Category Results: Case Results

The Columbus criminal defense team represents clients in the central Ohio area charged with OVI / DUI and most any other criminal offense(s). We are mindful of the fact that every time we enter a courtroom on behalf of our clients, there is a great deal at stake. Please review our criminal and OVI / DUI case results listed below. We are proud of the work we do and the lives we effect each day. If you are in need of assistance, please feel free to contact us at .

Jan 2017

Woman Reduces Jail Time for Multiple Charges and a Probation Violation

Not long ago, the Columbus criminal defense attorneys with Luftman, Heck & Associates assisted a young woman when multiple criminal charges put her in severe legal trouble. Apparently, this woman was on probation for a previous theft offense when she was charged yet again with a theft-related charge. This serious probation violation, which could result in up to 160 days in jail were further complicated because, during this period, the woman was also cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Based on the dire nature of her circumstances and her strong desire to avoid such a lengthy jail sentence, the woman knew that she would need very strong and experienced legal representation.

After consulting with his client, attorney Joe Kunkel took the woman’s case and immediately set to work. First, attorney Kunkel used a wealth of knowledge regarding the Ohio traffic code and arraigned for this woman to have her license fully reinstated prior to her appearance in court. By presenting a valid driver’s license, the driving under suspension offense was dismissed. Subsequently, attorney Kunkel discussed the new theft charge and probation violation with the prosecution and after extensive negotiations, it became apparent that his client was only with the person who committed the recent theft. As a result, all the parties involved agreed to amend the new offense to a more appropriate charge of complicity to theft, which was resolved through the payment of court costs and a fine. Additionally, the client agreed to participate in a mental health evaluation as well as a theft diversion class and in the end, was only sentenced to a manageable 10-day sentence to resolve the probation violation. Under her attorney’s skillful representation, this client was very pleased to reduce the impact of these multiple charges and radically decreased the time she needed to spend behind bars, which was a massive win, based on the original circumstances.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. Individual results may vary based on the facts, injuries, jurisdiction, venue, witnesses, parties, and other factors. The results and client testimonials provided are not necessarily representative of the results obtained by all clients or their satisfaction with the firm’s services.

Posted: jkunkel

Categories: Alcohol Offenses, Case Results

Dec 2016

Theft Conviction Avoided for Woman in Danger of Deportation

If you are ever charged with a crime in Ohio, it is very important to consult with a qualified legal professional, who can help you effectively deal with the charges and will work to protect your criminal record from unnecessary harm. Such was the case for a 32-year-old Ukrainian woman when a retail theft charge put her immigration status in jeopardy. Essentially, if her application for citizenship reflected a conviction, it would likely be denied and she would then face deportation. She understandably did not want to be removed from this country and this eventually led her to Columbus criminal defense attorney Joe Kunkel of Luftman, Heck & Associates, who passionately advocated for his client.

With ample experience in these matters, attorney Kunkel negotiated with the prosecution and facilitated an agreement for his client to enter a diversion program prior to appearing in court. By completing these terms before admitting guilt, the woman achieved a dismissal before a conviction ever appeared on her record. This removed much of the woman’s concern and she’d now be allowed to petition to stay in the United States.

Posted: jkunkel

Categories: Case Results, Criminal Defense, Theft & Fraud

Dec 2016

Multiple Charges Dismissed for 42-Year-Old Mother

Recently, a 42-year-old mother found herself in a very precarious situation when she was charged with domestic violence after she allegedly shoved her fiancé during an argument. While this misdemeanor level offense would be a serious issue for anyone to contend with, her worries were amplified by the fact that she also faced a prior charge for passing bad checks at a local grocery store. To avoid the legal penalties for these multiple charges which could result in some time behind bars as well as all the other negative consequences of having theft and domestic violence convictions on her record, she reached out to a Columbus criminal defense lawyer at Luftman, Heck & Associates t to review his available recourses.

