Criminal Defense Lawyer Charleston, SC
If you’ve been arrested or charged with a crime in Charleston, the next few decisions you make will shape the course of your case and potentially the rest of your life. Criminal cases move fast. The prosecution starts building its case against you before you’ve had the chance to speak with an attorney, and evidence can be lost or compromised if no one is looking out for your interests from the start. Our Charleston, SC criminal defense lawyer at The Law Office of Jonathan Lewis, LLC has seven years of experience defending people accused of violent crimes, drug offenses, and general criminal charges across South Carolina.
We offer free consultations and handle criminal defense cases on a flat-fee basis so you know what you’re paying from the beginning. Jonathan Lewis has tried cases to jury verdict and won acquittals on charges as serious as murder and attempted murder.
Why Choose The Law Office of Jonathan Lewis for Criminal Defense in Charleston, SC?
Prosecution and Defense Experience
Jonathan Lewis has worked on both sides of the criminal bar. Before founding his firm in January 2019, he served as a Special Assistant Solicitor in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, where he was assigned to prosecute drug crimes and violent crimes. That prosecutorial experience is not a line on a resume. It means he knows exactly how the State builds a case: which witnesses they put on first, what evidence they prioritize, how they prepare cooperating witnesses, and where their strategies tend to have weaknesses. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2018 and has been a member of the SC Criminal Defense Lawyers Association since entering private practice.
Jury Trial Results
Not every criminal defense attorney in Charleston, SC tries cases to verdict. Many don’t. Jonathan does. In 2025, he secured a full jury acquittal in State v. Craig Preister on a murder charge. In 2024, he obtained a not-guilty verdict on all seven counts of attempted murder in State v. Joshua Fields. These outcomes required months of preparation, investigation, and the willingness to stand in front of twelve jurors and challenge the State’s case piece by piece. That is the kind of preparation every client at our firm receives, regardless of the charge.
Recognized Across South Carolina
Super Lawyers has named Jonathan a South Carolina Rising Star in Criminal Law for 2024 and 2025. Charleston Business Monthly selected him as a Legal Elite of the Lowcountry in Criminal Law, General Practice, and Criminal Law DUI in 2023. Columbia Business Monthly named him the Top Vote Getter in Criminal Law for the 2022 Legal Elite of the Midlands. He’s a member of the South Carolina Association for Justice and the American Bar Association. He has been on the South Carolina Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll each year from 2020 through 2024.
Flat-Fee Billing
Criminal cases are billed on a flat fee, broken into thirds. The initial retainer covers bond hearings, preliminary hearings, and full case review. The second payment is due upon receipt of discovery and covers plea negotiations or entry into a diversion program such as Drug Court, Veterans’ Court, Pre-Trial Intervention, or Conditional Discharge. The final third is due 120 days before trial. There is no hourly billing that climbs without warning. You know the cost upfront.
What Clients Say
★★★★★
“Let me preface this by stating that I do NOT normally leave reviews for services rendered, and my opinion cannot be bought. After consulting with 4 other attorneys who wanted to push for an easy “safe” route with my case, Jonathan actually took on the challenge of what all the others deemed unfavorable.” – Crystal D
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Criminal Defense Cases We Handle in Charleston
Criminal charges in Charleston range from misdemeanors handled in magistrate court to violent felonies prosecuted in the Court of General Sessions at the Charleston County Courthouse. We defend clients across the full spectrum of criminal charges.
- Violent crimes. Murder, attempted murder, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, and domestic violence. Jonathan has tried murder defense cases to verdict and won full acquittals. South Carolina classifies violent crimes under Section 16-1-60, and these charges carry some of the harshest penalties in the state’s criminal code.
- Drug crimes. Possession, possession with intent to distribute, trafficking, and manufacturing. South Carolina’s drug trafficking statutes carry mandatory minimum sentences that strip judges of sentencing discretion. We challenge the legality of the stop, the search, the seizure, and the State’s chain of custody for evidence. If the evidence shouldn’t have been obtained, it shouldn’t be used.
