What to do now!

I was at an Iowa courthouse when I witnessed the price of inexperience.

An elderly gentleman was facing an OWI 1st. He had a BAC above .150 and was present for sentencing. The presiding judge that day was well-known to local lawyers as tough on defendants.

Prior to the sentencing hearing, the lawyer said they would be asking the judge to allow the client to participate in a weekend hotel program rather than serve 48 hours in jail. (This is a great gig if you can get it – ask one of our OWI specialist lawyers). I spoke up and advised against this considering the judge who was presiding. Everybody in the room knew how this was going to go. Unfortunately for the client, the lawyer did not heed my advice.

During the sentencing, the judge engaged the fellow in conversation about why he wanted to attend the weekend owi program and what good it might do him. The fellow and his lawyer carried on about how this would help him. Obviously, the client did not want to do two days in jail and who can blame him!

The weekend program is great, no jail, stay in a hotel and take classes. No sitting behind bars. No dealing with argumentative or difficult inmates.

The judge listened intently. When all was done, the judge sentenced the man to two days in jail to be taken into custody then and there. Then the judge dropped the hammer. He announced that when the man gets out of jail, he is to complete the weekend OWI program within 30 days because it will do him so much good.

Because of inexperience, the man did two days in jail plus he was ordered to complete the weekend OWI program. That is four days in custody and it will cost him some big dollars. Our lawyers won’t make this mistake.