Gold Medal Winner Charged with DUI

Steve Holcomb, the pilot of the gold medal-winning United States bobsledding team, is set to attend a pretrial hearing on December 7th following an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) last year.  Local law enforcement officers in near Park City, Utah pulled Holcomb over for a traffic violation October 22, 2009, several months before he and his teammates competed in the Vancouver Olympics and won the first gold medal in the four-man bobsled event for the United States since 1948.  At the time of his arrest, Holcomb was given a field sobriety test, which he reportedly failed.  After being arrested on suspicion of DUI, Holcomb was taken to Summit County jail and given a breath test to measure his blood alcohol content, allegedly registering 0.19%, more than twice Utah's legal limit of 0.08%.  No word has been given as to the start date of Holcomb's actual trial.

Drinking and driving is a dangerous decision, and, unfortunately, one that even Olympic athletes are capable of from time to time.  As any Los Angeles DUI defense attorney can tell you, being arrested for DUI can be an intimidating and even frightening experience for many people since they otherwise would have no dealings with law enforcement agents or the criminal justice system.  But people can and do develop criminal records because of their decisions to drink and drive, particularly if another person was injured as a result.  The  Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP know that each case is different, but for many first-time DUI offenders, a conviction may likely result in a brief suspension of their driving privileges, fines, court-ordered alcohol education classes and community service.  Factors such as an especially high blood alcohol content or driving with a child under the age of 14 may garner harsher punishments.  Causing injury or significant property damage to another person may land you in either a Los Angeles County jail or California state prison and put a felony criminal conviction on your criminal record if you are found guilty. 

If you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, finding an experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles DUI defense attorney is the most important thing you can do to protect your future.  Call the  Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today at 1-877-781-1570 to find out what your options are and get the advice you need in this difficult situation.