McDowell County Juvenile Law Lawyers

“We are a better State Bar because of people like Deborah Moy who want to be attorneys.”
Superior Court Judge Michael L. Robinson - Vice President, NC Bar Association; Councilor, NC State Bar

A self-professed “Air Force brat,” Deborah Moy was born in the Philippines and spent her childhood living in Gainesville, FL (Go Gators!); Dayton, OH (Go Reds!); Fairfax, VA (Go ‘Skins!); and Greensboro, NC. Deborah’s maternal grandmother, Eva Jones, was a tobacco sharecropper in Eastern NC, who raised nine children on her own. She credits Grandma Jones for instilling in her the importance of strength, hope, and humility, and for...

Growing up as the son of a Marine Corps Aviator and a public school teacher, John W. Cox saw firsthand how his parents dedicated their lives to helping others. From defending those who can’t protect themselves, to teaching children for the betterment of themselves and society, he couldn’t help but be affected by his parent’s zeal to serve. Thanks to the support of his parents, John pursued a career defending others according to the letter of the law. He received his Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University in 1997. John subsequently passed the bar exam in 1997 and opened...

2020 will be the 14th year that I have practiced law exclusively in criminal defense. My legal career began as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County where I received extensive training and experience. During my tenure as a public defender, I tried approximately 18 jury trials and more than 50 juvenile cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies and strikes, including one murder case in the juvenile system. Now in private practice in North Carolina, I maintain the original passion and dedication to my clients that drew me to this work while still in law...

I am a retired State Trooper with 29 years experience building DWI cases. If you have recently been charged with DWI or any other traffic or criminal offense, let me put my training, knowledge, and decades of experience to work for you. I know the process used to administer a breath or blood test. I know the training an officer has to stop someone, to administer field sobriety tests, to administer portable breath tests, to conduct DWI check points, and to arrest someone for DWI. I know the procedures used to operate and maintain...

Matt Godwin grew up in Tarboro, graduating from Tarboro High School in 1997 and from North Carolina State University in 2001. In 2002, Matt enrolled in the School of Law at North Carolina Central University. Following his second year at Central, he worked as a legal intern at the Carteret County District Attorney's office. During Matt's third year of law school, he also interned at the North Carolina Attorney General's Office. Upon graduation and admission to the North Carolina State Bar in 2005, Matt worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Wake County. During his tenure at the...

Charles “Charlie” Gray spent his entire life in Wendell, North Carolina. A lifelong Wolfpack fan, Charlie attended N.C. State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a Minor in Biological Sciences. Charlie then made his way to Campbell University where he received his law degree (JD) and, simultaneously, received a Master of Laws (LLM) from Nottingham Law School in the United Kingdom. While in law school, Charlie developed a passion for representing the criminally accused and being in the courtroom. Charlie’s enthusiasm for criminal defense stems from a desire to guide others through the complex criminal justice...

I am a board certified Family Law Specialist and have practiced predominantly Family Law and all issues relating to Family Law since my licensing in 2002. I am committed to representing my clients and advocate strongly for my clients both in and out of the courtroom.

Danny Earl Britt, Jr., enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard as a private while he was still attending high school in Tar Heel, NC. Following high school he attended Appalachian State University where he walked on and played football graduating Magna Cum Laude in Boone, North Carolina with a B.S. in Political Science and concentration in pre-legal studies. After graduation, Danny immediately enrolled in law school in Oklahoma. Following law school Danny joined a firm in Elizabethtown North Carolina working for a few years before taking a job with the Robeson County District Attorney's office. Danny served...

Attorney Val Cesanelli handles family law cases for our firm, with a focus on child custody cases and matters arising out of the process of separation and divorce, such as separation agreements and questions of spousal and child support. Val also handles other family related cases, such as paternity actions, legitimations, name changes and changes in birth certificates, as well as provides drafting services of powers of attorneys and simple wills.

Val is as much a litigator as she is a counselor at law for her clients. As a mother of three children and three stepchildren, Val is both professionally and...

I have been practicing law in southwestern North Carolina since 1981, concentrating in family law, wills, estates and guardianships, and civil litigation. I am experienced in each of these areas, and have successfully tried hundreds of cases over the years. My practice covers Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties in North Carolina.

As a small dedicated law firm, we represent clients involved in marital disputes. Our knowledge of the law allows us to aggressively represent you when you need someone on your side. We represent people who need help in the following Domestic/Family Law areas: family and domestic law including; child custody, support, alimony, divorce, and property distribution.

Criminal Defense Attorney Chris Dozier provides comprehensive, aggressive legal defense for people who have been charged with a crime. As a former Wake County Prosecutor, he knows what it takes to get the job done. Whether you have been charged with a speeding ticket, a DWI, Domestic Violence, underage drinking, or any other crime, Dozier will fight to protect your rights.

As a criminal and immigration attorney in Raleigh, NC, Nick Clifford helps his clients through some of the most difficult times in their lives. He founded his law firm, the Clifford Law Group, on the foundation of compassion, integrity, and truly understanding the goals of clients. Nick is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Florida. He received his juris doctor from Florida State University College of Law, and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from North Carolina State University. He practiced criminal defense in Florida's public defender's office before co-founding the Clifford Law Group, alongside his wife, attorney...

Kellie Mannette has been dedicated to defending the rights of the accused her entire career. As a law student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she was the co-president of the Innocence Project. While interning at the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, Ms. Mannette investigated post-conviction claims of innocence. Additionally, Ms. Mannette interned at the Wake County Public Defender’s Office, assisting in the representation of indigent individuals in district court. Ms. Mannette defended juveniles in delinquency proceedings while completing the Juvenile Justice Clinic. After graduating from law school, Ms. Mannette joined the Fair Trial Initiative as an...

Sydney J. Batch, J.D., M.S.W. is one of the founding partners of Batch Poore & Williams, PC. Sydney Batch grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As a triple tarheel, Sydney received her Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Social Work and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The combination of her dual degree in law and social work provide her with a unique understanding of the often intersecting worlds of law and social work. Her primary practice areas are family law and child protective services Sydney is...

William “Gray” Smith grew up in Robersonville, North Carolina. He attended Randolph-Macon College in Virginia where he majored in Religious Studies and played wide receiver on the football team. Gray was an active member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity while at Randolph-Macon. Gray came home to North Carolina to attend law school at Campbell University in 2014. During law school Gray devoted himself to becoming a trial lawyer. After being selected as a member of Campbell’s nationally recognized trial team, Gray competed across the country and earned Outstanding Advocate honors. Upon graduation from law...

As a former prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney I have seen both sides of the law to gain a complete picture on how to best help my clients. I have a great amount of experience with the criminal justice system and a vast knowledge of how the police operate. I became a criminal defense attorney because I want to help people. I aspire to be the one person who is on your side and want to help you deal with your case with the least amount of anxiety possible. You will notice that the system is not...