Getting charged with a crime in Fingerville can be a traumatic experience. Even "petty" crimes can cause an individual's life to fall apart professionally and personally. Spending time in jail is bad enough, but the ramifications of a criminal record run deep, resulting in loss of employment, loss of friends, and even family. For many people, having a zealous criminal defense attorney in Fingerville, SC, to defend their rights is the only shot they have of living a normal life.
That's why, if you have been charged with a crime, you need the help of a veteran criminal defense lawyer early in the legal process. That's where Cobb Hammett Law Firm comes in to give you or your loved one hope when you need it the most.
Our criminal defense law firm was founded to help people just like you - hardworking men and women who are looking at diminished employment opportunities and a possible lifetime of embarrassment. But with our team of experts fighting by your side, you have a much better chance of maintaining your freedom and living a normal, productive life. When it comes to criminal law in Fingerville, we've seen it all. With decades of combined experience, there is no case too complicated or severe for us to handle, from common DUI charges to complicated cases involving juvenile crimes. Unlike some of our competition, we prioritize personalized service and cutting-edge criminal defense strategies to effectively represent our clients.
Clients rank Cobb Hammett, LLC as the top choice for Fingerville criminal defense because we provide:
Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer in Fingerville can mean the difference between conviction and acquittal. Our firm has represented thousands of clients in the Lowcountry, and we're ready to defend you too. Some of our specialties include:
DUI penalties in Fingerville can be very harsh. Many first-time DUI offenders must endure a lifelong criminal record, license suspension, and the possibility of spending time in jail. Officers and judges take DUI very seriously, with 30% of traffic fatalities in South Carolina involving impaired drivers, according to NHTSA. Criminal convictions can have lasting impacts on your life, which is why Cobb Hammett Law Firm works so hard to get these charges dismissed or negotiated down. In some cases, we help clients avoid jail time altogether.
The bottom line? Our criminal law defense attorneys will do everything possible to keep you out of jail with a clean permanent record. It all starts with a free consultation, where we will take time to explain the DUI process. We'll also discuss your defense options and speak at length about the differences between going to trial and accepting a plea bargain.
The consequences of a DUI in Fingerville depend on a number of factors, including your blood alcohol level and how many DUIs you have received in the last 10 years. If you're convicted, the DUI charge will remain on your criminal history and can be seen by anyone who runs a background check on you. Sometimes, a judge will require you to enter alcohol treatment or install an interlock device on your automobile.
If you're on the fence about hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Fingerville, SC, consider the following DUI consequences:
48 hours to 90 days
with fines ranging from
Five days to three years
with fines ranging from
60 days to five years
with fines ranging from
Additional consequences can include:
1
When convicted of DUI in South Carolina, most offenders must join the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. This program mandates that offenders complete a drug and alcohol assessment and follow the recommended treatment options.
2
Some first-time DUI offenders in Fingerville may choose to complete community service in lieu of jail time. Community service hours are usually equal to the length of jail time an offender would be required to serve.
Typically, when a person is convicted of driving under the influence in Fingerville, their driver's license is restricted or suspended. The length of restriction or suspension depends on how many prior DUI convictions an individual has.
First-time DUI offenders must endure a six-month license suspension. Drivers convicted with a blood-alcohol level of .15% or more do not qualify for a provisional license. However, sometimes they may still drive using an ignition interlock device.
Offenders convicted of a second DUI charge must use an ignition interlock device (IID) for two years.
Offenders convicted of a third DUI charge must use an ignition interlock device (IID) for three years. That term increases to four years if the driver is convicted of three DUIs in five years.
For offenders with two or more convictions, the judge will immobilize their vehicle if it is not equipped with an IID. When a judge immobilizes a vehicle, the owner must turn over their registration and license plate. Clearly, the consequences of receiving a DUI in Fingerville can be life-changing, and not in a good way. The good news is that with Cobb Hammett Law Firm, you have a real chance at beating your charges and avoiding serious fines and jail time. Every case is different, which is why it's so important that you call our office as soon as possible if you are charged with a DUI.
Most drivers brush off traffic law violations as minor offenses, but the fact of the matter is they are criminal matters to be taken seriously. Despite popular opinion, Traffic Violation cases in Fingerville can carry significant consequences like fines and even incarceration. If you or someone you love has been convicted of several traffic offenses, your license could be suspended, restricting your ability to work and feed your family.
