Criminal Defense — Winston-Salem & Greensboro, NC

A criminal or traffic charge — even one that seems minor — can have consequences that follow you for years: a permanent record, higher insurance rates, a suspended license, lost income, and for non-citizens, serious immigration complications. At Nestor Legal, we handle criminal and traffic cases throughout Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, Davidson, and Yadkin Counties.

Attorney Nestor Katsoudas knows the local courts, the prosecutors, and how cases move through the Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, Davidson, and Yadkin County courthouses. That familiarity makes a real difference — not just in outcomes, but in how prepared and informed you feel every step of the way.

¿Tiene un cargo criminal o una multa de tráfico? Llámenos antes de su fecha en corte.

Traffic Violations

Traffic charges are among the most common reasons people contact Nestor Legal — and among the most underestimated. In North Carolina, even a single speeding conviction can add insurance points that raise your premiums for years. Multiple violations can trigger a license suspension. We fight to reduce or dismiss traffic charges before they cost you more than you expect.

Speeding Tickets

Not all speeding tickets are equal in North Carolina. The consequences depend on how fast you were going, your driving record, and whether the speed triggers more serious charges. A ticket for 1–15 mph over the limit may be reducible to a non-moving violation. Speeds over 80 mph or more than 15 mph above the limit in a 55 mph zone can be charged as misdemeanor reckless driving — a criminal offense, not just a traffic infraction.

Before you just pay a ticket and move on, talk to us. Paying a ticket is an admission of guilt, and the insurance and license consequences may far outweigh the fine itself.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is a Class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina — meaning it goes on your criminal record, not just your driving record. It carries potential jail time, fines, and significant insurance consequences. If the reckless driving causes serious injury, the charge can be elevated to a Class 1 or Class A1 misdemeanor. We defend reckless driving charges aggressively, often working to have them reduced to lesser traffic infractions.

Driving Without a License / License Not in Possession

Driving without a valid license and driving without your license on your person are two different charges with very different consequences. Driving with a revoked or suspended license (DWLR) is a criminal misdemeanor. We work to resolve these charges in a way that protects your record and gets you back on the road legally.

High-Speed / Aggravated Speeding

Speeds above certain thresholds in North Carolina trigger automatic consequences regardless of your prior record: license revocation, mandatory court appearances, and potential misdemeanor charges. These cases require an attorney — the stakes are too high to handle alone.

¿Recibió una multa de tráfico? Puede haber más consecuencias de lo que parece. Hablemos primero.

DWI — Driving While Impaired

A DWI charge is one of the most serious traffic-related offenses in North Carolina. Unlike many states, NC has mandatory minimum sentencing for DWI convictions — meaning a judge has limited discretion to go easy, even for first-time offenders. Your license, your record, your insurance, and in some cases your freedom are all on the line.

For clients who are not U.S. citizens, the stakes are even higher: a DWI conviction can trigger deportation proceedings, affect visa renewals, and create permanent barriers to immigration benefits. Nestor Legal’s dual expertise in criminal and immigration law means we build a defense that accounts for both.

What happens after a DWI arrest in NC?

After an arrest, you typically have a limited window to request a hearing to contest your license revocation — independent of the criminal case. This is time-sensitive. Contact us as soon as possible after a DWI arrest so we can protect your driving privileges while the case is pending.

How we defend DWI charges:

  • Challenging whether the traffic stop was legally justified
  • Challenging the administration and calibration of breathalyzer equipment
  • Challenging field sobriety test procedures
  • Reviewing dashcam and bodycam footage
  • Examining whether proper procedures were followed at every stage

¿Le acusaron de DWI? Llámenos de inmediato — el tiempo importa.

Misdemeanors

Misdemeanor charges in North Carolina range from Class A1 (the most serious) to Class 3 (the least serious), and the consequences vary widely. What they have in common: a conviction goes on your permanent criminal record, which can affect employment background checks, housing applications, professional licenses, and immigration status.

We handle the full range of misdemeanor charges, including:

  • Larceny (misdemeanor theft, typically property valued under $1,000 — note that certain circumstances such as theft from a person or involving a firearm can elevate the charge regardless of value)
  • Simple assault and assault on a female
  • Communicating threats
  • Trespassing
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Misdemeanor drug possession
  • Worthless checks
  • Disorderly conduct

Can a misdemeanor be dismissed or expunged?

