Experienced DUI Lawyers in Sacramento County
DUI Defense Attorneys You Can Count On
If you are operating a vehicle and a police officer suspects you are under the influence, you could be facing criminal penalties. Whether or not you felt you were driving unsafely, the law has statutes in place to convict you of a crime and deliver penalties that could hurt your future. You need help from DUI attorneys in Sacramento who can stand strong in support of your interests. The DUI Lawyers at Donato Legal Group, are here to help you protect yourself and avoid the consequences of a conviction. Call today and schedule a free consultation to get help.
Have you been arrested for drunk driving? Call Donato Legal Group today at (916) 318-5997 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our Sacramento DUI lawyer!
What are the Potential Penalties for a DUI in California?
While most DUIs don’t result in prison sentencing, California is tough on drunk and impaired drivers. Implied consent laws mean you must undergo a blood alcohol content (BAC) test or have your license automatically revoked. By having a Sacramento DUI lawyer on your side, you can increase your chances at a more favorable outcome by avoiding some of the consequences that come with a conviction of DUI.
If you are convicted of DUI, you could face:
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Vehicle confiscation
- Having an interlock installed on your car
- Fines
- Jail time
While these consequences are temporary, they can cause serious disruptions to your life. You need help from a Sacramento DUI attorney like Alan Donato who can do whatever is needed to protect your future.
What Happens When You Get a DUI for the First Time in California?
For a first-offense DUI in California, consequences for conviction generally include three years of informal probation, fines of $390 plus “penalty assessments” (In total, costing approximately $2000, and completing a first offender alcohol program that consists of a 30-hour class, at a cost of about $500.) There is no minimum jail time for a first time DUI in Sacramento, California. You could still be sent to jail for a first time DUI if there were certain factors present such as a minor present in the vehicle, someone injured, someone died.
A first-time DUI sentence may also include required participation in a victim impact panel, community labor or community service work. In Sacramento, you are also required to have an ignition interlock device to be placed on your car upon a first-time conviction for four months.
How We Help Our Clients
While DUIs are dangerous offenses that put other people’s lives at risk, it may be possible to find better ways than fines or jail time to avoid major disruptions to your life. The top criminal defense attorneys in Sacramento at Donato Legal Group have experience helping clients like you get through these challenges.
We may be able to help a judge decide to sentence you with:
- Probation: For first-time offenders, you may be able to avoid a DUI conviction by pleading guilty to what is called a “wet reckless.” Rather than having your license revoked, you will simply pay a fine and obtain a special license to drive to necessary places such as work or school.
- DUI school: While this is often in tandem with other sentences, it may be possible to limit the sentence of your crime by attending classes geared toward helping you see the dangers of impaired driving.
- Installing an interlock: You may be able to have your car modified to prevent you from being able to start it while drunk.
- Community service: By giving your time back to the people you endangered, you may be able to have your sentence reduced.
Contact a Sacramento DUI Defense Lawyer Today
Call one of the Sacramento Defense Attorneys at our firm today to get started on your case. During your initial case review, we can go over the details of what happened to help you improve your situation. There may have been more to your arrest than what police initially noted.
By getting to know you and your situation, we can help you tell your side of the story in a compelling way. Our goal is to help you increase your chances at a favorable outcome. Call today to get started on planning your case.
Contact Donato Legal Group by calling (916) 318-5997 today to schedule a FREE consultation!
Recent Case Results
We Prepare Every Case as if it's Going to Trial
Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.
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Not Guilty Illegal Discharge of a Firearm
Client was charged with multiple felony assaults and unlawful discharge of a firearm with gang enhancements and looking at life in prison. Mr. Donato was able to get a full acquittal.
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Case Dismissed Assault with a Deadly Weapon
After an intense road rage incident, our client was charged with assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly ramming another car with her own. After diligent investigation and negotiations with the Prosecutors in this case, Mr. Donato persuaded the government to dismiss the case in its entirety.
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Reduced to a misdemeanor Charged with felony sexual battery
Appointed Indigent Defense Counsel in San Joaquin County; the client was charged with felony sexual battery and looking at his third strike and 25 years to Life in prison; upon body worn camera review, Mr. Donato was able to present evidence to the DA and had the case reduced to a misdemeanor and the client was released from jail custody that day.
