The Alpert Schreyer, LLC legal team successfully recovered a “not guilty” verdict in a total of 10 minutes during a day-long trial.
Our client was facing DUI charges in the Circuit Court of Worcester County, MD, a court that is notoriously difficult. He had prior offenses on his record and refused to take a breathalyzer test, but we were confident in our ability to secure an in-trial victory.
The charges were based, primarily, on the arresting officer’s observation that the defendant had glassy, red eyes and a smell of alcohol on his breath. However, the police officer failed to complete the proper exams and thoroughly investigate the defendant’s state, leading to incorrect assumptions about his level of intoxication. Additionally, as the defendant has an amputated foot, the minimal testing that was performed inaccurately reflected his level of sobriety.
The defendant was pulled over for a broken taillight by a police officer who had conducted approximately 8,000 traffic stops during his six-and-a-half year career, with over 300 of those traffic stops related to driving while intoxicated. The trooper testified in court that he failed to ask further questions related to the defendant’s eyes and the alcohol odor, such as if they were tired, how much they had to drink, and when they drank. The officer also testified that our client did not exhibit any other signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, impaired motor coordination, or cognitive issues. We enlisted the help of expert witnesses, who stressed the ineffectiveness of field sobriety testing when evaluating amputees.
Our attorneys utilized effective investigative techniques to prove that the trooper in this case, who was well aware of the proper DUI testing procedures, made the arrest on limited and inaccurate information. At Alpert Schreyer, LLC, our team of lawyers is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help you achieve justice. If going to trial is necessary to prove the innocence of our clients, we are not afraid to do so.
If you’ve been charged with a DUI, theft, drug crime, or other crime, contact us today. We have offices throughout the state of Maryland and are available for free consultations via phone at 301-321-7277. Or, you can schedule a case evaluation through our message form.