Once they discussed the situation, the experienced criminal attorney Joseph Kunkel began working on her behalf. By applying his extensive knowledge of how Ohio approaches these types of issues, attorney Kunkel first successfully convinced the prosecution to outright dismiss the domestic violence offense due to the fact that the charge itself was likely an overreaction based on the circumstances. Then, attorney Kunkel addressed his client’s passing bad check charge by effectively convincing all the parties involved to dismiss this case for the payment of court costs and agreeing to pay restitution to the store. Because of this woman’s wise decision to retain a skilled Columbus criminal defense lawyer, this client was excused from both predicaments without serious inconvenience or any lasting ramifications.

Posted: jkunkel

Categories: Case Results, Domestic Violence / Assault, Theft & Fraud

Oct 2016

Inaccurate Drug Testing Results In OVID Reduction

If you are ever charged with a crime in Ohio, it is imperative to find a knowledgeable defense attorney to protect your rights and advocate for the best possible result. This advice recently aided a young man after a car accident resulted in significant legal trouble. When police responded to the crash, they found the young man in question passed out behind the wheel and suspected that he was under the influence. The officer’s collected a sample to analyze and when it tested positive for marijuana metabolite, the man found himself charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, or OVID. Since the penalties for driving under the influence of drugs are the same as for driving under the influence of alcohol, the man was now faced with potential jail time, license suspension, probation, and considerable fines he reached out to the criminal defense team at Luftman, Heck & Associates based on their extensive experience with OVI and drug related cases.

As a skilled attorney, Dan Sabol took the case and started reviewing the facts of the case and all the relevant evidence. After thoroughly reviewing these materials, it was evident that the sample that was collected did not meet the necessary standard for an accurate test. By utilizing this fact, attorney Sabol successfully negotiated for the prosecution to adjust the charges against his client to a more reasonable minor reckless operation misdemeanor. This offense would not include any jail time, license suspension, or probation. In fact, after paying a small fine, this young man would be free of any further concern.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Alcohol Offenses, Case Results, Criminal Defense, Drug Offenses, OVI / DUI

Oct 2016

Not Guilty Verdict For Nanny Accused Of Endangering a Child

Recently, a family’s nanny become entangled in a very difficult situation when she was criminally charged after an unfortunate incident with a child under her care. While the child in question was crying, another employee allegedly witnessed the young woman attempting to suffocate the child with a cushion. While the child was uninjured, this led to her being charged with a first-degree misdemeanor of endangering a child. With a livelihood based on childcare and no prior criminal history, the woman was desperate to avoid a conviction but was unsure of how to proceed. Therefore, she went to the criminal defense attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates.

After discussing all aspects of the case, attorney Dan Sabol began aggressively representing his client, which eventually led to a jury trial. After the prosecutor concluded their argument, attorney Sabol requested that the judge issue a direct verdict based on the fact that the prosecution did not meet their burden of proof. In essence, since the prosecutor could not show how the child was actually harmed, they could not prove a crime occurred. The judge agreed with this assertion and found the client not guilty due in large part to attorney Sabol’s fervent advocacy. The woman was very happy to be exonerated of endangering a child and was now free to resume her life without any permanent harm being done.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Case Results, Criminal Defense, Endangerment

Oct 2016

OVI Charges Amended After A Sobriety Checkpoint In Columbus

When a former United States Marine was recently stopped at a sobriety checkpoint in Columbus, the police officers’ sobriety tests determined that he was above the legal limit and he found himself charged with an OVI. Because the man was now facing the grim prospect of a very lengthy license suspension, probation, and very steep fines, this worried man retained the services of OVI defense lawyers with Luftman, Heck & Associates.

It short order, Ohio OVI attorney Dan Sabol secured the support of an officer involved with the sobriety checkpoint and after meeting with the prosecution, all the parties involved agreed to a reduced charge of failing to maintain physical control of a vehicle. As such, attorney Sabol removed his client’s fear of a haunting OVI conviction on his permanent criminal record and he would only need to complete a three-day driving program and a serve a six-month license suspension.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Case Results, Constitutional Rights, Criminal Defense, OVI / DUI

Oct 2016

After A Bar Fight, Assault Case Dismissed Based On Self-Defense

Recently, a man from Reynoldsburg, Ohio came to the Columbus law offices of Luftman, Heck & Associates after a bar fight resulted in a misdemeanor assault charge. The man was reasonably nervous because despite his claim that he acted in self-defense, this offense is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 fine. As such, he knew that he would need capable legal representation to handle this matter and contacted highly skilled criminal defense attorney Dan Sabol.