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Case Dismissed Possessing Marijuana for Sale
Mr. Donato covinced the District Attorney that his client was protected under the Medical Marijuana Laws as a legal caregiver, and all felony charges regarding possessing marijuana for sale were dismissed.
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Case Dismissed DUI
Our cient's DUI was dismissed after we obtained the officer's in car camera video which revealed the officer had fabricated major portions of the report. Thanks in part to Mr. Donato's discoveries, the officer in this case was arrested and eventually plead guilty to numerous counts of perjury and obstruction of justice. The officer was ultimately sentenced to prison.
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Case Dismissed Domestic Violence
Client was arrested for domestic violence after boyfriend called the police and lied about a fight he in fact started. We showed the prosecution our client’s medical records documenting her significant injuries in contrast to her boyfriend’s minor injuries and the prosecution dismissed against our client to pursue charges against her boyfriend.
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Not Guilty Gang Enhancement
Our office was proud to defeat the gang enhancement charge at trial for our client, who was charged with possessing a firearm for the benefit of a gang. Defeating the gang enhancement was the sole reason for going to trial, and it saved our client from gaining a second strike conviction, not to mention significant prison time.
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Case Dismissed Felony Charge
Getting this felony case dismissed at preliminary hearing was a fight. But by effectively cross examining the arresting officer and showing that our client was not an accomplice to the alleged crime, Mr. Donato succeeded in getting this dismissal. Our client came into the preliminary hearing facing felony charges of conspiracy and battery with great bodily injury, and he walked out a free man with an untarnished record.
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Acquittal Attempted Murder
Client was facing life in prison for attempted murder after a shooting on a bus where the jury found the client acted in self-defense.
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Case Dismissed Drug Charge
Our client's drug case was dismissed after Mr. Donato proved to a judge that the officer's only basis for conducting a probation search in this case was for harassment purposes in violation of his client's 4th Amendment Rights.
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Penalty Reduced Felony DUI
Client had previously been to prison for multiple DUI’s and was arrested again for DUI. We got client into treatment and persuaded the court (over the prosecutor’s objection) to sentence him to rehab instead of prison. Mr. Gerber is now a successful (and sober) project manager in the Bay Area.
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Case Dismissed Battery Charge
This battery case was ultimately dismissed after our office conducted investigation and found independent witnesses who stated that the victim lied to police and actually started the fight. The DA agreed to dismiss the case and Ms. August was able to maintain her clean record.
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Not Guilty Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale
With a client facing charges for possession of methamphetamine for sale in addition to firearm enhancements, even the judge questioned Mr. Donato as to why he was taking the case to trial. In the end, however, the jury had very few questions to ask, as it took them less than an hour to return their not guilty verdicts for Mr. Donato's client.
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Case Dismissed Felony Marijuana Charges
Dismissed Client was charged with multiple felony marijuana related charges. Our investigation showed that client was not involved in the operation although she was present during execution of the search warrant. The case was dismissed as to our client, whereas the co-defendants were convicted.
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Not Guilty Sexual Assault
With a client facing life in prison on sexual assault charges, our office decided to take this case to trial. After fighting to expose the holes in the Prosecution's case, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. Our client was released from custody the same day.
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Acquitted of ALL charges (Trial) Felony Sexual Assault of a Minor
Client was a group home employee and was accused by one of the (minor) group home residents of sexual misconduct. Our office successfully showed the complaining witness was lying about the allegations, and the jury unanimously acquitted Ms. Roberts of all charges after deliberating for only a few hours.
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Case Dismissed Robbery
Client was facing robbery charges and our investigation showed the witness was not likely to show up for trial. We pushed to get this case before a jury, and when the prosecution was unable to produce evidence against our client the case was dismissed.
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Not Guilty Attempted Murder
Client was charged with several felonies including attempted murder and was acquitted of this charge by means of self-defense.
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Case Dismissed Possessing Marijuana for Sale
Even before trial, our office had this case dismissed by presenting evidence that our client, who faced felony charges of possessing marijuana for sale, qualified as a legal caregiver and was protected from prosecution under the California medical marijuana laws.
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Dismissed 1st Degree Murder
Appointed Indigent Defense Counsel in San Joaquin County; Client was charged with 1st Degree Murder looking at 75 years to Life in prison: upon case discovery review, Mr. Donato was able to present evidence to the DA and get the entire case dismissed in the interest of justice.
