Douglas A. Funkhouser
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in Columbus, Ohio
Douglas A. Funkhouser Co., L.P.A.
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Ohio since: 1995
Education: Capital University Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2011, 2015 - 2024 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 Call today:
614-443-5404
Free Consultation Douglas A. Funkhouser Co., L.P.A.
765 South High StreetColumbus, OH 43206 Visit website
Details
Attorney Douglas A. Funkhouser focuses his practice on criminal defense with a concentration on serious felony and misdemeanor cases and specific attention to OVI/DUI cases. He founded the law firm of Douglas A. Funkhouser Co., L.P.A. in Columbus, Ohio in 2000. Since founding his law firm, Mr. Funkhouser successfully defended serious felony cases and misdemeanor charges. These cases involved charges of aggravated murder, murder, kidnapping, rape, felonious assault, assault with a deadly weapon, theft, drug possession, domestic violence, sexual assaults, white collar offenses, and many others. Mr. Funkhouser's jury trial experience is primarily in Franklin County, Ohio, but he also handles criminal cases throughout central Ohio. Mr. Funkhouser prides himself on preparing himself and his clients for trial. Mr. Funkhouser believes thorough preparation and experience are the two keys to success in a courtroom.
Mr. Funkhouser graduated with honors and received his J.D. from Capital University Law School in 1995. He is a member of the Columbus Bar Association. Shortly after passing the Ohio and Federal Bar for the Southern District of Ohio, Mr. Funkhouser became a Captain in the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate and was admitted to the U.S. Military Courts Bar. Captain Funkhouser worked as a prosecutor in the Second Infantry Division stationed near the DMZ in South Korea and later as a legal adviser for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command in Virginia. He founded the law firm of Douglas A. Funkhouser Co. ., L.P.A. in 2000 after leaving the Army to focus on criminal defense.
Douglas Funkhouser has several awards to his credit, including:
- Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list in 2009
- U.S. Army Basic Parachutist Badge (Airborne)
- Australian Royal Army Basic Parachutist Badge
- Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded the Army Commendation Medal
- Awarded the National Defense Service Medal
Mr. Funkhouser strives to remain accessible and attentive to his criminal defense clients at all times. He possesses a unique combination of criminal defense knowledge, felony and misdemeanor jury trial experience and service as a prosecutor in the military court system. This diverse background makes him an asset in the courtroom. His peers recognized him as well with an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Funkhouser along with his associate attorney and staff are dedicated to providing the highest level of representation to clients of Funkhouser Law.
*AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Rating reflects a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense: White CollarFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Debt, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Failure to Pay Child Support, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Overdrawn Bank Account, Parole, Probation, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crime
- 50% Criminal Defense
- 40% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Criminal Defense: White Collar
First Admitted: 1995, Ohio
Professional Webpage: http://funkhouserlaw.com/attorney-profile/
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 1995
- Member of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- State of Ohio, 1995
- U.S. Military Courts, 1996
- Member of the Columbus Bar Association
- Bachelor of Arts, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, June, 1992: Major: History, Completed the Capstone Program with a minor in Business Administration., 1992
- Central Region Champion, Jessup Moot Court Competition, 1993-1994, 1994
- Juris Doctor, Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio, May, 1995: Graduated with Honors: Order of the Barristers, 1995
- Graduate, The United States Army Judge Advocate General's School, Basic Course. Charlottesville, Virginia. January, 1996 to April, 1996, 1996
- Graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Trial Advocacy Program, Okinawa, Japan, 1998., 1998
- Admitted to the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 1995., Admitted to Federal Bar, Southern District of Ohio, 1995
- Admitted to the Ohio Bar, 1995., Bar Admission, Ohio Supreme Court, 1995
- Graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School, 1996., Airborne School, U.S. Army, 1996
- Graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Trial Advocacy Program, Okinawa, Japan, 1998., Graduate Trial Advocacy Program, U.S. Marine Corps, 1998
- Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army, Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Ribbon, the Australian Royal Army Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Basic Parachutist Badge., Military Medals, U.S. Army, 1999
- Member of the Columbus Bar Association., Membership, Columbus Bar Association, 2000
- Member of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers., Membership, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2005
- I successfully defended two separate rape jury trials so far in 2013. In the first trial that concluded in January, the client was found not guilty of four counts of rape, thus avoiding a mandatory life sentence. In the second trial, that client was also found not guilty of several rape allegations that mandated a life sentence if convicted. The second trial also resulted in a not guilty verdict for allegations of sexual battery and gross sexual imposition. , 2013
