WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT – DUI/OVI CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

If you are charged with an OVI, DUI, or other traffic or criminal offense by the Westerville Division of Police,  your case may be filed in Westerville Mayor’s court.

The Westerville Mayor’s Court handles hearings and trials for criminal misdemeanors and traffic charges, although the trials in this court are heard by a magistrate appointed by the mayor instead of a judge and jury. There are also other differences between the court proceedings in Westerville Mayor’s Court versus the Franklin County Municipal Court or the Delaware County Municipal Court, but the accused should understand that the possible consequences of a conviction or guilty plea can be quite severe in each court.

WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT ATTORNEY

If you are facing criminal charges after an arrest in Westerville, Ohio, remember that it is in your best interest to have an experienced criminal defense attorney represent you. The criminal and OVI lawyers at the AV-rated defense firm Yavitch & Palmer have helped those accused of OVI/DUI, traffic violations and all types of misdemeanors and serious criminal charges for over 25 years. You can have one of our attorneys review your case and discuss your legal options by calling  (614) 224-6142 right now to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.

CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC OFFENSES IN THE WESTERVILLE CITY CODE

Like many Ohio townships and municipalities, Westerville has its own set of ordinances (laws) that describe various crimes in the Westerville City Code and the penalties if you are convicted.  Our criminal attorneys handle all offenses in the Westerville Mayor’s Court, including:

• Aggravated Assault (Westerville City Code § 503.03)
• Soliciting (Westerville City Code § 507.09)
• Criminal Mischief (Westerville City Code § 509.03)
• Criminal Trespass (Westerville City Code § 509.04)
• Theft (Westerville City Code § 513.03)
• Misuse of Credit Cards (Westerville City Code § 513.08)
• Disorderly Conduct (Westerville City Code § 517.03)
• Resisting Arrest (Westerville City Code § 521.06)
• Carrying Concealed Weapons (Westerville City Code § 523.02)
• Hypodermic Possession (Westerville City Code § 527.10)
• Drug abuse (marijuana) (Westerville City Code § 527.03)
• Drug paraphernalia (marijuana) (Westerville City Code § 527.12)
• Gift of marijuana (giving less than 20g of marijuana to someone) (Westerville City Code § 527.02)
• Obstructing official business ) (Westerville City Code § 521.05)
• Driving under the influence or physical control of a vehicle under the influence (OVI/DUI) (Westerville City Code § 331.01)
• Reckless operation ) (Westerville City Code § 333.02)
• Speeding (Westerville City Code § 333.03)
• Driving unsafe vehicles (Westerville City Code § 337.01)

WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT PENALTIES

If someone is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to the charges in Westerville Mayor’s Court, the penalties to be imposed are established in Codified Ordinances of Westerville § 501.99. Under this statute, maximum penalties include:

• Minor Misdemeanor — Fine up to $150 and restitution to alleged victim or any survivor of the victim;
• Fourth-Degree Misdemeanor — Up to 30 days in jail, fine of up to $250, and restitution to alleged victim or any survivor of the victim;
• Third-Degree Misdemeanor — Up to 60 days in jail, fine of up to $500, and restitution to alleged victim or any survivor of the victim;
• Second-Degree Misdemeanor — Up to 90 days in jail, fine of up to $750, and restitution to alleged victim or any survivor of the victim; or
• First-Degree Misdemeanor — Up to 180 days in jail, fine of up to $1,000, and restitution to alleged victim or any survivor of the victim.

People convicted of operating vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) can also be given  additional state-mandated penalties, including suspension of their driver’s licenses or other sanctions, depending on the accused’s blood alcohol level at the time of the alleged offense.

WHERE IS THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT LOCATED?

The Westerville Mayor’s Court is located at 21 S. State St., Westerville, Ohio, 43081.

WHERE ARE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT HEARINGS HELD?

 The Westerville Mayor’s Court is in session every Wednesday starting at 9:00am. Criminal arraignments and pretrials are held first. Trials are held afterwards, usually beginning around 10:00am.

DOES MY CASE HAVE TO BE HEARD IN THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT?

No, it doesn’t. You can choose to transfer or appeal your case to the Franklin County Municipal Court or Delaware County Municipal Court at any time, for any reason. Whether you should have your case heard in the Westerville Mayor’s Court or transferred to the Franklin County Municipal Court or the Delaware County Municipal Court can be a matter of strategy best decided with an attorney who is familiar with the nuances of each court.

IF I DON’T LIKE THE RESULT I GOT FROM THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT, CAN I APPEAL?

 Yes you can appeal, but you need to act fast. If you plead guilty in the Westerville Mayor’s Court and change your mind, you only have 10 days from the date of your plea to appeal the case to the Franklin County Municipal Court or the Delaware County Municipal Court. Your case basically starts over in the new court at that point. If you don’t appeal within 10 days, you are most likely stuck with your plea and the decision, but you should consult with a lawyer about the specifics of your situation.

DO I NEED A LAWYER FOR MY WESTERVILLE OVI OR CRIMINAL CASE?

Criminal, traffic, and OVI/DUI convictions can have serious implications for your driving privileges, insurance rates, relationships, employment – and your liberty. Your first step should be to talk with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Talking to an experienced criminal attorney can give you a better understanding of the penalties you may face and what you can expect, even if you think you want to try to handle it alone.

Our criminal defense lawyers have helped ‘good people in bad situations’ for over 25 years. We are an AV-rated firm and we only do criminal, traffic, and DUI/OVI defense. Our desire to help people solve their problems and get back in control of their lives adds to the extensive experience we have handling every kind of OVI, traffic and criminal misdemeanor case that is heard in the Westerville Mayor’s Court.

TALK WITH AN EXPERIENCED WESTERVILLE OVI/DUI CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

If you have been charged with OVI or another criminal offense in Westerville, or anywhere in Franklin, Delaware, and surrounding counties,  we offer a free initial phone or in-person consultation with one of our lawyers. 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 Westerville prosecutor’s office and obtain all of the evidence and documents that the prosecutor plans to use against you in court. For a Westerville 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 Westerville 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.