Patrick Roberts

About Me

I am a criminal defense attorney. I have received Not Guilty verdicts in cases ranging from Statutory Sex Offense to First Degree Murder. I graduated from Duke University School of Law and have attended the Trial Lawyers College (selective “finishing school” for practicing trial attorneys). Before founding Roberts Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, I was a prosecutor in Wake, Johnston and New Hanover counties.

Now, I exclusively represent those accused of criminal sex offenses. That is, I focus all of my attention, years trial experience, and training on defending those accused of sexual misconduct. Over the course my career spent as an attorney practicing criminal law, I have served on both sides of these types of cases—both as prosecutor and defense attorney. In my past life as an Assistant District Attorney, I served specifically as a juvenile sex crimes prosecutor for a period of time. In 2007, however, I left the Wake County District Attorney’s Office to found Roberts Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, and establish a State-wide practice dedicated to defending the accused.

Sex crimes present unique legal and factual challenges. The allegations in a sex offense case are extremely sensitive and the potential consequences are extremely severe—those who seek my counsel are almost always charged with crimes that carry both a lengthy prison sentence and registration as a sex offender. My years of experience uniquely qualify me to meet these challenges. Although I have handled almost every type of criminal case that can arise under North Carolina law, I saw the need for an attorney who focused on, and understood, the issues and intricacies that arise when the allegation involves sexual encounters. This is a difficult, sensitive subject for everybody involved. And when charges are brought, this usually private subject is at the center of litigation heard in open court.

I have represented people from nearly every walk of life on nearly every type of sex offense crime recognized by North Carolina law. The types of cases I accept are those where the allegations are:

• G.S. 14-27.6 (attempted rape or sexual offense),
• G.S. 14-27.21 (first-degree forcible rape),
• G.S. 14-27.22 (second-degree forcible rape),
• G.S. 14-27.23 (statutory rape of a child by an adult),
• G.S. 14-27.24 (first-degree statutory rape),
• G.S. 14-27.25(a) (statutory rape of a person who is 15 years of age or younger and where the defendant is at least six years older),
• G.S. 14-27.26 (first-degree forcible sexual offense),
• G.S. 14-27.27 (second-degree forcible sexual offense),
• G.S. 14-27.28 (statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult),
• G.S. 14-27.29 (first-degree statutory sexual offense),
• G.S. 14-27.30(a) (statutory sexual offense with a person who is 15 years of age or younger and where the defendant is at least six years older),
• G.S. 14-27.31 (sexual activity by a substitute parent or custodian),
• G.S. 14-27.32 (sexual activity with a student),
• G.S. 14-27.33 (sexual battery),
• G.S. 14-43.11 (human trafficking),
• G.S. 14-43.13 (subjecting or maintaining a person for sexual servitude),
• G.S. 14-178 (incest between near relatives),
• G.S. 14-190.6 (employing or permitting minor to assist in offenses against public morality and decency),
• G.S. 14-190.9(a1) (felonious indecent exposure),
• G.S. 14-190.16 (first degree sexual exploitation of a minor),
• G.S. 14-190.17 (second degree sexual exploitation of a minor),
• G.S. 14-190.17A (third degree sexual exploitation of a minor),
• G.S. 14-202.1 (taking indecent liberties with children),
• G.S. 14-202.3 (Solicitation of child by computer or certain other electronic devices to commit an unlawful sex act),
• G.S. 14-202.4(a) (taking indecent liberties with a student),
• G.S. 14-205.2(c) or (d) (patronizing a prostitute who is a minor or has a mental disability),
• G.S. 14-205.3(b) (promoting prostitution of a minor or a person who has a mental disability),
• G.S. 14-318.4(a1) (parent or caretaker commit or permit act of prostitution with or by a juvenile), or
• G.S. 14-318.4(a2) (commission or allowing of sexual act upon a juvenile by parent or guardian).
• Solicitation, Conspiracy, or Aiding and Abetting any of the above.

The types of people that I have represented on sex offense cases include people from the following occupations and walks of life:

• Entrepreneurs
• Small business owners
• College professors
• Graduate students
• Fraternity members
• Undergraduate students
• Special Forces soldiers
• Commissioned officer
• Gulf war veterans
• Iraq war veterans
• Vietnam war veterans
• Afghanistan war veterans
• IT network professionals
• Banking executives
• Finance professionals
• Medical professionals
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Dentists
• Biomedical researchers
• Pastors
• Youth ministers
• Law enforcement officers
• Professional athletes
• Professional sports agents
• D-1 athletes
• Military officers
• School principals
• Engineers
• Corporate executives
• High school students
• Teachers
• Real estate professionals
• College graduates
• College students
• Massage therapists
• Corrections officers
• Guidance counselors
• Attorneys
• Military defense contractors
• Mentally and physically disabled persons
• Adult entertainers
• Pilots

Each day, every day, I work tirelessly to master my craft and to better serve the people I represent. Where other people may turn away from a person due to an allegation of sex misconduct, I step in to fight for them and their lives as they know it. In my experience, unlike any other type of crime, a sex offense allegation can totally upend a person’s life, work, family relationships, and reputation before the case is even heard in court.

