Seattle Criminal Attorney | Seahawk Owen Schmidt DUI

Another day, another Seattle athlete arrested for DUI. From the Seattle Times, it appears that Owen Schmidt (picture courtesy of Getty Images), fullback for the Seattle Seahawks, was pulled over by Black Diamond police this week and, after failing a field sobriety test and blowing a .15 on the breathalyzer was arrested and charged with Seattle DUI. He issued an apology stating how sorry he was, which is par for the course, but I'm more concerned about something else.

Every time I read a story like this I think about all of public relations resources wasted by professional sports teams and professional athletes for something that is 100% preventable. I find it strange that professional athletes get no information or training whatsoever in how to deal with a DUI stop or DUI investigation (at least none that they actually put into practice). Although, as I always say, I'm not for drunk driving, I am also not for wrapping up the police officer's case and putting a nice bow on it either. Maybe the team should have a Seattle criminal attorney come in and talk to them for an hour - it could save them a lot of time and money.

And this case is a perfect example. Schmidt should have known that he can refuse field sobriety tests, and should have refused them, and he should have a Seattle criminal attorney on speed dial to handle any problems he might have at any time. Why doesn't he have access to this information and these resources? It is a failure of his to realize this, but isn't it also a failure of the Seahawks not to do something to protect their investment?

As I see this more and more often, I am considering putting together a brief presentation on your rights if stopped for DUI to give to whomever will listen. Now, don't get angry, this isn't a how to beat a DUI presentation, but, like I said, we as Washington State citizens have no duty to make it easy for the prosecution to convict us of DUI.

It would outline what you should and shouldn't do if stopped for a Seattle DUI and promote people calling and establishing a relationship with a Seattle DUI attorney before they are stopped for DUI or any other criminal act, so they actually have someone to call if they get in trouble or have any questions.

Do you think you, as an average citizen, would be interested in something like that? If so, let me know. I'd love to come and talk to you and let you know how having a Seattle DUI defense attorney on speed dial can pay big dividends.

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Seattle Criminal Attorney | Vice Sting in Capitol Hill

Because I'm a Seattle criminal attorney I always find it interesting when I read stories like the one I read today. Published in the Seattle Times today, it sounds like Seattle police executed a search warrant on a couple of businesses on Capitol Hill in what the newspaper refers to as a "vice raid." This vice raid was apparently to break up a poker game, even though I though vice was limited to prostitution and patronizing a prostitute. But maybe not.

It is always a great feeling to help out a client, either getting them out of the jam they were involved in or getting them a slap on the wrist (if it is even remotely possible). Prostitution is simply engaging in sexual conduct with a person for a fee. Patronizing prostitution is: (1) under a prior agreement, paying a fee in return for engaging in sexual conduct; (2) pursuant to an understanding, paying or agreeing to pay for sexual conduct; or (3) asking someone or offering to engage in sexual conduct with someone for a fee.

These crimes, while misdemeanors, are far more damaging than most misdemeanors because of the moral implications carried with it. Often it isn't so much the cost of the fine or the amount of community service associated with a charge like this but the harm to reputation that occurs throughout the community.

For example, as a criminal attorney in Seattle I had the opportunity to help a guy out who was accused of soliciting a prostitute. He wasn't worried about anything except what other people would think of him if they found out or if he had to disclose this on a job application or other informational paper. Most times this charge can be negotiated down to disorderly conduct (so long as it isn't one in a long line of arrests for prostitution).

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