Franklin County Criminal Defense & OVI Attorney

Jwayyed Law LLC serves all of Franklin County — including Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville, Upper Arlington, Bexley, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Whitehall, Worthington, Canal Winchester, Groveport, Pickerington, New Albany, Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, and Obetz. We appear at Franklin County Municipal Court, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, and all active mayor's courts throughout the county.

Our Franklin County practice covers: OVI/DUI defense (first through felony OVI, high-tier, refusal, CDL, underage, and marijuana OVI); criminal misdemeanor defense (theft, domestic violence, assault, drug possession, disorderly conduct, open container, expungement); personal injury (car accidents, premises liability, wrongful death); business formation and disputes; civil litigation; and estate planning and probate. Call (614) 285-5482 to discuss your matter.

After an OVI arrest anywhere in Franklin County, the arresting officer issues an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) under ORC 4511.191. You have only 30 days from the date of the ALS to appeal it at Franklin County Municipal Court. Missing this deadline permanently waives your right to contest the suspension — even if the underlying OVI charge is later dismissed or reduced. Contact our office immediately after an OVI arrest to protect this deadline.

Active mayor's courts in Franklin County include: Bexley, Canal Winchester, Dublin, Grove City, Groveport, Hilliard, New Albany, Obetz, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, and Worthington. Mayor's courts handle minor misdemeanor and traffic charges arising within the municipality. First-degree misdemeanor and OVI charges may be arraigned in mayor's court but typically transfer to Franklin County Municipal Court for further proceedings. Our firm appears regularly in all Franklin County mayor's courts.

Many Franklin County misdemeanor convictions are eligible for record sealing (commonly called expungement) under ORC 2953.32. The waiting period is generally one year after final discharge. Permanently ineligible offenses include OVI convictions, most traffic offenses, first- or second-degree offenses of violence, and sexually oriented offenses. If an OVI was reduced to reckless operation by plea agreement, the reckless operation conviction may qualify. Our firm evaluates eligibility and files sealing applications in Franklin County Municipal Court.

We obtain all available evidence before evaluating any plea offer — police reports, dashcam and bodycam footage, dispatch logs, lab results, and witness statements. We identify constitutional issues (unlawful stops, improper field sobriety testing, Miranda violations), understand the local practices of each Franklin County municipality's prosecutor, and know the tendencies of each mayor's court magistrate. Early, informed advocacy often means the difference between a conviction and a dismissal, reduction, or diversion program that avoids a permanent record.