Man Re-Arrested On DUI Charges

We are learning that a man who was arrested on felony DUI charges after a New Year’s Day crash has been rearrested. Melvin Branch, 30, was arrested on suspicion of DUI but released when the District Attorney’s Office said they did not have enough evidence against him to pursue charges.

However, they now say they have received additional information from the California Highway Patrol that, they say, gives them enough evidence. He has now been charged with multiple felonies, including DUI and manslaughter. He has pled not guilty.

The incident in question happened when Branch was involved in a crash that killed a mother and daughter, 33-year-old Jolene Gardner Castillo and 9-year-old Payton.

While we await the exact circumstances of this investigation and case, at Okabe & Haushalter, we know that anyone many people face DUI charges on a daily basis. If you have been charged with DUI or a similar driving offense, you need to secure a qualified and experienced attorney immediately. When you need a Los Angeles DUI defense attorney, contact us today.

You Can Build A Defense

DUI charges carry serious penalties if you are found guilty. You could be facing up to $1,000 in fines, possible jail time, probation time, and a suspension of your license. And that is just for a first-time offender. Subsequent offenses become much harsher and often involve the placement of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.

If anyone was injured and they suspect that you caused it because of intoxication, you will be facing possible felony DUI charges that carry penalties of prison time of months to years.

When you are facing DUI charges, you need an attorney who understands and will examine all aspects of your arrest, from the reason for the stop and the test performed in the field to breathalyzer and blood analysis.

• If you refuse a breathalyzer you can, and likely will be, arrested, even if you are not over the legal limit. This will also result in a suspension of your license.
• Did you know that there are only three recognized Standard Field Sobriety Tests and that even sober people have a hard time completing them? The police know this and yet still base many of their arrests off of their results.
• Did you know that there are calibration standards for all breathalyzer analysis machines and that they must be recalibrated regularly?

What You Can Do

We know that it may seem like there is no way out if you have been charged with DUI, but there is. By securing a knowledgeable and experienced attorney, you can ensure that you will be treated fairly. At Okabe & Haushalter, our goal is to reduce the charges you are facing or get them thrown out altogether. We believe in justice and that means that both sides in a case have fair representation. When you need a Los Angeles DUI defense attorney, you can contact us today by clicking here or calling 310-543-7708 for a free consultation.