- Felony charges. South Carolina classifies felonies from Class A through Class F, with maximum sentences ranging from 30 years to five years depending on classification. A felony conviction means a permanent criminal record that affects employment, housing, and civil rights. We evaluate every case for diversion program eligibility and fight for reduced charges or outright dismissal whenever the facts support it.
- DUI and traffic offenses. A DUI conviction in South Carolina triggers license suspension, fines, potential jail time, and a permanent record. Repeat offenses carry escalating penalties under the state’s habitual offender laws. We examine field sobriety tests, breathalyzer calibration records, body camera footage, and the legality of the initial traffic stop.
- General criminal charges. Shoplifting, trespassing, disorderly conduct, weapon offenses, and other charges that might seem minor but can still result in jail time, fines, and a record that follows you into every job application and background check. We bring the same level of preparation to these cases that we bring to major felony matters.
South Carolina Legal Requirements for Criminal Defense
South Carolina categorizes criminal offenses as violent or nonviolent under S.C. Code § 16-1-60. Violent crimes include murder, criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, and others specifically listed in the statute. The classification directly affects sentencing ranges, parole eligibility, and whether certain diversion programs are available to the defendant.
The state’s self-defense provisions, including the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground law under S.C. Code §§ 16-11-440 and 16-11-450, provide legal protection for individuals who use deadly force in defense of themselves, their homes, or their occupied vehicles. These protections include immunity from criminal prosecution if the statutory requirements are met. But the burden of establishing a valid self-defense claim falls on the defense in practice, and the underlying facts have to line up.
South Carolina criminal procedure, set forth in Title 17 of the Code, governs the rules for arrest, bond, preliminary hearings, discovery, and trial. Bond hearings in Charleston County typically take place within 24 hours of arrest. The State carries the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, and the defendant has the constitutional right to a jury. For defendants weighing whether to accept a plea agreement or go to trial, the decision turns on the strength of the State’s evidence and the realistic range of outcomes in both scenarios.
Important Aspects of a Charleston Criminal Defense Case
Bond and Pretrial Release
Getting out of jail quickly is typically the first priority after an arrest. Bond amounts in Charleston depend on the severity of the charge, the defendant’s criminal history, ties to the community, employment status, and the court’s assessment of flight risk. We attend bond hearings and argue for reasonable bond conditions that allow our clients to continue working and supporting their families while the case moves through the system. If bond was denied by the magistrate, we pursue reconsideration.
Discovery and Evidence Review
The State is required to turn over its evidence to the defense through the discovery process. This includes police reports, witness statements, forensic lab results, body camera and dashcam footage, and any exculpatory evidence. We go through every piece of it. Cases are won and lost in the details of discovery, and we have found critical issues in the State’s evidence that changed the direction of a case entirely.
Prior Convictions and Enhanced Sentencing
South Carolina’s three-strike provisions and habitual offender statutes mean that prior convictions can dramatically increase the penalties you face. A second or third conviction for certain offenses triggers mandatory minimum sentences that eliminate any possibility of probation or a suspended sentence. We evaluate how a client’s criminal history interacts with the current charge from the outset, because that analysis shapes every strategic decision in the case.
Collateral Consequences
A criminal conviction doesn’t end when the sentence is served. It affects employment opportunities, housing applications, professional licensing, firearms rights, and immigration status. For clients in Charleston who hold professional licenses, security clearances, or who are not U.S. citizens, collateral consequences can be more damaging than the criminal penalty itself. We factor every downstream consequence into the defense strategy.
Contact The Law Office of Jonathan Lewis, LLC
If you or someone you care about has been charged with a crime in Charleston, SC, don’t wait. The earlier a criminal defense attorney gets involved in your case, the more options are available. We offer free consultations and are ready to evaluate your situation. Contact us today to get started.