BEAUFORT, N.C. Charges pile up fast in this county. Boating While Impaired citations off the Intracoastal Waterway in July. DWI stops on Highway 70 when the beach traffic thins out but the checkpoints don’t. Drug charges tied to Camp Lejeune and MCAS Cherry Point service members who can’t afford a conviction on their record. Whatever brought you here, the lawyer you pick next decides a lot about what happens after.
Right now, the best criminal defense firm working Carteret County courts is Cummings & Kennedy. Seventeen years in, more than 10,000 clients defended, and a founding attorney who used to sit on the other side of the courtroom as a prosecutor. That combination is hard to beat locally. It isn’t the only option, though. The right fit depends on your charge, your history, and how fast you need someone in your corner. Below are six firms that handle criminal cases in this county every week, laid out so you can compare them before you dial a number.
Carteret County Criminal Defense Firms, Compared
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Reviews | Standout Feature |
| Cummings & Kennedy | Overall pick, DWI and drug charges | 17+ years, 10,000+ clients | 700+ five-star reviews | Founding attorney is a former prosecutor |
| DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall | Serious felonies and cases needing appeal | 50+ years combined | 5.0 stars (250+ reviews) | 2026 Best Lawyers in America honorees |
| Tetterton Law Firm | DWI and traffic defense, courthouse-adjacent office | 17+ years in Carteret County courtrooms | 5.0 stars (90+ reviews) | Office sits directly across from the courthouse |
| Lupton & Nobles | Board-certified specialist representation | 38 years combined | AV Preeminent rated | State Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist on staff |
| The Carolina Law Group | Cases that cross into family or civil law | Multi-attorney team, over a decade in practice | Client-praised locally | Serves Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Pamlico Counties |
| Hancock Law Firm | Personal attention on a single case | Practicing since 2013 | Free consultations offered | Carteret County native, handles cases himself |
Reviews and experience figures pulled from firm websites and public listings as of 2026. These numbers shift, so confirm current totals directly with the firm.
What Made the Cut
Carteret County has a small legal community, and not every firm treats criminal defense as a main line of work. The six below do. Each one takes criminal cases as a core part of the practice, has a track record in Beaufort or Morehead City courtrooms, and has client feedback or bar recognition behind it.
1. Cummings & Kennedy
Joe Kennedy spent years prosecuting cases in North Carolina before he switched sides, and that background shapes how his firm builds a defense now. The Cedar Street office in Beaufort handles DWI, drug crimes, felony and misdemeanor charges, violent crimes, traffic tickets, and Boating While Impaired cases, a charge that comes up often on a county built around the water. Natalie Kennedy works alongside him as chief medical advisor and investigator, useful in cases where toxicology reports decide the outcome. The firm has logged more than 10,000 clients, pulled in over 700 five-star reviews, and regularly serves service members from Camp Lejeune and MCAS Cherry Point who need a defense attorney who understands what a conviction does to a military record.
Best for: DWI, drug charges, and boating offenses that need a former prosecutor’s read on the case.
Address: 613 Cedar Street, Suite A, Beaufort, NC 28516 | Phone: (252) 728-1208 | Website: https://www.encattorneys.com/
2. DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall
This firm runs a Morehead City office on Arendell Street alongside its Raleigh headquarters. The criminal team, led by Russell DeMent III and Alex Marshall, handles DWI, drug crimes, violent offenses, sex crimes, and domestic violence charges. The firm carries a 5.0 rating across more than 250 reviews and picked up 2026 Best Lawyers in America honors, plus a DUI/DWI Defense Lawyer of the Year title. That kind of statewide recognition helps when a felony charge is headed to trial, not just a plea deal.
Best for: serious felony charges or cases likely headed toward an appeal.
Address: 810 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 | Phone: (252) 251-5555 | Website: dementaskew.com
3. Tetterton Law Firm
Joshua Tetterton has spent more than 17 years working Carteret County courtrooms, and his office on Turner Street sits close enough to the courthouse that clients can walk over for a hearing. The firm sticks to criminal and traffic defense only: DWI and BWI charges, drug crimes, assault, felonies and misdemeanors, sex crimes, larceny, probation violations, and license revocations. Deanna Tetterton, a State Bar Certified Paralegal, keeps cases moving between filings and court dates. The firm holds a 5.0-star rating across more than 90 Google reviews, and Josh meets personally with every client before taking a case.
