Anyone who is facing criminal charges has a right to defend themselves against those charges. Many times, part of that defense is a plea of not guilty. But when a person is facing serious charges such as a second offense DUI or vehicular assault, sometimes a guilty plea is the best course of action. Our Suffolk readers may be interested in an incident in another part of the country where a man decided to not fight the charges brought against him.

A 28-year-old man from Washington State pleaded guilty to several charges related to an accident that killed an 18-year-old man. The man charged pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident, vehicular assault and vehicular homicide.

In June of 2012, the man plowed into a group of friends standing on the side of the road. An 18-year-old man suffered fatal injuries. Two other friends suffered broken bones. After the accident, the driver fled the scene.

Earlier in the evening, the man had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol, including numerous shots of vodka and orange juice and later, several large beers. When he was asked to leave an establishment, he got in his car. Witnessed have spoken up about their encounters with the driver that evening, including one driver who had to swerve off the road to avoid a collision with him. Authorities also stated that he hit several parked cars. Upon testing, the man’s blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. He faces a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison.

Choosing to plead guilty to charges is a serious matter and something that should be discussed with thoroughly with a legal professional experienced in defending DUI charges. An experienced legal professional can help explain what a guilty plea would mean and whether it is the right decision.

Source: HeraldNet.com, “Guilty pleas in DUI crash that killed Marysville man” Scott North, Sep. 24, 2013