Michigan OWI Felony

While most operating while intoxicated (OWI) offenses are considered a misdemeanor, you could be charged with a Michigan OWI felony if you have had three or more drunk-driving offenses in your lifetime or you were involved in a collision involving serious injury and/or death. A great deal is at stake when facing a Michigan OWI felony, and contacting an experienced OWI defense lawyer is necessary.  An aggravated OWI, such as child endangerment , can be used to enhance a second offense all the way up to a felony, and a minor BAC/zero tolerance also counts as a prior offense.

What sets an OWI felony apart from an OWI misdemeanor offense is where you spend time behind bars. For a misdemeanor, the punishment is less than a year in the county jail; however, a felony offense includes a year or more and is often in the state prison.

If convicted of a third OWI felony offense, then depending on your prior record, you could spend as many as one to two years in prison; the statute even allows up to five years! Cases that involve injury or death could result in 15 years in prison. The judge may also sentence you to pay expensive fines, perform community service, and obtain alcohol treatment. In addition, you could be subject to a lifetime driver’s license revocation as well as the confiscation of your vehicles.

A felony conviction can complicate matters in your life. As a convicted felon, you may be denied employment in certain sectors and you will be prohibited from owning a gun or voting. Even applying for an apartment can be a challenge when you have a charge as serious as a felony on your record.

Due to the severity of the penalties for an OWI felony in Michigan, you need a top-notch legal team on your side that understands the law as well as the technical aspects of a drunk-driving offense. If your felony charge is based on prior record of OWI convictions, your lawyer can review the circumstances to determine if they can be excluded from your case in order to reduce your charge. An experienced OWI lawyer will also look at the breathalyzer, blood, or urine test that was used to find your blood alcohol content (BAC) to see if it was accurate or if it was flawed.

At The Barone Defense Firm, we have the experience and training necessary to fight a serious OWI felony charge. Whether we take your case to trial or attempt to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutors to reduce your charge, we will do everything possible to help you avoid a life-altering felony conviction.

For a free Michigan OWI felony case evaluation, contact our law office or fill out our online form now.

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