Orange County DUI Lawyer Blog

Ciera Stoelting, 21, of Santa Ana, fresh off a stint in state prison, was spotted one evening weaving down West McFadden in the city of Santa Ana. Police saw her, turned on their lights and, in a fit of great judgement, Ciera did what so many parolees do: she jammed the pedal to the floor and took off like a rabbit. After several miles of dangerous pursuit, she was arrested.

Shockingly, she was found to have narcotics in her car. Like so many before her, Stoelting chose the most dangerous path possible. Now, instead of a short recommitment for absconding parole, she is facing fresh felony evading and felony narcotics possession charges and will likely serve much more time.

The one good side to this story is that it didn't end in tragedy with a traffic death. Always look on the bright side of life.

Depending on the amount of drugs found, suspects can be charged with either a misdemeanor or felony charge. They face serious jail time if convicted. Whether you live in Tustin, Garden Grove or Ladera Ranch, if you are charged with drug offenses, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.

Continue reading " Parolee Arrested in Santa Ana While Driving Erratically " »

While this story doesn't involve alcohol, it does involve speed and recklessness, two components of death and injury in the DUI arena.

A 27 year-old saleswoman was out on a test drive a few days ago. Perhaps she was showing off. In any event, Amy Thomas lost control of a 2003 Corvette, spun the car across the roadway on Mill Creek Lane in Laguna Hills, wrapping the car around a tree and killing her.

Her passenger survived. This story is a sobering reminder that most of us cannot handle the limits of the cars we're driving and have to be extra careful around the streets of Orange County. Add the effects of alcohol into this story and perhaps more people could have lost their lives.

If you drink too much and want to get home, call a cab. Do not drive. Had this woman killed someone, instead of herself she could have faced life in prison. Whether you live in Newport Beach, Lake Forest or Anaheim Hills, if you are charged with a DUI, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

Continue reading " Orange County Woman Dies During Test Drive " »

An Orange County prosecutor told a jury yesterday that Brittany Schuetz ignored her friends warnings not to drink and drive when she got into her car and later crashed into the car of April Whang, killing her instantly.

Schuetz had been drinking at a house party in Sherman Oaks and was returned to her car here in Orange County. Likely due to her intoxicated state, Scheutz declined her friends' pleas to wait until she was sober. Alcohol intoxication, as it increases, eliminates our inhibitions, those red flags in the brain when we're sober, that tell us not to do things that are dangerous.

That is why DUI murder charges are so tricky. The District Attorney argues that to blow off the warnings is a form of malice, a very high degree of recklessness that amounts to intent. But with the blood-alcohol level in her system, it was very likely she couldn't have formed such intent, couldn't have been able to consider the consequences of her actions. That is why the facts of the case suggest DUI manslaughter instead. Recklessness that doesn't rise to the level of intent to kill. The jury will decide.

Whether you live in Santa Ana, Irvine or Newport Beach, if you are charged with DUI manslaughter, call an experienced DUI defense attorney to assist you.

Continue reading " Santa Ana DUI Murder Defendant Ignored Warnings " »