Following an accident in Poulsbo, Kitsap County Deputy Prosecutor Barbara Dennis was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving, reports The Bellingham Herald.

Dennis was involved in a rear-end collision on Wednesday. She exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol and was arrested and booked into Kitsap County Jail. She has since posted and has been released.

To avoid a potential conflict of interest and any appearance of favortism, Dennis' DUI case has been referred to the Pierce County prosecutor's office. This is the second time that Dennis has been charged with a DUI. In 2007, she faced a drunk driving charge, but was able to reduce the charge to negligent driving provided that she comply with court-ordered conditions. However, given Dennis' prior history, she may have a hard time getting such a favorable plea deal for this most recent incident.

In a drunk driving case, the government may seek to make a plea deal with first-time offenders and those who are involved in a routine incident. This saves the government the time and money of litigating what may be a relatively minor offense. However, if the defendant has a history of DUIs or if there is an accident or injury, prosecutors will be far less likely to offer a deal.

As a result, individuals facing a DUI charge will want to talk to an experienced DUI defense attorney to learn their options and possible defenses. An attorney can help review the specific facts of your case and deal with hardened prosecutors.

To learn more, you can contact a DUI attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense by calling 425-284-2000. Don't fight your DUI case alone.