Celebrity DUI

Published on: June 16, 2014

Svetlana Dreyfuss, Actor Richard Dreyfuss’s Wife, Busted for Hit and Run DUI in Southern California

Richard Dreyfus’ drug DUI accident in 1982 transformed the actor’s life and outlook on sobriety. The then 34-year-old had become addicted to cocaine, when he lost consciousness behind the wheel and smashed badly into a tree.

Since then, Dreyfuss has been an aggressive voice in the Los Angeles community, advocating for sobriety and helping people who struggle with addiction. Unfortunately, his third wife, Svetlana, may need some of his counsel, after a July 2nd crash out in Encinitas. According to local authorities, Ms. Dreyfuss smashed her vehicle into a wooden fence, cutting through a high pressure waterline, and ran from the accident scene. Deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department caught up with her two miles away and arrested her on charges of driving under the influence and hit and run.

According to a TMZ report on the crash, Ms. Dreyfuss claimed to have only had a single glass of wine before betting behind the wheel. The District Attorney’s office has already taken the case.

What lessons can we learn, collectively, from this crisis?

First off — and this is something we’ve hit on, again and again, on this blog – many people who get into DUI trouble often compound their problems by behaving irrationally or dangerously AFTER they get stopped by police.

The fact that Ms. Dreyfuss fled the scene will likely lead to additional criminal charges, which could in turn lead to more jail time and more punishments. If you’re convicted of a hit and run felony offense, you could lose your license, face over a year behind bars, and find yourself subject to intense probation terms.

The second lesson is that dealing with addiction impulses is not a simple project.

Dreyfuss, for instance, devoted years of his life to thinking about addiction and trying to help other addicts. He almost certainly talked with his wife at length about his philosophy. But she still found herself arrested and in jail on DUI charges. What can this tell us? Harvard University psychiatrist, Dr. Lance Dodes, argues in his book, The Sober Truth, that the conventional wisdom on what causes and has the potential to treat addiction is greatly misguided.

Even the most prepared, vigilant people can still make mistakes and/or witness loved ones struggling.

No matter what happened to you, the Los Angeles DUI defense team at here at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers is here to answer your questions and provide a free and confidential consultation. Attorney Kraut is a respected former Los Angeles City prosecutor.
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Published on: May 14, 2014

Jett Adkinson, Daughter of Country Legend, Hank William Sr., Busted for DUI [Again]

by Michael Kraut

It’s a sad tale that we keep noticing here on this Los Angeles DUI blog — children and relatives of famous celebrities cause terrible harm to their reputation and future (and sometimes to other people) by making unwise choices regarding drinking and getting behind the wheel.

To wit, consider the recent arrest of 61-year-old Jett Adkinson, daughter of the famous country singer, Hank William Sr. Police arrested Adkinson last Friday, after witnesses noticed that she had been driving on the wrong side of the road. Police stopped Adkinson at around 10.30 PM, after she allegedly forced a red truck to swerve to avoid her on Leeville Pike and Hartmann Drive. She later told authorities that she had consumed “some wine” before getting into her vehicle. She allegedly exhibited signs of DUI, including odor of alcohol on her breath, and she failed her field sobriety tests.

Adkinson originally insisted that she had just been drinking diet coke and eating pizza.

This is Adkinson’s second DUI of the year. Police pulled the Nashville native over in February after witnesses saw her Jaguar weaving between lanes. Adkinson was born five days after her father died; she apparently had no idea about her legacy until the 1980s.

While Adkinson had insurance on her, many people stopped for DUI don’t have insurance – and don’t have up-to-date licenses, either. If you are stopped and charged per CVC code 23152(a) or 23152(b), you are not mandated to tell your insurance company about the DUI right away. If your attorney can dismiss the charges, you may not have to tell the insurance company at all.

However, IF the insurer does find out about the DUI, your rates could spike and cost you literally thousands of dollars over the next months/years. Your insurance company will examine your DMV record whenever assessing you for renewal. If a representative spots a DUI, your rates will probably go up. A carrier can also discover your DUI if/when you seek an SR-22 certificate, which is required by law to confirm that you meet the Golden State’s insurance requirements. You must request an SR-22, after your license suspension, if you want to drive again. At that point, the insurer will find out about the DUI, and your rates could go up.

