This week in Rhode Island, a Providence police officer’s DUI charge has been tossed out by a judge. The charges were originally filed on June 18, 2023, in East Greenwich, where the incident took place.
Upon being charged, the officer, Victor Tavarez, was placed on administrative leave. But now—just shy of two months later—the DUI charge has been dismissed and Tavarez is once again serving citizens as a respected member of the police department.
Winning this incredibly favorable outcome came down to the great advice and hard work of Tavarez’s Rhode Island DUI defense attorney, S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.
A Major Victory by Rhode Island DUI Attorney S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.
S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq., as an RI DUI defense lawyer who frequently defends law enforcement officials and their loved ones, was happy to take on Tavarez as a client and defend him in this case.
Because there’s absolutely nothing he hasn’t seen or defended over his long career, S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq. immediately knew the best approach for winning a favorable outcome.
According to East Greenwich police, on June 18, Tavarez drove his vehicle off the road, into a guardrail, and ultimately crashed into the woods found off the New London Turnpike. Police also stated that post-crash, Tavarez was slurring his words, stumbling, and continuously repeating that he was on paternity leave.
He was charged with a DUI and with refusing to take a chemical test after he refused the breathalyzer. His ongoing four-year career with the Providence Police Department wasn’t confirmed until some time after the arrest.
How Refusing the Breathalyzer Impacted Getting This Charge Dismissed
The truth is, whether to refuse the breathalyzer when you’re pulled over for a Rhode Island DUI can be a complex choice.
But thanks to S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.’s successful track record of defending thousands of clients facing a DUI, we can offer clear guidance on the matter—even when the client is a police officer himself.
Now, in the case of Tavarez, he refused the breathalyzer and was subsequently charged. But because S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq. is so experienced in defending Rhode Island DUI charges, this wasn’t the end of the road.
Tavarez was advised to defer entering a plea for the breathalyzer citation refusal and to plead ‘not guilty’ to the DUI charges, which were filed at the misdemeanor level.
From there, we were able to win a hardship license for Tavarez, which allowed him to drive to and from work for over a month—40 days, to be exact. This minimized the potentially severe impact on his life and well-being.
In the end, we negotiated to have Tavarez plead guilty to refusing the breathalyzer… but the DUI charge was dismissed entirely. Ultimately, his consequences were far from the devastating sentence many people face when charged with DUI.
Today, Tavarez has been reassigned to a foot post on the police force. He was also ordered to complete ten hours of community service, an alcohol reeducation program, and drive with an ignition interlock (or “blow-and-go”) device for just six months.
He can drive 24/7/365, anytime and anywhere he chooses. Plus, his record will be sealed by the start of October 2023, meaning this charge can no longer impact his life for years to come.
A 30-Year Career: Fighting to Get Your DUI Charges Dismissed or Expunged
S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq. didn’t win this case by chance. It’s all due to his 30 years of experience with the Rhode Island court system, his dedication to advocating on his clients’ behalf, and his intrinsic belief that good people make mistakes like anyone else.
His career started as a State Prosecutor with the RI Department of Attorney General, where he prosecuted hundreds of cases from 1993-1997. This gave him a bird’s eye view into exactly how law enforcement, police, and prosecutors build their criminal cases against each defendant.
This experience ran the full spectrum of the legal system—from misdemeanors to felonies, disorderly conduct to first-degree murders, he became intimately familiar with every minute detail of the Rhode Island justice system.
And this is a wealth of knowledge that many other attorneys just don’t have.
But you don’t have to take our word for it—spend some time reading through our hundreds of 5-star reviews. And keep in mind, judges and law enforcement officials often come to me for their criminal defense needs…
Just like officer Victor Tavarez.
Call Rhode Island DUI Defense Attorney Lawyer S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq. Now at (401) 861-1155
No matter your career or what walk of life you come from, as your Rhode Island DUI defense attorney, S. Joshua Macktaz, Esq.’s number one goal is getting your case dismissed and expunged so you can truly put all of this behind you.
If you or a loved one is facing a DUI charge—or looking to get a past DUI charge expunged—contact our law office right away at (401) 861-1155.
The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner you can start benefiting from having an experienced, dedicated RI DUI defense attorney in your corner.
