Wrapping up a DWI case after pleading guilty or getting convicted can be tricky. This is true even if you were just convicted of a first-time DWI or had a reduced charge. That’s because, after pleading guilty or getting convicted in court, there’s still the public record to consider. When someone finds out about your DWI conviction, they may ask if there were any other charges on your record. If you have a DWI conviction on your record, even if it was for a lesser charge such as a first-time misdemeanor, it can haunt you for the rest of your life. Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that you don’t make any common mistakes after such an unfortunate experience in court. These include…
Don’t accept a guilty plea without speaking to an attorney first.
When you’re facing charges for a DWI in Houston, your first instinct might be to accept whatever the prosecutors offer in order to close the case. After all, the last thing you want is to waste your time and money on a trial that you’re likely to lose. However, it’s important to remember that this is almost always a bad idea. First, by accepting a guilty plea, you’ll probably have to sign a plea deal that leaves you looking worse off than if you’d just gone to trial and lost. This is because the prosecutors will almost always offer a plea deal before the trial begins. If you accept this deal, you’ll likely have to enter a plea of guilty, complete a sentence, and pay some form of fee or fine. If you’re convicted, this will almost certainly show up on your public record and can make it difficult for you to get future employment or housing. Second, accepting a guilty plea might not even close the case. The prosecutor might not have enough evidence to win the case against you, and you might be able to fight the charges and win. If you accept a guilty plea, they might keep going until they find someone who can take your case. In other words, if you accept a guilty plea and the prosecutor can’t prove their case, this could reopen the investigation and leave you facing even more charges.
Don’t skip your alcohol awareness class.
You may have heard that you don’t have to take an alcohol awareness class after being convicted of a DWI. In fact, many states don’t require you to take a class of any kind after being convicted. However, this is only true if the state doesn’t consider your DWI a “serious offense.” If you were convicted of a felony DWI, for example, you will likely be required to take an alcohol awareness class. Why? Because a felony DWI is one of the worst offenses you can be convicted of, and many states consider it to be an indicator of a serious character. The reason for this is that a person who is convicted of a felony DWI has shown a complete lack of self-control and responsibility towards the law and fellow drivers. Therefore, even if you didn’t have to take an alcohol awareness class before, it’s important to take one after pleading guilty or getting convicted in court.
Don’t think you’ll get convicted on a lesser charge.
If you’ve been convicted of a DWI, you might be tempted to think that it’s unlikely that the judge will find you guilty of the most serious charges. However, this is rarely the case. In fact, it’s almost always better to go for the most serious charge than to try and fight it before the court. This is because the prosecutors are almost always allowed to “pile on” charges, meaning that they can add on additional charges after the case has begun. In other words, if you’re convicted of a DWI, the prosecutors are likely to try and add on a charge for “driving on a suspended license” or a “previous DWI.” This means that you could be facing a serious sentence if you go for the lesser charges. It’s also important to remember that judges don’t make these decisions based on your guilt or innocence. They follow the rules set out in the law, and they are often required to give you a sentence based on the severity of the charges against you.
Don’t wait until sentencing to start preparing for your case.
If you’ve been convicted of a DWI, it’s important to start preparing for your case as soon as possible. This will help you avoid making any of the mistakes listed above. For example, if you decide to accept a plea deal and sign a guilty plea, you should start looking into hiring a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. This way, you can discuss your situation with a lawyer and find out what you can do if you get convicted. In addition, you should also start researching the sentencing guidelines in your state. This will allow you to find out what kind of sentence you’re likely to receive based on the details of your case and your criminal history.
Bottom line
The best way to avoid making a mistake after a DWI conviction is to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. This will allow you to discuss your situation in detail and find out if you’re at risk of making any mistakes. If you’re convicted of a DWI, it’s also important to start preparing for your case as soon as possible. This will allow you to find out what kind of sentence you’re likely to receive based on the details of your case and your criminal history.