Barnesville Criminal Lawyers

Born in 1967 in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Burns moved to Marietta, Georgia, at the age of five. After graduating from Sprayberry High School in 1986, Mr. Burns attended Kennesaw State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

In 1993, Mr. Burns graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence. Subsequent to his graduation from law school, Mr. Burns opened his own practice and has since been practicing law in Northern Georgia and the greater metro Atlanta area, relocating to Cherokee County 15 years ago.

Currently, Mr. Burns maintains a trial practice concentrating in criminal and...

Areas of Practice Criminal & Bankruptcy Law Bar Admissions Georgia U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia Georgia Court of Appeals Supreme Court of Georgia Education University of Mississippi School of Law, University, Mississippi - 2000 Law Journal: Journal of National Security Law, Editor in Chief Honors and Awards Voted by his peers as among the Legal Elite in Georgia in Bankruptcy Law. (Georgia Trend Magazine) Professional Associations and Memberships Georgia Bar Association Cherokee County Bar Association NACBA

Attorney Blanchette has been a member of the Georgia Bar Association since 1999 and has nearly two decades of jury trial experience. She has practiced throughout the State of Georgia and has extensive experience in the areas of Criminal Law & Immigration Law. Her practice also includes Estate Law and Family Law. Attorney Blanchette is most recognized for her work as a former Prosecutor for the State of Georgia for over 7 years where she has served as a Lead Trial Assistant District Attorney in 3 Judicial Circuits

As a prosecutor, she handled both Felonies and Misdemeanor...

Firm member T. Neal Brunt has been serving clients since 1988. Before creating his current firm, Mr. Brunt served as a law clerk to Superior Court Judges in the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. He established Brunt & Hood, LLC with Jason P. Hood and Jeffrey M. Hood in 2005.

DeKalb County Bar Association (President, 2006-2007), Atlanta Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Vice Chairman, DUI Committee, 2005-Present); Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers Group; Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; National College for DUI Defense (Elected to Board of Regents, 2008, Dean 2017-18, Dean Emeritus 2018-19, Fellow 2019-Present).

Norman Cuadra is a managing partner at the firm of Cuadra and Patel, LLC and the Law Firm of Norman H. Cuadra, PC. He graduated from University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences and also graduated from Nova Southeastern University-Shepard Broad Law Center with his Juris Doctor. Norman H. Cuadra is also presently the Chief Judge of the Suwanee Municipal Court. He has been a judge for the last 18 years. He is presently the Chief Judge for the City of Suwanee. He was an Associate Judge with the City of Chamblee and the City of Doraville. He coached...

Villard Bastien, licensed in Georgia, New York and New Jersey, has been a Litigation Attorney for more than sixteen years. He was first exposed to the practice of law at the District Attorney's Office in Queens New York. Prior to actively practicing law he worked on the claims side of the insurance industry for three years. He continued to practice for various insurance carriers and various defense firms as an Attorney. The past seven years have been mainly dedicated to the representation of individuals seriously injured as a result of the negligence of others. He also represents individuals for...

Norm Sawyer’s early career was spent representing the clients of large insurance companies, so he offers a unique perspective to his clients and the Litner + Deganian team. Norm knows how the insurance companies think and act, which can be a big advantage in a personal injury case. He also has a substantial amount of experience working with mediators as well as in state and federal courts.
“Insurance companies have so many clients that there’s very little interaction and a lot of rigid processes,” Norm commented. “I wanted to impact people’s lives, not just their insurance rates.” Norm met Arman Deganian...

Reid Thompson started his own criminal defense law firm in May of 2009 with an emphasis on serious felony offenses. Since March 2010, he has tried ten felony jury trials winning not guilty verdicts in Murder trials in Fulton and Dekalb Counties. Previous experience includes work as an Assistant District Attorney for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in the Complex Trial Division and at the Douglas County District Attorney's Office. During and after law school, Reid also worked at the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia, at the FultonCounty Solicitor's Office, and at the Georgia Justice Project....

