A Maryland man who was convicted of drunk driving will be permitted to serve his 60-day jail sentence on weekends, according to a ruling from an Annapolis judge. The 55-year-old lawmaker had been accused of two separate DUI incidents: one in which he was drunkenly operating a boat, and the other for drunken driving.
Official reports show that the man, who serves in the Maryland General Assembly, had pleaded guilty in connection with the Aug. 22, 2012 boat crash that injured seven victims. One of those injured in the collision, a 5-year-old girl, is said to have suffered multiple skull fractures in connection with the drunk boating case. Even though the man's BAC level was three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent, witnesses confirmed that the other boater was at fault in the crash. The man then pleaded guilty to another charge in connection with an incident that occurred almost exactly a year later. The man was accused of driving while intoxicated on Aug. 20.
The man was sentenced to 30-day terms in connection with each of the two charges. In addition to the 60-day jail sentence, the man will be required to serve a three-year probation term, and he is prohibited from consuming alcohol during that time. In addition, the man is barred from events where alcohol is consumed, including political events sponsored by the state government.
Not only was the man subject to only a relatively light sentence in the case, but he will also be able to keep his job at the legislature, as the charges do not mandate an automatic expulsion. Overall, the man was able to mount a successful criminal defense that will prevent the charges from having an undue influence on his everyday life. His defense attorney's work ensured that he is able to continue governing in the state despite these unfortunate incidents.
Source:
www.heraldmailmedia.com, "Md. lawmaker gets 60 days or drunken driving, boating" No author given, Oct. 27, 2013