Law Office of George W. Weaver

PRACTICE · CRIMINAL DEFENSE · FORSYTH COUNTY

Criminal Defense in Forsyth County, Georgia.

Criminal Defense representation in Forsyth County, Georgia — handled out of our Jasper office in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit.

Call (706) 692-3527Free, confidential consultation

The problem

If you've been arrested in North Georgia, here's what you're up against.

An arraignment date you didn't ask for. A prosecutor with a full file you've never seen. A judge with a calendar that does not slow down for anyone. The State has been preparing your case for weeks — sometimes months — before the warrant ever issued.

Your job, your license, your housing, your immigration status, and your reputation are all riding on what happens next. The wrong move in the first thirty days of a criminal case can close doors that no plea can reopen.

What's at risk

What's at risk:

Liberty

Jail or prison time depending on charge level and prior record.

Driving privileges

License suspension on DUI and certain drug and traffic offenses.

Employment

Background-check disclosure obligations and trade-license consequences.

Immigration status

Many offenses carry collateral immigration consequences for non-citizens.

Professional licensure

Reporting obligations to the bar, medical board, nursing board, real estate commission, and others.

Firearm rights

Felony convictions and certain family-violence misdemeanors trigger federal firearm prohibitions.

Our process

A standard approach to your matter.

  1. 01

    Investigate

    Open-file discovery review under O.C.G.A. § 17-16, suppression and Brady issue spotting, witness statements pulled before they go cold.

  2. 02

    Strategize

    A written defense theory before plea negotiations begin. We tell you exactly where you stand, what the State can prove, and what the realistic outcomes are.

  3. 03

    Negotiate

    Pre-indictment intervention, plea leverage built on suppression risk and trial readiness, First Offender / Conditional Discharge where it fits.

  4. 04

    Try

    Bench or jury — voir dire, cross-examination, motions in limine, jury charges, sentencing mitigation, appellate preservation. Every case prepared as though it will be tried.

Services

What we handle in criminal defense.

  • DUI — less safe and per se (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391)
  • Drug possession, distribution, and trafficking
  • Theft, fraud, and white-collar matters
  • Assault, battery, and family violence
  • Probation revocations and First Offender petitions
  • Bond hearings, preliminary hearings, and pre-indictment work
  • Motions to suppress, motions in limine, and 404(b) challenges
  • Trial defense — bench and jury
  • Sentencing mitigation and appellate preservation
  • Record restriction (O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37) and First Offender pardons

Why us

Our trial-readiness stance.

Every criminal matter is prepared from day one as if it will go to trial. That posture is what forces favorable pleas, dismissals, reductions, and First Offender outcomes.

Every matter at this firm gets the trial-readiness posture set by our founder, George W. Weaver Sr. — first District Attorney of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, sworn in 1983.

We do not push clients toward pleas to manage caseload. We tell you exactly where you stand, what the State or opposing counsel can prove, and what the realistic outcomes are — and we prepare for trial when trial is the right answer.

FAQ

Common questions about criminal defense.

What's the difference between less-safe and per-se DUI in Georgia?

Less-safe DUI under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(a)(1) requires the State to prove you were a less safe driver because of alcohol — without a specific BAC number. Per-se DUI under § 40-6-391(a)(5) requires proof of BAC ≥ 0.08 (≥ 0.04 for CDL holders, ≥ 0.02 for under 21) at the time of testing. Less-safe cases turn on field sobriety, driving facts, and officer opinion; per-se cases turn on the validity of the chemical test. We attack both differently.

Do I have to take the breath or blood test if asked?

Georgia is an implied-consent state. Refusing the State-administered chemical test triggers a 12-month administrative license suspension under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.1, and that refusal can be used at trial. But the implied-consent advisement itself has strict requirements, and many cases turn on whether it was read correctly. Call before you make decisions in custody.

I was arrested — when do I need to file a motion to challenge the license suspension?

Within 30 days of arrest you must either request an administrative license hearing under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-67.1(g) or install an ignition interlock device (where eligible) and submit the proper paperwork. Miss this deadline and the suspension is automatic. We handle this on day one.

What is First Offender treatment in Georgia and am I eligible?

First Offender treatment under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 lets eligible defendants plead to a charge without a conviction being entered, provided they complete the sentence. On successful completion the case is exonerated. Eligibility excludes most violent felonies, sex offenses, and DUI. We look at First Offender on every eligible case.

Will my arrest be on my record forever?

Not necessarily. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 and § 17-1-1, many arrests can be restricted from public access — including dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain reduced or pre-trial-diversion outcomes. We file restriction petitions as part of every applicable closeout.

I have a court date. What should I do before then?

Do not give a statement. Do not consent to searches. Do not discuss your case on jail calls or social media. Write down everything you remember about the stop, the search, or the arrest — names, times, witnesses. Preserve any phone records, photos, dashcam, or texts that may matter. Then call us before you talk to the State, the investigator, or anyone else about the facts.

Next step

A free, confidential consultation costs you nothing and protects everything.

Step 1 of 2

Urgency

Matter type