Jasper County (Rensselaer, DeMotte, Remington, Wheatfield) Indiana DUI courts and procedures

This information about Jasper County (Rensselaer, DeMotte, Remington, Wheatfield) Indiana DUI DWI OWI courts and procedures is brought to you as a public service by

attorney Paul Stanko, Indiana DUI DWI OWI Drunk Driving defense lawyer.

Call Toll Free (888) 778-2656 or email indianadui@yahoo.com for a

FREE, No Obligation, completely confidential initial consultation

concerning your Jasper County (Rensselaer, DeMotte, Remington, Wheatfield) Indiana DUI case.

I. Overview

Jasper County Courthouse - Rensselaer

DUI DWI OWI cases in Jasper County are filed in either Circuit or Superior Court in Rensselaer, depending upon whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor, and if a felony, depending upon the date of the alleged offense. This is regulated by local rules.

Both Circuit and Superior Court hold court in the Jasper County Courthouse in Rensselaer.

II. Court-specific information

For your convenience, contact information concerning Jasper County's DUI courts is presented below:

Jasper Circuit Court

Hon. John D. Potter, Judge

115 West Washington Street
Rensselaer, IN 47978-2890 [map ]

Phone: (219) 866-7766
Fax: (219) 866-4943

Jasper Superior Court

Hon. James R. Ahler, Judge

115 W. Washington Street
Rensselaer, IN 47978-2890 [map]

Phone: (219) 866-4971
Fax: (219) 866-4988

III. Case Management, Procedures and Scheduling

A. Initial Hearing.

At your initial hearing, the court officially informs you of your constitutional rights and the charges against you, enters your not guilty plea, and sets future court dates. You should never plead guilty at your initial hearing unless you have an attorney with you and have negotiated an acceptable plea agreement.

You must appear in court for your initial hearing whether you have an attorney or not.

Regardless whether your case is a misdemeanor or felony, it is wise to obtain DUI counsel before the initial hearing date.

B. Your constitutional rights.

These are your constitutional rights, as provided by Indiana law (verbatim excerpt from Indiana Code):

IC 35-33-7-5 Informing of accused

At the initial hearing of a person, the judicial officer shall inform him orally or in writing:

(1) that he has a right to retain counsel and if he intends to retain counsel he must do so within:

(A) twenty (20) days if the person is charged with a felony; or

(B) ten (10) days if the person is charged only with one (1) or more misdemeanors;

after this initial hearing because there are deadlines for filing motions and raising defenses, and if those deadlines are missed, the legal issues and defenses that could have been raised will be waived;

(2) that he has a right to assigned counsel at no expense to him if he is indigent;

(3) that he has a right to a speedy trial;

(4) of the amount and conditions of bail;

(5) of his privilege against self-incrimination;

(6) of the nature of the charge against him; and

(7) that a preliminary plea of not guilty is being entered for him and the preliminary plea of not guilty will become a formal plea of not guilty:

(A) twenty (20) days after the completion of the initial hearing; or

(B) ten (10) days after the completion of the initial hearing if the person is charged only with one (1) or more misdemeanors;

unless the defendant enters a different plea.

In addition, the judge shall direct the prosecuting attorney to give the defendant or his attorney a copy of any formal felony charges filed or ready to be filed. The judge shall, upon request of the defendant, direct the prosecuting attorney to give the defendant or his attorney a copy of any formal misdemeanor charges filed or ready to be filed.

C. Other Court Dates.

If your case is not resolved at the Initial Hearing, subsequent hearings such as pretrial conferences will be set before any trial date. It is essential that you have counsel for any of these subsequent court dates.

IV. Following are links to some official sites for Jasper County and its major municipalities:

Jasper County

http://www.jaspercountyin.gov/

Jasper County Courts:

http://www.in.gov/judiciary/jasper/

Jasper County Clerk:

http://www.jaspercountyin.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=58

Jasper County Prosecutor:

http://www.jaspercountyin.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=69

Jasper County Probation:

http://www.jaspercountyin.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=68

City of Rensselaer (County Seat):

http://cityofrensselaerin.com/

Town of DeMotte:

http://www.townofdemotte.com/index.asp

Town of Remington:

http://remingtonindiana.com/

Town of Wheatfield Chamber of Commerce:

http://www.wheatfieldchamber.org/

Communities in Jasper County include the following:

Rensselaer, DeMotte, Remington, Wheatfield, Aix, Asphaltum, Baileys Corner, Collegeville, Deer Park, Dunns Bridge, Egypt, Fair Oaks, Forest City, Fountain Park, Gifford, Kersey, Kniman, McCoysburg, Newland, Parr, Pleasant Ridge, Roselawn, Stoutsburg, Surrey, Tefft, Virgie