Free Consultation | One-Time Flat Fee | Real-Time Case Updates
Charged on the Oregon coast? Your rights, your record, and your future deserve a real defense.
YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE
CASE SUCCESS RATE*
SATISFIED
CLIENTS
RATING ON GOOGLE
* Cases that were: dismissed, acquitted at trial, beat highest charge, or client was satisfied with outcome.
Lincoln City does not have a circuit court. If Lincoln City Police arrest you on a misdemeanor or felony, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s office files your case in Lincoln County Circuit Court, at 225 W Olive Street in Newport. That is roughly 25 miles south on Highway 101.
Lincoln County Circuit Court is Oregon’s 17th Judicial District. It has three elected judges and one judge pro tem, so the same small group of judges hears nearly every criminal case in the county. Knowing how each one runs a courtroom is a practical advantage, not a marketing line.
Lincoln City Municipal Court is a separate court. It sits on the third floor of City Hall at 801 SW Highway 101, and it handles traffic violations, city ordinance matters, and code enforcement citations. Criminal charges do not stay there. If someone tells you your court date is in Lincoln City, confirm which court they mean before you assume anything about what you are facing.
Ready to talk through your circumstances? Get a free, confidential case review.
I represent people facing DUI, drug offenses, assault, domestic violence, theft, cybercrime, fraud, and reckless driving. I also defend clients accused of violating restraining orders and stalking protective orders.
Some cases turn on a bad stop. Others turn on a witness who is less certain than the report suggests. The work is the same either way: read everything, test the state’s account, and build the version of events the evidence actually supports.
Lincoln City is a tourism town. The year-round population is small, but Highway 101 carries heavy traffic through the middle of it, and the numbers swell every summer and holiday weekend. A large share of arrests here involve people who do not live in Lincoln County.
That changes the practical questions. Where do you stay if you live three hours inland? How many trips to Newport will this take? Can your appearances be waived or handled by counsel? Most people ask about the maximum sentence first. In my experience, the schedule is what actually disrupts their life.
I answer those questions early, in plain terms, so you can plan around your case instead of guessing at it. I also can usually arrange a remote court appearance, or receive court approval for me to appear on your behalf, depending upon the type of charge.
Oregon’s DUII diversion program can end with your charge dismissed after one year. It is not automatic. You must enter a plea, file the petition within 30 days of your first appearance, complete a screening interview, and waive several trial rights. Whether that trade is worth it depends entirely on your record and the strength of the state’s case.
Lincoln County also runs a set of specialty courts. Its drug court has operated since 2006. HOPE Court works with people whose property offenses are driven by addiction and puts real weight on paying victim restitution. A mental health court handles cases where treatment, not punishment, is the honest answer.
These programs demand more than a guilty plea does. They also protect futures that a conviction would close off. I will give you a straight assessment of which route fits your account of what happened.
You get one flat fee, quoted before you hire me, covering the work we agree on. No hourly billing, no invoice that grows because a hearing ran long.
You also get me as your lawyer in Lincoln City, Oregon. When you call, you speak with the lawyer handling your case, not a message taken by someone who will pass it along. Some attorneys route everything through staff. I do not. Other than scheduling the initial free consultation, every communication you have goes directly to a lawyer.
After a DUII arrest, the Oregon DMV moves to suspend your license under the implied consent law. You have 10 days from your arrest to request a hearing. That clock runs separately from your criminal case, and missing it costs you the chance to fight the suspension.
Evidence disappears on its own schedule too. Security footage from a bar, a hotel, or a parking lot is often overwritten within days. A preservation request sent in week one can save a case that is unwinnable in week six.
Take action today. Call (971) 336-7537 and I will tell you honestly where your case stands.
You do not have to work out what happens next on your own. Bring me the paperwork and your account of the day, and I will tell you what you are facing and what I would do about it.
Flat fees. Direct access. No surprises.
Call us 24/7 to schedule your free consultation within 24 hours. Prefer messaging? Simply request a consultation through our chat feature.
Fill out your information below and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours
"*" indicates required fields
Every case is decided on its own facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contacting this office does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Attorney Robert Southwell provides expert criminal defense in Lincoln City and throughout the state of Oregon. Whether you are facing felony charges, DUI, or other criminal matters, I am here to protect your rights and fight for your freedom.
Defending Your Rights. Fighting for Your Freedom.
Real results. Real clients. Proven defense strategies.
Attorney Robert Southwell will fight tirelessly to achieve the best result possible in your case.
Not always. In many misdemeanor cases, counsel can appear on your behalf for routine hearings. Some appearances require you personally. I will tell you which is which at our first conversation so you can plan your time.
Two separate matters begin. Your criminal case proceeds in Lincoln County Circuit Court, starting with arraignment. Separately, the DMV moves to suspend your license, and you have only 10 days to request a hearing. Both deadlines run at once.
Ten days from the date of arrest to request the DMV hearing. That window closes whether or not you have hired anyone. It is the single most commonly missed deadline I see, and it is the easiest one to protect.
Often, yes. DUII diversion, drug court, and other treatment-based options can end in dismissal for people who qualify and complete the requirements. Eligibility depends on your record, the charge, and the facts. I will assess it honestly rather than promise it.
It is a supervised program combining treatment, frequent court appearances, and accountability, running in the county since 2006. Entry requires screening and agreement from the court and the district attorney. It suits people whose charges stem from addiction rather than intent.
Yes. Lincoln County cases from Lincoln City, Newport, Depoe Bay, Waldport, Toledo, and Yachats all land in the same Newport courtroom. Serving clients across the Oregon coast means appearing in that court regularly, which I do.
No. I handle criminal defense only. If you need help with probate, estate planning, a personal injury claim, or a family law matter, call my office anyway and I will point you toward someone who does that work well.