My job performance directly affects peoples’ lives and I take pride in that. Success in sex crime defense means changing lives by what I do on a daily basis. Solving complex problems is the work that I am best suited for. In college, I studied Chemical Engineering. It may not sound related, but that’s where I discovered that I love solving problems. In my legal practice, I am solving problems every day for people, hunting for the best possible outcome based on all the facts, evidence, and law at hand. I am passionate about this work and wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

A Criminal Defense Lawyer Who Is Truly Dedicated to His Craft

What is your view of your role as a sex crimes lawyer?

Treat people with respect—when people come to me, they have been accused of things that are terrible, heinous, and stigmatized. But an accusation of bad conduct does not amount to the accused being a bad person, despite conventional thinking and societal stigma. In any case, treating people without respect never works. The practice of law, particularly criminal law in my experience, is about people. You never know who might have an impact on the case. Being an “aggressive” criminal defense lawyer is much more than talking loud in court, looking to negotiate a quick plea, or making big claims about past results (even if those claims are true). I believe I can help people in need and deliver quality legal service to clients. There’s nothing special about me just because I’m a lawyer. My job is to help and serve people. Where I do believe that I am uniquely qualified is in my experience, training, exclusive focus defending sex offense crimes, and results. Period.

What do you mean by working to master your craft?

To master my craft means sacrificing lots of time and energy to be the best I can be. I went to both the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College and the National Criminal Defense College. This was after graduation from Duke University School of Law and several successful jury trials. These are selective, rigorous programs, with some of the best trial lawyers in the country. The total number of graduates from both programs is a very small number. I’ll let that speak for itself.

What makes you qualified to help those accused of sex offenses?

I have handled thousands of cases over my career. I have fought for dismissals, negotiated plea bargains, argued for the reduction of felony charges to misdemeanors, won acquittals at trial, and succeeded in criminal appeals.

As my career progressed, my focus narrowed to representing individuals only on high-level felonies (e.g., murder) and sex offenses cases. At this point, my career narrowed further to a point where sex offense matters are my sole focus. I’ve defended people in Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington, and throughout North Carolina on this type of case since leaving the Wake County District Attorney’s Office in 2007. I am a former prosecutor for Wake, New Hanover, and Johnston Counties. And even during my time as a prosecutor, one of my duties was to handle juvenile sex offense cases.

And while prior results and awards don’t guarantee future outcomes, they’re a good indicator of my qualifications. I have a 5.0/5.0 rating from prior clients on Lawyers.com and have been recognized as a Super Lawyer in 2019 and Super Lawyers Rising Star in previous years. I am also listed in Top 100 North Carolina Trial Attorneys and Top 40 North Carolina Attorneys Under 40.

Service to the Community

In 2014, I was appointed by North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to serve on his Crime Commission, Juvenile Justice Planning Committee, working to help ensure fair treatment and justice for North Carolina’s children and teens.

Most recently, in 2016, I was appointed by Gov. McCrory to serve on the North Carolina State Ethics Commission, to assist in the investigation of complaints made against state lawmakers, state officials, judges, district attorneys, and other covered persons accused of ethics violations.

Specific Examples of Success

• Not Guilty verdict on a charge of first-degree murder involving the client’s alleged role in a drive-by shooting.
• 10 out of 11 counts dismissed in federal case involving receipt and possession of child pornography.
• Dismissal of statutory sex offense charge for a man facing over 30 years in prison after being accused by his 6-year-old daughter of forcing her to perform a sex act.

‘Brilliant, Insightful, Compassionate’

These aren’t my words – they’re the words of a former client:

“Patrick Roberts is an amazing attorney. He is brilliant, insightful, compassionate, and has an incredible grasp and love of the law. I highly recommend his services.” – J.L.

Call or Email

In the end, what you’ll need to do is call me at 919-838-6643 or send an email. I offer free consultations for potential clients. At the end of the consultation, you’ll know whether or not I am the right lawyer for you.

More About Patrick Roberts

His Story

Read about Patrick Roberts’ journey to the US, law and the top floor in this Super Lawyers article.

100% Criminal Defense

• Murder Charges
• Sex Offenses
• Drug Charges
• DWI Defense
• White Collar Defense

• North Carolina
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina
• U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

• Wake County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney, January 3, 2006 – November 30, 2007
• Johnston County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney, August 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005
• New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney, December 3, 2003 – July 31, 2005

• Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina (Juris Doctor)
• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (B.A., Major: Engineering)