A repeat drunk driving offender who pleaded no contest will receive a surprisingly favorable outcome, pursuant to a plea deal. The man’s post-arrest efforts may have mitigated harsher treatment. Since his arrest, the man has sought counseling and treatment.
The man was arrested for driving under the influence after rear-ending a car. Prosecutors initially considered an additional reckless driving charge, but ultimately pursued only the DUI charge. Pursuant to a plea deal, the Nebraska man was sentenced to three years’ probation, as well as 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, the court also allowed man to apply for house arrest. If granted, the man will serve his sentence from home, rather than jail.
Although the man had two previous DUI offenses to his record, in 2004 and 2009, the sentence is not necessarily atypical for a misdemeanor third-offense DUI. When the court decides to sentence the defendant to probation, a 30-day jail sentence is standard.
It is also important to remember that administrative penalties typically accompany a DUI conviction. In this case, the man’s driver’s license will be suspended for five years. A potential reprieve may be available via an ignition interlock, which the man can apply for after 45 days.
As a law firm that has helped many clients facing DUI charges, we know that a DUI conviction may bring repercussions in other areas of a defendant’s life. In this case, the man works as a coach for a local university, and his employer suspended him from coaching activities shortly after the arrest. In light of the conviction, the suspension will continue for a month.
Source: Omaha World-Herald, “Nebraska assistant Keith Williams sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading no contest to third-offense DUI,” Sam McKewon, Feb. 22, 2017
