Education & Professional Experience
Education
No stranger to this area, T. Kirk Truslow graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1986. Truslow then attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English in 1990.
Truslow attended the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, South Carolina, and earned his law degree in 1993. He was honored by selection to the Order of Wig and Robe for “having exhibited excellence and proficiency in legal studies, and having made a competitively superior record therein.” While in law school, Truslow clerked for the United States Department of Justice.
Professional Experience
Upon graduation from law school, Truslow accepted an associated attorney position in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a local criminal defense attorney where he gained valuable experience in criminal trial work. In 1995, Truslow opened his own practice, The Truslow Law Firm, where he continues to represent clients in state and federal court criminal cases.
Truslow has represented more than 2000 clients, and been lead counsel in more than 75 jury trials, as well as handled numerous appeals. Truslow has handled criminal cases ranging from Driving Under the Influence to Murder, including an 11 day trial of a complex 20 count federal mail fraud indictment involving more than 70 witnesses and 300 evidentiary exhibits, a complex federal civil rights criminal case prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Washington, D.C., as well as what has been called the most high profile white collar criminal case in Horry County, South Carolina to come of the recent real estate collapse and ensuing federal investigations.
Other Sample Cases:
Trials
Truslow represented a father wrongly accused in the death of his child in a highly publicized trial. The State prosecutors called numerous witnesses, including medical expert witnesses. Following the trial of the case, the jury returned verdicts of Not Guilty on all counts.Truslow represented a client wrongly accused of Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature. The client was facing a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison. Following the trial of the case, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Truslow represented a client indicted for Insurance Fraud by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. The client was facing a potential sentence of 8 years and restitution in excess of $20,000.00. Following a lengthy trial, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty on the felony offense, convicting the client of only the misdemeanor offense, resulting in a sentence of 1 year of probation, and the client was not required to pay any restitution.
Truslow represented a client in a federal court trial involving a 10 count indictment pursuant to the Hobbs Act. The indictments alleged 5 Armed Robberies over a period of 2 months. The client faced a sentence well in excess of 100 years if convicted of all the alleged Armed Robberies. Following a lengthy trial, the jury returned verdicts of Not Guilty on 4 of the Armed Robberies, and guilty of only 1.
Appeals
Truslow appealed the conviction of a client sentenced to 5 years in prison for felony drug possession. Truslow argued to the South Carolina Court of Appeals that the arresting officer lacked probable cause to initiate the traffic stop of the client which led to the discovery of the drugs. The traffic stop was based solely on the ground that the client’s vehicle displayed temporary tags. The Court of Appeals agreed, reversed the conviction, and the client was released from prison. The State of South Carolina subsequently revamped the system of temporary paper tag usage.Truslow represented an individual required to register as a sex offender for life as a result of a 1979 conviction for Indecent Exposure. The conviction was based upon the client being caught “skinny dipping” at the age of 19. In 1994, under South Carolina law, the client was required to register as a sex offender for life. Despite a change in the law in 1996 permitting a Judge to determine whether the sex offender registry was required for Indecent Exposure based upon the circumstances of the particular case, the trial court denied the client the use of the new change in the law, ruling the the new change was not retroactive. Truslow appealed this decision, and the South Carolina Court of Appeals reversed the trial court, finding that the new change in the law was retroactive. As a result, the client was removed from the sex offender registry.
Truslow represented a client convicted of a Municipal Court gun possession offense. Truslow appealed the conviction, arguing that the Municipal Ordinance was unconstitutional. The Appellate Court agreed, and reversed the conviction.
Truslow represented a client convicted of Driving Under the Influence. Truslow appealed the conviction, arguing that the case should have been dismissed as a result of an incomplete videotape required to be produced in Driving Under the Influence cases. The Appellate Court agreed, and reversed the conviction.
Motions
Truslow represented a client charged with felony drug possession. The client was detained by security officers at a local establishment, and subsequently searched by law enforcement. Following the litigation of the motion to suppress the drug evidence based upon a claim of an illegal search just prior to jury selection, the evidence was suppressed, and the case dismissed.Truslow represented a client charged with Accessory Before the Fact of Assault with Intent to Kill. The charge was based upon a shooting in Myrtle Beach. Following the Preliminary Hearing held in the case, the case was dismissed.
Truslow represented an individual charged with Driving Under the Influence and registering a .19 breath alcohol content. Truslow filed and argued a motion to dismiss based upon the unreliability of an anonymous tip as probable cause to initiate a traffic stop of the client. The Presiding Judge granted the motion, and dismissed the case.
Truslow represented a client charged with Driving Under the Influence. Truslow filed and argued a motion to dismiss based upon an incomplete videotape required by law. The Presiding Judge granted the motion, and dismissed the case.
Truslow represented a Public Official in a criminal property tax case. Following the State’s presentation of evidence, the Presiding Judge granted Truslow’s motion for a directed verdict of Not Guilty.
Truslow has represented clients in cases ranging from DUI and petty offense to State and Federal drug and weapon charges, sexual assault, homicide, burglary, robbery, and fraud.
If you have been charged with a crime, Contact T. Kirk Truslow for a consultation.
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