We obtained a dismissal of felony charge for our client charged with felony possession with intent. The charge was bogus and we stood by our client until the charge was dismissed, though the District Attorney offered him a plea to a significantly reduced charge. Our client is innocent and is free from all charges today.
RAPE Charge DISMISSED Cherokee County
July 30, 2014
After 18 months, multiple determined district attorneys, a highly motivated “victim” and biased police investigation, Gregory Hicks obtained a dismissal of the rape charge against his client.
Gregory Hicks used his thorough examination of the details of the case, personal interviews with witnesses and assistance of his own private investigators to protect his client from 25 years in prison.
Drug Trial Victory
October 22, 2013
During a trial conducted October 4th through October 8th in Cherokee County, two Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies admitted that even though my client was lying face down on the ground, they were “seconds from killing him”.
My client jumped in the river before he could be killed. In this case, the police claimed my client threw an “eight-ball” of methamphetamine on the ground/water while he was being chased through the woods by multiple police and a drug dog.
However, I was able to prove to the jury that the police manufactured evidence, lied on the stand, joked about trying to raise the charges against my client and were disappointed that they did not get to tase and kill him.
After the jury was split 7-5 our way, the District Attorney decided such police misconduct and ineptness was too much even for them. The DA’s office utilized four prosecutors including the District Attorney to conduct the case and still lost and subsequently gave up.
This case, among many others, is why I proudly support October22.org, a website dedicated to researching and stopping police abuse of the citizens.
Greg Hicks
October 22, 2013
Motions lead to Dismissal of Felony Drug Case – Cobb Superior Court
February 21, 2012
Prosecutors dismissed a felony drug case after Attorney Greg Hicks filed a motion to suppress challenging illegal and unconstitutional activity by a police department in Cobb County.
After reviewing the motions filed by Greg Hicks, the state agreed that Mr. Hicks would win the motion, and they chose to dismiss the case entirely before the motion began.
DUI Dismissed Before Trial – Cherokee County
November 4, 2011
DUI drugs and alcohol (combined influence) dismissed after Greg Hicks convinces the prosecutor that low levels of marijuana consumption had no effect on driving.
This case was dismissed before trial in the State Court of Cherokee County, Canton, Georgia.
Drug charges dropped after police violate constitutional rights
June 6, 2011
The state dropped two different drug cases against the same client after Amanda R. Gaddis filed Motions to Suppress challenging the illegal stops after police violated the client’s Fourth Amendment constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure.
In the first case, the client was stopped by Woodstock Police Department for “circling a parking lot” and allegedly running a stop sign. A review of the videotape, however, revealed that the client did in fact stop at the sign. After the client was illegally stopped, police searched her car and arrested her for possession of marijuana. In addition, prior to trial, the state was unable to produce a test showing that the items seized from her were in fact marijuana because the evidence was destroyed prior to being tested. After filing motions challenging both, the state agreed that the case would not survive a Motion to Suppress. All charges against the client were dismissed.
One month after the first stop, the client was stopped again by the same department. Again, the police officer had no reason to stop the car–she was merely pulling out of a parking lot late at night which is not a crime or even suspicion of a crime according to Georgia law or laws interpreting the United States Constitution. Officers observed no illegal activity or traffic violations before stopping and searching the vehicle. Because law enforcement violated the client’s constitutional rights, the state again agreed the case would not survive a Motion to Suppress and they chose to dismiss the case entirely as well.
Because the Law Office of Gregory Hicks advocated for the client’s constitutional rights, the client maintains a clean criminal record.
All charges against the client were dismissed after illegal stop by City of Woodstock Police.
State dismisses case entirely, Law Office of Gregory Hicks maintains client's clean record
Felony Drug Charges Dismissed–Cobb County
May 16, 2011
Gregory A. Hicks secured a dismissal of a felony drug charge for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in Cobb County Superior Court. The client had a very small amount of marijuana in his possession but Cobb County Police charged him with felony intent to distribute because the marijuana was in separate bags. Gregory A. Hicks was insistent that his client was not guilty of a felony based on the evidence but the state declined to dismiss the felony drug charges several times prior to trial. After being called for trial and immediately prior to bringing in a jury, the district attorney “re-evaluated the evidence” and agreed with Mr. Hicks and dismissed the felony drug charges.
DUI Dismissed – Cherokee County
April 4, 2011
Gregory A. Hicks secured dismissals of DUI less safe and DUI drug charges in the State Court of Cherokee County in April 2011. Mr. Hicks’s client was arrested in his own driveway for DUI. The client submitted to the State administered test of his breath (the “intox” test) and registered .078–BELOW the legal limit in Georgia. Despite his low intox result, and despite the absence of any “less safe driving”, deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office charged the client with DUI Less Safe.
Mr. Hicks was able to obtain the dismissals on the day the case was called in for trial. After reviewing the evidence, Mr. Hicks discovered that the officers improperly administered the Field Sobriety Tests–making the client submit to tests that he was physically incapable of doing correctly. The officers also improperly read implied consent to Mr. Hicks’s client. The deputies read implied consent prior to placing the client under arrest which is strictly prohibited under Georgia DUI law. Mr. Hicks filed motions to have this improper evidence excluded from trial. After filing motions and discussing with the prosecutors, the state agreed to dismiss the DUI charges against the client without the need for trials or motions. Because of Mr. Hicks’s knowledge and expertise of DUI law in Georgia, his client avoided jail time, an expensive fine and the harsh consequences of a DUI conviction.
