Criminal Defense

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Northeast Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyer Matthew C. Bangerter, Esq.

Criminal charges can result in serious and lifelong consequences, putting your freedom and future at risk. Accordingly, it is important to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney like Matthew C. Bangerter, ESQ. in order to learn your legal options and to protect your legal rights.

It’s not hard for the criminal defense system in Northeast Ohio to become confusing, and with so much on the line, you deserve to work with someone you can trust to represent you well. Any charge you face, big or small, causes stress to you, your friends and your family, but it’s important to know that you don’t have to go through this alone. Choose to work with an attorney who will fight for your rights. Matthew Bangerter is a respected and experienced attorney in Northeast Ohio, and he is dedicated to helping clients receive fair and just trials.

Matthew Bangerter has handled hundreds of serious cases in Ohio and understands forensic evidence. This knowledge, along with key experience in law and procedure, helps him understand cases and present the best possible defense.

Forensic evidence is incredibly important in criminal cases, and Matthew Bangerter’s scientific background gives him an edge when evaluating forensic evidence involved in a criminal case. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in biology and studied molecular genetics and computer science in graduate school. He is one of very few criminals defense attorneys who has actually cloned his own DNA in a lab, so he is well-versed in the scientific evidence involved in various criminals cases.

As a former Assistant Prosecutor in Lake County, Ohio, Matthew Bangerter has experience on both sides of the courtroom. He is also a member of the Ohio Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the Board of Directors of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Matthew Bangerter takes his profession as a Northeast Ohio criminal defense lawyer seriously and ensures that he is up to date with the latest case law and trial strategies.

Get The Legal Help You Need From An Experienced Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyer

As a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney, Matthew Bangerter understands the importance of a close examination of the evidence and circumstances surrounding your charge. He will closely examine the circumstances surrounding your charges to determine whether everything was handled in the correct manner.

Discussing criminal allegations can be difficult, but Matthew Bangerter handles every consultation and case without judgment. If you are facing criminal charges, don’t hesitate, contact Matthew Bangerter for a consultation today or call (440) 306-3205 to start planning your defense.

Why choose bangerterlaw?

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The Bangerter Law Office
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  • Case Evaluation – Tell Us What Happened & See If You Have A Case And What It Might Be Worth. We Do Consultations By Phone And Virtually.

  • Highly Reviewed & Rated – Over 100 Google Reviews. 10.0/10.0 With 5-Star Rating On Respected Legal Website Avvo.

  • Highly Responsive – We Pride Ourselves In Fast Response Times When Communicating With Our Clients. We Will Never Let Your Questions Or Concerns Go Unaddressed.

  • Efficient – Our Approach Focuses On Efficiency And Speed To Resolve Cases As Quickly As We Can To Get You Your Money Faster. No Case Is Too Difficult Or Complex – This Is Where Tenacity And Knowledge Of The Law Matters. We Do What Is Necessary Even In Difficult Cases.

  • Straight Shooters – You’ve Made An Important Decision In Your Life. We Respect You For That. Our Approach Focuses On Efficiency And Speed To Resolve Cases As Quickly As We Can To Get Your Life Back To Normal Sooner.

  • Caring & Compassionate (Truly) – We’re Sorry For What Happened To You Or Your Loved One. Our Team Is Incredibly Experienced, And They Truly Understand The Complications That Personal Injury Can Bring Upon A Family.

  • Personalized Attention – We Understand And Respect That Every Client’s Needs Are Unique. We Treat All Of Our Clients With The Attention They Deserve.

  • We Keep You Updated – Transparency Is Key. We Want You To Know What’s Happening With Your Case At All Points In The Process.

  • Flexible Meeting Times – To Accommodate Your Busy Schedule.

  • Atlanta & All Georgia – Our Office Is In Atlanta But We Accept Cases Everywhere In Georgia.

  • 2nd Opinions Available – Already Have A Lawyer? Let Us Provide You A 2nd Opinion On Your Case.

  • Available 24/7 – We Answer The Phone Literally 24 Hours A Day 7 Days A Week. You May Also Contact Us By The Form On This Page.

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What Should Someone Do After They Are Arrested For Dui/ovi In Ohio?

Just like in a criminal case, people like to try to help themselves by trying to talk to the police. They will say, for example, “I only had a couple” or “I didn’t drink that many”, but what happens then is that statement “I only had a couple” comes into trial is they admitted to drinking.

It gets subtly shifted and it ends up hurting them. The best thing to do, just like in a criminal case, is just not make any statements without talking to an attorney.

Pleading Guilty Is Not The Best Approach Because You Always Want To Take The Chance To Try To Get A Better Resolution. There Are Many Cases Where You Can Work Out A Reduced Charge, Or Some Lower Punishment.

One Common Resolution To A Case, If It Is A First DUI With No Prior Criminal History, An Attorney Can Have It Reduced To Reckless Operation Or Called A Physical Control Which Is Being In Physical Control Of The Vehicle Under The Influence But Not Actually Driving Which Is No Points On Your License. It Is Not A Moving Violation And It Does Not Affect Insurance The Same Way. It Has A Much Better Result Than A Straight OVI. So You Always Want To At Least Take A Chance To Pursue Those Opportunities.

How Can An Attorney Help In Defending A DUI/OVI Case In Ohio?

The most common one is successive OVIs. Every OVI a person gets is added onto the last one. There is enhanced penalties for multiple OVIs within six years, also multiple OVIs within twenty years and at some point there are enhanced penalties for getting several OVIs in your lifetime.

They get more and more serious under the law, and even with an individual judge if you see that you are getting more OVIs, he is likely to give you a stiffer sentence than the minimum required by law.

Yes they can. There are a couple of basic ovis, one is for having a blood alcohol level below 0.08 or 0.17 and that is determined by a chemical test. If an officer believes that the person is impaired even without that reading, he can charge them with an ovi even if they blew a 0.06 or 0.05 just because he says they are impaired, even though that is a lower limit.

As mentioned earlier, alcohol affects everybody differently, some people may have a low level and feel it more, and some people may have a high level and think that they’re fine. So yes, there are spots where they will get an ovi with less than 0.08.

Do I have a case?

The most common method for testing BAC is a breathalyzer machine, many of which pose significant reliability problems. As an Ohio DUI defense attorney, Matthew Bangerter handles all matters related to the defense of your drunk driving charge, including challenging the reliability of breathalyzer equipment used, appearing in criminal court as your advocate, and negotiating with the prosecution to obtain a reduced sentence. As a skilled Ohio DUI attorney, Matthew Bangerter understands the Ohio drunk driving laws and he will strive to obtain a dismissal or reduction of charges against you, as well as the minimum available penalty. He understands that maintaining your driving privileges is of the utmost importance so he will seek to minimize or avoid any suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.

Ohio DUI Penalties

Ohio has some of the strictest penalties for DUI/OVI in the country. Penalties for DUI/OVI can be severe, even for a first offense. If convicted, you could face license suspension, hefty fines, vehicle disablement, required OVI offender license plates, ignition interlock, and mandatory jail time. If you test over the legal limit or fail to submit to a breath alcohol test you face a mandatory minimum Administrative License Suspension (ALS) unless you correctly appeal the suspension.

Aside from court-mandated penalties, your insurance premiums will likely increase and drunk driving charges can do significant harm to your reputation. Court-imposed driving limitations may also impact your ability to get to and from work as well.

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Matthew C.Bangerter

4124 Erie Street Willoughby, OH 44094

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