Commercial Airline Pilot Charged With 2nd OWI Offense Gets Alcohol Charges Dropped

Nov. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Freedman & Freedman, a Michigan criminal defense firm, recently represented a young commercial airline pilot charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) 2nd offense. The pilot was facing a full year behind bars, the complete loss of his driver’s license for no less than one (1) year and the permanent loss of his pilot license through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

According to Freedman & Freedman, the facts and circumstances surrounding their client’s arrest were extremely unfavorable; when the client came to their firm seeking help, he feared the worst. Fortunately, the firm became involved in the pilot’s case just a few short days following his arrest including persuading him to undergo a comprehensive substance abuse evaluation. The firm immediately went to work insisting that all evidence in the case be preserved by police and prosecutors and immediately produced for careful evaluation. Once the firm combed through all of the available evidence, including the arrest and post arrest procedures employed, they quickly recognized several critical and viable legal defenses to the pilot’s case. From there, the firm filed a comprehensive motion where they sought the suppression of key evidence as well as demanded the dismissal of the case.

The firm attacked the charges on several grounds including allegations that the prosecution had unfairly denied their client’s due process rights as well as his constitutional rights to a speedy trial. The day the motion was scheduled to be heard before a judge, the prosecutor’s office felt the pressure and, rather than risking the case getting dismissed, offered to completely dismiss the original charge of OWI 2nd offense in exchange for an extremely rare plea bargain. The plea was only to a nominal non-alcohol related traffic misdemeanor with very minimal impact on the pilot’s driving privileges. To sweeten the deal, the plea agreement also included a guarantee of absolutely no jail time and a reasonable period of probation.

Freedman & Freedman was undeniably very successful in obtaining these significantly reduced charges and the highly favorable plea agreement on behalf of their client. By using their experience in defending drunk driving charges, and having thorough knowledge of Michigan’s complex drunk driving laws, the firm not only protected their client against the serious criminal consequences of a 2nd OWI offense, but they also protected their clients’ hard-earned commercial pilot license, his career and his livelihood.

Freedman & Freedman is a Michigan criminal defense law firm serving residents throughout Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties since 2004. The firm is run by a husband and wife team with close to 40 years of collective experience. The firm is built on the principal of providing expedient and personalized representation to each and every one of their clients, no matter what charges they are facing. Attorney Mark H. Freedman earned his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University in Detroit. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the State Bar of Arizona; he is licensed to practice in all state courts in Michigan and Arizona. His wife, attorney Mary K. Freedman, earned her Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law, which is now Michigan State University of Law. As a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Arizona, she is also licensed to practice in all state courts in Arizona and Michigan. The firm handles virtually all types of criminal offenses including OWI, juvenile crimes, federal crimes, white collar crimes, serious violent felonies and everything in between. To schedule a free consultation at Freedman & Freedman, please call (888) 252-8582 or visit them online at http://www.freedmanattorneys.com.