Wilmington Criminal Defense Lawyer
Being charged with a crime is frightening, and what you do in the first few days can shape everything that follows. You don't have to face it alone or guess at your next move. Merritt Wagoner has guided people through criminal charges in New Hanover County, Pender County, and federal court for more than 21 years. He will tell you plainly where you stand and what to do next.
You are facing this for the first time. Merritt has stood in these courtrooms for 21 years.
When you are charged with a crime, the hardest part is not knowing what comes next. Who makes the decisions. What the prosecutor is after. Whether you could lose your job, your license, or your freedom. Those questions keep you up at night, and most people around you cannot answer them.
Merritt Wagoner can. He has represented people in your exact position hundreds of times, and the first thing he does is take the weight of the unknown off you. He explains what is actually happening, in plain language, and tells you what your real options are. Not a script, and not false comfort.
He works in two courts and knows both: state court in New Hanover and Pender County, and federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina. He stands in front of the same judges and prosecutors most weeks of the year, so when he tells you how your case is likely to go, he is telling you how it tends to go in the rooms where yours will actually be decided.
Your case is yours to win or lose. Merritt's job is to stand between you and the system that is bearing down on you, and to give you the clearest path through it.
The charges Merritt defends
If you are facing any of these, you are in the right place. And if your charge is not listed here, call and ask. Merritt handles more than one page can hold.
DWI & DUI Defense
A DWI in New Hanover or Pender County puts both your record and your license at risk. Merritt handles first offenses, repeat charges, refusals, and accident cases, and treats the criminal case and the DMV side as the single problem they really are.
How DWI cases workFederal Charges
Federal court runs on different rules, and the stakes are higher. Merritt is admitted in the Eastern District of North Carolina and defends drug conspiracy, federal firearm, and fraud cases there, where most local lawyers do not practice.
Federal defenseDrug Crimes
From simple possession to trafficking, in state or federal court. The label on the charge matters less than what the evidence actually shows and how it was gathered, and that is where Merritt starts looking.
Drug charge defenseDomestic Violence
Assault on a female, communicating threats, and 50B protective orders. These cases move quickly and can follow you for years, so Merritt handles them carefully and discreetly from the first call.
Domestic chargesFelonies & Misdemeanors
Class A through Class 3 offenses in district and superior court, from your first appearance through trial. At every step you will know where your case stands and what is coming next.
All chargesExpungements
If a case against you was dismissed, or you carry an old conviction, you may be able to clear it from your record. Merritt can look at your history and tell you whether you qualify and what it takes.
Clearing your recordWhat happens after you reach out
You do not need to know how any of this works before you call. That is Merritt's job. Here is the path from your first contact to a resolution.
You reach out
Reach out by phone, text, or by booking a consultation. You share the general reason you are contacting us and a good way to reach you. Merritt tells you what the next 48 hours look like and what to do, and what to avoid doing, right now.
Merritt builds your defense
He reviews the discovery, talks to witnesses, files the motions that need filing, and gives you a written strategy in language you can follow, so you are never left guessing about your own case.
You move forward
Merritt negotiates when that serves you and goes to trial when it does not. Either way, you have someone who has done this hundreds of times standing next to you until it is resolved.
When the worry hits at 2 a.m., the line is still answered.
A criminal charge does not keep business hours, and neither does the fear that comes with it. Whenever you call The Wagoner Law Firm, an AI receptionist named Karen answers, day or night, so you are never left with a voicemail and a long night of waiting.
- She answers general questions about how the New Hanover, Pender, and Eastern District courts work, like where to go and what an arraignment actually is.
- She takes down your name, the general reason you are calling, and a good number to reach you.
- She makes sure your message reaches Merritt so he can call you back.
Karen is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice or quote fees. When your question needs real legal judgment, she gets your details to Merritt so he can follow up himself.
"Thank you for calling The Wagoner Law Firm. This is Karen. I can take your name, a good number, and the general reason for your call, and I will make sure Merritt gets your message right away."
From people who once sat where you are sitting now
5.0 on Google“Very excellent lawyer! He took on my brother case in the middle of the night and was ready early in the morning to handle things he is heaven sent very quick and determined to give you a peace of mind ensuring you he got things handled!”
“I was in a very bad situation and Mr Wagoner helped me so much. He is kind and understanding. I'm thankful to God and him for making things work out for me. I recommend him to anyone!”
“Mr. Wagoner is a great lawyer. I called him last minute to handle a traffic ticket and he came through for me. He got the ticket resolved in less than 24 hours. I will definitely be using Mr. Wagoner in the future if needed. I highly recommend him! Thank you Mr. Wagoner for taking such good care of us!”
Questions people ask before they call
I just got arrested. What should I do right now?
Do you handle DWI cases in Wilmington and Pender County?
Can Merritt represent me in federal court?
What happens when I call after hours?
What does it cost to hire The Wagoner Law Firm?
The sooner Merritt is involved, the more he can do.
In a criminal case, time works against you. Evidence gets stale, deadlines pass, and early decisions are hard to undo. If you have been charged, reach out today by phone, text, or by booking a consultation.