In the summer of 2023, I was experiencing one of the most difficult times of my life. I was…read morepossibly facing over five years in prison for a bizarre crime, I did not commit. Fortunately, I had grown up with a former President of the Buncombe County Bar Association, who was more than willing to recommend a stellar criminal attorney--Al Messer. Fortunately, Mr. Messer was willing and available to represent me. He immediately returned my call and instantly put me at ease. He never sugarcoated my situation; in fact, he made sure that I was well prepared for the worst possible situation. He let me know that he believed in my innocence (which was very important to me) and anticipated my exoneration, while also advising me how to prepare for the worst, just in case.
During the many months leading up to my trial, we maintained regular contact while we strategized, reviewed, and prepped. He and Sara, his assistant, took the time to talk me down off the metaphorical edge, as needed. I felt confident in my representation every step of the way. While so much of this situation was beyond my control, it was therapeutic to feel that I was taking part in my own defense as Al was very willing to consider my input while always applying his experience and expertise. This was quite helpful in a situation where you often feel so helpless.
During the trial proceedings, it became apparent, very quickly, that Mr. Messer was delivering a higher caliber of representation than people, in Marion, were accustomed to seeing. Several members of the DA's staff sat in the audience to view his arguments and techniques. An employee of the DA's office was even overheard stating that I had gotten my money's worth. I couldn't have agreed more. I am so happy that I hired an attorney from Asheville instead of my hometown. When facing any serious offense, please hire the very best representation available. You definitely get what you pay for, and your freedom, employability, and reputation are not things to cut corners on.
Lastly, although my heart is so full of gratitude that my four-day trial concluded with a not-guilty verdict, in less than fifteen minutes, I am particularly pleased that Mr. Al Messer represented me in a way that makes me proud. In a field often populated with people of questionable character, Mr. Messer successfully represented me using brilliance, sound reasoning, experience, and tenacity without resorting to badgering, bullying, or lying; he didn't have to. He was able to use his knowledge of the law and the facts of the case to appeal to the jury in a way that allowed everyone on my side to hold our heads high.
Trust me--if you are fortunate enough to be represented by Al Messer, at Messer Law, your legal nightmare will be mitigated as much as possible. I honestly could not be more thankful to him and his office. If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out to me on Facebook.
Michelle Wilson-Cline