Attorney Akil Kenneth Secret is a licensed attorney in the States of Georgia and Nebraska. His practice focuses on Serious Personal Injury Litigation, Wrongful Death Litigation and Major Criminal Defense. Mr. Secret has represented defendants in numerous high profile state and federal cases. He has tried hundreds of cases with extraordinary success. Mr. Secret has represented Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants, Real Estate Brokers and Agents and Corporate Executives. Attorney Akil Secret attended University of Nebraska and transferred to attend Morehouse College where he pursued his undergraduate studies until 1973 with a major in Political Science. He attended Atlanta Law School and earned...

Joshua Sabert Lowther, Esq., is a native of coastal South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, magna cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. Since he became an attorney, Mr. Lowther has practiced law exclusively in the areas of Healthcare Fraud, Federal Crimes, and Criminal Defense. He began his career defending clients in federal and state courts in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area, and he has since expanded that practice to include federal trial, appellate,...

Tom started The Church Law Firm in 2022 after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law and becoming a partner at an elite law firm in Atlanta. Since becoming an attorney, Tom has been handling cases involving high profile federal crimes, serious felonies under Georgia law, and civil claims against overreaching government officials, including small businesses that have been unlawfully targeted by law enforcement based on their sale of legal cannabis products (hemp). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom also secured the release of over a dozen federal inmates based on their age, medical conditions, or excessively...

EDUCATION: Mercer University - Walter F. George School of Law (2017) - 1st Place - Widener University (Delaware) Moot Court Competition - Student Bar Association Mercer University - College of Liberal Arts (2007) - Major: Biology - Minor: Chemistry LICENSURES: - Georgia - Superior, State, and all lower courts (2017) - Georgia - Court of Appeals (2018) - Georgia - Supreme Court (2018) PRIOR EMPLOYMENT: Bibb County Public Schools (2007-2014) - High School Science Teacher & Coach

Justin W. Chaney is a native of Atlanta. Prior to becoming an attorney Mr. Chaney was a Border Patrol Agent on the US-Mexico border in California and Texas. He was an Adjudications Officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at the New Orleans District Office. While with the INS Mr. Chaney conducted interviews and adjudicated thousands of various petitions and applications. After graduating from Whittier Law School in 2002, Mr. Chaney’s practice has focused on immigration law and criminal defense for non-citizens. He is a member...

While in high school, I played all sports. In college, I obtained my Black Belt in Chinese Boxing and was a security officer. After college, I became a teacher and coach, and taught History, Geography, Science, Health and Physical Education. I led Science Fairs and Living History in the Classroom. I led my students on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness Challenge and taught health. During my career, I coached Basketball, Football, Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball, Cross-country, and Track and Field. After law school, I worked for law firms in Atlanta and in 2007 opened my office in Lawrenceville....

Michael D. Murphy is an attorney with Farnsworth & Murphy LLC in Atlanta, GA. Before opening Farnsworth & Murphy LLC, Michael worked as a Senior Associate attorney at one of the largest criminal defense firms in Georgia. Michael has handled a wide range of cases from serious felony charges to minor traffic offenses. He has appeared in courtrooms all over the State of Georgia. While in law school, Michael spent time working as an intern with the Dekalb County District Attorney's Office. While in Dekalb. Michael assisted in handling a broad range of cases with the majority of his cases...

Evan Watson is a criminal defense trial lawyer specializing in DUI, drug, and theft offenses. In his 8 years as a member of the Georgia Bar, Evan has represented hundreds of clients successfully in the Municipal, State and Superior Courts throughout Georgia.

Eric Coffelt earned his Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law. Prior to that, Eric attended Mercer University, where he studied criminal justice and graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Eric competed in national mock trial competitions as part of Georgia State's distinguished Student Trial Lawyer's Association, was the Vice President of the Criminal Law Association, and was awarded the prestigious Georgia Civil Justice Foundation Scholarship for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. Virtually all of Eric's litigation experience has been in the area of criminal defense. His passion for helping those accused of criminal offenses began...

Benjamin Von Schuch has a relentless passion to seek justice and help others gain a second chance at life. He fights to protect the rights of men, women and minors accused of misdemeanor and/or felony crimes in and around Atlanta, GA. As a compassionate criminal defense attorney and owner of an Atlanta based law firm, Benjamin Von Schuch aims to give each of his clients the means to a solid defense so they can move on with their lives without the repercussion of a criminal record. Benjamin Von Schuch has made it his priority and mission to help others through...