For help understanding what to do to fight back against your charges, contact a Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer with Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. Mr. Kraut is an experienced former prosecutor (Senior Deputy District Attorney) who has helped people just like you prevail with their cases.

Published on: May 7, 2014

$100,000 Bail Set for Man Who Rammed Cars at Southern California DUI Checkpoint

by Michael Kraut

Authorities arrested 34-year-old Eric Paul Ivanoff for driving under the influence in Southern California, after he caused an awful accident last Friday evening in Orange County.

Police in the community of Cypress had set up a checkpoint, which had been operating for just 30 minutes, when Ivanoff’s vehicle smashed into several cars waiting in line. The force of the collision injured three people badly enough that they had to be hospitalized. (All were listed in stable condition, as of this posting).

But then Ivanoff made the situation worse – much worse – by hopping on his vehicle and fleeing the scene. Authorities found him shortly after and arrested him. Allegedly, he resisted arrest and even injured one of the officers who pursued him. Cypress Police reported that “three victims were transported to a local hospital, two of whom were transported to a trauma center with moderate injuries.”

After booking Ivanoff on charges of hit and run, DUI, resisting arrest, and resisting arrest with violence, authorities set his bail at $100,000.

Obviously, the whole story is scary and sad for many reasons. The situation illustrates, dramatically, how DUI defendants can make their situation much, much worse, even after getting caught or stopped by the police.

As Ivanoff approached the checkpoint, he might have been self-conscious. Perhaps he had consumed several drinks before getting behind the wheel. So he might have anticipated that police would have arrested him. Getting busted at a checkpoint is obviously no fun, and a misdemeanor DUI charge can lead to several days in jail, the loss of your California driver’s license, mandatory alcohol school, tough probation terms, spikes on your car insurance rates, and other indirect problems.

However, since he hit and hurt other people, he likely will now be charged per California Vehicle Code Section 23153 (the injury DUI law). This means that he could face over a year behind bars for each person he hurt while driving DUI.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, he (allegedly) got out of his car, fled the scene, and then attacked an officer. Each one of those mistakes, on its own, could complicate his defense tremendously. Hit and run is a serious crime, as is resisting arrest, as is resisting arrest and then hitting an officer.

Fortunately, no one died in the accident, but it holds important object lessons.

If you or someone you love faces complex Los Angeles DUI charges, call the effective and thorough legal team here at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers for a confidential case consultation.
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Published on: April 4, 2014

Superman Busted for DUI – Really!

by Michael Kraut

If you were busted for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, you may be feeling pretty ashamed and depressed. Don’t beat yourself up too much, though: even Superman occasionally gets a DUI.

Seriously.

Last week, 33-year-old Christopher Reeves of Utah (no relation to the actor Christopher Reeves who played the Man of Steel) was busted for drug DUI per the David Country Sheriff’s Office. In his mug shot, Reeves wore a Superman shirt.

Authorities charged him with possessing methamphetamines and DUI and set his bail at $15,000.00. A local deputy said he saw the 33-year-old erratically driving early on Tuesday morning, “performing weaving maneuvers, drawing the attention of deputies.” When police searched his car, they allegedly found massive amounts of methamphetamines, as well as drug paraphernalia and Spice – a synthetic kind of marijuana.

The local Sheriff’s Office wryly commented “I hope he will live not to regret the choice of T-shirt on this day, but rather his actions.” Reportedly, the paraphernalia and the amount of drugs found in his car was “plenty to distribute around” – and indicated that Reeves could face distribution and intent to sell charges, which would make his criminal situation far more dire and complicated.

His arrest raises an important issue that needs to be discussed – the distinction between over-the-counter meds and illegal narcotics, such as meth, LSD, cocaine, etc. You might think the law would classify these drugs differently, from a DUI standpoint. If you’re high on over-the-counter vicodin or Benadryl while behind the wheel, that doesn’t seem “as bad” as being high from pot or cocaine.

However, California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) doesn’t really care about what got you high — it just cares if you ARE high. And if you are, it’s a criminal offense: the statute does not distinguish between street drugs and legally prescribed medicines. The statute only cares about the level of impairment. It concerns itself with the end result: did you take a substance (alcohol, drugs, other) that made you a dangerous driver?

