CIRCLEVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT – OVI/DUI, TRAFFIC AND CRIMINAL MISDEMEANORS
CIRCLEVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT CRIMINAL LAWYERS
The Circleville Municipal Court has jurisdiction for misdemeanors committed in Pickaway County. The court hears different types of misdemeanor cases, including criminal offenses, DUI/OVI and traffic violations. If you are facing criminal charges after an arrest in Circleville, Ohio, remember that it is in your best interest to have an experienced criminal defense attorney represent you. The criminal and OVI/DUI lawyers at the AV-rated criminal defense firm Yavitch & Palmer have helped those accused of OVI/DUI, traffic violations and all types of misdemeanor and felony criminal charges for over 25 years.
Have one of our attorneys review your case for free and discuss your legal options by calling (614) 224-6142 right now to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
OVI/DUI IN CIRCLEVILLE AND PICKAWAY COUNTY OHIO
Many DUI/OVI cases happen in the Circleville area, as the area is patrolled by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Circleville Police Department, and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. Most of these cases are filed in the Circleville Municipal Court. If you are charged with an OVI / DUI or misdemeanor criminal offense in the Circleville area, your case will likely be filed in the Circleville Municipal Court.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CIRCLEVILLE OVI/DUI LAWYER
OVI/DUI convictions can have serious consequences for your driving privileges, insurance rates, relationships, employment – and your liberty. Your first step should be to talk with an experienced OVI/DUI attorney. The criminal lawyers at Yavitch & Palmer exclusively devote their legal practice to DUI/OVI and criminal misdemeanor and felony cases in Circleville, Pickaway County and Central Ohio.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH OVI/DUI CASES IN THE CIRCLEVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT?
If you are charged with DUI/OVI in the Circleville Ohio area and your case is filed in the Circleville Municipal Court, you will be required to appear in court within five business days. This first court appearance is the arraignment. At the arraignment, your choices are to plead guilty, no contest, or not guilty. If you enter a plea of not guilty, your case will be scheduled for a second court appearance.
The second court appearance is the pretrial hearing. The purpose of the pretrial hearing is for you or your lawyer to discuss the case with the prosecuting attorney and negotiate a possible resolution. Before attending the pretrial hearing, you should engage in discovery, which is the exchange of evidence between the parties.
If your case is not resolved at the pretrial stage, there may be a motion hearing for the judge to make decisions regarding legal issues like the admissibility of evidence. If an agreement is still not reached, there is a trial. At the trial, a jury or judge decides if your guilt has been proven. If you enter a guilty plea or there is a guilty verdict at trial, the final stage is a sentence hearing.
CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR CASES IN THE CIRCLEVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT
In addition to DUI/OVI, the Circleville Municipal Court hears a variety of misdemeanor criminal cases. The criminal defense lawyers of Yavitch & Palmer have helped those charged with the full range of criminal and traffic offenses in Circleville and the surrounding area for years.
Some of the most common misdemeanor cases that the Circleville Municipal Court hears include:
Assault and Battery – From a bar fight or other types of altercations, assault and battery charges can arise from many situations. Even if no one was hurt, you might still face assault charges and the related penalties.
Domestic Violence – If an assault or similar offense involves a victim who is a spouse, a former spouse, a child or other family member, an intimate partner, or other household member, the incidence is considered to be domestic violence.
Drug Charges – Drug laws in Ohio are strict. and several different charges can result for violations of these laws. Many of these cases might be heard in municipal court.
Drug Paraphernalia – The police do not have to find actual drugs to arrest you: being accused of possessing paraphernalia that is typically used for drugs is enough for an arrest and charges.
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Possessing even a small amount of a controlled substance can result in serious penalties and a criminal record.
Marijuana Possession – Possession of marijuana remains an offense in Ohio, and many people face misdemeanor charges for possession of less than 100 grams of the substance.
Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor – Although most sex crimes are felony offenses, this one can be charged as a misdemeanor in certain situations, so the case might be heard in municipal court. A conviction carries lasting consequences.
Criminal Mischief – Criminal mischief charges encompass a wide range of conduct, ranging from tampering with property, hacking, setting fires, or using smoke bombs and other similar devices.
Criminal Trespass – Being accused of entering or staying on another party’s property without permission, or refusing to leave when asked.
Disorderly Conduct – Disorderly conduct can encompass a wide variety of accusations, including any conduct that allegedly caused alarm or inconvenience to others.
Resisting Arrest – If you are accused of not complying with an officer’s commands during an arrest, trying to interfere with an arrest or causing harm to an officer or someone else during the arrest process, you can face serious resisting arrest charges.
Petty Theft – If you are accused of taking something that is valued at less than $1,000, you will face theft charges that are often referred to as “petty theft.” Most shoplifting charges fall into this category.
Traffic Offenses – While you might not think of traffic violations as criminal offenses, some traffic violations are misdemeanors or even felonies. Some traffic cases we handle in municipal court include:
- CDL Holder
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Hit and Run / Leaving the Scene
- Texting While Driving
- Vehicular Assault
WHERE IS THE CIRCLEVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT LOCATED?
The Circleville Municipal Court is located south of Columbus at 151 East Franklin Street in Circleville, Ohio 43113. The Criminal Division is located on the second floor and is open from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.
The phone number for the Clerk of Courts is (740) 474-3171.
TALK WITH AN EXPERIENCED CIRCLEVILLE OVI/DUI CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER
If you have been charged with OVI or another criminal offense in Circleville, Pickaway County, or the surrounding Central and Southern Ohio area, we offer a free initial phone or in-person consultation with one of our attorneys. During that meeting, we take an initial look at your case and see what kind of penalties you may be facing and what kind of options you may have.
If you decide to hire us, we start working on your case right away. We will arrange to appear on your behalf at your initial court appearance, which is called an arraignment. We work on getting you driving privileges, or a stay of your administrative license suspension. We talk with the Circleville prosecutor’s office and obtain all of the evidence and documents that the prosecutor plans to use against you in court. For a Circleville DUI/OVI, we examine any cruiser videos, police reports and any other documents to uncover whether the arresting police officer followed the proper steps in stopping you, citing or arresting you. We examine if the officer gave all required warnings and properly administered field sobriety tests, as well as conducted any searches or other tests properly and in accordance with the law.If you need legal help with a Circleville DUI/OVI or other criminal charge, you can give us a call at (614) 224-6142. Our phones are answered 24/7, and we will take your call during evenings, weekends, and holidays.