In many cases, yes. First-time offenders may be eligible for a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued (PJC), which can keep a conviction off your record. And if you have a prior dismissal or old conviction, you may qualify for an expungement — erasing it from your record entirely. We assess every client’s eligibility from the first consultation.

Crimmigation — When Criminal Charges Affect Immigration Status

“Crimmigation” is the term practitioners use for the intersection of criminal law and immigration law — and it is one of the most consequential and misunderstood areas of law facing non-citizens in North Carolina today.

A criminal charge — even a misdemeanor, even a dismissed charge — can have serious immigration consequences: triggering deportation proceedings, blocking a green card application, delaying naturalization, or causing a visa to be revoked. Most criminal defense attorneys don’t know immigration law. Most immigration attorneys don’t know criminal law. Nestor Legal knows both, and that dual expertise is what sets us apart.

What charges can affect immigration status?

  • DWI convictions — one of the most common triggers for immigration consequences in NC, and enough to draw ICE attention even without a conviction
  • Drug offenses — even misdemeanor possession can make a non-citizen deportable or inadmissible
  • Crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMTs) — a broad federal category that includes theft, assault, and fraud offenses
  • Aggravated felonies — a separate federal classification that triggers mandatory deportation with almost no exceptions

What most people don’t know

Federal immigration authorities interpret criminal records differently than state courts. A charge that NC courts consider dismissed — including some deferred prosecutions — may still be treated as a conviction by immigration authorities. Since January 2025, ICE has been authorized to make arrests inside North Carolina courthouses. And under 2025 NC legislation, sheriffs are now required to flag immigration status for a broader list of criminal charges than before.

If you or a family member is not a U.S. citizen and is facing any criminal charge, the stakes are higher than most people realize. Call us before accepting any plea — what looks like a minor resolution in criminal court can be a life-changing outcome in immigration court.

¿No es ciudadano y enfrenta cargos criminales? Llámenos antes de tomar cualquier decisión. Las consecuencias migratorias pueden ser graves.

Charged with a crime or traffic violation? Call before your court date.

336.515.0520  |  nestor@nestorlegal.com  |  Se Habla Español

Criminal Defense

Criminal Defense — Winston-Salem & Greensboro, NC

A criminal or traffic charge — even one that seems minor — can have consequences that follow you for years: a permanent record, higher insurance rates, a suspended license, lost income, and for non-citizens, serious immigration complications. At Nestor Legal, we handle criminal and traffic cases throughout Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, Davidson, and Yadkin Counties.

Attorney Nestor Katsoudas knows the local courts, the prosecutors, and how cases move through the Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, Davidson, and Yadkin County courthouses. That familiarity makes a real difference — not just in outcomes, but in how prepared and informed you feel every step of the way.

¿Tiene un cargo criminal o una multa de tráfico? Llámenos antes de su fecha en corte.

Traffic Violations

Traffic charges are among the most common reasons people contact Nestor Legal — and among the most underestimated. In North Carolina, even a single speeding conviction can add insurance points that raise your premiums for years. Multiple violations can trigger a license suspension. We fight to reduce or dismiss traffic charges before they cost you more than you expect.

Speeding Tickets

Not all speeding tickets are equal in North Carolina. The consequences depend on how fast you were going, your driving record, and whether the speed triggers more serious charges. A ticket for 1–15 mph over the limit may be reducible to a non-moving violation. Speeds over 80 mph or more than 15 mph above the limit in a 55 mph zone can be charged as misdemeanor reckless driving — a criminal offense, not just a traffic infraction.

Before you just pay a ticket and move on, talk to us. Paying a ticket is an admission of guilt, and the insurance and license consequences may far outweigh the fine itself.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is a Class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina — meaning it goes on your criminal record, not just your driving record. It carries potential jail time, fines, and significant insurance consequences. If the reckless driving causes serious injury, the charge can be elevated to a Class 1 or Class A1 misdemeanor. We defend reckless driving charges aggressively, often working to have them reduced to lesser traffic infractions.

Driving Without a License / License Not in Possession

Driving without a valid license and driving without your license on your person are two different charges with very different consequences. Driving with a revoked or suspended license (DWLR) is a criminal misdemeanor. We work to resolve these charges in a way that protects your record and gets you back on the road legally.