So how can you fight back against such charges?

Law enforcement does not have the equivalent of a breathalyzer to test for drugs like prescription meds or marijuana. Prosecutors rely on the expertise of Drug Recognition Experts (DRE), who use field tests and other methods to identify potentially drug impaired drivers. Authorities also use blood and urine tests.

If you or someone you love needs to find a Los Angeles DUI defense attorney, call Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today. Mr. Kraut is a former Deputy District Attorney (ex-prosecutor), and he has tremendous experience defending complex DUI cases. He can help you create a smart and astute defense to your charges.
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Published on: April 1, 2014

New Book Challenges Validity of Los Angeles DUI Treatment Methods

by Michael Kraut

If you’re arrested and convicted for driving under the influence in Los Angeles, you can face a gallery of potential punishments, including but not limited to:

•   DUI alcohol school;
•   Fines and fees;
•   Jail time;
•   Mandatory driver’s license suspension;
•   Mandatory installation of IID device in your car (which prevents you from driving unless you blow a “non-alcoholic breath” into a machine);
•   Harsh probation terms.

A standard remedy in DUI cases is rehab. The court can mandate that you enter rehabilitation to “get sober” and stop being a danger to the society.

12-step programs are ubiquitous in California. But they are surprisingly far less effective than the conventional wisdom would have you believe, at least according to Harvard University psychiatrist, Dr. Lance Dodes, author of the controversial but compelling new book, The Sober Truth.

Dr. Dodes (who co-wrote the book with his son, Zachary) argues that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a success rate of only 5% to 10%. Astonishingly, most rehab facilities do not keep track of recidivism rates beyond a year.

The Dodeses provide compelling research that suggests that 12-step approach just doesn’t work for 90% of the people who enter the program. Nevertheless, AA remains the “standard candle” — the default treatment for alcoholism in our society. The Dodeses argue that other treatment methods have had far higher success rates — yet public health authorities don’t seem to care.

In fact, even though AA does work for 5-10% of people, 5-10% of alcoholics will spontaneously get better without ANY intervention. In other words, at least statistically speaking, AA treatment appears to be the equivalent of no treatment at all.

Dr. Dodes offers his own pet theory about what really causes addiction, which he details in another book, The Heart of Addiction. His central thesis is that addiction is a kind of compulsion – it’s not a “brain disease” caused by malfunctioning dopamine signaling, as some conventional experts suggest, but rather a psychological phenomenon.

To illustrate his point, Dr. Dodes points out that addicts often “feel better” the moment they make the decision to drink – NOT when the alcohol actually touches their lips. This evidence suggests that psychology is key to the process.

He also points out that, during the 1960s, many U.S. service personnel stationed in Vietnam became addicted to heroin – one of the most physically addicting drugs on Earth. When these soldiers returned from war, most quit heroin easily. Most “domestic” heroin addicts, by contrast, had (and still have) a horrible recidivism rate. Dr. Dodes suggests that this evidence again shows that the problem in alcoholism is fundamentally psychological: soldiers in Vietnam used the heroin to stave off feelings of helplessness caused by the fighting. Once they returned to a normal environment — no more fighting — they felt back in control of their lives and found that they could quit easily. The stimulus causing helplessness was no longer there.

Dr. Dodes’s research and thinking is obviously very stimulating. But if you have been arrested for Los Angeles DUI, you have more serious, practical considerations than understanding the nature of addiction. To that end, consider calling former Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers today for a free consultation about your case.
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Published on: March 19, 2014

Jim Irsay, Owner of Indianapolis Colts, Faces Four Felony Counts After DUI

by Michael Kraut

The annals of Los Angeles DUI history are replete with stories of famous politicians, business owners, celebrities, and athletes busted for driving under the influence in sordid situations. This alone should debunk the myth that only incompetent or irresponsible people get busted for this crime.

Add another iron to that fire: Jim Irsay, the owner of Indianapolis Colts, found himself in handcuffs on Sunday night in Carmel, Indiana, facing four felony counts. Authorities say that the 50-year-old football club owner had been driving at a very slow rate of speed. He stopped in the middle of the roadway and failed to turn. A Police Department spokesperson, Lieutenant Joe Bickel, said that “during the course of the investigation, Irsay subsequently failed several roadside field sobriety tests … [and then police found] multiple prescription drugs … and pill bottles” in his vehicle.