Cherokee & Cobb DUI Charges Dismissed
December 11, 2010
Gregory A. Hicks has obtained dismissals on the last 2 DUI cases in Cherokee County and Cobb County without trial or motions hearings.
In the State Court of Cherokee County, Mr. Hicks’ client was charged with DUI less safe after he refused the breath test. After Mr. Hicks investigated the case and brought it to the attention of the prosecutor that the officer improperly administered field sobriety tests on the side of the road (including making his client engage in made up tests), attorneys for the state chose not to reduce the DUI charge, but to completely dismiss the charge. Thanks to Mr. Hicks’ experience and advocacy, his client now maintains a clean driving record.
A similar situation occurred in Cobb County, Georgia. Mr. Hicks’ client was a young girl, 19 years old. She was stopped for speeding after an officer “paced” or followed her car. After mistaking tobacco in the car for marijuana, the officer immediately pulled her out of the car and started a DUI investigation. Again, as often happens, the officer did not administer the field sobriety tests properly. When Mr. Hicks brought this to the attention of the prosecutor, the state offered to reduce the DUI charge to reckless driving. The client, however, would have still lost her license if she pled to reckless driving because she was under the age of 21 (in addition to the numerous other consequences of a reckless driving conviction, including increased insurance premiums, higher fines and probation). Mr. Hicks was unwilling to accept this result so he went up the chain of command in the prosecutor’s office until he secured a complete dismissal of the DUI charge.
Both cases are a testament to how an attorney experienced in DUI law and trained in how officers should properly conduct DUI investigations can be crucial to your case.
Gregory A. Hicks Represents Client in Cobb County Murder Trial
December 1, 2010
Gregory A. Hicks represented a client in a 3-week criminal trial in Cobb County, Georgia. In this “street gang” murder trial, Gregory Hicks appeared on WSB-TV in his opening statement exposing how desperate the prosecution must be that one defendant receives a lesser sentence for his testimony in the case.
Gregory Hicks was often quoted for his statement to the jury that “Muhammed Abdus-Salaam will be auditioning for his future.”
Gregory Hicks was also critical of the negligent investigation of the case and failure to determine the one and only shooter.
A partial transcript of Gregory Hicks’ opening statement follows:
In this case there will be no evidence that [my client] shot anybody. There will be no evidence that [my client] shot at anybody. There will be no evidence that [my client] was even inside the apartment complex. There will be no evidence that [my client] assaulted anybody. There will be no evidence that [my client] even knew anybody that was involved in the case. There is no evidence that [my client] made any plan with anybody to kill anybody or assault anybody.
But what evidence there will be is that this case is going to be personal to Muhammed Abdus-Salaam,[ the government snitch]. Personal to him factually and legally.
Factually, he is the one person — the evidence will show that the government snitch is the instigator of all of this that lead to this innocent young man’s death. He is the one that got disrespected by drug dealer, got disrespected when he tried to do a deal with the drug dealer with his brother. The drug dealer wound up not doing the deal, went away cussing and disrespecting Muhammad Abdus-Salaam. Shamed him in front of his own brother. He’s the only one. This is personal to him. That’s why he went over there. It was his idea to do it.
But yet the instigator is not on trial here today. Instead, what the government snitch gets to do is audition for his freedom. He gets to get on the stand and minimize his conduct with all the pressure on him of his future freedom. His choices are life in prison or freedom. Think about that as he testifies.
You’re able, as Judge Ingram told you, you’re the judge of his credibility. He’s the — Muhammad Adbus-Salaam is the only one that wanted revenge, but yet the State is not electing to prosecute him. Instead, he gets to show them what he can do for them. He’s up here. His job is going to be, the evidence will show you, to convict all these people here. And after he does that, make no mistake about it, he will get his reward.
Remember this about his statements. The District Attorney told you when he’s first confronted about this, when his name instantly popped up in the case and when he is confronted about it, he denies the whole thing. Okay. The detectives leave him alone.
They go back to him later and try to get another statement from him. Early on in that interview, the detectives tell him that we can help you when you help us. It becomes a different story after that. He goes and names all these other people. But he doesn’t even get arrested then.
But what the situation with Muhammad Abdus-Sallam is, his reward is going to be hidden from you until after the trial. He doesn’t have to sit here, be on trial, and come up and testify to the truth when it’s his turn. He does not have to face you. He gets to sit up here and talk this way.
Why the District Attorney chose him to reward, I don’t know. Especially when all — every miniscule piece of evidence is going to say that he’s the instigator. Without him and his desire to either rob or get revenge on Dylan Wattecamps, another drug dealer — actually, they are both drug dealers, Muhammad, Abdus-Salaam and Dylan Wattecamps. Without that, young [name withheld], J.B., would still be here among us. But yet, he gets his reward hidden.
And I also expect the evidence to show you that he’s already received his instructions from the District Attorney about what he is supposed to do. The District Attorney has told him not to testify truthfully but to testify against. It’s a matter of record that it’s been stated to Muhammad Abdus-Salaam you are going to get up there and testify against. So he knows what his job is if he wants to earn his freedom. And you have to take that into consideration in everything you’re supposed to do.
Now, I expect that the judge will tell you that the words of somebody else that is involved in the case is not sufficient. That’s not enough. Especially when you consider everything that he has to gain. He’s trying to salvage his life. He’s not up here for money. There is no evidence that somebody has offered him a thousand dollars to do it. He’s up here for his life.
He will have a choice. It is about choices. It is about Muhammad Abdus-Salaam’s choices. His choice is his freedom or get up there and make sure he says what he’s supposed to say against, as the District Attorney told him, all of these people.
Thank you, folks.