mistaken identity! not guilty of drunk driving!

Summary: Mechanic with .201 falsely charged with operating while intoxicated in Anchorage, Alaska; Attorney Fred Slone obtained a not guilty verdict for his client by proving his client was innocent by mistaken identity.

This was a second DWI case in which Attorney Fred Slone represented L. C., the first ended in a not guilty verdict at trial three years earlier.

anchorage vs. l. c., district court, anchorage, alaska

parking vehicle calls attention

Police officers arrived at the home of L. C.’s parents, where he was house sitting. Officers observed a Jeep and a van parked in an unusual fashion next to the road. The van appeared to be stuck in the snow. The Jeep was running, but parked in front of the van. L. c. told the officers that he was going to pull out the van. The officers noted that L. c. appeared to be intoxicated and L. c. was told that he should not drive.

L. c. then walked to the Jeep and drove it into the driveway where he parked it. The officer advised L. c. again that he should not be driving.

police sergeant orders arrest

Approximately 45 minutes later one of the officers drove by the residence again and noticed that the Jeep was moving again. The officer noted that L. c. was driving the Jeep. The officer radioed her supervising sergeant who indicated that L. c. should be arrested. Six officers then proceeded to the house.

breath tests shows .201

Police knocked on the door and contacted L. c.’s girlfriend. L. c. eventually came to the door, at which time he was arrested. L. c. was taken to the police station where a breath test was administered with a .201 result.

beard used by police to identify person to arrest

At trial, several of the officers testified. At least two police officers testified that they saw L. c. driving the Jeep the second time they had come around, after he had been told not to drive. They testified that they recognized it was him in the vehicle since he had a dark beard.

falsely identified person may have been drunk

Both L. c. and his girlfriend testified that it was not in fact L. c. that was driving the Jeep the second time the officers came by. In fact, it was L. c.’s girlfriend that was driving. At the time she was wearing a dark hat and face mask and was clearing the driveway with the Jeep. L. c. had been driving earlier, but he and his girlfriend both testified that he had a large drink between the time that he was driving the first time and the time the officers arrived and arrested him.

jury finds attorney fred slone's client not guilty

After three days of trial, the jury returned a verdict of "NOT GUILTY" on the driving while intoxicated charge. If he had been convicted of the DWI, L. c., a mechanic, would have faced a minimum jail term of 60 days.

hire the best dui attorney possible

Attorney Fred Slone is highly-regarded throughout the legal community, and has often been referred to as the best DWI defense attorney in Alaska. Attorney Slone out-prepares prosecution as part of is commitment to his clients and to building strong defenses. While promises can never be made in any drunk driving case, by entrusting Attorney Slone with your case, you can rest reassured that you have taken the best step possible towards defending yourself against a drunk driving charge. ::: Attorney Fred Slone :::

talk to an attorney today

To speak with a drunk driving defense lawyer today, please call Attorney Fred Slone at (907) 272-4471.

Call us today at (907) 272-4471 to speak with an attorney.