Irsay made his bail bond of $22,500 and got released at 1:30 PM on Monday. He publicly admitted to battling a prescription addiction in the past. In a statement he made back in 2002, he said “after several years of orthopedic operations and procedures, accompanied by long bouts of chronic pain, I became dependent on prescription pain medications … this summer I sought professional help at a nationally recognized facility located outside Indiana. I have successfully dealt with my dependence and my chronic pain issues.”

If convicted of his felony charges, Irsay will face punishments like jail time, the loss of his license, mandatory alcohol classes, and major fines and fees… as well as disciplinary action from the National Football League.

The Colts released a statement about the arrest: “the team will issue additional statements when facts are sorted, and we are aware of the next steps to this process … the club continues to fully support Mr. Irsay but must refrain from commenting further at least until formal charges have been filed. A hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday, March 26.”

In 2010, Tom Lewand, the President of the Detroit Lions, paid a $100,000 fine to the League and faced a 30-day suspension after he pled guilty to driving under the influence.

Irsay recently separated from his wife of 33 years – Meg Irsay – in November 2013. Sometimes traumatic life events, like a new divorce, can lead to addictive behavior and to drug DUIs.

In Southern California, if you’re arrested for a similar crime, you’ll face charges per California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a), which makes it a crime to drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs and illegal narcotics as well as prescription or OTC pain meds.

Of course, there are no breath tests that can be used in cases like this – instead, a police officer will administer a blood or urine test, if you are suspected of being under the influence of drugs. Your performance on field sobriety tests and the officer’s judgment of your sobriety can also play a role in determining your guilt. For help defending a Los Angeles DUI drug case, call Michael Kraut at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers immediately. Mr. Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated ex-prosecutor, and he regularly consults with major media (e.g. KTLA, the New York Times, Good Morning America, etc) about big DUI news events.
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Published on: February 26, 2014

Actress Amanda Bynes Wins Big Victory in Her Los Angeles DUI Case

by Michael Kraut

In 2012, Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested for misdemeanor DUI in Los Angeles – the event prompted a slew of tabloid rumors and an onslaught of media coverage.

Law enforcement alleged that, in April 2012, Bynes tried to pass a police vehicle in her black BMW at around 3:00 a.m. She clipped the right rear panel of the cop car. Unsurprisingly, the police tried to pull her over – but she fled the scene. The police eventually caught up with her, arrested her, and set her bail at $5,000. In response, she begged for help from the President on Twitter (always a highly successful strategy), writing: “Hey@BarakObama… I don’t drink. Please fire the cop who arrested me. I also don’t hit and run.”

Prosecutors charged her with a single count of misdemeanor DUI, and the District Attorney asked for a sentencing enhancement because the actress refused a blood test or breathalyzer test. A conviction could have netted her a maximum sentence of six months behind bars.

But Bynes just resolved her case by pleading no contest to a charge of “wet reckless” – a similar but much less severe charge than DUI. Bynes will need to pay fines, complete a three month alcohol education course and serve probation for three years.

Even before her DUI, Bynes had a fractious relationship with the Los Angeles police. A few weeks prior to her April 2012 stop in West Hollywood, police stopped the actress for chatting on her cell phone while driving. While an officer wrote up her ticket, Bynes hit the gas and fled the scene before the cop could give her the ticket. (Later on, she went to the police station and paid the ticket.)

What lessons can we learn from Bynes’ torturous progression through the Los Angeles legal system?

Perhaps the most salient lesson is this: prosecutors CAN ask for enhanced sentencing, if you refuse a breath test or blood test. Even though Bynes plead no contest and escaped serving serious jail time, this doesn’t always happen. Prosecutors can really go after you, if you refused your breath or blood test. For instance, your license suspension could be extended substantially, and you could face extra jail time.

To manage your charges, get in touch with an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorney at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers immediately for a confidential and free consultation. Mr. Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated attorney who also served as a senior level district attorney. He has a deep knowledge of the prosecutorial mindset and playbook, and he can help defendants develop articulate, precise strategies.
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