John D. Pritchard

I represent people who need help in the criminal justice system. That help can take different forms. Sometimes you may need a champion. Sometimes, a counselor. Others, a diplomat, a strong voice, or a rock. Maybe all of the above.

After more than twenty-two years as a prosecutor, first as an Assistant District Attorney and later as a fed working as an Assistant United States Attorney, I started the Pritchard Firm because I wanted to stand on my own, but also because I wanted to stand for the everyday man and woman facing what often seems like the worst situation of their lives.

Eventually, it will get better. My role is to get you there as fast and effectively as possible.

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North Carolina

North Carolina State Bar

ID Number: 27604

Since 2001

4th Circuit

Since 2012

Assistant United States Attorney

United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina

2011 - 2023

Also served as the Tribal Liaison to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Catawba Nation. Prosecuted all manner of federal crimes, including drugs, firearms, immigration, violent crime, offenses in Indian Country, and crimes on federal lands.

Assistant District Attorney

District Attorney's Office, 40th Prosecutorial District

2007 - 2011

Assistant District Attorney

District Attorney's Office, 2nd Prosecutorial District

2001 - 2006

Wake Forest University School of Law

J.D. (2000)

1997 - 2000

Honors: Trial Bar

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

B.A. (1997) | Philosophy and Peace, War, and Defense

1993 - 1997

North Carolina State Bar  # 27604

Member

2001 - Current

Board Certified Specialist in Federal and State Criminal Defense

North Carolina State Bar

2018

Q. ln NC State will you go to jail for this. A 24 year old dating a 17 year old, both females and had sexual relation.

November 7, 2024

A: Probably not.

The age of consent in North Carolina is 16, so a 17 year old is considered legally able to consent to sexual activity.

There are always exceptions. For instance, if the 24 year old were a teacher or coach at a school and the 17 year old was a student at the same school, sexual acts between them would be prohibited by law. But absent some special consideration like that such a sexual relationship would not be criminal.

Q. Can I be charged with drugs found in a drug raid but the house is not in my name or was not found on my person

October 17, 2024

A: The short answer is yes.

To charge someone, the police only need probable cause, which is the same standard the State needs when it seeks an indictment from a grand jury. Simply put, probable cause means something is more likely than not. It's not the same as the beyond a reasonable doubt standard needed for conviction, not even close, but getting a criminal charge isn't that complicated.

As to your specific question, there are lots of ways the State could try to make a case against you. Perhaps they have a witness that says the drugs found was yours. (Maybe they have more than one.) Maybe they have a wiretap. Maybe they have evidence you bought drugs earlier that day. Maybe they have a search warrant of your social media accounts or phone that shows "drug talk." It's relatively easy to come up with hypotheticals where you could be convicted of something even if it wasn't found in your house or on your person.

If you've ever taken off a watch or your shoes or a bookbag or anything similar at someone else's house, it's still your possession even if it isn't at your home and not on your person. Drugs can be the same way. It may not be as strong a case, but don't take it lightly either. ... Read More

Q. I have a misdemeaner larceny charge. The cameras have me putting stuff back before I took again. Can that show borrowing

June 7, 2024

A: Maybe so. Larceny is the crime of someone:

1) Taking

2) Personal property

3) That is in the possession of another

4) Carrying it away

5) Without consent

6) With the intent to deprive the possessor of it permanently

7) With the knowledge that he or she is not entitled to the property.

It sounds like the sixth element may be helpful if I understand the question correctly. The fact that shows the pressure washer was returned shows a lack of intent to deprive someone of it permanently. But if you are charged with stealing the wheelbarrow and it was never returned, that's certainly going to be a harder case.