Every driver should take Traffic Violations seriously. If you're charged with a traffic crime, it's time to protect yourself and your family with a trusted criminal defense lawyer in Fingerville, SC. Cobb Dill Hammett, LLC is ready to provide the legal guidance and advice you need to beat your traffic charges. We'll research the merits of your case, explain what charges you're facing, discuss your defense options, and strategize an effective defense on your behalf.
There are dozens and dozens of traffic laws in Fingerville, all of which affect drivers in some way. Our Fingerville defense attorneys fight a full range of violations, including but not limited to the following:
As seasoned traffic violation lawyers, we know how frustrating it can be to get charged with a Traffic Violation. While some traffic charges can be minor, others are severe and can affect your life for years to come. Don't leave your fate up to chance call Cobb Hammett Law Firm today for the highest-quality Traffic Violation representation in Fingerville.
At Cobb Dill Hammett, LLC, we understand that children are still growing and learning about the world around them. As such, they may make mistakes that get them into trouble with the law. Children and teens who are arrested in Fingerville can face much different futures than other children their age. Some face intensive probation, while others are made to spend time in jail.
This happens most often when a child's parents fail to retain legal counsel for their son or daughter. Cases referred to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice often move quicker than adult cases, so finding a good lawyer is of utmost importance. With that said, a compassionate criminal defense attorney in Fingerville, SC, can educate you and your child about their alleged charges. To help prevent your child from going to a detention center, we will devise a strategy to achieve favorable results in their case.
Unlike adults, juveniles don't have a constitutional right to a bond hearing. Instead, once your child is taken into custody a Detention Hearing is conducted within 48 hours. This hearing is similar to a combination of a Bond Hearing and a Preliminary Hearing. Unfortunately, there is little time to prepare for these hearings, which is why you must move quickly and call Cobb Hammett law firm as soon as possible.
Our team gathers police reports, petitions, interviews your child at the DJJ, speaks with you about the case and talks to the prosecutor to discover if they have plans for detention. In most cases, we strive to avoid detention and seek alternatives like divisionary programs or treatment facilities. This strategy better addresses your child's issues and keeps them out of the juvenile legal system in Fingerville. If your child is charged with a crime, and South Carolina decides to prosecute, your child will appear before a family court judge, who will find them delinquent or not delinquent. There are no juries in juvenile cases in South Carolina, which is why it's crucial to have a lawyer present to defend your child if they go in front of a judge.
Common penalties for juveniles charged with crimes in Fingerville include:
Whether you are facing a DUI charge or a serious traffic violation, Cobb Hammett Law Firm is here to fight for your rights so you can continue living life. The future might seem bleak, but our criminal defense lawyers in Fingerville, SC, have the tools, experience, and strategy to win your case, as we have with so many others. Don't lose hope call our office today and maintain your freedom tomorrow.
A dog is alive but “clearly” shaken up after a man allegedly threw the canine off a bridge to fall dozens of feet — twice.Authorities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, identified the defendant as Shannon Lee Cantrell, 43, and allege that he committed the offense in plain view.“On Monday, October 3, 2022, Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Officers responded to a call of someone tossing a dog from a bridge located on Highway 11 in the Fingerville area of Spartanburg County,...
A dog is alive but “clearly” shaken up after a man allegedly threw the canine off a bridge to fall dozens of feet — twice.
Authorities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, identified the defendant as Shannon Lee Cantrell, 43, and allege that he committed the offense in plain view.
“On Monday, October 3, 2022, Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Officers responded to a call of someone tossing a dog from a bridge located on Highway 11 in the Fingerville area of Spartanburg County,” the county wrote.
Officers said they spoke with a witness at the site and searched the area below the bridge. They claimed to find Cantrell putting the dog in a chokehold.
“Officers removed the male, brown-and-white pitbull-type canine,” authorities said. “Cantrell stated that ‘witches’ told him to throw the dog from the bridge. The dog was thrown twice. Cantrell told officers that he was the owner of the canine and released ownership to Spartanburg County.”
Officers said they measured the distance from the bridge to the ground. It was 34 feet, authorities said.
The 1-year-old dog was wet from being in the water below, but did not have any visible injuries, police said.
“However, the canine was clearly shaken by the incident and was transported to Greenville County Animal Care for assessment,” authorities said.
The county said Environmental Enforcement got an arrest warrant under the law for ill treatment of animals — state statute 47-1-40 (B):
(B) A person who tortures, torments, needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon an animal or by omission or commission causes these acts to be done, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished by imprisonment of not less than one hundred eighty days and not to exceed five years and by a fine of five thousand dollars.