Willis Law Firm is a highly esteemed Atlanta defense firm that focuses on aggressively defending an assortment of DUI cases in Georgia. Their team possesses more than 230 years of combined experience in the legal field. One of the firm’s partners was selected as Best Lawyers® 2012 “Lawyer of the Entire” for DUI Defense for the Atlanta area. Four of their attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the list of Super Lawyers®. They're available to speak 24 hours a day, so give them a call today at (404) 800-0025 for a free consultation.

John Schneider is a partner at Wosnik Law, and an experienced criminal defense attorney who has represented clients in both criminal and civil matters across north Georgia. John has extensive trial experience, and has achieved not guilty verdicts or dismissals on criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor theft and battery to serious felonies, such as kidnapping and sexual offenses. He has also successfully advocated for his clients at other crucial proceedings, such as divorce and child custody hearings, probation revocation hearings, and appeals to the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia. John graduated from the University of Georgia School...

As a former prosecutor for 6 years, I have a ton of courtroom experience and legal knowledge. When I first passed the Bar, I opened my own practice concentrating on family law and personal injury. As my knowledge base grew, I decided I wanted to get back to family law but now I had additional information and experience in criminal work.

Since starting Rachel Kaufman Law in June of 2015, Rachel has provided top-notch legal representation to hundreds of clients throughout the State of Georgia. In that short time, Rachel has gained a reputation for being a highly passionate and highly effective courtroom advocate. Amongst her colleagues, judges and courtroom personnel, Rachel is known for being a smart fighter, who can see through the tumbleweeds and intuitively zero-in on which strategic routes need to be taken to get to the best outcome possible. No matter the charge (DUI, Murder, Drug Offense, etc.), Rachel approaches each client’s situation with family-like loyalty and...

Ruslyn D. Ruby has practiced law since 2017. She focuses her practice on family law, probate and general civil litigation. She was born and raised in Georgia and has lived in Forsyth County since her childhood. Mrs. Ruby graduated with a bachelors degree in Business Management, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina Aiken. While at USC-Aiken, she was the captain of the cheerleading squad and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. In 2016, Ruslyn received her Juris Doctorate from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. While in law school, she was a member of the Association of...

The Smith Williams Law Firm’s owner, Yolanda Smith-Williams, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Political Science with a minor in English. She received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. While in law school, Yolanda gained valuable legal work experience by working with a Circuit Court Judge. This was the start of her experience in working in the area of Family Law. She later received a highly sought after internship with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office. In this position, Yolanda assisted in prosecuting individuals charged with felonies and...

Katie has spent her entire legal career advocating for her clients. She spent over 14 years as a public defender in Fulton County, representing individuals charged with felony crimes at the trial and appellate level. Most of her career at the public defender’s office was spent in the complex felony unit, representing people charged with the most serious crimes; murder, armed robbery, sex crimes and drug trafficking. More recently, Katie was a partner in a boutique law firm, trying cases and representing clients all over the Metro Atlanta area. Her many years in the courtroom have earned her a reputation...

Mr. Leonard is a Georgia DUI lawyer practicing in all of the courts in the peach state. He gets excellent results for his clients because he takes the time to learn about their individual DUI case and to stay on top of the ever changing DUI law. He has been NHTSA trained in DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, just like your arresting officer. In addition, he is a SFST Instructor. He is also a U.S. Department of Transportation certified operator of the Intoxilyzer 5000. He is a member of the National College for DUI...

Matthew Van Dyke has a service-driven practice with a specific focus of adding value and maximizing efficiencies for the Client. Mr. Van Dyke believes that it takes a cooperative effort in order to accomplish the Client’s goals.

For his business clients, Mr. Van Dyke will work with you to add value to your organization while being efficient and minimizing the risks for litigation. However, if litigation does arise, Mr. Van Dyke will represent your interests zealously, both in the courtroom and in the boardroom. For clients who have been charged with a crime, Matthew will work with you and for you...

Gabriel Bradford, a former member of the Sarasota County Fire Department, is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia. While in law school, Gabe served on the School of Law’s Honor Court. Prior to joining the firm as a partner, Mr. Bradford served as an assistant district attorney in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, which includes Banks, Barrow, and Jackson Counties. As an assistant district attorney, Gabe received trial training from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia and developed an expertise in domestic violence. Today,...