Chester County Criminal Lawyers

My name is Elizabeth Franklin-Best and I am an attorney who focuses on criminal appellate law and federal criminal law. I started at the Richland County Public Defender’s office where I worked alongside some of the most passionate lawyers in this profession. Later, I worked at the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense, Appellate Division where I studied and analyzed hundreds of different cases, and gained valuable experience arguing in the South Carolina Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. I spent 7 years as a partner in the law firm of Blume Franklin-Best & Young, LLC focused on capital...

** What is it like working with me? ** When working with me, what you see is what you get. I’ve been told that I have a strong personality. I am brutally honest, and I won’t sugar coat the facts. That means I’m not afraid to ask and answer the hard questions when working on your case. With that said, you should know that I’m still very approachable, non-judgmental and down to earth. In whatever situation my clients have found themselves in, I’m not here to judge or make them feel bad about themselves. My job is to...

In 2018, Matthew graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, ranking fourth in his law school class. During his time in law school, Matthew served as an Associate Editor-in-Chief for the South Carolina Law Review, where he authored a published article entitled State of Fear: Domestic Violence in South Carolina. Matthew was also inducted into the Order of the Coif and received the 2018 John O. MacDougall Family Law Award. After graduating law school, Matthew spent two years serving as a law clerk to the Honorable John D. Geathers at the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Matthew joined Strom...

Former prosecutor A. Randolph "Randy" Hough has a strong background in criminal law. Before entering private practice, he served as a prosecutor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, handling numerous crimes ranging from drug trafficking to white-collar crimes to murder.

He also handled complex federal drug charges as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Few other local defense lawyers can claim this extensive background in prosecuting crimes at both the state and federal level. Mr. Hough has defended cases in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and is a member of the South Carolina Bar, United States District Court for...

EDUCATION The John Marshall School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
AND LICENSES: Juris Doctorate, 1991

Honors: Elected to 1989 American Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.
The James Madison Distinguished Service Award, The Federalist Society of America

Activities: President, The Federation of Federalist Societies of Chicago Law Schools
President, The Federalist Society of The John Marshall School of Law
Contributing Writer - Editor, The Decisive Utterance

Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, 1984

Honors: Member of the National Philosophy Honor Society, Phi Sigma Tau

Attorney:
May, 2002 - Admitted to practice law in South Carolina
Present

November, 1991 - Admitted to practice law...

Alexandra “Ally” Benevento focuses her practice on state and federal criminal defense, civil rights and civil litigation. She has successfully represented thousands of individuals in state and federal courts. Alexandra is admitted to the South Carolina Bar, as well as the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. She has previously been admitted pro hac vice to, and successfully represented clients in numerous federal district courts across the country. She is a member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (SCACDL), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ),...

My practice areas primarily include domestic litigation and criminal defense law. Domestic litigation includes divorces, child custody, visitation and support issues, equitable distribution, step-parent adoptions and relocation cases. Criminal law includes defending felonies and misdemeanors ranging from Kidnapping to Driving Under the Influence to Traffic Citations in State, County, City and Municipal Courts.

Born in Lake City, Florida. Lived in Florida and in Georgia before returning to the family home in Manning, South Carolina where I grew up.

A criminal record can harm professional and educational opportunities long after sentencing, and DMV penalties have expired. Travis Newton Law Firm has defended thousands of clients in S.C. Summary and General Sessions Courts. A free consultation with DUI Lawyer Travis Newton will expose the unreliability of Field Sobriety Tests and the Breathalyzer. Travis Newton has delivered DUI-related oral arguments before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and is approved by the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education (CLE) to present DUI-related material for attorney CLE hours. Attorney Newton has been Lead Counsel Verified for DUI Defense by...

Jonathan Lewis graduated from Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont, with a Bachelors Degree in 2011. He returned to Norwich University in 2013, where he graduated in 2015 with his Masters in International Affairs, During this time he lectured upon, and focused in, International Violent Extremism / Terrorism. He has spent over ten years in emergency medicine and Fire/Rescue as a Firefighter/Medic in Vermont, Virginia, and for the Department of Defense at various postings in the Middle East. In 2015 Jonathan decided to pursue the practice of law, and attended the University of South Carolina School...

