You are looking at a criminal charge and wondering what happens next. Will your job will survive a background check? Will this one moment become a permanent mark on your record that follows you for the rest of your life?
Those are the right questions to be asking. And having the right criminal defense attorney answer them changes everything.
Axelrod & Associates, P.A., is led by a South Carolina attorney with 200+ trials and a Not Guilty jury verdict in a Trafficking Cocaine case. He has fought South Carolina criminal charges from misdemeanors to murder accusations and found paths that clients did not believe were possible.
Contact us to tell us what you are facing. We will give you an honest picture of your options, a clear plan, and a lawyer who knows what it takes to win in a South Carolina courtroom.
We represent clients facing criminal charges at every level of the South Carolina court system, including:
Whether your case will be heard in Greenville County Magistrate Court or the Court of General Sessions, we handle the full range of South Carolina criminal matters.
If the matter is serious, your counsel should be exceptional.
Results matter more than credentials. Here is what we have actually secured in South Carolina courts.
| Outcome | Charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NOT GUILTY | Trafficking Cocaine | Jury trial verdict, South Carolina |
| CHARGES DISMISSED | Murder | Plea to misprision of a felony; probation, no prison |
| DISMISSED + EXPUNGED | Possession w/ Intent to Distribute | Record cleared |
| DISMISSED + EXPUNGED | Domestic Violence 2nd Degree | Record cleared |
| PROBATION | DUI w/ Great Bodily Injury | Client faced 15-year exposure; no prison time |
| BOTH CHARGES DISMISSED | Child Endangerment + DUI | Plea to reckless driving + fine only |
| DISMISSED + EXPUNGED | Burglary 2nd Degree | Record cleared |
| PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION | Accessory After the Fact (Murder) | No jail time |
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case turns on its own facts.
South Carolina uses a felony classification system. Class A felonies carry up to 30 years in prison. Class F felonies carry up to 5 years. But the consequences stretch well beyond the sentence itself.
A conviction creates a permanent public record.
Even a misdemeanor, handled poorly, leaves a record that does not go away on its own. In South Carolina, expungement is available for certain charges, but only when the case ends the right way, with the right outcome, handled correctly from the start.
The window to protect your record is open right now, before the case moves forward.
If you were charged in Greenville County, here is what the next several weeks typically look like, and where your options are still open.
You may be released on bond or held pending a bond hearing. This is also the window when evidence is freshest, witnesses remember details, and video footage still exists. The decisions made in this window, including whether you speak to the police, can shape everything that follows.
For most charges, this will be a bond hearing in Greenville County Magistrate Court or the Court of General Sessions at 305 East North Street. You will enter a plea and receive your next court date. Having an attorney present at this stage is the best way to preserve your options.
If you qualify for Pre-Trial Intervention or another diversion program through the 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, that application happens early, often before formal indictment. Once the case advances past a certain point, diversion is no longer available. We identify this window immediately and move on to it.
Most cases do not go to trial. But the ones that get the best outcomes, dismissed charges, expunged records, probation instead of prison, are the ones where an attorney was prepared to take it that far. We negotiate from strength because we prepare for trial from day one.
You do not have to understand all of this before you call us. That is what the first conversation is for.
Every case we take starts the same way: with a review of the specific facts, the specific charge, and the specific court where your case will be heard.
We review the charges, the evidence, and the timeline. We tell you exactly what exposure you are facing and what the realistic outcomes look like, including paths that do not end in a conviction.
We examine the police report, any body-camera or dash-cam footage, witness statements, and chain-of-custody records. Most cases have weaknesses in the evidence. We find them.
Greenville County’s 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor offers several diversion programs, including Pre-Trial Intervention, the Adult Drug Court (an 18-month program with counseling and monitoring), Mental Health Court, and the Alcohol Education Program. If you qualify, diversion can result in dismissed charges and an expunged record. We assess eligibility before any plea discussion begins.
We prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. With 200+ trials in South Carolina courts, we know what juries respond to and what prosecutors depend on. When the right outcome requires a verdict rather than a deal, we are ready.
Stuart M. Axelrod began his career as an Assistant Public Defender in Horry County, then continued as a contract public defender in Georgetown County through 2012. That background means he has spent years handling the hardest criminal cases with the most limited resources, against well-funded prosecutors, for clients who had everything on the line.
Axelrod & Associates, P.A., has maintained a 4.8-star rating across 430+ Google reviews. The firm is a member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (SCACDL) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).
One client review puts it plainly:
“They were able to get my charge dismissed when I originally thought it would be extremely unlikely. They got me a better deal than what I even imagined. This team is who you want on your side.”
We have obtained Not Guilty verdicts at jury trial on Trafficking Cocaine charges, secured full dismissals on Murder charges, and gotten Domestic Violence and Burglary charges dismissed and expunged, among many other results. Every case is different, but our default approach is to prepare for trial even while pursuing dismissal or diversion.
You should contact an attorney before your first court appearance and, for most serious charges, within 48 to 72 hours of arrest. Evidence disappears, witnesses’ memories change, and deadlines for filing motions or applying to diversion programs are triggered early in the process. Waiting costs you options.
Not necessarily. Statements made to police are part of the evidence, but they are rarely the whole case. Depending on what was said, how it was said, and whether your rights were properly observed before and during questioning, there may be grounds to challenge the admissibility of that statement.
The most important thing you can do now is stop talking to investigators and contact an attorney immediately.
Expungement eligibility in South Carolina depends on the outcome and the type of charge. Charges that are dismissed, handled through Pre-Trial Intervention, or result in a not-guilty verdict are generally eligible. Some first-offense misdemeanors may also qualify after a waiting period. A conviction for a serious or violent offense generally cannot be expunged. The right outcome from the start is the most reliable path to a clean record.
The Court of General Sessions at 305 East North Street, Greenville, SC, handles felony criminal cases in the 13th Judicial Circuit. After indictment, cases move through arraignment, pre-trial hearings, potential plea negotiations, and, if necessary, trial. The 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office prosecutes these cases. Understanding this court’s procedures, the assigned solicitors, and what evidence they rely on gives a prepared defense attorney a concrete advantage.
We offer case evaluations so you can understand what you are facing before making any financial commitment. Fees vary based on the complexity of the charge, the court involved, and whether the case is likely to go to trial. Contact us to schedule a consultation and get a clear answer specific to your situation.
Greenville County’s 13th Judicial Circuit offers several diversion programs for eligible first-time, non-violent offenders, including Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), the Adult Drug Court (an 18-month supervised program with counseling and monitoring), Mental Health Court, and the Alcohol Education Program. Successful completion of PTI results in dismissed charges that are eligible for expungement under South Carolina law.
Contact Axelrod & Associates, P.A. today to schedule a confidential case evaluation. The earlier we get involved, the more options we have.
A criminal charge in South Carolina does not have to define the rest of your life. The outcome depends on who is handling the case and how it is handled from day one.
Axelrod & Associates, P.A. has tried more than 200 cases in South Carolina courts and secured outcomes ranging from Not Guilty verdicts to full dismissals on the most serious charges. We know this state’s courts, its diversion programs, and what it takes to get a result worth getting.
Reach out today to schedule a confidential case evaluation. Tell us what you are facing. We will tell you what your options actually are.
I just had the most awesome results with Axelrod Law Firm, particularly with Tatiana Berkey! She got my 8 points reduced to zero with only a $25 fine! She was so informative, caring and productive! It’s a great law firm with great results!
The staff at Axelrod&Associates is far none the best on the grand strand.they have taken care of 5 different cases for me and they went way above my expectations. Heather,Kelly ,Stuart and notably the best paralegal in the business…”Jenna” are so professional and most of all….caring. A million thanks to everyone there.
Go see Kate O’Hara! Her and her team work great together! Kept me up date and answered all the questions that I had! I couldn’t thank them enough!
Words can’t describe how thankful I am for this law firm ! They went way beyond anything I could have ever expected. If you are looking for a firm that really cares about their clients , this is the one!
Great experience working with Jenna and Heather on my adoption. It has been a long, lengthy process, and they were great getting me through all of it. Would recommend and definitely use them again in the future if needed. Thank you so much.
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Our attorneys handle a wide range of legal concerns ranging from personal injury, to traffic tickets to criminal charges to on-the-job injuries, to divorce and custody matters, to social security and veterans administration disability claims.
4701 Oleander Drive, Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-484-3983
1550 N. Oak St.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-390-9090
1510 Ebenezer Road
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-956-1224
3700 Golf Colony Ln
Little River, SC 29566
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