Dowgul & Hatcher PA

Panama City Attorney

WE ARE HERE TO GET YOU THROUGH THIS
We recognize that being arrested is a frightening experience. Choosing the right attorney to help get you through this difficult situation is an important decision. You are probably unable to focus on anything other than your pending criminal case. You may be wondering what will happen to you. Will you lose your license, your civil rights, your job, your home? These are questions that we will help answer in the process of representing you.

YOUR SEARCH HAS FOUND US
Whether you found us as a result of a referral from a friend, loved one, or associate, you can feel assured that our firm has the experience, patience and knowledge to handle your case. We pride ourselves in our ability to provide the answers to your questions. We are quick to return your telephone calls and keep you up-to-date on your case. We strive to provide you with unmatched skillful legal representation as you go through this difficult time in your life. Throughout the entire process we are here for you.

DRUG OFFENSES
A drug offense may be a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the quantity and type of drug found by law enforcement. A few pounds of a drug are certainly more serious than just a few ounces, and a few ounces are more serious than just a few grams.

Another very important factor is whether or not you have a prior criminal record. For obvious reasons, a prior criminal record could result in a more severe punishment than if the defendant had a clean or relatively minor record consisting of misdemeanors. Upon conviction of a drug related offense, you may lose your license for 2 years. We will aggressively defend your case, review the charging document, and speak with the State Attorney. We will work to explore your options that may include Pre-Trial Intervention, Plea Agreement or Trial.

ASSAULT/BATTERY/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Assault occurs when someone threatens bodily harm against someone. Battery results when a person willfully touches or strikes another person against their will. The charges for these offenses can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, and are based on the particular circumstances for each case. Even if the victim chooses not to press charges, the State may pursue the case. We will defend your assault/battery or domestic violence charge by speaking with the alleged victim and scrutinizing the facts of the case. As we review your case and the reports contained in the state attorney’s documents, we will attempt to determine if the facts contain information which may demonstrate a lack of evidence or lack of intent, self-defense, defense of property or defense of others.

VIOLATIONS OF PROBATION
The outcome of a violation of probation charge depends on certain factors such as the nature of the probation violation, the number of times your previously violated your probation, whether the probation violation involves a new crime, mitigation and aggravating circumstances, the attitude of the probation department or probation officer and your prior criminal record. We will provide you legal representation in these cases by determining the specific terms of your probation, the terms which you allegedly violated and we will work closely with the Probation Department and State Attorney.

IMMEDIATE CONSULTATION AVAILABLE
At the law office of Dowgul & Hatcher, P.A., we are dedicated to acting quickly to preserve and protect your legal rights. We recognize that you have other obligations in your life and, as a result, we make every effort to be available to meet with you at a convenient time to provide you with a free legal consultation regarding your case. Call us now to schedule an appointment.

Contact a DUI Attorney at Dowgul & Hatcher

Most DUI cases are based on 3 forms of evidence:

INITIAL STOP - The police report, is written by the officer after you are arrested. Together, we can review any statements in the report including the reason you were stopped.We can also review any statements the officer alleges you made at the time of your arrest and whether you were read your Miranda warnings. In some circumstances, we may be able to suppress the evidence.

BREATH TEST - The results of the breath test may be challenged or suppressed based on many factors. The “breath test results” may be inaccurate or unreliable due to improper maintenance of the Intoxilyzer machine. We can use the evidence to defend your case to potentially invalidate your breath sample.

THE VIDEO - We can request a copy of the video to review and evaluate your performance on the field sobriety tests. We can consider any physical injuries or medical impairments you had at the time of the tests. We can determine the manner in which the officer demonstrated and required you to do the tests.

CHALLENGING THE SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE
If you submitted a breath sample of .08 or above, or refused to blow into the Intoxilyzer machine, your driver’s license was administratively suspended at the time of your arrest. You can challenge the suspension, but you must do so within 10 DAYS from the date of your arrest. A DUI attorney can help you file the required paperwork with the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles to challenge your driver’s license suspension. An experienced traffic lawyer will zealously challenge the suspension of your license.

James R. Dowgul, Esq.

James Dowgul began his legal career in the Public Defender's Office for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in Sarasota, Florida. There, he practiced for over 2 years before the opportunity arose to return to his hometown in Bay County, where he took a position with the Public Defender's Office for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. James's passion for law and the direction of his legal career focuses on criminal law. James has extensive misdemeanor and felony trial experience. He has tried cases ranging from misdemeanors including DUI, battery, and drug related offenses to serious life felonies including attempted murder and vehicular homicide. James's undergraduate studies were at Florida State University where he was awarded his Bachelor's degree in Business. James's graduate studies took him to Oklahoma where he received his law degree from Oklahoma City University and met his wife, Kim, while working as an intern for the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In 2000, James furthered his legal studies and received a Master of Laws degree ( LL.M.) from Stetson University, and was admitted to the Florida Bar.

Wesley G. Hatcher, Jr., Esq. Wes Hatcher grew up in Mobile, Alabama where he lived until he left to attend the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Alabama.  He received his undergraduate degree in History and had the good fortune of meeting his wife Lani.  Wes also received a Master’s Degree in History from the University of West Alabama prior to receiving his Juris Doctor degree from Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi.  Wes clerked for multiple law firms and the Hinds County Public Defender’s Office.  Wes was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2006 and took a job with the Public Defender’s Office for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit under Herman Laramore in Bay County where he worked prior to joining the firm of Dowgul & Wilson, in 2007. Wes has extensive experience in misdemeanor cases, handling thousands of cases, including DUI, Domestic Violence, Drug related charges and Traffic cases.  He also has experience in handling Felony cases ranging from Burglaries, Felony Assault and Battery, and Drug Charges.  Wes also handles a wide variety of Family Law cases including divorce and child custody.  Wes lives in Panama City with his beautiful wife and daughter, and is a member of the Bay County Bar Association and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.   w.hatcher@wewillfight4you.com