Tuesday, June 21, 2011

June 9, 2011: Amazing Resolution in OWI-7th Offense

Attorney Dennis Melowski obtained an absolutely amazing result for his client in an OWI-7th case. In 99% of cases, this charge alone would carry a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. But the client was in even bigger trouble when he first hired Dennis. In addition to his OWI-7th charge (a serious felony), the client was also facing charges of: PAC-7th (.189 blood test result), Felony Bail Jumping, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Damage to Property, Possession of THC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Refusal of Chemical test. This was an aggravated case not only because of the nature and extent of the charges, but also because the client was allegedly VERY uncooperative with the police. Despite virtually every possible card stacked against him, however, Dennis was able to raise several novel legal challenges. After relentless litigation of numerous pre-trial issues, Dennis negotiated a stunning resolution. In exchange for his client pleading no contest to the OWI-7th offense and Possession of THC charges, all remaining charges were dismissed. But that's not the best part. The prosecutor promised (and the judge adopted) a 7-month jail sentence with work release; no probation; minimum license revocation of 24 months; and forfeiture of the defendant's previously- posted cash bail as full satisfaction of the fine. What's more is that the judge and prosecutor agreed to back-date the client's license revocation to the point that he would only have a 45-day wait for an occupational license, instead of the one-year wait he had originally been facing. After witnessing this outcome in court, another attorney stated to Dennis that this was probably the best sentence he had ever seen in 20-plus years of being a lawyer.