- In December of 2022, my office defended an adult defendant with autism from a wrongfully charged felonious assault charge in Columbus Ohio. Fortunately, I was able to present a successful self defense argument to the Court and my client was found not guilty. The incident arose from my client being "pink slipped" by the Columbus Police and taken to an emergency department for psychiatric evaluation and care. My client was tackled by a security officer who failed to follow common de-escalation protocols for hospital staff. A guilty finding could have resulted in my client receiving an 8-12 prison sentence. Today he is a free man. , 2022
- My client was charged with felony abduction after approaching a woman in a parking lot of their apartment complex. The alleged victim's husband approached my client with a firearm and eventually fired a round into the air and then shot my client in the leg. The police arrested my client after his release from the hospital and he was indicted on felony abduction. During the trial, my client successfully testified on direct and cross examination that he was merely asking the woman for a ride. The jury only deliberated for a short period before finding my client not guilty. , 2018
- My client was a full time fireman/paramedic. He was providing care to a patient when the patient spit at another care giver. My client followed his training and covered the patient's mouth with a cupped hand. Unfortunately, after removing his hand, the patient spit into my client's uncovered face. My client again responded correctly and covered the patient's face with a cupped hand until a breathing mask could be placed over the patient's face. The police were call to report the incident and, believing the care giver over the three firemen present, charged my client with assaulting the patient. A conviction would have ended my client's 30 plus year career. After a long period of pretrial discovery, including obtaining an expert to testify for the defense, a trial was held. The care giver testified unconvincingly under cross examination that my client "hauled off and hit" the patient. Fortunately, the other firemen present testified and the judge found my client not guilty. , 2018
- I made this video for the Columbus Bar Association in conjunction with their series on informing the public about their rights. I think this is a very important area that most people accused of a crime fail to look into when they are approached by law enforcement. https://youtu.be/FIVWd4-YOmM , What to do when you are accused of a crime?, 2014
- Here is a video I did for the Columbus Bar Association covering a typical OVI traffic stop. https://youtu.be/F5BOUeXP2Pw , What to do when you are pulled over for an OVI?, 2014
- In 2014 Ohio made significant changes to who and how someone can seal their criminal record. Fortunately, these changes expanded the pool of qualified applicants. It is important for people with eligible criminal records to know that they can seal otherwise damaging records. Ohio Changes Rules to Seal and Expunge Criminal RecordsNew Law Expands Who is Eligible for Expungement and Sealing Criminal Records By Douglas A. Funkhouser, Esq. For the second time in two years, the Ohio State Legislature passed a new law expanding the class of people eligible to seal a criminal record. In 2012, Ohio Senate Bill 337 changed the requirement of “first offender” to “eligible offender,” expanding the types of convictions and how many convictions that a person can seal and expunge from their criminal record. Now with the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 143, passed in June 2014 and effective September 19, 2014, the law further expands the qualifications for obtaining an expungement. This means that individuals previously denied the expungement/sealing of their record may now be eligible. The significant provisions of the new law include: •Applicants are now eligible to seal up to two misdemeanor convictions, regardless of whether the two convictions are for the same offense. • Clarifies that orders to seal records apply to entire case records and not just records of convictions. • Applicants are permitted to include records for more than one case in a single application. Charging $50 for each case an applicant requests to have sealed is prohibited. • The court is no longer required to send notice of orders to seal records by certified mail, return receipt requested. The most impactful of these changes is that an individual with two convictions for the same offense may now qualify to have the records of those same offenses sealed. Now those who are charged with or convicted of a repeat offense are no longer unduly penalized by being automatically disqualified from the ability to apply to have their records sealed. It is important to understand that even if you now qualify to have you record sealed, expungement is not guaranteed and ultimately resides in the discretion of the court. If you were not eligible for an expungement under the old law, and are not sure if you are eligible under the new expungement law, it is important to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney who can determine if you meet the requirements to be eligible for sealing of your record. Mr. Funkhouser is well-versed in Ohio laws regarding sealing criminal records and has successfully represented clients in the area. Call Funkhouser Law at (614) 443-5404 to learn how Mr. Funkhouser can be of service to you., Changes to Ohio Expungement Law to Seal Criminal Records, 2014
- I was selected to be one of the "at large" Board Members for the Dublin Soccer League which is one of the largest soccer programs in Ohio. I served as a board member from 2014 to 2018. , 2018
- Criminal Law Committee Of The Columbus Bar Association
- Ohio Association Of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Office location for Douglas A. Funkhouser
765 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43206
Phone: 614-443-5404
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011, 2015 - 2024
- Rising Stars: 2009
