In Maryland, people who are arrested for drunk driving will face potentially serious penalties If those charges are accompanied by other allegations such as child abuse, driving drunk with a child in the vehicle, traffic offenses and more, the situation can escalate significantly. People confronted by these issues may face an extended jail sentence, fines and other penalties that will continue to impact them for a long time, maybe even the rest of their lives. Understanding how to craft a strong criminal defense is imperative in these circumstances.
A 24-year-old woman is confronted with a slew of charges related to driving under the influence of alcohol, having a child in the vehicle at the time, abusing a child and traffic offenses. Law enforcement was called at shortly after 1 a.m. The woman was sitting in a vehicle stopped on the roadside. She had a young child in her arms and refused officers’ requests to exit the vehicle. She was slurring her words and the officers smelled alcohol. She had thrown up on herself. When she exited the vehicle, a neighbor took the child and she started yelling.
The woman had been in the vehicle with a man and a 10-year-old child. The car hit a guardrail. She drove away after that collision with parts of the vehicle left behind. She arrived at a residence and attempted to flee in the vehicle. A person tried to stop her and the assault on an 11-year-old child took place. The child was punched, choked and had her hair pulled. No field sobriety tests were given because the woman was behaving erratically.
When a person is arrested of any reason, there will be many questions and concerns. If the allegations are stacked on top of each other, it can spark hefty consequences. Still, there are avenues to lodge an effective defense. Perhaps the woman was not legally drunk. There could be extenuating circumstances. The entire series of incidents that led to the police being called can be scrutinized. The arrest itself could be called into question. Or there may be alternatives for a plea agreement and reduction of the charges. Before doing or saying anything, a person who is arrested should remember the critical nature of a criminal defense. Consulting with an experienced legal firm is the first step.