Lindsay Lohan's first arrest happened in late May 2007 during the Memorial Day weekend. She was charged with Driving Under the Influence, a misdemeanor crime. News media reported her blood alcohol to be twice the legal limit, with traces of cocaine. During the incident, papparazi taped her running from the crashed Mercedez driver's seat, and having her bodyguard then drive the car from where it was wrecked to an underground garage. Thereafter Ms. Lohan was reported to be in staying at a rehab center, and wearing a SCRAM device on her leg to monitor the existence of any measurable blood alcohol. Yesterday Ms. Lohan was arrested for a 2nd-time DUI offense, and after her arrest the police found cocaine in her possession -- which is a felony, that cannot be reduced to a misdemeanor.What does all this mean in terms of her court cases, and criminal defense strategy? The first legal challenge is the cocaine possession because it carries the possibility of being branded a "Felon," and stiff jail or prison sentences. Criminal Defense Lawyers who operate the Law Blog typically secure a live-in drug program for clients in these type of situations for two reasons (1) to avoid any jail time and (2) to have the felony dismissed as part of the Deferred Entry of Judgement program provided for in the California Penal Code.The other problem for Ms. Lohan is that the second time DUI carries mandatory 96 hours in jail, and a 1-year license suspension. The Law Blog would pick the weakest of the DUI cases, and work with the prosecutor and judge to plea bargain it to a reckless driving charge (to avoid a DUI conviction!). In this way, Lindsay Lohan would have one DUI, not two, on her record and could receive a restricted license after a 30-day suspension without any jail.This "celebrity" case, however, will have substantial media scrutiny. Most likely no one within the justice system wants to go out on a limb, to give Ms. Lohan a great plea bargain or a better deal than someone else would receive (and in fact someone may want to make an example of her just as with Paris Hilton). Accordingly, the Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers representing her definitely have their work cut out, to keep Ms. Lohan out of jail. Prosecutors could argue that Ms. Lohan is a danger, shows a reckless disregard by driving drunk twice in a short period of time, and should spend substantial custody time as just punishment. Tagged as: counterfeit goods pc 350, violent crimes defense

Comments:

Law Blog on July 25, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. wrote: The Los Angeles Times reported on July 25, 2007 that Lindsay Lohan's SCRAM alcohol-monitoring device was not effective, in preventing her from consuming alcohol and subsequently leading to her 2nd DUI arrest 'The domino effect of Lohan's arrest Lindsay Lohan and her handlers had hoped to keep her sobriety going with a special ankle bracelet that monitored her alcohol intake through her perspiration. Instead the technology