Attorney Evan A. Watson's Legal Cases

DUI and DWI

2026 Forsyth DUI Marijuana Jury Trial Acquittal

Mar 15, 2026

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY.

My client was pulled over for a lane violation while merging onto Georgia 400 at Veterans Memorial Parkway. After field sobriety evaluations, the officer charged DUI Less Safe based on alleged impairme ... nt from cannabis use. Blood testing revealed elevated THC levels. At trial, I cross-examined the officer's investigation and exposed critical gaps and misinterpretations in his findings. Crucially, I leveraged the prosecution's own toxicologist, who conceded that THC blood concentration cannot reliably correlate to impairment, regardless of the levels. Without that evidentiary link, the State's case collapsed. A six-person jury deliberated less than thirty minutes and returned not guilty verdicts on DUI Less Safe and failure to maintain lane.

DUI and DWI

2026 Forsyth DUI Less Safe Jury Trial Acquittal

Mar 11, 2026

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY.

My client was stopped late at night and charged with DUI Less Safe and Failure to Maintain Lane after deputies claimed they crossed the solid white line and displayed numerous signs of impairment after ... stumbling out of a local gas station before driving off in her vehicle. Four law enforcement officers were involved in the stop and investigation. The State's case rested heavily on the officers' written accounts and the results of a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test administered roadside. The defense strategy was straightforward: put the video against the words. When the body camera and dash camera footage was compared to what the officers wrote in their reports and said on the witness stand, the conflicts were significant and consistent. What the deputies described in their narratives did not always match what the cameras actually captured. The HGN test administration was also challenged directly. The field notes reflected that the administering officer repeatedly stopped and restarted the evaluation, that my client was distracted by the officer's headlights during critical phases of the test, and that the officer ultimately scored only 2 out of a possible 6 clues, an incomplete evaluation conducted under conditions that compromised its reliability. The Walk and Turn and One Leg Stand tests were refused and never completed, leaving the jury with a partial, disputed HGN as the only field sobriety evidence. (This evidence was not admitted in the trial due to the Georgia Supreme Courts ruling in the Ammons case.) The jury deliberated for approximately 90 minutes and returned a unanimous Not Guilty verdict on both charges.

Trucking accident

Dekalb County Misdemeanor Traffic Jury Trial

Mar 01, 2025

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY.

After a 1-day trial, the Dekalb County jury acquitted my client of causing a traffic accident in his commercial vehicle. This not guilty verdict was achieved through cross examination of the investiga ... ting officer and the other vehicle's occupants.

Criminal defense

Gwinnett County Felony Theft Trial

Feb 01, 2025

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY.

After a two-day trial in 2025, a Gwinnett County jury acquitted my client of felony theft charges. This not guilty verdict was accomplished by cross examination of the state's victim, secondary witnes ... ses, and investigating cops.

Criminal defense

Forsyth County Daycare Battery Worker Jury Trial

Oct 01, 2024

OUTCOME: NOT GUILTY.

After a 2-day trial, a Forsyth County jury acquitted my client of battery at a local daycare, arising from allegations they struck the child in an effort to punish or discipline the child. This result ... was achieved through cross examination of the state's witnesses, including investigating officers, the child's parent, and daycare administration. Further, the client testified in her own defense.

Criminal defense

Sandy Springs v Client

Jan 15, 2015

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

In late 2014, client was charged with loitering and prowling for sitting in a parked vehicle in the lot of a closed local business. Upon arrival, the investigating officer determined the client's reas ... oning for being in the lot was less than satisfactory and cited client for L&P. Client's co defendant pled guilty and paid a fine and other conditions. After a bench trial in Sandy Springs, the client was found Not Guilty of the offense.

DUI and DWI

State of Georgia v. Client

Jan 01, 2015

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

Client charged with running a stop sign and DUI. After running a stop sign, client was investigated for DUI and eventually arrested. After arrest, client refused to take a breath test for the level o ... f alcohol in his system. With the help of an expert witness who testified about the officer's administration of field sobriety tests, the client was found Not Guilty of the DUI in a bench trial in Forsyth County and paid a $200 fine for running the stop sign.

DUI and DWI

Jury Trial w Trooper Cabe of GSP

Sep 01, 2013

OUTCOME: Not Guilty of DUI

Client was arrested for DUI while in Atlanta on business trip in 2010. Over 3 years later, the case went to trial after the Judge has excluded the client's breath test based on client's testimony that ... he asked for and was unreasonably denied an independent test. At trial, Trooper Cabe presented evidence in detail along with video evidence showing the client's alleged impairment and intoxication. A jury returned a Not Guilty verdict to 2 of 3 charges, including the DUI charge. The client was not ordered to do anything additional for the traffic light infraction.

DUI and DWI

Army Veteran's DUI Dropped

Jan 01, 2011

OUTCOME: DUI dropped

Client suffered from PTSD, as well as TBI and many other combat related injuries. 100% impairment rating assigned by the VA. After extensive negotiations and trial preparation, District Attorney's of ... fice agreed to dismiss the DUI charges with client only agreeing to Georgia DHR approved substance abuse evaluation. (which came back without any treatment recommendations) Arresting Deputy had reported smelling an odor of alcohol, hearing slurred speech, getting a positive reading on an alcohol screening device, observing client weaving on roadway, and having client admit to alcohol consumption. As trial strategy, defense was prepared to have two witnesses who observed client earlier on the date of arrest, as well as his VA assigned counselor and life coach testify at trial, if necessary.

Car accident

Cyclist's Case Dropped & Damages Recovered

Jan 01, 2011

OUTCOME: Case Dropped, Damages Recovered

Client was on bicycle traveling down a busy Atlanta road when a "Smart Car" made a right hand turn in front of him. The client was unable to stop and hit and went over the car's front hood. The clien ... t was cited for following too close and ordered to appear in court. After negotiations, the prosecutor agreed to drop the charge entirely against client. Afterwords, we were able to negotiate a settlement with the "Smart Car's" insurance carrier to cover client's medical bills and cost of a new cycle.

Evan A. Watson's Legal Cases (19)

2026 Forsyth DUI Marijuana Jury Trial Acquittal

2026 Forsyth DUI Less Safe Jury Trial Acquittal

Dekalb County Misdemeanor Traffic Jury Trial

Gwinnett County Felony Theft Trial

Forsyth County Daycare Battery Worker Jury Trial

Sandy Springs v Client

State of Georgia v. Client

Jury Trial w Trooper Cabe of GSP

Army Veteran's DUI Dropped

Cyclist's Case Dropped & Damages Recovered