Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers

Suhre & Associates: Criminal and DUI Defense in Indianapolis

Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers is a law firm specializing in the defense of drivers accused of driving under the influence (DUI/OWI) and in criminal cases. Their team, which has more than one hundred years of combined experience, includes a former police officer and a former prosecutor, as the firm itself highlights. The main office for the Indianapolis area handles cases in Marion County and throughout Indiana.

The firm is available to take calls 24 hours a day and offers a free initial consultation to evaluate each case.

Practice Areas

The firm's activity is divided into two main areas. The first is DUI/OWI defense, which ranges from roadside breath tests to blood tests and court appearances. The second is general criminal defense, with attention to crimes such as assault, domestic violence, drug crimes, federal crimes, and sex crimes, among others.

DUI/OWI Defense

The firm details the different fronts of a drunk driving charge. In Indiana, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 for most adults, but it is reduced to 0.02 for drivers under 21. Police usually start with a breath test and, if the result indicates possible intoxication, may request an additional chemical test. Driving on a public road in Indiana is considered consent to submit to urine and blood tests; refusing to take that chemical test results in automatic license suspension for one year.

The firm also lists the types of DUI cases it handles: first offense, felony DUI, court appearance, breath test, and blood test. It also points out factors that can aggravate a case, such as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher, the presence of a minor in the vehicle, injuries or deaths, and traffic violations.

Indiana DUI Penalties

The firm summarizes the legal consequences based on the number of prior convictions. A first offense is classified as a Class C misdemeanor, with up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500, plus a possible license suspension of between 90 days and two years. A second conviction within five years is considered a Class D felony, with a fine of up to $10,000, up to three years in prison, and a license suspension of between 180 days and two years; the convicted person may be required to complete 180 hours of community service. A third conviction within five years is also classified as a Class D felony, with the same fines and prison sentences, but the license suspension can extend from one to ten years and community service increases to 360 hours.

Defense Strategy

The firm describes its approach in three areas: protecting the client's constitutional rights, negotiating with the prosecution, and representing the client in court. The firm maintains that authorities sometimes violate rights during arrest or prosecution, and that its work includes identifying those violations and presenting them to the judge. In the negotiation phase, the attorneys seek to improve the terms of an initial agreement, although they do not guarantee a specific outcome. If a fair deal cannot be reached, the case may go to trial, where the firm defends the client before a judge or jury.

Geographic Coverage and Team

Suhre & Associates serves Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The firm has offices in Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Lexington, and Louisville. The team of attorneys includes Aaron Oppegard, Andrew Niehaus, Brentt McGee, Catharine Caperton, Joe Suhre, Mark Wieczorek, Michael Durborow, and Scott Adams.

Case Results

The website includes a selection of favorable outcomes. These include a not guilty verdict in a felony rape trial, the dismissal of felony drug charges against a medical student, a directed verdict in an OWI case after trial, and the dismissal of all charges against a client after a motion to suppress based on an insufficient anonymous tip.

Location and Contact

Phone: (317) 759-2599 · Email: info@suhrelawindianapolis.com · Hours: Available 24/7