EMPOWERING PARENTS. Personal Attention. Proven Results. 24 years experience. Effective, zealous and tenacious representation for clients. Superior reputation with Judges, opposing counsel and prosecutors.
I represent parents in their fight to ensure that their children are provided a free and appropriate public education as guaranteed by Federal law. IEP plans, 504 plans, expulsions and suspensions. Certified by the William and Mary Law School Institute for Special Education Advocacy.
I have worked as a criminal defense attorney since my admission to the Ohio Bar in 1993 and the South Carolina Bar in 1997. I...

Allison (Alli) Blackwelder was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina where she learned the value of working hard to serve others in her community. She attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and minor in Religion in 2010. Alli attended the University of North Carolina School of Law and graduated with her Juris Doctor in 2013. While in law school, she served as the Executive Editor of the First Amendment Law Review and received the Gressman-Pollitt Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy. Upon graduation from law school, Alli...

Greenville Criminal Defense Law Firm, Legal Counsel You Can Depend On With nearly a decade of legal experience that includes being a former prosecutor and part-time municipal judge, our Greenville attorney at Christopher L. Jones, Attorney at Law can handle any criminal defense or other legal matter that comes our way. When you’re arrested or accused of a crime, you want to be sure to hire a legal team that understands the ins and outs of the system, and has the professionalism and passion needed to advocate fiercely for you in court. Our lawyer has all that and more. Whether you’ve been...

Originally from Butte, MT, Shawn was raised and has spent most of his life in Augusta, GA. After graduating from Lakeside High School in Columbia County in 1998, Shawn went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Augusta State University in 2003, followed by a Master’s in Business Administration in 2007. Shawn's dedication to education led him to Georgia State University College of Law, where he graduated in 2013. With a rich background as a criminal investigator, Shawn brings a meticulous and strategic approach to his practice as a Wrongful Death and Personal Injury trial lawyer. Shawn is committed to achieving...

John S. Keffer is a dedicated attorney with strong ties to the Sumter, SC community. A proud U.S. Air Force veteran, John served as a weapons loader on F-16 and A-10 aircraft before graduating cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 1995. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor in 1999 from the same institution and has been practicing law in Sumter ever since. John is experienced in Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Family Law, and Criminal Defense, providing personalized, client-focused legal representation. He is licensed to practice in the South Carolina Bar, the U.S. District Court for the...

Seasoned Criminal Defense Attorney. Former Prosecutor. Big Firm Experience. I have been practicing law in the Upstate for almost 30 years. I have worked in a large law firm and have prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases. Now, I defend those accused of crimes in South Carolina state, county and city courts. My office is across the street from the Anderson County Courthouse. Let me put my experience to work for you.

I also handle personal injury cases. If you have been injured due to someone else's negligence, you need an experienced lawyer to help you navigate the complicated justice system and...

I have dedicated the majority of my professional career to learning the "science" behind the Standardized Field Sobreity Tests as created by the NHTSA and used by all officers in South Carolina when conducting DUI investigations.

Lewis strives daily to seek justice for injured South Carolinians and those that have been wrongfully accused of a crime. Lewis limits his practice to Civil Litigation (Including Auto Accidents; Trucking Accidents; Motorcycle Accidents; Slip and Fall Accidents; Defective and Dangerous Products, Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect; Daycare Abuse/Neglect; Medical Malpractice; Police Brutality/Civil Rights litigation) and Criminal Defense. Association Memberships: • State Ambassador Member, American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys • Member, South Carolina Association for Justice • Member, American Association for Justice • Member, South Carolina Bar Association • Member, North Carolina State Bar • Member, Sumter County Bar Association Work History: Prior to joining the firm as a Partner in 2020, Lewis worked...

After graduating from law school in 1987, Hal Roach was assigned as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) at the Charleston Naval Base. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1991, he moved to Greenville, South Carolina where he began working as an Assistant Solicitor in the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Greenville, South Carolina. In the years since opening his own law firm, Hal has focused on representing people whose lives have been affected by circumstances beyond their control. Some have been injured by traffic accidents...

Steve graduated from the USC School of Law in 1992. As a student, he was named to the "Order of the Wig and Robe" for superior academic achievement. Additionally, Steve was part of the Mock Trial Competition winning team at USC, which represented USC in the Southeastern regional of the national competition. Steve served as a state court prosecutor from 1992 to 1994. His primary case load consisted of prosecuting DUI, Felony DUI, Reckless Homicide and Traffic offenses. In 1995, Steve opened his own practice as a criminal defense attorney, with a special focus on defending clients accused...