Columbus Criminal Defense & OVI Attorneys
An arrest in Ohio starts two clocks: the criminal case and the administrative license suspension you have only 30 days to appeal. Led by a former Franklin County prosecutor, our defense practice covers OVI/DUI, drug offenses, assault, theft, and domestic violence charges in Franklin County Municipal Court and the surrounding counties. We answer arrest calls 24 hours a day because evidence, video, and witness memory are best in the first week, not the month after arraignment.
What we handle
- OVI / DUI defense and license appeals
- Drug possession and trafficking charges
- Assault and domestic violence
- Theft, fraud, and white-collar matters
- Expungement and record sealing
- Probation violation hearings
How your case will run
- 1
Same-day case review
We pull the complaint, BMV notice, and available video before advising you, not after.
- 2
Suppression-first defense
The stop, the tests, and the statements each get independent constitutional review. Cases are won on motions more often than verdicts.
- 3
Outcome engineering
Diversion, treatment in lieu, reduction, or trial: we map every exit and price each one honestly.
Fees, stated plainly
Most defense matters are quoted as a flat fee at the first call, so the cost of your defense never depends on how slowly the case moves.
Common questions about criminal defense & dui/ovi
What happens after a first DUI/OVI in Ohio?
A first OVI in Ohio is a misdemeanor carrying a mandatory minimum of 3 days in jail or a 3-day driver intervention program, a fine of $375–$1,075, and a license suspension of 1–3 years. You have only 30 days to appeal the automatic administrative license suspension. That deadline runs even while the criminal case is pending.
How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Ohio?
For a first-offense OVI in Central Ohio, expect flat fees of roughly $1,500–$3,500 for a resolution without a motion hearing, $3,500–$7,500 if suppression motions are litigated, and $10,000+ for a case that goes to trial. Repeat offenses and felony OVI cost more because the stakes and the work both increase.
Can a DUI/OVI be dismissed in Ohio?
Yes: OVI charges in Ohio are dismissed or reduced when the evidence has a legal defect: an unlawful stop, improperly administered field sobriety tests, breath-test machines out of calibration, or missed procedural requirements. Dismissals are won on suppression motions far more often than at trial.
Can I get my record sealed or expunged in Ohio?
Most Ohio misdemeanors and many fourth- and fifth-degree felonies can be sealed after a waiting period: generally 1 year after final discharge for misdemeanors and 1–3 years for eligible felonies. Ohio also now allows true expungement (destruction of the record) for many sealed offenses after additional time. OVI convictions, sex offenses, and most violent offenses cannot be sealed.