CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FOCUSED ON YOU
Our Idaho Falls Criminal Attorneys Specialize In The Following Areas
DUI
Felonies
Misdemeanor
Juvenile
White-Collar
Our experience has extended to everything from the prosecution and defense of homicides to traffic tickets and everything in between.
Paul Ziel and Alan Johnston are members of CJA (Criminal Justice Act), meant to handle only the most serious criminal cases in the Federal Courts.
Mr. Ziel and Mr. Johnston have handled criminal cases that have gone through the extensive appeals process, going as high as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
DUI Defense
- DUIs are charged for operating a motor vehicle while having a blood content (BAC) of .08 or higher, or operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, a combination of alcohol and drugs, or any other intoxicating substance.
- If under the influence while operating a commercial vehicle, a person can be charged if his or her BAC is .04 or higher.
- If a person is under 21 years of age, he or she can be charged with DUI if his or her BAC is .02 or higher.
- BAC of .20 or higher can result in an excessive DUI.
- If a person has three DUI driving charges within the past ten years, or two excessive DUI charges, he or she can be charged with a felony.
- If a person causes a crash due to driving while under the influence, he or she may be charged with a felony depending on the circumstances.
- If a person refuses to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test when a law enforcement officer suspects him or her of driving under the influence, his or her driver’s license may be suspended for up to one year.
- If a person agrees to submit to BAC testing and his or her level is over the legal limit, his or her license will be suspended for 90 days.
Summary of DUI charges
- A person who has been charged with DUI for the first time or charged for the first time in more than 10 years after having been convicted. The general penalties and consequences include the following:
- Maximum of six months in jail
- Maximum of $1,000.00 fine
- Driver’s license suspension of up to six months
- SR-22 high-risk insurance
- Up to two years of probation, which often includes taking drug and / or alcohol evaluations and following the recommendations of those evaluations and community service
- A person who has been charged with DUI for the second time within a 10-year period. The general penalties and consequences include the following:
- Maximum of 12 months in jail with a minimum of 10 days, and 48 hours of the 10 days must be consecutive
Maximum of $2,000.00 fine - Mandatory driver’s license suspension of one year
SR-22 high-risk insurance - Maximum of two years of probation, which often includes taking drug and / or alcohol evaluations and following the recommendations of those evaluations.
- Maximum of 12 months in jail with a minimum of 10 days, and 48 hours of the 10 days must be consecutive
- Maximum of $2,000.00 fine
- Mandatory driver’s license suspension of one year
- SR-22 high-risk insurance
- Maximum of two years of probation, which often includes taking drug and / or alcohol evaluations and following the recommendations of those evaluations
- Maximum of 10 years in prison
- Minimum of 30 days in jail with the first 48 hours being consecutive
- $5,000.00 fine
- Mandatory one-year driver’s license suspension with no exceptions for things such as work privileges
- Mandatory SR-22 high-risk insurance and probation of up to 10 years, which often includes drug court
What To Expect With MZJ
FELONY
- 5 Years as a Deputy Prosecutor Handling a Wide Variety of Felonies.
- Over 2 Years Clerking for Judges, Handling Several Criminal Matters.
- Members of CJA (Criminal Justice Act), Who Are Assigned Significant Federal Criminal Cases to Handle.
- Experience Defending Felonies Ranging From Burglary, to Drug Possession, and Much More.
MISDEMEANOR
- We counsel with you regarding your options and the risks and rewards of each course of action.
- We carefully review all of the prosecuting attorney’s materials, including police reports, video and audio recordings, and physical evidence.
- Upon completing a full review, we analyze your case for possible constitutional violations and aggressively fight to get evidence excluded if your constitutional rights were violated.
- In cases where it is appropriate to have trial, we work tirelessly to ensure that we give you the best possible chance of acquittal.
- In cases where it is appropriate to make plea agreements, we work hard to mitigate your consequences.
JUVENILE DEFENSE
Juvenile defense is a unique area of law in Idaho, and a child charged with a juvenile offense should be represented by someone who is well-versed in Idaho’s juvenile system.
Mr. Ziel has prosecuted juvenile cases for over three years.
