Seattle Criminal Attorney | Don't Hit People with Golf Clubs

Although this isn't really a Seattle criminal law story, it is still pretty interesting, so I thought I'd write about it here on the Criminal Attorney in Seattle Blog. Not only does it provide a good lesson about keeping your cool, it also provides a good lesson about the consequences of your actions.

This story comes out of the Seattle Times and is about a golf game gone awry. I'm sure you remember this story, but about a year ago a couple of groups of golfers were busy golfing away in Auburn when one group, which was behind the other, complained to the marshals (the guys that roam the course making sure people are behaving and playing fast enough) that the people in front of them were playing way to slow. When the marshal asked the front group to pick up the pace they weren't too happy about it, and at some point confronted the golf group behind them.

Now, any normal person would have probably just said sorry we were playing so slow or yelled a little and acted tough, but not the guy that is the subject of the story. This guy decided to hit one of the guys in the back group in the head with his six iron. And he hit him so hard the guy fell to the ground, bloody and convulsing.

Now, I wasn't there, so I don't know exactly what happened, but I can't think of many situations where a golf club to the head is the answer. And the jury didn't either, finding the guy guilty of second-degree assault, a class B felony (which is serious business). And the judge didn't either, sentencing the guy to 21 months in prison. Not a way the guy probably thought his golf game would end that day.

As you can see, this isn't necessarily a post about Seattle DUI at all, but there are some important lessons here that can apply. First, keep your wits about you at all times. If you are going to drink a lot, don't drive - don't take the chance of getting in trouble and needing to call me for help. Second, think before you act. Although it may sound cool to drive as fast as you can or shoot that gap, as your potential criminal attorney it is going to be hard for me to explain that away. And finally, be a nice person (this doesn't apply to DUI law at all, it's just good common sense).

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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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