I was recently interviewed by Steve Sleeper for his ‘Ask a Lawyer’ Podcast. We discussed topics related to my career as a criminal defense lawyer and DUI/OVI defense lawyer in Columbus, Ohio. Steve asked some good questions about OVI cases in Ohio, including the OVI investigation, field sobriety testing, and drug/alcohol testing. We also discussed the court process, penalties, and possible defenses for Ohio OVIs. It was a pleasure appearing on Steve Sleeper’s podcast: he is a good host with a great voice.
Articles Posted in DUI/OVI sentencing/penalties
Underage DUI/OVI in Ohio
An 18-year-old Ohio man was charged with DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio) and other offenses after hitting a school bus carrying students. According to WLWT5, the young man’s blood alcohol content was reported as .25. For individuals under age 21, there is a unique OVI-related offense in Ohio.
The Offense of OVUAC for People Under 21
For drivers of all ages, paragraph (A) of Ohio Revised Code section 4511.19 makes it illegal to operate a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol. The prohibited concentration is .08% for blood, .08 grams per 210 liters of breath, and .011 grams per 100 milliliters of urine. This is commonly referred to as the ‘legal limit’, and the offense is called Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI). Continue Reading
Withdrawing a Guilty Plea in Ohio Vehicular Homicide Cases
An Ohio man pled guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and other charges. A few days before the sentencing was to be held, the defendant hired a new lawyer and filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea. The judge held a hearing and denied the motion. The defendant pled guilty and was sentenced to eight years in prison. The defendant recently appealed the judge’s decision to Ohio’s Third District Court of Appeals.
Repeat DUI/OVI Compared to First-Offense DUI/OVI in Ohio
With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, many people in Ohio will be celebrating at bars. Most of those people will drive home, and some of those people will be arrested for DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio). How many of those arrests will involve drivers who have already been convicted of OVI at least once? How are repeat OVI offenses in Ohio treated differently than first offenses?
Former Trooper Appeals Sentence for Vehicular Homicide
A former Pennsylvania state trooper was involved in a two-vehicle automobile crash, and the driver of the other vehicle died as a result. The former trooper, Joseph Yuran, was charged with Aggravated Vehicular Homicide as a second-degree felony and Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI). Yuran pled guilty to those charges, and the judge imposed a prison term of 7 years to 10.5 years. Yuran appealed the sentence to the 11th District Court of Appeals, claiming the sentence was unlawful.
Ohio DUI/OVI Law Set to Change
The law governing DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio) is going to change. House Bill 37, signed by Governor Mike DeWine, becomes law on April 9, 2025. The legislation changes four separate areas of law: (1) Driving privileges and ignition interlock devices for OVI license suspensions; (2) Financial penalties for OVI convictions; (3) Oral fluid testing in OVI cases; and (4) Aggravated Vehicular Homicide penalties when a defendant has prior OVI convictions. This article addresses the changes in that order.
Child Endangering and DUI/OVI in Ohio
This blog is not a bar band: we take requests without asking for tips! Yesterday, we received a question from a reader who wants to understand the interplay of Child Endangering and DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio). This article is going to answer that reader’s question. Ask and you shall receive.
Juvenile DUI / OVI in Ohio
A recent news story reported the arrest of a 14-year-old boy for DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio). It is somewhat unusual for a juvenile to be charged with OVI in Ohio. When a juvenile faces an OVI case, some aspects are the same as adult OVIs and some components are different. Those components include the investigation, the court process, and the penalties.
Patrick Mahomes, Sr. and Felony DUI / OVI
Patrick Mahomes, Sr. was indicted for drunk driving in Texas. According to Spectrum News, Mahomes has two prior DWI convictions. In Texas, a third DWI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio) is a felony offense which carries a prison term of two years to ten years. But what if a person is charged with a felony OVI in Ohio? Continue Reading
DUI/OVI and Improperly Handling Firearms in Ohio
Muhammad Wilkerson, former defensive end for the New York Jets, was arrested for Operating a Vehicle under the Influence and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded handgun. Wilkerson’s arrest occurred in New Jersey. If Wilkerson were arrested for these offenses in Ohio, he would be charged with OVI and Improperly Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle. This article describes the elements, court process, and potential penalties for these offenses in Ohio.
Columbus OVI/DUI Attorney Blog

