Xenia OVI / DUI Attorney

Charles M. Rowland II would like to be your Xenia OVI attorney, and few attorneys know this court the way he does. He began his legal career in Xenia in 1995 at the firm of Cox & Keller, and in 1999 he served as the acting Xenia City Prosecutor, managing all of the city’s civil and criminal prosecutions — including DUI cases. He has also served as a special prosecutor for the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and in the Greene County Court of Common Pleas. Charles maintained his office in Xenia, the Greene County seat, for over ten years, was the contributing attorney to the Xenia Gazette’s “Ask an Attorney” column, and is a lifelong resident of Greene County. Call (937) 318-1384 for a free consultation, 24/7.

Twice a year, Charles helps the Greene County Police Academy by conducting mock “motions to suppress” — training the same officers who investigate these cases. He dedicates his practice exclusively to OVI/DUI defense.

The Xenia Municipal Court and Your OVI Case

The Xenia Municipal Court has jurisdiction over OVI/DUI cases arising in the cities of Xenia and Bellbrook; the villages of Yellow Springs, Cedarville, Jamestown, Spring Valley, and Bowersville; and the townships of Sugarcreek, Xenia, Cedarville, New Jasper, Silvercreek, Caesarcreek, Miami, Jefferson, Ross, and Spring Valley. The court’s jurisdiction also includes four college campuses: Central State University, Wilberforce University, Cedarville University, and Antioch College. Felony cases are handled by the Greene County Court of Common Pleas in Xenia.

Location and Contact

Who Makes OVI Arrests Near Xenia?

Many agencies bring OVI cases into the Xenia Municipal Court, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Xenia Police Division, and the police departments of Bellbrook, Cedarville, Jamestown, Spring Valley, Sugarcreek Township, and Yellow Springs, as well as the Central State University and Wilberforce University police departments, Greene County Parks District, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Parks and Wildlife).

How the Right OVI Attorney Can Help You Win Your Xenia Case

Yes, you can beat your OVI charge in the Xenia court. The most important decision you can make is hiring the right defense attorney — someone who understands Ohio’s complex impaired-driving laws, the Ohio Administrative Code, the breath-test devices, and field sobriety testing, and who stays current on the science that can change a case. Here are some of the issues Charles looks for:

Illegal police stop. Your case may be dismissed if the officer lacked proper cause to initiate the traffic stop. The Fourth Amendment requires reasonable suspicion that a crime is being or about to be committed before a stop, and the officer must then establish a clear reason to continue the detention into an impaired-driving investigation.

Improper administration of the field sobriety tests. Results are compromised if an officer gives faulty instructions or holds you to impossible standards. If the officer fails to substantially comply with the NHTSA guidelines, the test results may not be admissible against you.

Faulty interpretation of the field sobriety tests. An officer may say all the right things and still misinterpret what he or she sees. Reviewing the video of the stop can determine whether you actually “failed” the tests or whether the officer made a mistake.

Unlawful arrest not supported by probable cause. If the officer makes the arrest before probable cause exists, evidence obtained afterward may be inadmissible.

Officer error prior to chemical testing. The officer must satisfy a 20-minute observation period, give the test within three hours of operation, keep the testing area free from radio-frequency interference, and properly advise you of the consequences of taking or refusing the test. Failures here can render a test result — or a refusal — inadmissible.

A flawed breath machine. Breath machines are far from perfect. An attorney certified on the machine and familiar with the Ohio Administrative Code’s calibration requirements can spot issues in the results.

Discovery, discovery, discovery. Your attorney cannot defend against an issue he does not know exists. Charles submits a comprehensive discovery request in every case and puts the agency on notice to preserve dashboard and booking videos before they are destroyed — videos that often contradict an officer’s allegations.

Driving Privileges in the Xenia Municipal Court

If your license is suspended after a DUI arrest, you may be eligible for limited driving privileges. There are two kinds of suspension: an Administrative License Suspension imposed by the Ohio BMV (for refusing or testing over the limit), and a court suspension imposed by the judge as part of a sentence. Limited privileges have historically covered occupation, vocation, education, medical needs, license examination, and court-ordered treatment, and a change in Ohio law now permits courts to grant privileges for other purposes at the judge’s discretion. Some cases require yellow (restricted) plates and/or an ignition interlock device, and the waiting period depends on the number of prior convictions.

