AREAS WE SERVE
Indian Beach Criminal Defense Attorney
Defending clients in Indian Beach and across Carteret County
Charges in Indian Beach Are Rare
Indian Beach is a handful of beach houses and condominiums on a narrow stretch of the island. It is one of the smallest communities in Carteret County, and very few criminal charges come out of it.
That is worth saying plainly, because if you are reading this you have probably just been charged and are wondering what you are dealing with. You are not part of a steady stream of cases here. Whatever happened, it was unusual for this stretch of the island.
Where the Few Charges Here Come From
Highway 58
Highway 58 runs the length of the island and straight through Indian Beach. Nearly everything charged here starts on that road — speeding, and occasionally DWI, involving people traveling between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle rather than anyone going anywhere in Indian Beach.
Indian Beach has its own police department. The North Carolina Highway Patrol works Highway 58, and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office covers the county. Every statewide agency has jurisdiction on the island.
The beach
As along the rest of this coast, the beach is patrolled for underage drinking.
How We Approach an Indian Beach Case
A speeding charge on Highway 58. Your record and the alleged speed determine what is possible. Often the charge can be reduced to a non-moving violation such as improper equipment, which keeps a speeding conviction — and the insurance increase that comes with it — off your record.
A DWI on the island. The reason for the stop first, then the timing and the procedure. A stop made partway along a long island drive raises different questions than one made outside a bar.
Underage drinking. Charges against young people with no record, carrying consequences well beyond the night in question.
A prayer for judgment. Many charges can potentially be resolved with a prayer for judgment continued, or PJC, which can help protect a criminal record or a driving record. It does not apply to every charge or every situation, but on a first charge out of a place like this it is often the first thing worth asking about.
Your Case Will Be Heard in Beaufort
Charges from Indian Beach are heard at the courthouse in Beaufort — up the island, over the bridge, and through Morehead City. Your court date will be a month or more out in most cases, unless it is a first appearance on a felony.
The full court calendar is set out on our Carteret County criminal defense page.
Your Defense Starts With One Call
When your freedom, reputation, and future are on the line, facing the legal system alone is not an option. At Tetterton Law Firm PLLC, we are your partner in Indian Beach. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation.