Gary Wayne Searcy

I retained Mr. Searcy for a ticket I received in a high ticketing, predatory zone of North Hampton County during the pandemic. Before paying the retainer, I spoke with him on the telephone and he was enthusiastic and answered my questions, which made me ignore the previous bad reviews I had come acro...ss. Although my case was dismissed, it was not an experience I will undergo again. At no point throughout the process did we discuss what happened at the time of I was pulled over. Although I specifically asked in writing to be present at my court date, he did not communicate the date or time with me and I was not allowed to attend. Being aware of my court date, I stayed near by the courthouse with family to be able to attend. I even called the office the day before and expressed that I planned to attend my court date! He still did not make provisions for me to be present. Apparently at the time, court was being held over the telephone. I was not even invited to come to the office or be present for a conference call. I only found out my court date happened because of case search. I found my disposition and next steps after calling him! His wife is his secretary and is very nice. However, he will not return voice messages quickly and emails were often short and rude. I felt railroaded throughout the process, not kept informed and not advocated for. He is too aware of how the system in the county works and is complacent. Would not recommend.

I went to court in VA for a reckless by speed charge (87 in a 55). The incident occurred on a long (15 mile long) divided bridge with no other vehicles around late at night. I sped, but it was an empty highway for goodness sakes. Now I have a permanent criminal record, a 6 month license suspension... and a fine of $491. Oh...and that other fine, $450 in legal fees. For $450 I basically got a guy in a suit quietly asking the judge if I could have a reduced charge. The guy didn't do any homework or preparation for my case. He didn't even bring up mitigating circumstances like fact that you don't have to worry about kids darting out in front of you on the bridge I was on, or that there were no other cars around to endanger at that time of night. He could have tossed out that I served 6 years in the air force and had an honorable discharge (I'm not above using that info if it means avoiding a permanent criminal record) or stressed that this was a case of someone driving a little to fast on a clear and straight limited access highway. None of that. I understand i was speeding, and badly, but that's it. No swerving, driving erratically or dodging through traffic Criminal record for driving in the 80's? In PA, my home state, traffic on the turnpike is often in the mid 70's and sometimes even in the 80's. Doesn't make what I did right, but it certainly should make what I did appear a lot less like something out of Hitler's biography, which is apparently how VA views people doing 80 mph. The best part was that after the hearing, Searcy said that he was happy that I avoided jail time. What a crock, the VA state code states that loss of liberty (jail) is a possibility for over 90 mph so I knew going in there was no chance of getting jail time. Basically I'm irked because besides speeding, I did everything right: got a lawyer, took a drivers course, had a clean driving record, showed up for court in a suit, was quiet and polite while my lawyer spoke to the judge and had plenty of mitigating circumstances (mentioned above) that should have been grounds to reduce the charge to "Improper Driving". I feel like I had all of this going for me but my lawyer didn't present the information well or at all and the judge slammed me with everything he could. I may have gotten the same end result, but for $450 I should be represented and I should have an advocate by my side, not just a suit. Extremely disappointed in Mr. Searcy's performance.