14 June 2010, 1:00 pm
THE LAW IN CA USED TO BE 7 YRS FOR 3 DUI'S NOW IT IS 10. I HAD A SLIP AND DRANK DEC 30 2009. MY CASE WAS IN YOLO COUNTY AND THEY OFFERED ME 120 DAY IN JAIL, LARGE FINE, CLASSES, NO LICENCE ETC. IT HAS BEEN 7 YRS SINCE MY LAST BUT SINCE IT IS NOW 10 THAT WAS THE FIRST OFFER. I THEN HAD MY CASE CONTINUED, THOUGH I WAS NOT DRIVING, I HAD SOMEONE DRUNK DRIVE MY CAR AND WE HIT SOMETHING ON CURB, NOTHING WAS DAMAGED BUT MY CAR, THE DRIVER WAS SOMEONE I HAD MET AT A BAR. I SAID I WANTED TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY BUT MY AFTER MY SECOND APPEARANCE I WAS GIVCEN A DIFERENT LAWYER BECAUSE THEY JUST GIVE U WHOEVER EACH TIME. MY LAWYER INTERVIEWED MY WITNESSS AND SAID HE BASICALLY SAID SOMETHING THAT CONTRADICTED MY STORY, I KNEW THIS WAS NOT TRUE AS I WAS THERE WHEN MY WITNESSS WAS INTERVIEWED OVER THE PHONE. MY PUB DEF BASICALLY SAID I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD CASE AND WOULD LOSE AT TRIAL AND FACE POSSIBLY " ALOT" MORE TIME. THAT SCARED ME, I CALLED SOME DUI LAWYERS BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. I THEN WENT BACK TO COURT 3RD TIME AND MY LAWYER DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP, HE HAD SAID HE WOULD REINTERVIEW MY WITNESS ETC BUT HE NEVER DID. SO I WAS GIVEN A CONTINUANCE TO TALK TO LAWYERS AS I SAID ABOVE (PRIVATE ONES) THE JUDGE ONLY GAVE ME 3 WEEKS TO CONTINUE, I HAVE ABOUT 2 LEFT. SHE DID NOT APPEAR TO WANT TO GIVE ME ANY MORE CONTINANCES AS THIS HAS BEEN SINCE END OF JANUARY. MY FEAR IS MAINLY THE JAIL, I FEAR THAT GOING TO TRIAL I WOULD LOSE AND POSSIBLY FACE MORE TIME. I HAVE BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND WAS RECENTLY 5150'D FOR BEING SUICIDAL. I AM WONDERING IF I SHOULD TALK TO ANOTHER PUBLIC DEFENDER ABOUT REHAB RATHER THAN JAIL AND OR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SINCE THE SENTENCE IS 4 MONTHS IF THEY WOULD ATLEAST GIVE ME A COUPLE MONTHS TO PICK A REMAND DATE. I AM A COLLEGE EDUCATED 29 YR OLD WITH A GOOD JOB HISTORY THAT HAS STRUGGLED WITH DRINKING, I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE OTHER THAN DUI'S. I WOULD LOSE MY PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND POSSIBLE JOB IF WERE TO GO TO JAIL. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT, I AM SCARED, AND THOUGH I WASN'T DRIVING MY WITNESS IS OFCOURE A FRIEND SO THE JURY COULD EASILY THINK THEY WERE LYING FOR ME.I DIDN'T LEAVE THE SCENE I WANDERED AROUND, I ENDED UP HAVING A HIGH BAC OF .24 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND HAD IT DRAWN AS I REFUSED BREATHALIZER. THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE COUNTY I LIVE IN ARE MOSTLY INTERNS AND ARE BOGGED DOWN BUT LIKE I SAID I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR A LAWYER. I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYWAY I CAN EITHER GO TO TRIAL WITH ANOTHER PUBLIC DEFENDER AS I STILL MY OPEN OFFER AND HOPE THEYGIVE ME A BETTER OFFER AT JURY SELECTION OR WONDER IF DUE TO MY MENTAL HEALTH OF SEVERE DEPRESSION AND SUBSTANCE ISSUES BE ABLE TO DO AN ALTERATIVE PROGRAM. THANKS FOR READING.... Read More »
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