Criminal misdemeanors and DUI offenses

Experienced attorneys on your side

People accused of a criminal misdemeanor need an experienced attorney to defend them.   At Goss Gustavel Goss, PLLC, we are skilled at representing individuals in situations including driving under the influence (DUIs) and juvenile crimes.  We also represent victims of crimes including domestic violence.

Idaho misdemeanors

Under Idaho law, a misdemeanor is a less serious crime than a felony. Those convicted of misdemeanors generally receive one or more of the following sentences:

• Less than one year in prison
• Fines
• Suspension of driver’s license
• Court costs
• Community service
• Probation
• Restitution (cash paid to the victim for reimbursement)

Driving under the influence

A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in severe punishment, especially if you have had more than one conviction for this offense.  Fines, jail time, probation, suspension or restriction of your driver’s license and alcohol evaluation are possible.

Domestic assault and battery

Domestic assault and battery occur when one member of the household physically or emotionally abuses another.  It can occur between parents and children, husbands and wives, ex-spouses, roommates, or other people who are unrelated but live in the same household.

If you are the victim of domestic violence, we obtain a restraining order to prevent the offensive behavior from happening in the future.  A restraining order is signed by a judge and directs the batterer to stop the abusive activity immediately or be subject to legal punishment.  A judge can order any kind of restraint that is reasonable under the circumstances.  The order can be in effect for a few weeks or several years.  Restraining orders commonly forbid an individual from:

• Coming within a certain distance of another person
• Entering the family home
• Removing children from a geographic area
• Disposing of marital property

Juvenile Crimes

Under Idaho law, children under the age of 18 are processed under the Juvenile Corrections Act, although a judge may hold a hearing to decide that a child who is 14 or older should be treated as an adult.  A juvenile case may be disposed of by several alternatives:

• Dismissal after counseling by the judge or probation officer
• Dismissal after a required act—such as restitution—by the juvenile
• Counseling
• Psychological or psychiatric evaluation and treatment
• Probation served at home with court supervision
• Commitment to the Department of Juvenile Corrections
• Referral of the juvenile and family to a community agency
• Commitment to a mental hospital

Experienced attorneys striving for constructive resolutions

Contact Goss Gustavel Goss, PLLC at (208) 345-9974 to be represented by a firm that recognizes the emotional trauma involved in your personal and family legal issues.  We put our clients at ease until a resolution is found.