Charles Demisses Graham

I was facing charges for a DUI (misdemeanor) my first offense with the law and I was referred to Mr. Graham due to his past experience as a solicitor for Cobb county for DUI offenses. I had told him that I had blown high and was detained in Cobb county, also that I wanted to plead "not guilty" in or...der to have my charge reduced to reckless driving (as many others have gotten in GA due to GA's law of never removing a DUI charge offense-which in all regards is senseless, since you can commit more serious crimes and they later are expunged). He discouraged me (as a first time offender) from pleading "not guilty" and told me that because I had sufficient evidence against me that I would not win on trial and that I would possibly spend a max of a year in jail. Having never had a run in with the law I feared that consequence as a year would take away me graduating from college on time. Now as a college graduate with a "criminal record" I wish I trusted my gut and stuck with going to trial because this now affects me getting a job and even volunteering with certain groups. I feel I was rushed into a decision and my best interest was not at heart. He seemed to have a very strong acquaintance relationship with the prosecutor at my arraignment but did not use that acquaintanceship to the advantage of me as his client. Needless to say, I was out 5k at the end of my court appearance and gained nothing by hiring a lawyer instead of taking a court appointed attorney. The outcome would have been the same with one that was appointed and free of charge.