There are several firsts you are not likely to forget: your first day of school, your first kiss, your first child being born. These are moments you cherish in your life and look back with fond memories. However, facing your first OWI is probably not a moment you will find yourself cherishing.
For most people, a first-time OWI charge will be their most significant criminal charge in their lifetime. You will have gone through a wide range of emotions. After having spent at least one night in jail, you now have the fear and uncertainty of what you will face next.
Now, not only do you still have to deal with the stress of work and everyday life, you now have to be worried about court hearings and deadlines. All this pressure may lead you to believe your best option is to just plead this out and get it over with. Nothing could be further from the truth.
OWI charges in Indianapolis, even for first-time offenders, can have long-lasting, and potentially, permanent effects on your life and could subject you to some serious legal penalties such as up to one year in jail, probation, license suspension up to 2 years, maximum fines of $5000 plus court costs, and fees.
No matter what your situation, you absolutely need to speak with a skilled OWI attorney who can help you understand exactly what you are facing and all the potential outcomes, good and bad.
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This May Be Your First OWI — It’s Not Ours
As attorneys of the law firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers we have defended our OWI clients throughout greater Indianapolis and central Indiana. We have the experience of years of practice in the courtrooms of Indiana. We are intimately familiar with the workings of the Indiana legal system and understand the hardships an OWI charge can bring to you and your family.
Our goal is to represent you and obtain the best results possible for you. We will not only discuss the details of your case but also discuss how these charges are affecting your life and what we can do to minimize the consequences an OWI charge brings with it. Along the way, we want to answer all your questions while giving you critical updates, explanations, and guidance.
The Next Step
The question we always get is “What happens next?” That question is often followed by “How long will that take?” and “What happens in court?” We will make sure we provide those answers to you and answer all your other outstanding questions.
Typically, the next step will be the Initial Hearing. This is where you will formally hear the charges against you, have your bond determined, and deal with any license suspension and other pre-trial sanctions.
If your license is suspended pending the outcome of your case, we will then discuss potential avenues to get you back on the street and driving, even if in a limited and restricted capacity.
Gathering Information and Investigating Your Case
After the Initial Hearing, our next step is to assemble the facts of your case. We would first want to talk with you regarding your recollection of what happened the night of your OWI arrest. We would then request all the evidence, or “discovery,” in your case from the police, prosecutor, and any potential witnesses.
While some discovery is provided by the prosecutor, we do not rely solely on what the prosecutor believes to be relevant. We do our own investigation by visiting the site of your arrest, taking pictures, requesting video from nearby gas stations, and whatever else is necessary to uncover all critical evidence in your case so that nothing is overlooked.
Reviewing the Evidence
After collecting all evidence near and wide, we will then consider the multiple aspects of your OWI case, including:
- Was it a legal stop?
- Was it a legal detention?
- Did the officer follow proper NHTSA regulations while administering field sobriety tests?
- Was there probable cause to arrest?
- Were proper procedures followed for a chemical test or refusal?
Preparing Your Defense with
After collecting and reviewing all the evidence in your case, our Indianapolis DUI Attorneys then prepare a course of action. We want to determine the strengths and weaknesses of both our case and the prosecutor’s case. Sometimes, expert witnesses are helpful in reinforcing the strengths of our case or pointing out the weaknesses of the prosecutor’s case.
From there, we would determine whether to challenge particular pieces of evidence that potentially could be used against you by the prosecutor by filing a Motion to Suppress. Finally, if no acceptable outcome could be reached through plea negotiations, we would then prepare for trial. As we proceed through your case, we continuously explore all options and avenues that could potentially affect your case.
Contact our Dui defense Law firm
Please call us today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to determine if Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers is the firm for you.
Visit Our Criminal Defense Law Office in Indianapolis, IN
Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers
101 W Ohio St #2000
Indianapolis IN 46204
317) 759-2599
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