Cantrell was taken to the Spartanburg County Detention Center, where he remains locked up under a $5,000 bond. He faces a count of animal cruelty.
[Images via Spartanburg County]
Have a tip we should know? tips@lawandcrime.com
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, issued its 2021 Tap Water Database that shows what contaminants are commonly detected in trace amounts in public drinking water sources nationwide and in South Carolina.Here is a brief look at each of the seven water systems in Spartanburg County and what Environmental Working Group found from April 2019 to March 2021. A link is available explaining...
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, issued its 2021 Tap Water Database that shows what contaminants are commonly detected in trace amounts in public drinking water sources nationwide and in South Carolina.
Here is a brief look at each of the seven water systems in Spartanburg County and what Environmental Working Group found from April 2019 to March 2021. A link is available explaining the contaminants for each system.
► Inman Campobello, Inman, serves: 33,176; no violations; 19 contaminants detected; 16 at trace levels with no federal standard. Three below legal limits were Haloacetic acids (HAA5), 29.8 ppb, legal limit, 60 ppb; Total Trihalomethanes, 39.8 ppb, legal limit, 80 ppb; Chromium, 0.226 ppb, legal limit 100 ppb.
From April 2019 to March 2021, Inman Campobello WD complied with health-based drinking water standards. No violations.
See report: Inman Campobello WD
► LCF Water District (Liberty-Chesnee-Fingerville), Chesnee, serves: 16,971; 19 contaminants detected, 14 at trace levels with no federal standard. Five below legal limits were Haloacetic acids (HAA5), 20 ppb, legal limit 60 ppb; Total trihalomethanes, 22.1 ppb, 80 ppb legal limit; Chromium (total), 0.313 ppb, legal limit 100 ppb; Fluoride, 0.695 ppm, legal limit, 4 ppm., Nitrate, 0.0265 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm.
From April 2019 to March 2021, LCF Water District complied with health-based drinking water standards. No violations.
See report: CF Water District, Chesnee
► Metro Subdistrict B, Spartanburg, serves 1,849; 18 contaminants detected, 13 at trace levels with no federal standard. Five below legal limit were Haloacetic acids (HAA5), 20.6 ppb, legal limit 60 ppb; Total trihalomethanes, 22.1 ppb, legal limit 80 ppb; Chromium (total), 0.0929 ppb, legal limit, 100 ppb; Fluoride, 0.695 ppm, legal limit, 4 ppm; Nitrate, 0.0265 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm.
From April 2019 to March 2021, Metro Subdistrict B complied with health-based drinking water standards. No violations.
See report: Metro Subdistrict B, Spartanburg
► SJWD Middle Tyger WTP, Lyman, serves 60,592; 16 contaminants detected, 11 at trace levels with no federal standard. Five below legal limit were Haloacetic acids (HAA5), 25.6 ppb, legal limit, 60 ppb; Nitrate, 0.298 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm; Total trihalomethanes, 43.9 ppb, legal limit, 80 ppb; Chromium (total), 0.166 ppb, legal limit, 100 ppb; Fluoride, 0.146 ppm, legal limit, 4 ppm.
From April 2019 to March 2021, SJWD Middle Tyger WTP complied with health-based drinking water standards. No violations.
See report: SJWD Middle Tyger WTP, Lyman
► Spartanburg Water System, Spartanburg, 142,671 people served; 18 contaminants detected, 14 at trace levels with no federal standard; four below legal limit, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), 22.1 ppb, legal limit, 60 ppb; Total trihalomethanes, 35.0 ppb, legal limit, 80 ppb; Chromium (total), 0.0929 ppb, legal limit, 100 ppb; Nitrate, 0.0265 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm.
From April 2019 to March 2021, Spartanburg Water System complied with health-based drinking water standards. One violation. In August 2020 there was one occasion when levels of pH in two different distribution sites fell slightly below the optimal range, as determined by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
See report:Spartanburg Water System
► SWS-Landrum Water Treatment Plant, Spartanburg, serves 4,269; 12 contaminants detected, 7 at trace levels with no federal standard; Five below legal limit, Haloacetic acids, 26.3 ppb, legal limit, 60 ppb; Total trihalomethanes, 32.6 ppb, legal limit, 80 ppb; Ethylbenzene, 0.0474 ppb, legal limit, 700 ppb; Xylenes, 0.428 ppb, legal limit, 10,000 ppb; Nitrate, 0.0983 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm.