Driving privileges in the Xenia Municipal Court are requested through an online petition on the court’s website. Make your request specific — where you need to travel, why, and at what times; if the schedule is complicated, include a daily schedule. If granted, privileges are limited to no more than 50 hours per week and no more than 5 days per week, and proof of insurance must be included with the application. Charles and the staff at DaytonDUI will help you prepare the application so you can get back to driving as soon as possible.

Be careful: if you are caught driving outside your granted privileges, you face prosecution for Driving Under Suspension, which carries a mandatory jail sentence and an additional license suspension.

What to Do After an OVI Arrest in Xenia

Write down everything you remember about the stop and the tests while it is fresh, do not volunteer information, keep the paperwork the officer gave you, and speak with an OVI attorney before your first court date. Your license is affected immediately, and the window to challenge it is short. You can capture the details of your arrest right away using the Arrest Night Questionnaire, then call (937) 318-1384.

Why Trust Charles M. Rowland II

Charles M. Rowland II has established himself as a top OVI attorney in Ohio and the Dayton area and beyond. He lives by the motto, “Work hard, play by the rules, and never quit!” Preparation, dedication and perseverance are his touchstones. He will vigorously fight for you and will genuinely care about the outcome of your case. He wants the most favorable outcome including acquittals, dismissed charges, or advantageous reduced charges.

He has been recognized by his clients and his peers as a top OVI attorney. He has been a “Super Lawyer” since 2013, a Fellow to the Ohio State Bar Foundation, the Nations Top 1%, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 for Criminal Defense, a Dayton Bar Association Foundation Fellow, and has appeared in Time and Car & Driver Magazine for OVI defense. He was the first attorney in the United States to earn a certificate in Forensic Sobriety Assessment, and in 2007 he was the first private attorney in Ohio certified on the Intoxilyzer 8000 breath-testing machine. He has been qualified by the United States government as an expert witness on evidential breath testing and has testified in court-martial proceedings. He is a lecturer on OVI defense to police agencies, attorneys, judges, and students, and he taught OVI trial practice at the Greene County Peace Officer Training Academy for over fifteen years.

Charlie is a member of the Dayton Bar Association, the Dayton Bar Foundation (2022 Foundation Fellow), the Greene County Bar Association (past President), the Clark County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Foundation (2005 Foundation Fellow), the American Bar Association, and the American Bar Foundation.

“Mr. Rowland exceeded all my expectations from the first day we talked until the end of my court dates. After getting my first dui I was very stressed out and not sure how to move forward. I had talked to many lawyers before Mr. Rowland, he is the only one who immediately put my mind at ease as well as took my case no questions asked. He worked hard and throughly throughout the entire process, he is very knowledgeable and was always willing to talk to me for peace of mind or if I had any questions. His assistant Lori was also very nice and knowledgeable. Mr. Rowland as well as Lori walked me through the entire process and he was able to get me the best possible outcome for my specific situation. I would highly recommend mr. Rowland , he is very professional and works very hard for his clients. I couldn’t have gotten a better lawyer or outcome. Thank you again Mr. Rowland for all your hard work and getting me through such a stressful situation.” – Client Testimonial

Find Your Xenia Case

The Xenia Municipal Court offers online public access to case information through its Case Lookup site. The information reflects the docket entries kept by the Xenia Municipal Clerk of Courts and is updated every 24 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays.

Visit Us

Charles M. Rowland II, DaytonDUI 2190 Gateway Drive, Fairborn, OH 45324 (about 15 minutes from downtown Xenia) Phone: (937) 318-1384.

Frequently Asked Questions about DUI cases at the Xenia Municipal Courthouse

Free Consultation

If you were arrested for OVI in Xenia or anywhere in Greene County, call Charles M. Rowland II at (937) 318-1384 for a free consultation, 24/7.