Experienced Shreveport Felony DUI Attorney
A Felony DUI Charge Can Change Your Life Long After Court Ends
A felony DUI charge can put your freedom, driver’s license, career, and family life under pressure all at once.
When the possibility of prison time is on the table, it is understandable to feel the weight of what this charge could mean for the people and plans that matter to you.
You do not have to handle the legal process on your own. With the right defense, you can have a clear understanding of what the state is alleging, what evidence supports it, and what can be challenged.
Bryce Kinley spent time inside the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office prosecuting felony cases and first-chairing jury trials before becoming a Shreveport felony DUI lawyer. He saw how prosecutors evaluate DUI evidence, build felony charges, and prepare cases for court. He now brings that experience to the defense of people facing serious DUI charges in Shreveport.
A felony DUI charge can leave you facing serious consequences, but the charge itself does not decide the outcome. The evidence, your prior convictions, and the way the state handled your arrest all matter.
Contact Kinley Law Firm to schedule a consultation and get a clear understanding of what you are facing, what the state must prove, and what options may be available in your case.
| Former Caddo Parish ADA | First-Chaired Jury Trials | LSU Law Center J.D. | Licensed in Louisiana |
Felony DUI Charges We Defend in Shreveport
Louisiana does not treat every DUI as a felony. Prior convictions, the circumstances of the current offense, and whether someone else was seriously injured or killed can change the level of the charge.
As a Shreveport felony DUI attorney, we handle cases involving:
- Third-offense DUI, when the prior convictions qualify for enhancement under Louisiana’s applicable lookback rules
- Fourth or subsequent DUI, which carries substantially greater prison exposure
- Third or fourth-offense DUI involving a child passenger, which can trigger additional child-endangerment consequences
- DUI resulting in serious bodily injury to another person
- DUI resulting in the death of another person
- DUI cases involving prior convictions and chemical-test issues, including situations involving a refused test
The label on the charge is only part of the case. We examine the traffic stop, field sobriety testing, breath or blood evidence, arrest procedure, and the prior convictions the state is using to increase the charge. We also look at whether those prior convictions legally qualify for enhancement.
That review matters because an experienced Shreveport criminal defense lawyer can assess whether the state’s version of your criminal history tells the whole story. If a prior conviction falls outside the applicable period or otherwise cannot be used for enhancement, the level of the current charge may change.
We do not assume the state’s allegations are correct. We test them against the actual record.
What a Felony DUI Conviction Can Cost You
The penalties for felony DUI in Louisiana can be severe, and they scale sharply with each additional offense.
Third-Offense DUI
According to La. R.S. 14:98.3:
- $2,000 fine
- One to five years of imprisonment
- At least one year must be served without suspension, parole, or probation, under the circumstances specified by Louisiana law
Fourth-Offense DUI
According to La. R.S. 14:98.4
- $5,000 fine
- Ten to thirty years of imprisonment
- At least two years must be served without suspension, parole, or probation
Beyond the Sentence
The consequences can extend past prison time. A felony DUI can affect your driver’s license, employment, professional licensing, housing, and other parts of your life that depend on a criminal background check. Depending on the circumstances, the court may also impose vehicle-related penalties.
A Charge Is Not a Conviction
The state still has to prove its case. If the traffic stop was unlawful, testing procedures were not followed, evidence was improperly handled, or a prior conviction does not qualify for enhancement, those issues can affect the case.
Our focus is not limited to negotiating for a shorter sentence after a conviction. We look at whether the evidence supports the charge in the first place and whether there is a lawful path to a better outcome.
Why a Felony DUI Is Handled in a Different Shreveport Court
A first or second DUI is generally handled as a misdemeanor. A qualifying third or fourth offense is a felony and is prosecuted in district court rather than Shreveport City Court. Felony cases in Caddo Parish are handled through the First Judicial District Court at the Caddo Parish Courthouse, 501 Texas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101.
That change in court also changes how the case proceeds. Felony prosecutors handle more serious charges, the potential penalties are greater, and the decisions made early in the case can have long-term consequences.
Bryce Kinley knows that process from the inside. Before representing people accused of felony DUI, he worked in the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, where he first-chaired jury trials involving serious felony charges, including attempted murder and aggravated battery. He also served as a judicial law clerk for the Bossier Parish District Court.
That experience gives him perspective from both sides of the courtroom. He understands how prosecutors assess evidence, how felony cases are prepared for trial, and what judges need to see when deciding the issues before them.
When your case carries the possibility of mandatory prison time, that experience matters.
FAQs About Felony DUI Charges in Shreveport
Do I need a lawyer right away for a felony DUI?
You should speak with a lawyer as early as possible. A felony DUI can expose you to substantial prison time, and important evidence is being gathered from the beginning of the case. An attorney can review the arrest, testing, prior convictions, and other evidence before decisions are made that may affect your defense.
What happens at my first court appearance in Caddo Parish?
Your first appearance is part of the formal court process for the felony charge. The court addresses the accusation against you, your plea, and applicable conditions of release. Having counsel involved early allows someone to address the case with the court and begin reviewing the state’s evidence.
Can a felony DUI charge be reduced to a misdemeanor?
Sometimes the level of the charge can change, but it depends on the facts and legal issues in the case. We examine the evidence supporting the current DUI and the prior convictions the state is relying on for enhancement. If those prior convictions do not qualify or other problems affect the state’s case, that can change the available options.
What happens to my driver’s license after a felony DUI arrest?
A Louisiana DUI arrest can trigger an administrative driver’s license process separate from the criminal case. The deadlines are short, and you may have only 30 days from the arrest to request an administrative hearing in certain circumstances. Missing an applicable deadline can affect your ability to challenge the suspension, so this issue needs attention immediately.
How long does a felony DUI case take to resolve in Shreveport?
Some cases can resolve within months, while cases involving extensive evidence, disputed issues, or a trial can take considerably longer. The complexity of the case, the court’s schedule, the evidence, and the prosecution’s position all affect how long the process takes.
Will a felony DUI charge appear on a background check before I am convicted?
A pending criminal charge can appear on certain background checks before the case reaches a final outcome. Whether it appears and how it is reported depends on the type of background check and the information being searched. A pending charge is not the same as a conviction, but it can still create practical problems while the case is unresolved.
What does it cost to hire a felony DUI lawyer in Shreveport?
The cost depends on the circumstances of the case, the amount of evidence involved, and whether the case requires extensive litigation or a trial. Contact us to discuss the fee structure and what representation would involve in your particular case.
If your question was not addressed here, contact Kinley Law Firm. We can review your situation and explain what the next stage of your felony DUI case may look like.
Talk to a Shreveport Felony DUI Lawyer Before Your Next Court Date
A felony DUI charge can raise questions about your prior convictions, the evidence supporting the arrest, and the prison time Louisiana law may require if you are convicted.
Those issues need to be examined before you make decisions that could affect the rest of your case.
Contact Kinley Law Firm to have your felony DUI case reviewed and understand what the state is relying on, what can be challenged, and what steps you can take next.
