In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").
Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,159 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wilkes County. The town is located along the south bank of the Yadkin River, directly opposite the slightly larger town of North Wilkesboro. Wilkesboro is probably best-known as the home of the annual MerleFest festival, the largest folk and bluegrass music festival in the United States.