Contra Costa County Man Sentenced to 5 Years for DUI

Contra Costa DUIThe Sacramento Bee has reported that Michael Ramirez of Contra Costa, who had multiple previous DUI convictions, has been sentenced to five years in prison for driving under the influence and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. A member of the sheriff’s office in El Dorado County had stopped Mr. Ramirez because, even though driving slowly in a slow lane, his windshield wipers were on and his driving pattern was erratic. A news release identified his alcohol level to be between 0.11 to 0.12 – well over the California limit.

Mr. Ramirez is no stranger to this charge, he has had four different DUI convictions and has served in prison for this crime on two separate occasions. California courts do not take it lightly when a defendant has multiple previous convictions. A California defense attorney called in the first time may have been able to challenge the arrest on grounds such as the breathalyzer was not functioning properly or some other misstep in police procedure that could reduce the charge and not lead to a serious a consequence as a jail term if a second arrest occurs.

This case illuminates how aggressively state and county officials pursue convictions for DUI in California. The newspaper report stated that a prosecution team specializing in trying and winning cases involving felony and misdemeanor DUI charges was brought in to convict Mr. Ramirez and the result was a five year sentence.

A California defense attorney must be brought in if you or a family member is facing a DUI charge. If you are convicted the results may not be as severe as this one but even the least damaging result will still place this on your record. State fines, a suspended license and higher insurance rates will make things worse. Since the county can bring in their best team you should give yourself the same benefits that an experienced attorney can bring to your defense.

At the Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, we provide clients with passionate and experienced representation. If you have been charged with DUI or any other crime and would like to schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer at our firm, contact us by phone at (310) 448-1529 or contact us online. We promptly return phone calls and emails. Our office is conveniently located in the Westside Towers in West Los Angeles, within minutes of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Westwood. We have flexible and weekend office hours, and we will visit you in jail to discuss your case.

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