Best for: clients who want a courthouse-adjacent firm that only practices criminal and traffic law.
Address: 313 Turner Street, Beaufort, NC 28516 | Phone: (252) 728-1373
4. Lupton & Nobles
James Lupton and John Nobles III have practiced together for years, and one holds North Carolina State Bar certification as a Criminal Law Specialist, a credential the state hands to a small number of attorneys after a review of trial experience. The firm takes DWI, drug crimes, theft charges, and traffic tickets across Morehead City, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach, and Emerald Isle, and carries an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review score a firm can get.
Best for: clients who want a board-certified specialist handling their defense.
Address: Morehead City, NC | Phone: (252) 298-5149 | Website: lawnc.com
5. The Carolina Law Group
Tommy Kellis, Kirby Smith III, Daniel Potter, and Paul Crenshaw run this Morehead City firm out of an Arendell Street office, and the practice stretches well past criminal defense into family law, personal injury, and estate planning. That range helps when a criminal charge lands in the middle of a divorce or custody dispute, which happens more than people expect. The firm also builds part of its practice around expungements, framing a cleared record as a fresh start for clients trying to find work or housing after a conviction. It serves Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Pamlico Counties, and promises quick callbacks instead of a long wait for a returned call.
Best for: cases that touch both criminal charges and a family or civil law matter at the same time.
Address: 610 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 | Phone: (252) 772-9999
6. Hancock Law Firm
Joel Hancock grew up in Carteret County and built his practice around one idea: keep it local, keep it personal. He limits his caseload to North Carolina criminal and traffic matters, works the Beaufort and Morehead City district courts directly, and handles cases himself instead of routing them through associates. He also speaks Portuguese and conversational Spanish, useful in a county with a growing Spanish-speaking population. The firm offers a free initial consultation.
Best for: clients who want one attorney, not a rotating team, on a straightforward DWI or misdemeanor case.
Address: 601-A Cedar Street, Beaufort, NC 28516 | Phone: (252) 515-1516 | Website: callhancock.com
Do Your Homework Before You Call
A five-star average tells you how past clients felt once a case closed. It doesn’t tell you whether the attorney on the phone has stood in front of the judge who will hear your case, or whether they’ll show up to your hearing instead of sending someone else. Call more than one firm. Ask how many cases like yours they’ve handled in Carteret County courts, and who will be sitting next to you at the defense table. A firm that answers both questions straight is usually the one worth hiring.
FAQ
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Carteret County? It depends on the charge. A first DWI or a traffic offense often runs a flat fee, sometimes a few thousand dollars. Felony charges cost more because they take more preparation and court time. Ask for a written fee structure before you sign anything.
How serious is a DWI charge in North Carolina? North Carolina ranks DWI convictions from Level 5, the least severe, to Aggravated Level 1, which can carry up to three years in prison. Even a lower-level conviction means a license suspension, fines, and a permanent record. The level depends on your blood alcohol content, prior convictions, and whether a child was in the car.
Should I hire a lawyer if I plan to plead guilty anyway? Yes. An attorney can often negotiate a reduced charge or a lighter sentence even in a guilty plea, and can explain what a conviction will mean for your license, your job, and any military or professional standing you hold.
Can a criminal charge be expunged from my record in North Carolina? Sometimes. North Carolina allows expungement for dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, or completed first-offender programs. Convictions are harder to clear and often require a waiting period. An attorney can tell you early whether your case qualifies.
Conclusion
A charge in Carteret County can move fast, whether it starts on the water, on Highway 70, or outside the gates at Cherry Point. Cummings & Kennedy stands as the top pick right now, backed by a former prosecutor’s insight and a caseload few local firms can match. But the six firms on this list all know these courtrooms, and the right one for you comes down to the charge you’re facing and the outcome you need. Talk to more than one before you decide, and pick the attorney who gives you a straight answer, not just a good pitch.