Criminal Defense - Buntin Etheredge & Fowler |Attorneys at Law

Providing Ardent Defense of Felonies and Misdemeanors in Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Montgomery and Other Counties, in Alabama and Across the U.S.

There are few experiences that can be more damaging and disrupting than being arrested and charged with a serious criminal offense. When the cold steel of handcuffs slam shut on your wrists and you are placed in the back of a squad car, you may be overcome with a rush of emotions that include fear, anxiety and even anger. Although these feelings are natural, they can prompt you to make regrettable mistakes like trying to talk your way out of the situation. Whether you have been formally arrested or you are just the subject of an investigation, the best possible way to protect your future, liberty and reputation is to immediately exercise your right to seek legal representation from an experienced Alabama criminal defense lawyer.

DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR CASE WITH ANYONE INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY PRESENT TO PROTECT YOUR INTEREST AND PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE!

Law enforcement officers maximize the time prior to a suspect asserting his or her right to an attorney because the police can lie, misrepresent the evidence against you and employ a wide range of effective tactics to scare you into making damaging admissions that may become the strongest evidence in the prosecutor’s case. When you immediately assert your right to have an experienced Alabama criminal defense attorney from the Law Firm of Buntin, Etheredge & Fowler present he can protect you from inappropriate lines of questioning, object to unfair forms of pressure during interrogations, monitor police lineups for due process violations, challenge requests to exercise search warrants and otherwise confine the scope of the investigation and safeguard your constitutional rights.

The attorneys at Buntin, Etheredge and Fowler have been defending the constitutional rights and freedom of those accused of state and federal criminal offenses for countless years. This extensive experience means that the attorneys at Buntin, Etheredge, & Fowler have the necessary knowledge of the law and law enforcement procedures to identify legal and factual issues that compromise the prosecutor’s case so that he can seek a dismissal, acquittal or significant reduction in the charge or penalties. We recognize the advantage of being retained early before charges are formally filed. This allows us to play a role in controlling the scope of the investigation while protecting our clients from unwittingly waiving their rights when they are under suspicion of committing a criminal offense under Federal or Alabama criminal law.

As seasoned lawyers committed to zealously using all of the resources at their disposal to obtain the best outcome for their clients, Buntin, Etheredge & Fowler attorneys often utilize private investigators, forensic experts, medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, mental health experts and others to build the most compelling defense available based on the facts and law. We carefully scrutinize all law enforcement procedures to identify potential violations of due process, unlawful searches or involuntary confessions that may provide an opportunity for Buntin, Etheredge, and Fowler attorneys to file a motion to have the illegally obtained evidence and other evidence that flows from such evidence excluded from the case.

Because of the many years representing those accused of a wide range of criminal offenses in hundreds upon hundreds of cases, Alabama attorneys from Buntin, Etheredge & Fowler effectively represent clients in criminal offenses that cover the spectrum from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies, including but not limited to the following:

• Theft Crimes

• Assault

• Reckless Homicide

• Misdemeanors

• Felonies

• DUI (Drunk Driving)

• Domestic Violence

• Drug Crimes

• Weapons Offenses

• Violent Offenses

• Traffic Violations

• White Collar Crime/Embezzlement

• Probation Violations

• Sex Crimes

• Disorderly Conduct

Anyone who is facing criminal charges needs to understand their rights and the potential consequences of a conviction. The formal penalties of a misdemeanor or felony conviction may include a wide range of sanctions including some or all of the following:

• Incarceration in jail or state prison

• Severe fines

• Loss of driving privileges

• Community service

• Mandatory classes (e.g. anger management, substance abuse)

• Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle

• Probation

• Registration as a sex offender

• Lifelong criminal record

• Exposure to random searches and drug tests without probable cause

• Potential restrictions on where you can work, live, and travel

• Imposition of no contact orders and injunctions

While this list may look daunting, it is neither a comprehensive list of potential forms of punishment imposed by an Alabama county criminal court nor does it begin to present the complete picture of the impact of a misdemeanor or felony conviction in Alabama. These are the formal types of punishment that a court may impose, but the potential impact of a guilty verdict in an Alabama criminal case is far more expansive and may include:

• Immigration consequences, such as deportation, permanent ban on re-entry or loss of eligibility for nationalization or citizenship

• Inability to obtain a security clearance

• Denial of employment or rental housing as a result of your conviction

• Ineligibility for certain professional or occupational licensing

• Damage to your personal and professional reputation

• Exposure to academic discipline from colleges and universities

• Difficulty in obtaining credit and financial aid

• Denial of admission, suspension or expulsion from college

• Adverse impact on family law cases involving custody and visitation of your children

The point is that a criminal record can create problems in many facets of your life that include your personal relationships, career and even your ability to choose where you want to live. The attorneys of Buntin, Etheredge, and Fowler understand the importance of leaving no stone unturned when determining the best strategy for minimizing the impact of a criminal case and obtaining a dismissal or acquittal from the charges. While we ferociously pursue the best outcome for our clients, we also provide candid straightforward advice regarding your options. Your attorney from Buntin, Etheredge, & Fowler will seek to exclude evidence or expose weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case wherever possible, but he will also be honest about when your best choice is to accept a negotiated plea agreement.

Because the attorneys at Buntin, Etheredge, and Fowler have been defending those charged with the full spectrum of criminal offenses in state and federal courts for decades, they recognize that the stakes are high for clients charged with a crime and work diligently to defend their clients’ futures. Our experienced Alabama defense lawyers carefully investigate issues of fact and law and expose improper or illegal police tactics. Our law firm offers a confidential consultation so that we can explain your legal rights and potential defenses. We invite you to contact us at 334-793-3377 or email us to learn how we can begin fighting for you. As always, your first consultation is free and we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to protect you and your rights.

Practice Areas (not inclusive)

Assault

Battery

Criminal Trespass to Land

Deferred Prosecution Programs

Disorderly Conduct

Domestic Violence

Drug Crimes

DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving

Expungements & Sealing

Felonies

Misdemeanors

Obstruction of Justice

Order of Protection

Probation Violations

Protecting Your Rights upon Arrest

Public Indecency

Reckless Homicide

Resisting Arrest

Search & Seizure

Sex Crimes

Theft

Traffic Violations

Unlawful Restraint

Violent Crimes

Warrants

Weapons Charges

White Collar Crimes