Sheena West Gatehouse, Attorney

Sheena West Gatehouse focuses her practice in all areas of state and federal criminal defense, providing a skilled, vigorous defense to each of her clients.

Professional

Ms. Gatehouse is a 1994 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she studied Sociology, concentrating in Criminal Justice. She attended UNCA on a full scholarship to play on the University's Division I Women's Basketball team and was a four-year starter. After working as a paralegal for one year, Sheena entered North Carolina Central School of Law in 1995. Graduating in 1998, she practiced domestic law with Bourlon and Steinberg, P.A. in Durham, North Carolina.

Ms. Gatehouse joined the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office in 1998. She spent two years in District Court where she prosecuted traffic and misdemeanor cases, including hundreds of DWI cases. She joined the felony Drug Prosecution Team in 2000 where she handled a variety of drug related felonies. Sheena became very active with the nationally-recognized Mecklenburg County STEP drug treatment program. She concluded her term at the D.A.'s office by spending one and one half years prosecuting on the Crimes Against Persons team, handling violent felonies, weapons charges and vehicular-related homicides.

Sheena joined Rawls, Dickinson and Scheer, P.A. in the fall of 2003 and concentrates her practice in the areas of state and federal criminal defense. Now handling most of our firm's district court criminal practice, Sheena is carrying on the well-established Rawls, Dickinson and Scheer, P.A. tradition of skillfully and aggressively representing each of her clients.

Personal

Ms. Gatehouse grew up in Lumberton, North Carolina working on her family's tobacco farm. She is a sports enthusiast and avid runner. She completed her first marathon in January 2005. Then she took on the New York City Marathon and finished with a new personal record.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

Attorney with Bourlon & Steinberg, P.A. 1998

• Practiced domestic law including divorce, child custody and equitable distribution
• Represented clients in traffic court

Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office 1998 - 2003

• Prosecuted general misdemeanors and all traffic violations
• Prosecuted numerous felonies, including violent felonies, drug and weapons offenses and vehicular homicides
• Conducted numerous jury trials in major felonies cases

Rawls, Dickinson & Scheer, P.A. 2003 Present

• Represents criminal defendants at every level of State court
• Federal defense of drug, weapons, fraud, immigration, conspiracy