Attorney Sabol utilized his extensive experience with similar assault and self-defense cases to find the best possible outcome for his client. By negotiating with the prosecution and arguing that his client had a right to defend himself during this altercation, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the assault charge. Furthermore, attorney Sabol filed a motion to seal the fact that he was even charged, which was approved by the court and effectively removed the entire transgression from all public records.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Case Results, Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence / Assault

Oct 2016

Second Ohio OVI Reduced For Man After St. Patrick’s Day

After visiting Columbus for St. Patrick’s Day, a man was on his way home after the festivities but was pulled over when other drivers reported what they thought was impaired driving. When officers recorded a .170 BAC they charged him with his second Ohio OVI offense in two years. The man was understandably nervous about the repercussions that another OVI would create, especially since if convicted of a second OVI, he’d face a minimum of 20 days in jail in addition to a one-year license suspension with a required ignition interlock device or restrictive license plates as part of any driving privileges. Obviously, he wanted to avoid any significant incarceration in addition to these other consequences, so he retained the veteran OVI defense attorney Dan Sabol with Luftman, Heck & Associates.

Attorney Sabol fervently worked to reduce the consequences for his client and began negotiating with the prosecutor. By challenging the legality of the initial stop and the evidence collected by the police, attorney Sabol was able to effectively convince the prosecutor to reduce the second OVI to a first OVI offense. As a result, the client would not need to spend any time in jail and after participating in a three-day driving class, he would only need to serve a 6-month license suspension without any interlock device or restrictive plate requirement. When considering the original circumstances and the potential outcome, this was an outstanding result for this client that may not have been possible if not for attorney Dan Sabol’s legal intervention.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Case Results, Criminal Defense, OVI / DUI

Sep 2016

Charges Dismissed After Violating A Casino’s Voluntary Exclusion Agreement

Some time ago, a Columbus man who was struggling with gambling addiction attempted to remove himself from the trappings and temptations of gambling by agreeing to sign a voluntary exclusion agreement with the area casinos. This contract requires a participant to refrain from entering casinos for one year, under the penalty of criminal charges. After a year an individual can reapply for admittance; however, this man neglected to follow through with this step of the voluntary exclusion agreement. As such, when he was found in a gambling establishment, he found himself charged with criminal trespassing. Since this oversight now placed him in a risky legal position involving possible jail and hefty fines, he consulted with the knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates.

The experienced Columbus defense attorney Dan Sabol met with his client and after discussing his particular circumstances, set to work to alleviate his client’s concerns. This led attorney Sabol to negotiate with the prosecution, where he successfully achieved the dismissal of the criminal trespassing charge for the payment of court costs. This result greatly satisfied the client since it prevented any unnecessary damage to his criminal record and excused him from further worry.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Case Results, Criminal Defense, Robbery, Burglary & Trespassing

Sep 2016

Gahanna OVI Charge Amended To Avoid License Suspension

A short time ago, a young man from Gahanna, Ohio found himself in a frightful legal position, when he was arrested and charged with his first OVI after the police determined he was above the legal limit to drive. The man was facing a lengthy license suspension, probation, and substantial fines. Worried about these potential outcomes, he consulted with the capable OVI defense lawyers at Luftman, Heck & Associates to address this Gahanna OVI.

Ohio OVI attorney Dan Sabol set to work on his client’s behalf and passionately negotiated with the prosecution. Ultimately, all the parties involved agreed to amend the Gahanna OVI to a reckless operation offense and after paying a fine, he no longer needed to worry about a looming OVI conviction, participating in a driver intervention program and the loss of his license. The client was pleased to learn that after paying this fine and any applicable court costs, he could easily move past this incident.

Posted: Daniel Sabol

Categories: Case Results, Criminal Defense, OVI / DUI