See the Kind of Results Criminal Defense Attorney Charles Grose Achieves for Defendants in South Carolina

Solicitor Docket Control Ended

Charles Grose represented the South Carolina Public Defender Association as an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, in the landmark case of State v. Langford that declared Solicitor Docket Control unconstitutional.   Under this unique practice, Solicitors could call cases to trial when it most advantaged the prosecution.  Relying on the Public Defender Association’s brief, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled it violated Separation of Powers for the prosecutor, rather than the judge, to control the docket.  Click here to read the Court Opinion in State v. Langford.

Exonerated of Murder Charges

On multiple occasions during his criminal defense lawyer career, Charles Grose has been able to exonerate clients charged with murder.  These include:

• Dismissal of murder charges because the prosecutor could not prove Mr. Grose’s clients committed the crime.
• Dismissal of murder charges because Mr. Grose’s clients were defending themselves.
• In 2016, jurors in Greenwood County acquitted one of Mr. Grose’s clients of homicide by child abuse.
• In 1998, jurors found one of Mr. Grose’s clients not guilty despite prosecution claims the man confessed to the crime.
• Mr. Grose has convinced prosecutors to dismiss murder charges and agree to guilty pleas involving non-homicide offenses.

Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) with a Minor

• In November 2017, jurors acquitted one of Mr. Grose’s clients charged with criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.
• In 2015, jurors acquitted on of Mr. Grose’s clients charged with sexually abusing two of his daughters.
• During a 2008 trial of a client charged with sexually abusing his 7-year-old daughter, criminal defense attorney Charles Grose objected to testimony from one of the prosecutors’ expert witnesses that improperly bolstered the credibility of the alleged victim. The trial judge allowed the testimony anyway and the client was convicted on part because of the testimony. Mr. Grose appealed the case because of the trial court’s error. The appeal was successful and the appellate court reversed the conviction.
• Mr. Grose has convinced prosecutors to dismiss criminal sexual conduct with minor charges.
• Mr. Grose has successfully defended child sexual abuse allegations brought by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
• Mr. Grose successfully defended a Title IX investigation by a major university based on allegations of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC).

Because of his success, Mr. Grose was invited to speak about defending child sex abuse cases at the South Carolina Public Defender Conferences in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017 and the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Blues, Bar-B-Q, and Bar CLEs in 2013 and 2015.

Objection to excessive sentences yields reversed sentence and critical Supreme Court decision in favor of defendants’ rights

In 2007 Mr. Grose went to bat for a client when a South Carolina judge revoked his community supervision program (a form of parole) and ordered the client to serve additional prison time that totaled more than the client’s original sentence. Mr. Grose objected to the excessive prison term on grounds that the law behind the sentence was unconstitutional. The case was eventually heard by the South Carolina Supreme Court who agreed with Mr. Grose’s position and issued a ruling that reduced the potential sentence someone can face for revocation of community supervision.

Representation by Grose yields early parole eligibility for manslaughter defendant

Representing a defendant charged with fatally shooting his estranged wife, Mr. Grose successfully negotiated a plea deal that reduced the charge from murder to voluntary manslaughter then went on to convince the court to grant parole eligibility after serving only one-fourth of the defendant’s 22-year prison sentence. Mr. Grose argued on behalf of the defendant that a court-documented history of mutual domestic violence between him and his wife qualified the defendant for early parole eligibility under Section 16-25-90 of South Carolina law. The court agreed.

Mr. Grose Takes an Active Part in Defendants’ Rights at the Legislative Level

Advocacy of sentencing reform in South Carolina

In March 2009, Mr. Grose appeared before the South Carolina General Assembly to give a Public Defender Presentation in support of sentencing reform. The presentation advocated for reduced sentence length for convicted individuals with a record of good behavior. The presentation also advocated increased alternative sentencing programs and consistency of available programs throughout the state that would provide more opportunities for rehabilitation and reduce overcrowding in state prisons.

Supporting change in South Carolina criminal justice procedures

Mr. Grose appeared before the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2010 representing the Circuit Public Defenders. In his presentation, Mr. Grose commented on the proposed South Carolina Criminal Rules, identifying rules that would jeopardize defendants’ constitutional rights and proffering alternative solutions.  In 2008, Mr. Grose appeared before the Supreme Court to comment on proposed changes to the South Carolina Rules of Evidence.

Find out more about how criminal defense attorney Charles Grose and the Grose Law Firm can help you if you’ve been charged with a criminal offense in South Carolina:

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Or call our office in Greenwood, South Carolina at 864-538-4466 to schedule a consultation.