The first felony DUI sentence in Washington's new felony DUI law resulted in a four year prison sentence for a man from Island County.

The DUI law in Washington changed in 2007 allowing for a felony charge for a fourth offense or if one offense involves an assault or homicide charge. 45 year-old Kelly Wayne Shields pleaded guilty last week to a charge of felony driving under the influence. He was convicted of vehicular assault and was therefore automatically charged with a felony. Shields agreed to a plea bargain and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Shields was arrested on January 29 after he was stopped for driving erratically. Shields was driving with a suspended license at the time and a breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol content to be .23 percent, almost thrice the legal limit of .08 percent.

If you or someone you know is facing DUI charges in the state of Washington, procuring an experienced and trustworthy attorney is of paramount importance to the outcome of your case. Please contact a Seattle DUI lawyer of Cowan, Kirk & Gaston by calling 866-822-1230.