High-Speed / Aggravated Speeding

Speeds above certain thresholds in North Carolina trigger automatic consequences regardless of your prior record: license revocation, mandatory court appearances, and potential misdemeanor charges. These cases require an attorney — the stakes are too high to handle alone.

¿Recibió una multa de tráfico? Puede haber más consecuencias de lo que parece. Hablemos primero.

DWI — Driving While Impaired

A DWI charge is one of the most serious traffic-related offenses in North Carolina. Unlike many states, NC has mandatory minimum sentencing for DWI convictions — meaning a judge has limited discretion to go easy, even for first-time offenders. Your license, your record, your insurance, and in some cases your freedom are all on the line.

For clients who are not U.S. citizens, the stakes are even higher: a DWI conviction can trigger deportation proceedings, affect visa renewals, and create permanent barriers to immigration benefits. Nestor Legal’s dual expertise in criminal and immigration law means we build a defense that accounts for both.

What happens after a DWI arrest in NC?

After an arrest, you typically have a limited window to request a hearing to contest your license revocation — independent of the criminal case. This is time-sensitive. Contact us as soon as possible after a DWI arrest so we can protect your driving privileges while the case is pending.

How we defend DWI charges:

  • Challenging whether the traffic stop was legally justified
  • Challenging the administration and calibration of breathalyzer equipment
  • Challenging field sobriety test procedures
  • Reviewing dashcam and bodycam footage
  • Examining whether proper procedures were followed at every stage

¿Le acusaron de DWI? Llámenos de inmediato — el tiempo importa.

Misdemeanors

Misdemeanor charges in North Carolina range from Class A1 (the most serious) to Class 3 (the least serious), and the consequences vary widely. What they have in common: a conviction goes on your permanent criminal record, which can affect employment background checks, housing applications, professional licenses, and immigration status.

We handle the full range of misdemeanor charges, including:

  • Larceny (misdemeanor theft, typically property valued under $1,000 — note that certain circumstances such as theft from a person or involving a firearm can elevate the charge regardless of value)
  • Simple assault and assault on a female
  • Communicating threats
  • Trespassing
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Misdemeanor drug possession
  • Worthless checks
  • Disorderly conduct

Can a misdemeanor be dismissed or expunged?

In many cases, yes. First-time offenders may be eligible for a deferred prosecution or prayer for judgment continued (PJC), which can keep a conviction off your record. And if you have a prior dismissal or old conviction, you may qualify for an expungement — erasing it from your record entirely. We assess every client’s eligibility from the first consultation.

Crimmigation — When Criminal Charges Affect Immigration Status

“Crimmigation” is the term practitioners use for the intersection of criminal law and immigration law — and it is one of the most consequential and misunderstood areas of law facing non-citizens in North Carolina today.

A criminal charge — even a misdemeanor, even a dismissed charge — can have serious immigration consequences: triggering deportation proceedings, blocking a green card application, delaying naturalization, or causing a visa to be revoked. Most criminal defense attorneys don’t know immigration law. Most immigration attorneys don’t know criminal law. Nestor Legal knows both, and that dual expertise is what sets us apart.

What charges can affect immigration status?

  • DWI convictions — one of the most common triggers for immigration consequences in NC, and enough to draw ICE attention even without a conviction
  • Drug offenses — even misdemeanor possession can make a non-citizen deportable or inadmissible
  • Crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMTs) — a broad federal category that includes theft, assault, and fraud offenses
  • Aggravated felonies — a separate federal classification that triggers mandatory deportation with almost no exceptions

What most people don’t know

Federal immigration authorities interpret criminal records differently than state courts. A charge that NC courts consider dismissed — including some deferred prosecutions — may still be treated as a conviction by immigration authorities. Since January 2025, ICE has been authorized to make arrests inside North Carolina courthouses. And under 2025 NC legislation, sheriffs are now required to flag immigration status for a broader list of criminal charges than before.

If you or a family member is not a U.S. citizen and is facing any criminal charge, the stakes are higher than most people realize. Call us before accepting any plea — what looks like a minor resolution in criminal court can be a life-changing outcome in immigration court.

¿No es ciudadano y enfrenta cargos criminales? Llámenos antes de tomar cualquier decisión. Las consecuencias migratorias pueden ser graves.

Charged with a crime or traffic violation? Call before your court date.

336.515.0520  |  nestor@nestorlegal.com  |  Se Habla Español