DUI Blogger

Elliott Rothman, a Pomona City Councilman, has been arrested recently by Pomona police and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. According to a recent October 8 Pasadena Star-News article 50-year-old Rothman was stopped by police late Tuesday and booked on misdemeanor charges shortly after.

Details of the incident and the exact nature of Rothman’s act that lead to the arrest are not reported in the article and the Pomona City Manager’s office has not released a statement yet. It is understood that Rothman is a veteran city official, who has served in the City Council for 12 years.

This incident could certainly turn into a major setback for Rothman. Any time a city official, who most of us associate with upholding and enforcing the law, is accused of breaking the law, he or she is placed in a vulnerable position. This arrest is definitely tarnished Rothman’s reputation. The course this case takes could depend on the nature of the incident and the seriousness of the charges. The fact that this is a misdemeanor indicates that there were no serious injuries involved in the incident, which led to his arrest.

Rothman would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Southern California drunk driving defense attorney. If you have been arrested and accused of driving under the influence, we can help you. A DUI conviction could result in suspension of your driving privilege, hefty fines and penalties and possibly jail time. Repeat offenders will face even more serious consequences. Call us today to schedule your free consultation and discuss your legal options.

A drunk driver accused of causing a single-car crash in Burbank that killed one passenger and injured three others last year, has pleaded no contest to the charges, according to this Los Angeles Daily News article. According to the report, 24-year-old Michael Scott Christenson pleaded no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter and three counts of DUI causing injury. Christenson was driving a 2007 Honda Accord when it jumped a center median and hit two trees and a wall. The auto accident killed Eric Flesher, 24, of Los Angeles.

Christenson will be sentenced next month and faces a 12-year state prison term. However, the murder charge against him is expected to be dismissed, the news report said. In California, vehicular manslaughter that does not involve gross negligence may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. But, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence is always charged as a felony and the court could impose up to 10 years of prison time as opposed to much lesser jail time for charges that do not involve gross negligence.

The article does not say if the charges against Christenson contain gross negligence, but based on the stiff prison term he faces, it certainly seems that it involves the more serious charge. Gross negligence is defined as driving without caution and without concern for the safety of others and generally has the driver exhibiting a high level of recklessness.

If you have been charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter in California you definitely need the services of a first tier law firm to represent you and have your case defended successfully. Please contact me for a free consultation and to learn more about how we defend vehicular manslaughter allegations.

Ventura Sheriff’s deputies have arrested 18-year-old Matthew Kusmuk on suspicion of driving his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and dragging a woman behind a car, the Ventura County Star reports. Kusmuk has been charged with DUI and assault with a deadly weapon – the weapon in this case being his vehicle.

The 38-year-old woman suffered injuries after she was dragged by Kusmuk down the 500 block of Merritt Avenue in Camarillo, officials said. The woman, who walked into St. Johns Pleasant Valley Hospital, had injuries on her body consistent with someone who had been dragged, the article stated. The woman had reportedly been holding on to Kusmuk’s car during an argument with friends to prevent them from getting away when Kusmuk drove off and dragged her with her vehicle. Kusmuk was arrested later that night based on the woman’s complaint.

Drunk driving cases may be charges as misdemeanors or felonies. A felony is a more serious charge. You could be charged with felony DUI if the incident involves major or even moderate injuries to others. If your DUI accident involves fatalities, then you could be charged with vehicular manslaughter. In some cases DUI defendants, who have had prior DUI convictions, face murder charges in connection with fatal accidents.

If you have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs or prescription drugs, please consult an experienced and knowledgeable Southern California drunk driving defense attorney immediately. You stand to lose your driving privilege, your freedom and even your livelihood if you are convicted on DUI charges. Please do not try to handle your DUI charges without the guidance of a skilled criminal defense attorney. The consequences of attempting to do so may be catastrophic.

Heather Locklear, the actress and former star of television shows such as “Melrose Place” and “Spin City,” was recently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of controlled substances, the Los Angeles Times reported in a recent article.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Tom Marshall said CHP had taken Locklear into custody after responding to a 911 report of a woman driving erratically the afternoon of September, 28, 2008 in a Montecito parking lot. Officials reportedly discovered Locklear’s car parked on State Route 192 and found she was disoriented and “under the influence of something.” She was booked on charges of driving while impaired and being under the influence of a controlled substance. While Locklear tested negative for alcohol at the CHP’s Santa Barbara-area office, the results of the drug test are pending.

This case was widely publicized in the media because it involved a famous actress. But driving under the influence is one of the most common offenses in California and the rest of the United States. A DUI conviction can have serious effects on an individual’s life and career. As opposed to celebrities who move on with their lives, a normal person suffers grave consequences including loss of driver’s license, severe fines and penalties and possible jail time.

If you have been accused of driving under the influence, you need an experienced Southern California DUI defense attorney who will aggressively fight for your rights. If you have been arrested on suspicion of DUI, please call us for a free consultation.