Being convicted of a crime can follow a person long after he or she has completed his or her sentence. Charges and convictions can remain on a person’s record, and those records may be viewed by possible employers and other individuals in the future. Therefore, it is important that an individual is not wrongfully convicted of a crime such as felony DUI.
One man in Colorado recently had two convictions overturned in an appellate court. It was reported that the man had been taken into custody for DUI twice within a year. In the first incident, the man apparently failed to maintain the proper lane, hit a stop sign and did not stop at a red light. In the second alleged incident, the man reportedly passed out in his vehicle while at an intersection.
Charges of attempted manslaughter and attempted assault were sought by prosecutors, and the man was convicted. He was sentenced to serve four years in jail. However, those convictions were recently reversed as it was found that there was not enough evidence to suggest that the man put other individuals in danger. The man had already served his sentences, but the convictions sould now be removed from his record.
It is unfortunate that this Colorado man was convicted of the charges stemming from the alleged DUI accidents. This type of situation shows why it is important for individuals who have been charged with a crime to assess their circumstances and determine the best possible paths for moving forward. Information on defense strategies could help parties maintain their innocence or, as this case shows, have decisions overturned.
Source: thedenverchannel.com, “Repeat DUI driver wins appeal; 2 convictions overturned by Colorado Court of Appeals”, Marshall Zelinger, March 26, 2015
