Macon Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Macon or anywhere in Bibb County, the decisions made in the first few weeks of your case often matter most. Sessions & Fleischman defends people charged with misdemeanors and felonies from our office at 544 Mulberry Street, Suite 319, in downtown Macon — a short walk from the Bibb County Courthouse.

You will work directly with an attorney, not a case manager. Ben Sessions has tried more than 60 jury trials and is a Board Certified DUI Defense Specialist, one of only four in Georgia. Andrew Fleischman leads the firm’s appellate work, so trial decisions are made with a possible appeal in mind.

Where Macon Criminal Cases Are Heard

Bibb County is part of the Macon Judicial Circuit, which also includes Crawford and Peach Counties. Where your case lands depends on the charge:

• Superior Court of Bibb County (601 Mulberry Street) hears felony cases — drug trafficking and possession with intent, aggravated assault, burglary, theft over the felony threshold, and serious violent felonies. Felony cases are presented to a grand jury before trial.
• State Court of Bibb County hears misdemeanors, including most DUI charges, simple battery, shoplifting, and traffic offenses.
• Municipal and Magistrate Court handle first appearances, many bond questions, warrant applications, and local ordinance violations.

The Macon Judicial Circuit also runs accountability courts, including a Veterans Treatment Court, which can offer some defendants a path that avoids a conventional conviction. Whether you qualify is something we evaluate early.

What Happens After an Arrest in Macon

First appearance and bond

Most people arrested in Bibb County see a judge within 48 to 72 hours. Some charges can only be bonded by a Superior Court judge. If a family member is being held, read our guide to bond in a Georgia criminal case and call us — a bond motion is often the first thing we file.

Indictment or accusation

Felonies are usually indicted by a grand jury; misdemeanors proceed by accusation. This stage is often the best time to speak with the prosecutor about reducing or dismissing charges before positions harden.

Arraignment and motions

At arraignment you enter a plea. Georgia sets tight deadlines for pretrial motions that run from arraignment — miss them and challenges to an illegal stop, search, or statement can be waived.

Negotiation or trial

Many cases resolve through reduced charges, first offender treatment, conditional discharge, or pretrial diversion. When the State will not make a fair offer, we are prepared to try the case to a Bibb County jury.

Charges We Defend in Macon and Bibb County

• DUI and other serious traffic offenses
• Drug possession, possession with intent, and trafficking
• Family violence battery and assault
• Aggravated assault and weapons charges
• Theft, shoplifting, burglary, and fraud
• Sex offenses
• Vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle
• Probation violations
• Appeals and post-conviction relief

Protecting Your Record

For many Macon clients, the real goal is keeping a conviction off their record. Depending on the charge and your history, options can include Georgia’s First Offender Act, conditional discharge for certain drug charges, pretrial diversion, and record restriction once a case is dismissed. These options have eligibility rules and timing requirements, so they need to be raised early.

Nearby Courts We Also Cover

From our Macon office we handle cases throughout middle Georgia, including Peach and Crawford Counties in the Macon Judicial Circuit, Houston County (Warner Robins and Perry), Jones and Twiggs Counties (see our Twiggs County page), Monroe County (Forsyth), Laurens County (Dublin), and Baldwin County through our Milledgeville office.

Talk to a Macon Criminal Defense Lawyer

Do not talk to investigators or try to explain your side before you have legal advice. Call Sessions & Fleischman at (478) 254-2665 for a free, confidential consultation, or visit our Macon office page for directions.