Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer

In my practice as a Massachusetts criminal lawyer, I concentrate my practice almost entirely on drunk driving & DUI defense. I also handle criminal charges relating to an OUI charge, such as if you were charged with Operating on a suspended License at the same time as an OUI, or even a simultaneous criminal charge like a drug possession charge when you were arrested for an OUI. Other cases I take relate to driving charges, hardship licenses, or registry hearing issues.

If you are facing an Operating Under the Influence charge in MA, please take all the time you need to educate yourself by reading all the information here at my OUI site. It is not uncommon to have other criminal charges included with an OUI arrest, such as:

Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Leaving the Scene of Property Damage
Negligent Operation
Reckless Driving / Driving to Endanger
Operating on a Suspended License
Operating an Unregistered Vehicle
Operating an Uninsured Vehicle
Possession of Alcohol (Minor)
Possession of Drugs
Failure to Stop for a Police Officer

If you've been charged with one of these criminal offenses associated with an OUI arrest, call me to discuss the specifics of your situation at (781)380-7730.

Many of these charges are Under Chapter 90, Section 24 of the General Laws Of Massachusetts governing motor vehicle use.

Should I Be Worried That I was also Charged With Negligent Operation, Reckless Driving, Driving to Endanger, or Other Criminal Charges along with my DUI?

In most cases, it isn't an issue. The OUI is the primary concern. Typically, the additional charge is not a big deal in a first offense case, and any penalty will be concurrent. It may cost you a little extra money, although I can sometimes get them dismissed. If we beat the case at trial, I can usually make the other charges go away, and if we decided to plead out, often the charges in most cases and additional sentencing of probation or license suspension is run concurrent (at the same time). In 2nd or 3rd offense cases, it gets a little trickier, but there are still a number of options we can employ.

I was also Busted for Possession of Marijuana/Class D Substance When they arrested me on the OUI Charge.

Under 1oz of marijjuana is decriminalizated, so a civil infraction is no cause for concern. I will deal with this when we take care of the OUI charge, but it is unlikely to cause you additional significant problems.

If they try to make a marginal possession charge into an actual criminal offense or a distribution charge, that is something we will have to address. It isn't always as bad as it sounds, but we will have to go over the facts in some detail to see if we can get the charge reduced or dropped.

What About Civil Moving Violations, Speeding, etc?

In addition, OUI stops also often involve civil charges, such as:

Speeding
Marked Lanes Violation
Failure to Stop
Open Container
and more...

I can often negotiate that these charges be dismissed in a plea negotiation, or after a not guilty. It may not seem like a big deal, but making these offenses go away can often save you thousands in fines and increased insurance costs. It's just a little something extra I try to do to help my clients out in every way I can.

Do You Handle Other Massachusetts Criminal Charges That Aren't DUI Related?

Yes, the attorneys in my office are experienced at fighting a wide range of criminal charges.

My associate or many years, Henry Fasoldt takes the lead on most other criminal offenses in my office. Please call my office at (781) 817-6332 to speak with Henry about a criminal charge in Massachusetts.

Attorney C. Henry Fasoldt
The Law Offices of Russell J. Matson, PC
44 Adams St, # 5
Braintree, MA 02184
(781) 817-6332

His Massachusetts Criminal Defense web site has a wealth of information on a wide variety of criminal defense matters, including crime info, possible penalties, defense strategies, and a host of other information. He has extensive experience, and a tremendous record of successfully defending all kinds of criminal charges, including, drug possession, shoplifting, assault, and most other criminal offenses.

We can also help with the most serious types of criminal charges, such as vehicular homicide.

As a top Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer, Attorney Fasoldt and I share a philosophy across our firm of:

Clear and Honest Communication with our Clients - we're always upfront with our opinions about your case, how we intent to defend you, and what you can expect - every step of the way.
Free Consultations, with no obligation. Get to know us before you decide to hire us, or anyone else.
A Tough, Relentless Criminal Defense: We tackle the state's case head-on, with defense motions to dismiss, motions to suppress evidence, and whatever legal maneuvering is needed to make sure justice, and fairness, and most of all, the rights of our clients, prevail.
Experience and Subject Matter Knowledge. A good criminal defense lawyer knows the criminal code backwards and forwards, knows many of the judges and DAs, and knows what to expect, so he is always prepared. An attorney who doesn't handle criminal defense all the time may not have the same depth of knowledge. Experience in real estate law isn't going to help you fight a drug possession charge. When hiring any lawyer, always ask about his or her direct experience in cases like yours.

Criminal defense and drunk driving defense is all we do at my law office.

If you've been arrested or summonsed to court on a criminal charge, you need a top Massachusetts criminal lawyer to protect your rights. Please contact us and take the time to review my associate Henry's Massachusetts criminal defense info site. If you are charged with the crime, it makes sense to take advantage of a free consultation.

I also know many lawyers in other states who can help with local license issues if you live out of state. I represent many clients who live in Rhode Island and Connecticut and are licensed in those states, so I can refer you to local attorneys to help you work out suspended license issues in RI, or get a Connecticut Work Permit Driver's License.

If you live in New Jersey, you may need a New Jersey Criminal Lawyer to help you with license reinstatement issues in NJ.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Frequently Asked Questions

I am a Massachusetts resident, but I was arrested in another state. Who do I need to represent me?

If you were arrested in a different state, you are subject to the laws and rules of that state, and need a lawyer who is a member of the bar in the court where you are being tried. This situation comes up often, especially with people who live near the state borders, and work or travel frequently across the state line, or if they happen to have a Massachusetts driver's license, and are worried about the implications of a driving related charge in another state.

Unfortunately, I can't be much help in these situations, which is why I frequently refer cases to attorney's in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.

If I have a driving related criminal charge in another state, will my Massachusetts License be affected?

Probably, but it depends. If you are convicted, and your driver's license is suspended as part of a plea or guilty finding by a court in another state, then that suspension almost certainly applies, and the Massachusetts Registry will be notified.

If it is an administrative penalty, such as a breath test refusal, or a cumulative civil penalty such as 3 moving violations in a year, or a habitual offender classification that is triggered by an offense out of state, than the answer is "it depends". Consult with your attorney. And also, make sure your contact information and address are current with the registry, since if they do suspend your license for any criminal, civil, or administrative charge, you will want to know about that right away, since driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense itself.

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With any criminal offense in any state, always know that there is help available if you have quality legal representation. You always have the presumption of innocence under the law, and if the state cannot prove the facts against you beyond a reasonable doubt, you must be found not guilty.

Sincerely,

Russell Matson, Attorney at Law
(781) 380-7730

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