Felony DWI

Felony DWI charges are a serious matter. A conviction can result in up to seven years in prison and up to $14,000 in fines. If you are charged with a felony DWI, you need an experienced DWI lawyer to assess your case, gather evidence, interview witnesses and aggressively defend your case in court. Brad Mathis has successfully defended dozens of individuals faced with felony DWI charges. Our mission is to ensure that you walk away with minimal damage to your record and your reputation.

What Is A Felony DWI?

There are two different DWI offenses that can result in a felony conviction:

• First Degree DWI – If you have had three prior driving while impaired violations within the last ten years or if you have been convicted of a DWI felony or criminal vehicular operation in the past ten years, then you will be facing this charge.
• Criminal Vehicular Operation – If you are in a car accident while drinking and driving that resulted in the injury or death of another person, you could be facing this felony DWI charge.

In addition to mandatory jail time, a conviction means you will lose your license and have your vehicle forfeited. You may also need to undergo alcohol treatment and be subject to electronic monitoring.

First-Degree DWI

The penalties for a first-degree DWI can include:

• A fine of up to $14,000
• Up to seven years in jail
• Probation
• Up to five years of conditional release

Although most people do not serve the maximum penalties, the court does have mandatory minimum penalties. These include a jail sentence of 180 to 365 days. Convicted offenders also usually receive a sentence of intensive supervision, which can be very expensive.

Criminal Vehicular Operation

If you operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol and are in an accident, then you could be faced with a CVO conviction. This can occur if:

• DWI driving causes death, serious permanent injury or temporary substantial injury to the victim
• DWI driving results in the serious injury of a pregnant woman that results in the death or injury of her unborn child

Dealing with the aftermath of a felony conviction can impact your entire life. It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible so that your case can be pieced together and the facts brought to light. Do not walk away without a fight – act fast to clear your name, regardless of what has happened on the road. Call Brad Mathis any place, anytime for a free consultation at 612-328-9826 or use the online contact form.