State: GEORGIA
Situation: Shooting

This is the situation so far: there was an argument at an underground illegal poker house between two separate small groups. The argument boiled down to two people, let's call them Fred and Barney.
The argument gets very heated and Fred pulls a gun out at Barney's group. Barney steps up closer and repeatedly told Fred to shoot.

Fred shoots Barney in the leg, flesh wound.

Fred did confessed; he told them pretty much what happened. Fred's co-d's did no tell the whole truth. Fred's statement along with the other half-truths from co-d's, can single out what "most likely happened"

Plea : 15, do 10
#charges: 12 (many misc. charges)
Also, Fred was on probation at the time of incident for another violent crime.
NOTE: The wife/mother IS semi close with the co-d's and a few claim they are willing to help

Also, the discovery packet is on the way.

Fred has 3 very young children and his family is not so wealthy...

The choices Fred made that night was far from rational nor responsible. However, he has a very soft heart and needs to father his children.




MY QUESTION:

1. Where can I find some decent free/affordable lawyers, or good representation/ advisors?
When I was locked up, my family was able to find something like "retired(??)" lawyers that work for free. I think they worked for the Human resource department or some other part of the government (I am not at all positive who they work for, it's just a guess).

If anyone knows anything about free and reputable representation, saving a family may be at the palm your hands.

2. Is there anything that I can do or the family can do to help the situation??

Yes, some lawyers will work pro bono. It's a matter of locating those lawyers. Also, if "Fred's" family income is low enough, he may qualify for a public defender.

I'm not sure what you think you can do to help "Fred" at this point. He doesn't seem like the brightest bulb in the box. His family "is not so wealthy" yet he's at an illegal poker house? Sorry, not buying the caring parent deal.

If "Fred" was carrying around a gun and shot someone while he was on probation, I wish the best of luck to him because he's sure as hell going to need it.

this8384: thanks for your input, and he does have a public defender right now.
I've been through this rodeo one too many times in the past. The public defenders for me did not do ANYTHING at all. The necessary/very important paperwork were not filed, very lazy, no initiative.

I know he was far from a good father for his family in the past, but people change... I know a lot of people might take this as bull, but I'm walking proof, deterring from the destructive life I was on. His three kids did nothing to deserve a life with no father, and I'm just trying to do what I can to help "Fred" obtain this chance.

Also, as of right now, I do NOT know if there is a weapon. Will find out soon. Thanks for all who stopped by to take a look.

I too believe in bettering yourself. I know that people can do it, and I know that they can do the opposite. I just find it hard to believe that "Fred" is going to change his ways. He very obviously wasn't considering his family when he went out gambling, arguing and shooting people.

Also, how do you not know if there was a weapon? Either "Barney" was shot or he wasn't. He certainly couldn't have been shot WITHOUT a weapon.

Cut to the chase, I will assume there was drinking along with the illegal gambling. ** Does not help the background of the case to start with.

But after that I will get to the main gut of the case.

1. he had a gun ( and I will assume it was concelled with no permit)

2. in GA, use of deadly force ( gun) would require the threat of death or serious injury.

3. no words alone justify the use of deadly force.

FrChuck beat me to it - and there's a little too much drama and pathos in this for my taste. Maybe I've worked in the legal field for too long. Too much Fred and Barney, too few facts.

Somebody pulls a gun and shoots somebody else and saving a family may be in the palms of my hands? I usually lose interest when the people themselves don't care.

Perhaps a good topic for a discussion board but this is a legal board and the answers have been given.

Voting will begin now - is the OP Fred or Barney? OP is giving advice on how to parent children on other threads so my guess is OP is another category, an unrelated third party.

"Also, Fred was on probation at the time of incident for another violent crime."

Seems Fred has done this before. First Fred will have to attend his VOP hearing and deal with that "problem" and he will be definitely in jail for that violation.

Then his next big problem will be how does he justify having a gun while already on felony probation and shooting someone? He can't. He'll do time for that as well.

His family will have to do without him for a long, long time regardless of how much money is spent on an attorney or not spent on an attorney.

I don't see Fred seeing the outside for quite a long time, Sorry. And trying to convince us his kiddies need a daddy is great and all, but the one person you need to thoroughly convince would be the jurors of a jury trial or the judge.

You asked these questions:

1. You can call the local Bar Association and ask them if they could steer you towards any criminal attorney who wants to take on a pro bono case.
2. The family can stop talking to the police for one.

And the plea 15 do 10 for all the shenannigans he did would be getting off lightly.