Brunswick Felony DUI Attorney

A felony DUI charge is one of the most serious criminal matters a person can face in Brunswick, Georgia. Unlike a standard misdemeanor DUI, a felony conviction carries the potential for state prison time, a permanent criminal record, and consequences that follow you for the rest of your life. At Jarrett Maillet J.D., PC, our Brunswick felony DUI defense attorney is prepared to stand in your corner and fight to protect everything you have worked to build. If you or a family member has been arrested for felony DUI in Glynn County, contact our office today to schedule a fully confidential, no-obligation case review.

What Makes a DUI a Felony Offense Under Georgia Law

Most DUI arrests in Georgia are charged as misdemeanors, but certain circumstances trigger a much more serious felony classification. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391, the law elevates a DUI to felony status when a driver accumulates a fourth DUI arrest within a ten-year lookback period. That window is measured from the dates of arrest, not the dates of conviction, meaning prior arrests that may feel like distant history can still count against a defendant today.

Georgia law imposes significant penalties upon a felony DUI conviction. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, a felony DUI conviction under this statute can result in a prison sentence of one to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, and a mandatory five-year license revocation, along with mandatory community service, probation conditions, and required substance abuse treatment. Beyond the fourth-offense pathway, Georgia law also classifies DUI-related serious injury by vehicle under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-394 and homicide by vehicle in the first degree under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-393(a) as felony offenses carrying up to fifteen years in prison per victim. Each of these scenarios demands immediate legal attention.

Brunswick, Georgia, and the Brunswick Judicial Circuit

Brunswick serves as the county seat of Glynn County and is the hub of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, which covers Glynn, Camden, and Wayne counties. Felony criminal cases, including felony DUI charges, are processed through the Glynn County Superior Court. That court holds jurisdiction over all felony criminal matters in the circuit, including jury trials. The District Attorney’s office for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit actively prosecutes these cases, and its prosecutors are experienced and persistent. A defendant who walks into this court without qualified legal representation is at a serious disadvantage.

How Jarrett Maillet Defends Felony DUI Cases in Brunswick

When you hire Jarrett Maillet to represent you on a felony DUI charge, you work directly with an experienced criminal defense lawyer, not a junior associate. His defense work includes a careful review of whether the prior convictions triggering felony status were properly established, whether the stop and arrest were conducted lawfully, and whether any constitutional violations undermine the prosecution’s case. Field sobriety test results, dashcam footage, the arresting officer’s observations, and chemical test results are all scrutinized for weaknesses that could benefit your defense.

Frequently Asked Questions About Felony DUI Charges in Brunswick

How does Georgia’s ten-year lookback period work for felony DUI?

The lookback window is measured using dates of arrest, not conviction dates. If someone was arrested for DUI in 2016, 2019, and 2022, and is arrested again in 2025, all four arrests fall within a ten-year span, and the 2025 charge would be elevated to a felony. It is also worth noting that only convictions obtained on or after July 1, 2008, count toward the felony threshold under the current statute.

Can out-of-state DUI convictions count toward the felony threshold in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia courts may consider out-of-state DUI convictions when evaluating whether a defendant has reached the fourth-offense felony threshold, provided the prosecution demonstrates that the prior out-of-state offense is substantially similar to Georgia’s DUI statute. This is an area where careful legal analysis matters greatly, and a skilled Brunswick felony DUI defense attorney can challenge whether an out-of-state conviction truly qualifies.

Does a felony DUI conviction affect more than just driving privileges?

Absolutely. A felony conviction in Georgia carries consequences that extend well beyond fines and license revocation. Convicted felons lose the right to possess firearms, face significant barriers to employment and professional licensing, and carry a permanent criminal record that shows up in background checks. This is why mounting the strongest possible defense from the beginning of the case is so critical.

Contact Our Brunswick Felony DUI Defense Lawyer Today

At Jarrett Maillet J.D., P.C., our Brunswick felony DUI attorney is a tenacious, knowledgeable advocate who takes every case seriously. Call our office today at 912-713-3426 or reach out online to arrange a strictly confidential, no-obligation case evaluation. We defend felony DUI charges in Brunswick, Glynn County, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, and throughout the surrounding communities of coastal Georgia.