Marin DUI Lawyer Blog

Twenty-one year old Novato resident Sarah Levin was arrested Monday night on suspicion of DUI after crashing into a parked car in San Anselmo. Police officers found Ms. Levin's car partially blocking the roadway after apparently striking a car on Butterfield Road.

The Ross Valley Fire Department treated Ms. Levin for air bag injuries and she was taken to Marin General Hospital for further treatment. She was released from the hospital Monday Night.

Ms. Levin's arrest for driving under the influence in Marin County could lead to several costly consequences. Typically the District Attorney's Office will charge a DUI arrestee with both driving under the influence and driving with a prohibited blood alcohol level, above .08%. California Vehicle Code sections 23152(a)(b). In Marin County a conviction for either charge will normally result in the imposition of three years probation, substantial fines and required attendance at a DUI program. Further, anyone arrested for DUI in California has only ten days from the date of their arrest to contact the California DMV in order to contest the administrative suspension of their driving privilege.

Continue reading "San Anselmo crash leads to Marin County DUI arrest" »

Early Friday morning, October 23, 2009, a San Francisco Police Officer contacted Antonio Dalballo after stopping him for a traffic violation in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. When the officer approached Mr. Dalballo he smelled the order of an alcoholic beverage and began a DUI investigation.

When the officer ordered Mr. Dalballo to exit his vehicle he ignored the officer's commands and began to reach for his ignition. When the officer reached for the car keys Mr. Dalballo grabbed the officer's arm and took off speeding and colliding with several cars while dragging the officer.

The officer was eventually thrown to the ground and Mr. Dalballo was arrested a short time later. He was booked on suspicion of felony aggravated assault on an officer, felony drunken driving with injury, evading a police officer and marijuana possession.

Continue reading "San Francisco Police Officer dragged by suspected DUI Driver" »

Stephanie Pratt, star of MTV's the Hills, was arrested on Sunday morning outside a party in Los Angeles. Police officers stopped Ms. Pratt for a traffic violation around 3:45 a.m. and she was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence without incident. She was taken to jail and released on $5,000.00 bail.

Driving under the influence arrests have been increasingly common among celebrities and sports stars in recent months. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth was sentenced in June to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter charges and just last Wednesday actor Thomas Dekker was arrested for DUI after he hit a bicyclist riding in a crosswalk, while trying to get onto the freeway in Los Angeles County. If you are arrested for DUI in Marin County or San Francisco, call an experienced aggressive DUI attorney for help.

Continue reading "Reality TV star arrested for DUI" »

Two men were arrested this week in connection with a San Rafael sexual molestation case. On Wednesday, Dustin Hans Melchior of San Rafael was booked into the Marin County jail on suspicion of unlawful sex with a minor, one day after Lecah Darod Owens, also of San Rafael, was arrested for suspicion of having sex with a minor.

While police officers were investigating the sexual molestation allegations against Owens, they learned of Melchior's involvement and of three additional sexual assault victims. Both suspects and all four victims appear to have been acquaintances. Two of the victims are from San Rafael and two are from Novato.

Melchior and Owens are also linked to an armed robbery in San Rafael that took place on Monday, September 28, 2009 when two masked men robbed a gas station in Terra Linda. Police officers suspect that Owens was one of the masked robbers and that Melchior was the getaway driver.

If you are arrested for a robbery or sex crime in Marin County be sure to contact a local Marin County criminal defense attorney.