Criminal Cases And OVI / DUI Cases In The Bellefontaine Municipal Court
The Dominy Law Firm represents clients in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court for DUI / OVI charges. By doing so, we have obtained information about that court, and we designed this page to share that information.
When you are charged with DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio) or a criminal offense, it is beneficial to learn as much you can about the court where your case is being held before your first court appearance. For those who will be appearing in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court for a DUI / OVI case or a criminal case, the information on this page should help you understand what to expect when you go to court in Bellefontaine.
Contact Information for Bellefontaine Municipal Court
Address: 226 West Columbus Avenue, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937) 599-6120
Website: Bellefontaine Municipal Court
Types of Cases in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court
This court has jurisdiction for misdemeanor crimes and traffic offenses. The cases come from all the municipalities in Logan County: Bellefontaine, Huntsville, Indian Lake, Russells Point, West Liberty, and West Mansfield.
In addition to learning about the court where your case is being held, it is also beneficial to learn about the offense(s) with which you are charged. You will want to know what the prosecution must prove, the possible sentence, and the potential defenses. Those topics are discussed on other pages in this website.
You may also benefit from the representation of a good criminal defense lawyer. If you are charged with DUI/OVI in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court, the Dominy Law Firm can help. Our firm focuses on DUI/OVI defense, and our lawyers have developed expertise in this area.
More Information About The Bellefontaine Municipal Court
The court hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The court has one judge, who is elected by the voters of Logan County for a six-year term. The Bellefontaine City Law Director’s Office has the responsibility for prosecuting the cases in this court, and the cases are typically handled by an assistant prosecutor. For more information about the Bellefontaine Municipal Court, please see the court’s website (linked above). It is has a database for case information, an online payment platform, and a downloadable PDF of the court’s rules.
Court Appearances
There are parking spaces directly in front of the court building, and there is additional public parking across the street. When you go inside the building, you will go through a metal detector. There is one courtroom, which is essentially straight-ahead after you go through the metal detector, and there is a waiting area outside the courtroom. You should dress appropriately and arrive a few minutes before the scheduled time of your court appearance.
At your first court appearance, the arraignment, the judge will inform you of the charges against you, the possible penalties, and the rights you have. You will then be given the options of pleading Guilty, No Contest or Not Guilty. If you plead Guilty or No Contest, you will likely be sentenced the same day.
If you plead not guilty, the court will give you a date and a time for your next court appearance. If your case can result in a jail term, the next court appearance will likely be a scheduling conference. At the scheduling conference, you or your lawyer will talk with the prosecuting attorney and negotiate toward an agreed resolution. If an agreement is reached, the case is scheduled for a plea hearing. If an agreement is not reached, the case is scheduled for a trial. If you are found guilty or plead guilty to some offense, the judge will hold a sentence hearing, typically the same day, and impose the sentence.
Attorneys For Cases In The Bellefontaine Municipal Court
Before you choose an attorney, you should make sure the attorney has the qualifications to help with your particular case. The attorneys at the Dominy Law Firm are highly qualified in DUI/OVI defense. They wrote and edited the Ohio DUI/OVI Guide, which you can buy online or download for free here, and they have represented hundreds of clients for DUI/OVI in Ohio. They have likely handled a case like yours, and they practice in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court. The Dominy Law Firm limits the number of clients we represent so we can give each one personal service. To contact us for a free phone consultation about your DUI/OVI case in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court, you can either fill out a CONTACT FORM or call us at 614-717-1177.