Plea Agreement Helps Ohio Judge Avoid OVI Conviction

People from all walks of life, in Dayton or elsewhere, can end up in bad situations for a variety of reasons. That includes elected officials and officers of the court. No one is immune to making mistakes from time to time. As with anyone else who is arrested for a crime, these individuals are also innocent until proven guilty, even if the public perception convicts them before there is ever a trial.

So what happens when an elected official, an officer of the court, or anyone else ends up facing charges for allegedly committing a criminal act? In many cases, when people face criminal charges they don’t end up going to trial. That’s because a lot of cases are settled before the trial via a plea bargain or plea agreement. This can be advantageous to both the defendant and the prosecution for several reasons. Accepting a plea deal means the defendant has to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Sometimes that means less jail time but it can also mean no jail time at all. This might not always be the best-case scenario for every person facing criminal charges but for many people it is a smart move.

A judge from central Ohio recently avoided a conviction of driving impaired when he agreed to plead guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Originally, the judge was charged with impaired driving after he allegedly struck a city bus in Columbus last year. He was also charged with leaving the scene. By accepting the plea deal, the judge was able to get the drunk driving charge tossed.

He was also able to avoid jail time taking the deal. Instead, his license was suspended for 270 days and he was given a year’s probation. The judge’s attorney also maintained that his client was not drunk when the accident happened. According to the prosecutor there was also concerns that they could get a conviction due to a lack of evidence. That’s because the judge did not take a field sobriety test or breath test when he was later stopped.

In this case, it appears that taking the plea agreement was a good move for the defendant. By accepting the plea deal he was able to avoid being charged with a more significant crime, which could have had tougher penalties if he was convicted. If you are facing a DUI/OVI in Dayton then you should contact an experienced defense attorney as soon as you can. By starting your defense early you can be better prepared to make the best choice in your situation, which could include a plea agreement. If you are in this type of situation, then please contact the VanNoy Firm as soon as possible. Call us at 937-952-5043, or click here.