South Carolina, told News 13 that he and his wife immediately went to the middle of their home when they were notified of the warning.
“We went to the closet got the door shut got set down and it hit. All the walls, all the walls started shaking,” said Westbrook. “We came out of that closet and if the whole place had been gone it would’ve been okay.”
The damage in the community along Buck Creek is extreme but thankfully there have been no injuries reported.
EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN UPSTATE DURING FRIDAY STORMS, OFFICIALS SAY
Local residents are now working together to clean up the damages in the rural farm community.
EF1 tornado leaves path of destruction in the Upstate; NWS surveys damages
The National Weather Service will be on scene surveying the damages on Tuesday after they complete their assessment of the damages done in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties. Earlier Tuesday, NWS confirmed an EFI tornado had touched down Monday in Mecklenburg County, NC and traveled into Cabarrus County, NC.
This is a developing story. Check back at WLOS.com for updates.
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