Saraliene's Recent Trial Court Cases:
FELONY AGGRAVATED BATTERY DISMISSED AND BATTERY REDUCED TO MISDEMEANOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT -- February 2020
Saraliene's client was accused of aggravated battery and battery - family violence. After extensive discussion about the case, the Fulton County District Attorney's agreed that a plea of misdemeanor disorderly conduct was appropriate. All other charges were dismissed and the case was closed immediately.
ALL CHARGES DISMISSED IN DEKALB COUNTY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CASE --
May 2019
Saraliene's client was charged with aggravated assault in connection with the stabbing of her then-boyfriend in Dekalb County. The client faced up to 20 years in prison. After Saraliene filed a pre-trial request for a self-defense hearing and a notice of intent to tell the jury about the alleged victim's history of abusing women, the district attorney's office agreed to dismiss all charges.
FEDERAL ATTEMPTED MURDER AND MURDER CONSPIRACY CHARGES DISMISSED -- October 2018
Saraliene's client was charged with attempted murder and murder conspiracy in connection with a racketeering conspiracy. After extensive pre-trial motions practice, Saraliene's client was dismissed from this 30-defendant federal gang case in the Northern District of Georgia.
CHARGES DISMISSED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CASE -- May 2018
In this case, Saraliene aggressively questioned a police officer at a preliminary hearing and pointed out the weaknesses in a report claiming her client intentionally hit another person with a car. After consideration, the DA's office decided not to move forward with any formal charges against Saraliene's client.
TWO FELONY DRUG CHARGES REDUCED TO ONE MISDEMEANOR -- August 2017
Saraliene was successful at negotiating 2 felony drug charges (possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine) down to 1 count of possessing drug related objects in this Cobb County case. The client was sentenced to 12 months probation, which can be terminated early after a fine is paid and other conditions are met.
FELONY DRUG CHARGE REDUCED TO DISORDERLY CONDUCT -- September 2016
Saraliene assisted a client in getting a felony marijuana charge reduced to the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in Cobb County. The case was closed with 5 days credit for time served.
FELONY CASE DISMISSED AFTER SELF-DEFENSE HEARING -- September 2016
Saraliene successfully argued that all charges should be dismissed against a client because he was acting in self-defense and in defense of another in this Clayton County case. The client was initially charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Battery and 2 counts of Aggravated Assault. All charges were dismissed, the case was closed, and the client's arrest record will be restricted.
FELONY THEFT REDUCED TO MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL TRESPASS -- August 2016
Through negotiations with the Cobb County District Attorney's office, Saraliene was able to secure misdemeanor probation for an out-of-state client in a felony case that alleged the theft by receiving of a stolen automobile.
DISMISSAL OF ALL DRUG CHARGES IN FEDERAL CONSPIRACY CASE -- March 2016
Through the use of pretrial motions and pretrial investigation, Saraliene was able to convince the government to dismiss all drug charges against her client. At the beginning of the case, the client faced a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison on the drug charges alone. Instead, the client received a 30-month sentence on the single remaining count of illegal reentry.
FELONY THEFT BY RECEIVING REDUCED TO MISDEMEANOR THEFT -- March 2016
A Cobb County client initially charged with felony theft by receiving stolen property was able to plead to misdemeanor theft and receive probation thanks to negotiations between Saraliene Durrett and Cobb County District Attorney's office.
DISMISSAL OF ALL CHARGES IN COBB COUNTY DRUG CASE -- January 2016
Through pretrial discussions with the prosecution, Saraliene was able to secure the dismissal of all charges (possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana, more than an ounce) for a Cobb County client when it became clear that the drugs at issue belonged to another resident of the same house.
NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS IN FULTON COUNTY -- February 2014
Saraliene Smith Durrett in partnership with Elizabeth Rogan of the Rogan Law Firm won an acquittal on all counts for a client charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, Battery (Family Violence), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree, and Possession of a Firearm by a First Offender Probationer.