From April 2019 to March 2021, SWS-Landrum Water Treatment Plant complied with health-based drinking water standards. No violations.
See report:Sws-landrum Water Treatment Plant, Landrum
► Woodruff Roebuck WD, Woodruff, serves 25,923, 25 contaminants detected, 19 at trace levels with no federal standard; six below legal limit, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), 28.1 ppb, legal limit, 60 ppb; Nitrate, 0.613 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm; Nitrate and nitrite, 0.460 ppm, legal limit, 10 ppm; Total trihalomethanes, 56.4 ppb, legal limit, 80 ppb; Chromium, 0.161 ppb, legal limit, 100 ppb; Fluoride, 0.508 ppm, legal limit, 4 ppm.
From April 2019 to March 2021, Woodruff Roebuck WD complied with health-based drinking water standards.
See report:Woodruff Roebuck WD
Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com
The days are sunny, the temperatures mild, it’s the time of year when I like to take a drive down some country roads. Today I’m headed down Rainbow Lake Road, leading out of Fingerville. I’ve learned that Rainbow Lake no longer exists, but I’m curious. I want to see if I can locate where this popular summer bathing and picnic spot once existed.I’ve done my research and learned that Rainbow Lake was created by the Spartanburg Water District and existed from 1929 until 1967. A trip to the ...
The days are sunny, the temperatures mild, it’s the time of year when I like to take a drive down some country roads. Today I’m headed down Rainbow Lake Road, leading out of Fingerville. I’ve learned that Rainbow Lake no longer exists, but I’m curious. I want to see if I can locate where this popular summer bathing and picnic spot once existed.
I’ve done my research and learned that Rainbow Lake was created by the Spartanburg Water District and existed from 1929 until 1967. A trip to the Spartanburg Historical Society gave me background information. Ron Swain at the museum dug out a wonderful print by Mike Turnage entitled “Summer’s Call” depicting a busy day at the lake.
I drive out Route 11, turning right at the sign that reads “Rainbow Lake Road.” The first time I saw this sign I envisioned a pretty lake, perfect for fishing and small motorboats. I was saddened to learn that it had been drained. But if you are of a certain age, were a teenager in the late 50s or early 60s, you probably have some nostalgic memories of afternoons spent at Rainbow Lake.
When I Google Rainbow Lake on my computer, I discover videos, slide shows, and descriptions of fun times at the lake. In 2006, John Lane posted “I lived for the moment at the first of June when my mother finally said, ‘This weekend, Rainbow Lake is open.’ When that happened I knew I could stay out at the lake all day every Saturday and watch the teen boys do cannonballs and jackknives and suicide dives off the three-story concrete tower. The dive off the tower was a rite of passage I never achieved at Rainbow Lake. They closed the lake before it happened.”
The entry continues, “And if I didn’t want to swim or sit I could always eat French fries or drink a cherry Coke made with real syrup at the pavilion and wait 30 minutes and then go back in.”
A video shows teenage girls in two piece bathing suits, wading in the water, protecting their poufy hairdos from getting wet. The boys are showing off diving, a lifeguard patrols in a rowboat, sunbathers rub on sun tan lotion to help their skin absorb the sun, not block it. There’s a lot of smiling and splashing as the film plays out.
Most of the structures, bathhouses, rest rooms, pavilions, and rock walls were built by the CCC Camps of the 1920s. A video made in 2008, when some former Rainbow Lake regulars had an opportunity to revisit the grounds, shows these old stone structures along with the large field that was once a lake. I was hoping to locate this field on my drive and discover whether these structures still existed, but the location eluded me.
I pass Rainbow Lake Middle School and cross the bridge over the wide, rapidly flowing Pacolet River. I surmise that perhaps the river had been the water source for the lake. Heading back towards Fingerville, I turn off on a narrow road, crossing a creek. I’m surprised by some large candy canes leading to the entrance of a Christmas tree farm called Christmas Hill. I’ll tuck this place away for a possible story next Christmas. The signs along the road indicate it’s a popular place to find the perfect Christmas tree. The road dead ends so I retrace my route and head back to the main road.
Continuing my journey back on Route 11, I decide to stop for strawberries at Geary Jolley Farms fruit stand, The Peach Basket. I select a pint of red, luscious looking berries and proceed to the counter where Robert McKinney rings up the sale. I decide to probe a little and find out if Robert has memories of Rainbow Lake. He smiles, “Rainbow Lake was a part of growing up. They had a wading area for little kids. The bottom of the lake was all sand, the water was clear and not at all muddy. Beach music played all the time and you could buy hotdogs. It was a lot of fun.”
