On Friday the 13th, 62-year-old Rick J. Fancher of Big Sky, Montana was arrested and charged with a third DUI offense after attempting to bail his wife, who was incarcerated for DUI, out of jail. Authorities say that Fancher showed up at the jail in a drunken state in an effort to have 44-year-old Stacey Jo Fancher released from jail.
Stacey Fancher was pulled over on Thursday evening after meeting a Gallatin County sheriff’s deputy on the road and failing to dim her lights. Her husband was with her at the time. Upon submitting to a preliminary breath test, it was found that Stacey’s BAC was .201, more than twice the legal limit of .08%. She was charged with aggravated DUI.
Three hours later, Rick Fancher left the jail after a failed attempt to bail out his wife. He had provided a breath sample at the jail, which indicated his blood alcohol concentration was 0.178%. The same deputy who had arrested his wife just hours earlier arrested Fancher after pulling him over on West Babcock Street. The deputy recognized Fancher from the previous incident. Fancher told the deputy that before his wife was arrested, he had consumed about three to four shots of bourbon and nine beers.
In Michigan, a third DUI offense is charged as a felony. This means that those convicted will face far more serious punishment than individuals who are charged with a first or second (misdemeanor) DUI. While all drunken driving charges should be taken very seriously, a third offense leaves the defendant facing up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000, community service, driver’s license revocation for a minimum of five years and possibly life, and more.
It is critical that you consult with an experienced Michigan DUI defense attorney when arrested or charged with any drunken driving offense. Your lawyer will investigate your case and help determine the legal options and approach that will result in the best possible outcome.