Whether a person has a criminal record or not can be very important. A criminal record can make it difficult for a person to find stable employment or good housing. In some cases, a criminal record can preclude a person from voting or from owning a firearm. These restrictions can keep people from living the life that they want. In addition to these challenges, a criminal record can result in more serious criminal charges and more severe penalties if someone is charged with another crime in the future.
In a recent Oregon case, a man has with an extensive criminal record has been charged with a new felony. His previous felonies could now affect his sentencing if he is found guilty in this new case.
In this case, police say that the man a Ford F-150 on Interstate 5 when he rear ended another smaller car and hit a third vehicle. As a result of this collision, the driver of the smaller car died. I-5 also had to be shut down for several hours following the accident.
Police have since charged the man with a felony, aggravated driving while suspended. According to court records, the man has since 1995 been convicted of four DUIIs. The most recent DUII was in 2008. In addition to the drunk driving charges, he has also been convicted of driving while suspended, and driving with a revoked license -- twice. One of the revoked charges was a class C felony.
This man's criminal record will likely be used by prosecutors to show that this man should be subject to serious penalties. When people are accused of felonies they should always prepare an aggressive criminal defense in order to avoid a criminal record. Avoiding a criminal record can be crucial for people's future.
Source: KGW, "Driver in deadly I-5 crash faces felony charge," Aug. 13, 2013