I inquire about the structures that I saw in the video and he describes a pavilion that is still in use. “They enclosed a pavilion and now you can rent it. My family rented it every Christmas. We’d put up a Christmas tree and have a feast there. It has a kitchen, tables and chairs, and a big gas burning fireplace. You rent it from Spartanburg Water and it’s used all the time for weddings, reunions, and family gatherings. We would call January 1 to reserve it for the next Christmas,” he laughs.
I read online about an effort in 2001 to revive the old lake. Shelia Bailey spearheaded a plan to redevelop Rainbow Lake. The entry online reads, “After listening to a friend reminisce about the old lake, she decided to drive to the property and have a look around. Bailey saw a grassy field, but she ‘could hear the kids playing and just felt this awesome place.’ Rainbow Lake became a mission for Bailey. Council members, however, were reluctant to bite.”
As I depart with my strawberries, music from an old Cowsills song, “Indian Lake,” written by Tony Romeo, plays in my mind. If I substitute the words, “Rainbow Lake,” I’m sure it describes this South Carolina, summer fun spot.
The air is fine with the sweet smelling pine
And the countryside’s pretty,
Indian Lake, is a scene you should make, with your little one,
Keep it in mind if you’re looking to find, a place in the summer sun,
Swim in the cove, have a snack in the grove,
Or you can rent a canoe
At Indian Lake
To quote John Lane again, “Losing Rainbow Lake was like losing a little of our soul. There’s something about swimming in lake water that’s never been replaced for me.”
I have to tell you folks that it was a difficult task to pare down this list to something of manageable size and, if you don't believe me, just look up 'odd South Carolina town names' one day when you have a spare moment. You will understand what I mean. This type of thing is not unique to South Carolina, but the sheer number of them might be!1. Let's start with the B's, shall we?Bee Tree, SC; Bucklick, SC; & Burns Down, SC2. Can you imagine?Cat Hole, SC; Cheddar, SC; Coosawatchie, SC; Cowtail, SC; Coward, SC;...
I have to tell you folks that it was a difficult task to pare down this list to something of manageable size and, if you don't believe me, just look up 'odd South Carolina town names' one day when you have a spare moment. You will understand what I mean. This type of thing is not unique to South Carolina, but the sheer number of them might be!
1. Let's start with the B's, shall we?
Bee Tree, SC; Bucklick, SC; & Burns Down, SC
2. Can you imagine?
Cat Hole, SC; Cheddar, SC; Coosawatchie, SC; Cowtail, SC; Coward, SC; Cowpens, SC; and Climax, SC
3. Does it get any better? Why, yes, it does!
Dog Bluff, SC & Due West, SC
4. Fair to say we are at least making you chuckle?
Fair Play, SC; Fairwell Corner, SC; and Fingerville, SC
5. Go ahead. We have a few more to get to.
Gator Field, SC; Golight, SC; & Guess, SC
6. Happen to know any of these by chance?
Happy Bottom, SC; Happytown, SC; Hell's Half Acre, SC; & Hurl Rocks, SC
7. I think by now we need fries...
Ketchuptown, SC
8. Many of these are needed, but I didn't know we made a town for them!
Mechanicsville, SC; Mudlick, SC; Mayo, SC; & Munster, SC
9. Now we are running full steam ahead!
Nine Times, SC; Ninety Six, SC; North, SC; & No Man's Land, SC
10. Putting on the ritz? No, that's not a name, but these are!
Prosperity, SC; Poverty Hill, SC; & Possum Town, SC
11. Quirky enough yet? Let's keep going!
Quarantine, SC & Round O, SC
12. Silly? Maybe. But, they keep getting better!
Six Mile, SC; Smoke Rise, SC; Snoddy, SC; & Spiderweb, SC
13. These should tickle your funny bone if I haven't just yet.
Texas, SC; Thicketty, SC, Tickle Hill, SC; Tip Top, SC; True Blue, SC
14. We may be slowing down here, but one more try for a grin at least.
Wattacoo, SC; Welcome, SC; & Wide Awake, SC
I know there are quite a few more out there and if I have overlooked your favorite South Carolina town name, please share it with us below in the comments section. I have to say that I had fun time doing this article. We are a unique bunch here in South Carolina to say the least!